Face it, this world is pretty screwed up. Why would I want to believe that all there is is a mess? I can have complete peace in a loving GOd, knowing that evil will be punished in the end, and that faith will be rewarded. And y'all want me to give that up for what? NOTHING. Honestly, I don't understand that. I have everything I could ever want. And you want me to trade that for _nothing_. Why?
2007-10-01 08:11:20 · 23 answers · asked by R v 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Chippy v1.0.0.3b: Actually, I try to live to my full potential as a gift to the One who GAVE me that potential. I'm just wondering what your prupose is. If this is all there is, and we are random globs of goo, then what is special about us?
Also, I am afraid I'm not familar with pascals wager. Do you mind explaining that?
James: But why would I WANT to accept messed up things? I wouldn't accept it if my mother were dying from cancer until every last option were eliminated, and even then I would still hold out hope until she actually died. Why accept other tragedies, just because we are "accidents"?
Skeptic: It's not a blankey. I gave that up long ago.
I don't refrain from evil simply from fear of punishment. I refrain from evil through God's power, because I wish to please Him. Humans are inherently evil. Even the good things people do aren't good if they aren't done for Christ!
tawaen: If you don't care what I believe, why did you reply? Why are you so antag
2007-10-01 09:08:38 · update #1
gonistic? You didn't have to read my question, or answer it. I didn't come pester you.
Tony B (atheist): I have no desire to murder people. Church wouldn't keep me from it if I did.
skepsis: I take life quite seriously, perhaps too seriously. This world is a disaster. If there was nothing to hope in, life would not be worth living. Millions have committed suicide because of that fact. Millions have been spared suicide because they found God's Love.
H. Spencer: I wish I could help you. What if logic and reason were not all there is? Is love reasonable? Is compassion logical? Not really. So logically (:P) there must be more than logic and reason.
Cap'n Zeemboo: I apologize for my error in wording. But actually, by refusing to allow God in the picture, you replace Him with nothing. Nothing to hope for, nothing to bring justice to this mixed-up planet, nothing to make you special. If we're all just random chemicals, we are not special. Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stick
2007-10-01 09:11:36 · update #2
I'll stick with my tried-and-true God. I am unique and special, made in His Image. And there is a reason for my being alive.
Moiraes Fate: How can I make the best of it if there is no reason for life in the first place? I am using my brain. And when I look around, I see a world searching for answers. Why is anyone looking for answers if there isn't a question in the first place?
PARVFAN: Thanks. I'm not miserable.
Fu Quan: Ah, but belief w/o good reason is worthless. I realize that one person's reasons aren't another's reasons. It's not just that I don't like it here, but that everything is decaying, therefore, it had to be better. A rose starts out lovely, but it soon withers, even molds if it's humid enough. So if things were better once, what happened? The Bible clearly explains what happened.
2007-10-01 09:12:15 · update #3
Rev. Michelle: Actually, it seems it does to most people. I'm asking this question in hopes of getting someone to give me a good answer why no god is better than God. I've certainly been preached at by the atheists enough to want to know why they do.
If this miserable rotten world is "Reality" then I'm siding with Puddleglum. "Our made-up world beats your real world hollow!" "I'm following Aslan whether or not there is an Aslan to follow!" Or rather, I'll follow Christ even if He's not real. Because Christ's "made-up" world beats "Reality" hollow.
2007-10-01 09:12:38 · update #4
Even if this world is all there is, it is still better to live it as a Christian. Why anyone would want to face this "pretty screwed up" world (and I totally agree with you) alone without the love, peace, courage, companionship, guidance, advice and help only Creator God can give is more than I can understand. Eternal life with him in a universe made new is just the icing on the cake.
2007-10-01 08:19:04 · answer #1 · answered by transplanted_fireweed 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you need a blankey to keep you comforted, by all means keep your blankey.
As far as "why [we] bother"... You can believe that evil will be punished in the end. However, I hope that is not the only reason you refrain from committing evil acts on the earth. It is completely selfish to think that the only reason any one should be good is so that we can get a reward after life. A truly good person is selfless, meaning, they do good for the good of humanity, not for the good of themselves. I hope that you are a good person because you are a good person, and not because you think you're under constant surveillance .
2007-10-01 08:15:03 · answer #2 · answered by word 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
actually if this life is all their is, why wouldnt that make you value it all the more?
why would u simply give up?
the things that we hold dear, that we view as precious/valuable, are the things that we could lose at any time.
in all honesty, if i knew there was a life after this, i wouldnt be inclined to live this life to its potential. id have no reason to hold anything dear. id lose my will to live in general.
and for the record, pascals wager is the most ignorant method of deduction you can use. the ONLY way it works is if atheism and christianity are the only two options available. but that isnt the case in the real world. there are thousands of religions.
2007-10-01 08:14:02 · answer #3 · answered by Chippy v1.0.0.3b 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I don't want you to give that up. If believing that brings you some kind of peace, then I think that's great. Faith doesn't work for me.
I certainly don't want to believe this is all there is, but my logic and reason tells me that's the case. I think it's great you're able to have faith.
2007-10-01 08:15:30 · answer #4 · answered by Eraserhead 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-05 13:47:10 · answer #5 · answered by siegfreid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you religious people get it through your heads that atheism is not nihilism? Atheism is not belief in "nothing." It's simply a rejection of belief in supernatural beings.
Your beliefs give you comfort, but that doesn't mean they're real. Life is just as amazing, miraculous, and precious to someone who believes that this life is all we've got. Perhaps more so.
But, you know, if you need your religious stories to give your life meaning, by all means, hang on to them.
2007-10-01 08:16:01 · answer #6 · answered by Cap'n Zeemboo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because a rationalist mindset will allow you to accept that things are inherently "messed up," for absolutely no reason, and there's no sense in fretting over them.
With the belief in a god, you constantly expect some sort of justice for what's happened.
Delude yourself if you must, I shall not try to convince you further.
2007-10-01 08:14:28 · answer #7 · answered by James 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
You are entitled to believe whatever you want to. You don't even need a good reason. For example, "I don't like it here, therefore there must be something better."
Believe whatever makes you happy. But that's not enough reason for everybody.
2007-10-01 08:17:06 · answer #8 · answered by Fu Quan 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like you are the type of person who believes that ignorance is bliss
and maybe you are right
but some people, including myself, cant be happy lying to ourselves. i cant believe in something i dont think is true, just because i wish it to be true
also, your question reflects the greatest evidence for religious beliefs of an afterlife are in fact manmade. the idea that we will live forever with everyone we love in a perfect place is exactly our greatest hopes and wishes, but this idea in no way reflects reality of what will happen
2007-10-01 08:14:43 · answer #9 · answered by Sheed 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Feel free to comfort yourself with any delusions you choose to harbor. Just don't bother us with your delusions and we won't bother you. You can believe whatever you like, as long as it isn't hurting anyone else.
Unfortunately, all too often, people do let their delusions hurt other people. This is especially true in the case of people whose delusions involve the belief that they must convince other people to also believe in their delusions.
2007-10-01 08:20:26 · answer #10 · answered by Azure Z 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋