I heard someone argue why it's better to be Christian. He that that if he was wrong and God did not exist, then he has lost nothing. He said that if us atheists are wrong, we go to Hell. He was trying to imply that there is a possible negative to being an atheist but no negative to being a Christian. What about not being allowed to live your life to fullest. Many Christians I know WILL NOT do certain things because they believe God will punish them. My best friend is a Christian and will not drink, will not have sex untill he is married, and ae also refuses to play video games because he says they are ungodly. It would seem to me that Christians like my friend are missing out on a lot of things in life because of their beliefs. If us atheists are right, and you Christians are wrong, we will be the ones who benefit because we will have lived our lives to the fullest while you Christians did not.
2007-09-30 12:23:19 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You have just described one of the many flaws in Pascal's Wager. Your friend mistakenly believes that there are only two choices- no God or his God. Also, if his God is omniscient, how could He be fooled by a disingenuous person who merely converts to avoid Hell?
I wouldn't change my world view for someone who has no better grasp on logic than that.
2007-09-30 12:29:29 · answer #1 · answered by Pangloss (Ancora Imparo) AFA 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Well, I don't know if he's not living life to it's fullest per se. By not drinking he is not subjecting his body to alcohol and he is avoiding the possiblility of becoming an alchololic. He is coping with life without a bottle to dull his senses. He won't ever have to worry about blackouts, who he insulted while he was drunk or who he has hurt and he will never have a DUI arrest. By not having sex until he's married he is avoiding veneral diseases, as well as all of the emotional baggage and pain that comes with casual sex that goes wrong. Also, if you don't have sex with mulitiple people you tend to be happier with the person you have chosen. Simply put you can't miss what you don't know about. You don't worry about what she or he can or can't do or what they do or don't know because it's a level playing field if your both virgins. You learn with each other. Mind you it could have it's drawbacks, but if you look at it the correct way it's a good plan. As for video games, he's not wasting time in front of the tv living the life of a game character. He is living his own life. So in a way I guess you could say he is living life to the fullest. The things he is not engaging in is protecting him from some really negative issues. If he's content I would say he is living life to it's fullest. I personally don't think drinking, sex, and video games bring people lasting contentment. Sure they can be fun, but sometimes fun isn't worth the price you have to pay at the end of the day.
2007-09-30 12:41:43 · answer #2 · answered by Lenora2 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are several fallacies associated with Pascal's Wager, and it is considered one of the weakest reasons to believe, both by non-Christians as well as some Christians. Please note that not all of these fallacies will necessarily apply in every case.
Fallacy One: It assumes that there is only one god which can be believed in, the Christian one. This is not true, since there are a plethora of gods that have been believed throughout the millennia. This would have to be applied to each and every one of those gods to be true, and this would clearly be impossible, due to the clashing natures of many of the said gods.
Fallacy Two: It assumes that simply wagering on [the Christian] God will buy one entrance into Heaven. While this may be so, the Wager does not instill a belief, it instills an appearance of a belief. Since the god in question is presumed to be all-knowing, he would be able to tell a false from a true belief. Therefore, the belief from the Wager would not qualify should belief be the requirement for entrance into Heaven.
Fallacy Three: It creates a moral dilemma. You, by using this, are sending the most dedicated humanitarians, who just happen to not be Christian, to Hell, while you set a place in Heaven for those mass-murders who happen to be Christian. Since [the Christian] God is supposed to be a loving god, how then could he entertain the embodiment of hatred, yet turn away the embodiment of love?
Fallacy Four: It ignores too many alternate possibilities - some of which are addressed by existing religions, and some which are not. Some examples: A God could reward on criteria which seem meaningless to us - hair colour, taste in clothes, music etc. or A God might not be concerned with humans at all - the universe could be here for hydrogen for all we know. Or God may even reward those who don't believe.
Fallacy Five: It assumes any person is overly fearful of death to be worried about it being a conclusion to their life.
Fallacy Six: It assumes that a belief in God is all that is needed, when many Christians would disagree and would suggest that there are "guidelines" that you should live by (and that God requires you to live by if your belief is sincere). If these guidelines require a change on your part (for example: No sex before marriage, no smoking, denying you are a homosexual, not marrying a non-Christian, etc.), then it could be argued that you have lost something if the Christian God turns out to not exist.
2007-09-30 12:38:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, I have to agree with you to a certain extent. However have you ever been so close to death that you knew you were dead? Well I personally have and in those final moments I absolutely could not remember anything about my life at all what so ever. So in my personal opinion if your living like there is no hell, you had better be right. Because if your wrong, what measly little bit of what you call fun will have to last you through just a tad bit longer than this tiny wisp of time.
And what blows my mind is if they can't endure a little bit of suffering now, what makes them think they'll be enjoying suffering for eternity? I personally have a great relationship with our awesome creator and He changes my want to's so the evil most love to do, I no longer want to. So in my personal opinion I really do not feel I am missing out on anything. Take care.
2007-09-30 12:39:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You do not seem to get it, When you are a Christian, those things, for the most part no longer hold any interest for us, not to say that our sin flesh nature will not tempt us to do so from time to time, .
What ??? Do you think that Christianity is Boring ?
Then you haven't experienced it. No one who is a Christian will ever say that it is boring.
How do you know? Have you tried it? There are millions of Christians who have a lot of fun being Christian. We just do it with a lot less sin, and therefore, a lot less problems. Maybe it's only your problems that keep you from getting bored.
What do you think we do all day, sit around fireplaces and read Bibles? We ski, swim, play sports, read, have friends and problems like anybody else. Christianity is not boring. It is an adventure.
You Think That Getting Drunk, having all kinds of Sex is living life to the fullest ?! OMG You have got to be dellusional
2007-09-30 12:38:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Your version of "life to the fullest" is, in my opinion, in error. Abundant life is only available when we present ourselves as vessels to be used by the Master. Only when we surrender our lives to Him can we be used to do things beyond our wildest imagination. Imagine being able to raise people from the dead, heal people, feed 5,000 people with a couple fish and a few loaves of bread! Can you even really compare premarital sex and alcohol to that?? I don't think so!!
Besides that,on the human reason side, I personally see the negative consequences and ill effects that come from those things that we are warned against doing. I have no regrets that I have never had a hangover, I don't have STDs or unwanted pregnancies, I've never had to go to rehab, been to jail, been arrested, etc... I know those things don't happen every time, but they're not worth the risk to me. I don't think video games are a sin, simply a waste of time. God is ok with us being entertained, as long as it doesn't distract us from doing the things He wants us to be doing that are productive. My brain tells me that God's rules are for my own good. They in no way look to me like the way to live life to the fullest.
I don't refrain from these things out of fear of punishment. I refrain because I believe in God's wisdom. It's proven to be quite true in my experience.
2007-09-30 15:40:07 · answer #6 · answered by BaseballGrrl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all, your friend was referring to the classic 'Pascal's Wager', which has gone out of vogue for various reasons.
Your incorrect assumption is that Christians do not live life to the fullest. However, many would argue that abstaining from alcohol, premarital sex, and even video games/TV can be very beneficial. Or have you never heard of Alchoholics Anonymous, abstinence programs, and the No TV movement?
Also, you assume that we don't get good things in return for our abstinence. A Christian who belongs to a healthy, happy church community will find suddenly themselves in the midst of a cheerful "second family". At least, this has been my experience. That, and the eternal assurance (in other words, not having to give death a second thought) is easily worth any pleasure we might have missed out on.
IN OTHER WORDS: Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.
*EDIT*: The other answerers reminded me to mention: These abstinences are motivated, not by a desire to reach Heaven - since that's already secured through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross - but out of a genuine desire to please God and to be like Jesus. Once a person is saved and the Holy Spirit has entered their heart, they might find that they don't desire evil things any longer.
2007-09-30 12:30:06 · answer #7 · answered by FekketCantenel 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
You have a warped view of christianity as does your friend. Your friend sounds like they desparately in need of serious helP.
Christianity is not about that. It is about freedom. Freedom in christ. As a christian you more than live your life to the fullest. You live a life much fuller than any aetheist ever could, because you have freedom and forgiveness, you are not bound by sin.
To say there are things christians can and can't do is a myth.
Your friend and you yourself have been led astray by christians (HA!) who don't have the love of christ within them and who don't love christ. The only thing these so called christians love is control and manipulation.
It is time for you and your christian friend to discover the living christ.
2007-09-30 12:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by scruff 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i am a christian. i live my life to the fullest.....the fullest that God will let me. not all Christians are like your friend. there is NOTHING wrong with video games. but, some christians make God sound bad, and dull him down. i try to see God as a fun God, he doesnt make rules and commandments to hurt you.
2007-09-30 12:32:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have thought about this often. I am a Christian, and there are people who have brought similar arguments to mind. I think of peace of mind. Which would make me happier, not having sex before marraige, and asside from not having bad consequences, means I get the satisfaction of trying to do what I feel is right, or doing so and feeling like I am displeasing God.
Fullest has different meanings for different people.
2007-09-30 12:29:34 · answer #10 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
well have fun then , if that's what you call it , hell is still there and your still going ! as for me , i don't think being a christian makes you give up anything except maybe , drug and alcohol addiction ,aids, unwanted children, broken homes and not to mention all the crime! stats show that christian people live longer than any other lifestyle !! so we benefit here as well as in heaven ! so i would say that there is a huge negative !!
2007-09-30 12:43:04 · answer #11 · answered by roadrunner 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋