Lets say you were part of a group who were in attendence at a national atheist convention....furthermore lets say you were part of a group who were kidnapped by some religious extremists who demanded that you renounce atheism and except their god, live on the internet... they informed you that if you did as they asked they would let you go free...but they also added that if you refuse you would be killed, live on the internet...what would you do?
2007-10-15 03:33:33 · 51 answers · asked by wordman 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
One really great thing about being an atheist is that we don't think this kind of thought.
I assume that it's obvious that the world would be better were there more of us.
2007-10-15 03:38:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Since "national atheist conventions" are imaginary this is a pretty far fetched. But given the circumstances, I think I would rather live and lie than die for an ideal. On the other hand, if the extremists were to gain a huge amount of social/governmental control by having me say there is a god, and thereby restrict the freedoms that we have, I probably would choice death.
The point is is many people all over the world have died for various beliefs and ideals. I would be and am willing to die for our country's freedoms and its ideals but not over a goofy statement.
Ex military Atheist - yes, I volunteered to protect your rights to ask silly questions like this.
2007-10-15 03:51:23 · answer #2 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm an agnostic, and I'd say whatever they wanted to save my skin.
The trouble with religion, is it gives some people something to die & kill for. The fact that you dreamed up this question, just attests to that fact.
I'd prefer a worldview that gives us something to LIVE for.
Just because some mentally ill crazy person FORCED me at gunpoint to say something, it's IMPOSSIBLE for them to force anyone to REALLY BELIEVE, so they would be the sorry a$$ losers in this scenario.
I'm wondering if you are asking this as some kind of "AH_HA" question, but really, what is the big "AH_HA" here, that most atheist live for today, and will not let some pi$$ing match against someone with a loaded gun, cost them thier life ?
Are you surprised at the # of those who lie to scumbag fanatics to save their skin ? Since atheists don't believe in some pearly gates after they die, it only makes sense that they will do all to protect the one & only life they think they have. It's not like they will go to atheist hell if they do the sensible thing & save their skin. It's not like all the atheists will shun them, if they do the common sense thing.
If a mugger pointed a gun to hour head, and said, give me your money, everyone says you are a FOOL to resist. I think it would be equally foolish to sacrifice your pride, because some mentally deranged whack job with a gun, wanted you to pretend to believe something you didn't.
2007-10-15 03:48:56 · answer #3 · answered by queenthesbian 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say yes to accepting God and while I was being shown live on the internet I would make some comment about the atrocities being committed by these "kind and loving Christians" and then accept my death.
In reality, I would probably lie until I was free.
2007-10-15 04:19:17 · answer #4 · answered by Justin H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I, like any hostage, would probably say whatever I could at the moment to stay alive. When a hostage negotiator offers a plane to the terrorist, does he really mean it, H3ll no, it is all in tactics. What I say at a moment like that would not make me change my beliefs though, it and I would state that as soon as I was no longer in harms way by a religious nut (who would just be solidifying my views that god is a fallacy.)
2007-10-15 03:40:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure, I value my life, live on the Internet. I'll play along w/them, live on the Internet. As well I could go to a church, pretend to have some seizure and say Jesus this, Jesus that... won't make me a believer, just a hypocrite, live on the Internet.
2007-10-15 03:49:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would do as Galileo did when told to renounce his theories of the solar system.
I would tell everyone I was wrong. Move to another country, and reconfirm my original claim.
Then again, Galileo was hung for heresy. Y'know Earth round the Sun stuff...
2007-10-15 03:50:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure you're up to this level of thinking? You seem to be under the impression that we go to Atheist Hell if we renounce our lack of faith.
You may have spent too long in a fantasy world to handle this kind of thing properly.
CD
2007-10-15 03:42:49 · answer #8 · answered by Super Atheist 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If I were a true atheist--I'd renounce my atheist convictions live an on the internet. Wouldn't mean anything to anyone but the religious extremeist now would it.
2007-10-15 03:37:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
All the atheists would lie to save their own skin; a Christian when asked to deny God or lose their life would still stand firm for Christ. Do not fear them that kill the body, but the soul. They can have my physical body; God has my soul. Is that what your point was?
2007-10-15 03:48:25 · answer #10 · answered by dawnUSA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say yes, I would proclaim my belief. Then, when they set me free, I'd go on thinking what I always have. I have no problem with lying to save my life. Its nowhere near as bad as what the church did to Galileo--they made him renounce his findings publicly and then kept him on house arrest for the rest of his life.
2007-10-15 03:42:04 · answer #11 · answered by average person Violated 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋