Atheists: If I warned you of imminent danger…?

Question

...Would you immediately heed my warning and flee to safety, or would you demand “satisfactory proof” that such danger exists?

For instance:
If you were casually floating down a calm river on a boat, sipping on a drink and enjoying a beautiful sunny day…and suddenly, I disturbed your peace by shouting from the bank, “HEY, YOU! Yes – you, on the boat! There is a HUGE waterfall ahead, so high that you can’t hear the water crashing below on the rocks! And as soon as you go around this corner, the current is too swift and the shoreline too rocky for you to avoid it! So, come now, quick! Grab this Branch and get out of the river, or else you will perish!”

Would you just shout back in a disgruntled voice:
“PROVE IT!”

?

Answer 1

It is called a paradigm. You cannot think outside of what you know.

I saw this once in a film in college. The film showed a deck of cards, and asked you to say the card's value as it was quickly flipped up. When done they went back and showed the cards more slowly. You could see that the queen of spades was shown in red, but because of that subtle change your mind told you it was the queen of hearts. After all that card isn't suppose to be red, so your mind changes it to something that it expects without you consciously knowing it.

Your mind cannot easily comprehend something that you have not experienced. Those people who are not born again are locked into a paradigm of looking at the world through a purely physical aspect, they cannot see the spiritual warfare that wages all about them. They can only shout out...PROVE IT. By the time it is proved, by the time their paradigm is broken, it will be too late. Just as it would be too late for them to turn from the perilous waterfall's consequence.

Answer 2

Your scenario is a good one. Try this one. You are floating down a river and some one on the shore shouts - there is a fire and everyone in this theater is going to be burned alive. I wouldn't say prove it I would say - you are an idiot. The people whom you are asking your question would not yell back prove it, they would pull over to the side and then say show me. If you could in fact show them they would thank you. But if you were not able to show them, which is the case 100% of the time, they would stop believing anything you say. The second scenario happens all of the time on this forum and in churches everywhere. You are living your life reasonably and comfortably and some one shouts fire in a crowded theater, except that you are not in a theater and wonder why some one keeps shouting stupid things. The bottom line is - show me the waterfall and I will believe you. But since you have not seen nor have you been over the waterfall, your shouting is absurd and we know it.

Answer 3

Actually what I would probably do is slow down, take a good look at the path ahead and my knowledge of the river, and decide for myself if you're right or not, using my senses, knowledge, and wisdom.

There are many ways to steer a boat and get to safety, even in rough water, and I know that by experience. Plus I never ride a river without a life vest.

So no I would not jump ship just because you think I should. I'd make up my own mind about it.

Also I've gone over waterfalls and some of them can be fun!

Answer 4

well that is a good question but honestly i think u r getting atheist and agnostic mixed up

atheist are strongly believe that there is no god or gods and agnostic which i really am confused about have something to do with the whole give me proof thing

with ur story and comparing it with religion is not something u should do because they are completely different

if u told me that there is something coming i would get out rather be smart and get away from what could be danger than be dead and stupid even though it could of been a joke

but religion it is all about ur believes on things u cannot see visually and directly nothing like ur story in which is about trusting a person u don't know

Answer 5

sure. I have seen waterfalls before. So I know they exist.
If I had never seen a waterfall in my life I wouldn't know what you are talking about and be very confused. But how likely is that?
If my map would tell me, that there isn't the slightest possibility of a waterfall ahead, I would think you want to make fun of me and completely ignore you. And arrive safely, cause my map would be right, not you.

Answer 6

If that were the case I would simply be able to glance over my shoulder and see the upcoming waterfall and therefore would have proof of the imminent danger that you are referring to.

Aside from that fact, waterfalls are real and tangible and it is likely to encounter one while floating along a river. Your 'God' is not tangible. I've seen evidence of waterfalls. No evidence of God.

I understand the comparison you are trying to make but simply wanted to point out to you why this analogy is fallacious. You can't scare people into agreeing with you.

Answer 7

This is a trick question and I think see where you are going with it. You can't really compare warning someone about a potential waterfall to warning them about hell.

It is a fact that waterfalls do exist. Nobody denies it. If someone did deny that waterfalls existed altogether, then you could show them one. They could see it, hear it, touch it and maybe even smell it.

So it stands to reason that if someone warned you that you were getting close to a waterfall, you would probably listen. Because you know for a fact that they are real and that it is a real possibility. : )

Answer 8

I would get onto the bank and check it out for myself. I wouldn't go running in terror because of it.

That is a valid warning. Warning me of an afterlife of eternal suffering is bullsh*t because NOBODY knows what the after life holds. (If anything.)

Your comparisons (like most christian comparisons) are weak, at best.

Another pathetic christian attempt at making your looney "warnings" for non-believer's to save their souls sound like some every day "Run you're in danger" type of a warning.

It saddens me that you are so pathetically feeble that you cannot see the obvious difference between the two. A waterfall is a REAL danger and something that should not be taken lightly........ telling me that there is an afterlife where i'm going to suffer forever because I don't believe the same things you believe..... that is not a warning. That is you needing to remember to take your medication.

Answer 9

Well, firstly, I wouldn't go floating down a river casually without knowing what's ahead. And if I were exploring, I wouldn't be alone, and moreover, I would've scouted the area to make sure that the planned passage is safe.

So yes, you would have to have some pretty convincing proof.

Answer 10

Your post makes ZERO sense ! If I'm floating down a river, I'll know where it leads to, BEFORE I even leave the house. Is that the best you can do ? You seem to forget ( ignore ) there are many other religions in the world. And some don't need to scare people to find followers..