As an atheist, if it turns out you were wrong at the end...would you even care?

Question

Would it matter at all to you?

and I'm not trying to scare anyone into believing, I'm an atheist myself. I just thought of this question and wanted to post it.

Answer 1

Sure . . . I'd be concerned that I was going to hell for all of eternity, but I wouldn't regret it . . . the concept of heaven is that you will get in if you have faith that God exists & that Jesus died for your sins, but faith is something you either have in your heart and mind or you don't, and in my understanding of Christian theology just saying that you believe in God and Jesus in the end but not actually believing it wouldn't make a difference. So atheists and agnostics are doomed from having learned enough in our lives to be skeptical of the idea of believing in something without having proof of it. Sure I'd care at the end, but I'd also hope that "whoever" is doing the judging of who gets into heaven vs hell would make their choice based on the kind of live I'd lived and not just by whether I had enough true faith to buy into the concept in the first place.

Answer 2

Thank you for the respectful tone of the question. EDIT on the way: As you've seen and probably already knew, we do not believe it is possible to turn to a god. We're convinced that you are really turning to your imagination. Please don't take it as an insult, though some people present it in such a way. (This question has been asked before and usually with a snide comment thrown in.) If you didn't think there was a god of some kind, you'd think that too. First, "everything" does not really go wrong at once. There is always some bright side to look on, even if it is not immediately apparent. When the going gets tough, I turn to friends. I turn to my husband and I turn to myself. I find comfort in time with my child, my pets and on my own. I read, listen to music and form a plan to cope with whatever I am facing. I often like to have a good cry and a beer or cup of tea when I am frustrated. Once that's out, I get up, dust off and keep moving. Its simple, really. I thought when I gave up my god delusion I would feel alone or bereft. I don't. I feel fine in good times and bad. It may be hard for you to imagine, but if you try, I think you'll get it. Again, thanks for seeking understanding of people you do not immediately understand. That is very enlightened of you.

Answer 3

Would I wish I had had blind faith? No. There have been thousands of Gods created in hisotry claiming to be the only true path. It is quite sad, when it can clearly be seen that belief is based on little more than culture. Those born in India will most likely be Hindu, Thailand, Buddhist (to the tune of 95-99% for both.) In Africa, one of the many tribal religions still in existence.

If there is a God that would judge people based on what they believed, and thus solely on where they are born, it would not be worth worshiping.

Answer 4

First of all there is no such thing as atheist. There are way to many details in all forms of life to have just happened by chance with some big bang. Second what caused the big bang? I mean doesn't there have to be a cause before there is an effect? A painter for every painting? You did have a creator and whether or not you believe, you will still have to face your creator. Oh and for those of you who believe that we evolved from apes, then why is it that only some of the apes evolved into humans and some didn't?

Answer 5

Not all atheists were raised as such. Many were exposed to a form of religion and at one time believed in God. However, serious health or family problems or certain injustices they experienced weakened their faith. For others, courses taught in schools of higher learning have had a negative impact on their concept of God.

So it may matter and for some it may not matter

Answer 6

I would care, I'm an atheist. I would make amends if possible and ask for a redo of life and live my life as god sees fit. Other wise I am still atheist. I don't think it likely

Answer 7

Don't you think it would be a little too late to care at that point? Either you get into heaven or you would go to hell, as the Christians say.

Personally, I think if I were wrong and met god after I died he'd be OK with me being atheist. Why would a god need anyone to worship him anyway? It seems kind of arrogant and egotistical to me...

Answer 8

Sure, if I was wrong and was somehow punished, I'd probably care. I think it's wrong and petty for a deity to expect me to figure out what s/he wants me to believe/do/etc and then punish me if I screw up...especially if s/he relies on other human beings to relay his/her message (yeah...humans...THERE's a reliable source...)...but then, that's one of the many reasons I don't believe in the existence of gods/goddesses in the first place.

Answer 9

So is this sort of a reverse Pascal's Wager?

If I was wrong about my atheism (which by definition means "no belief in deity"), all that would mean is that SOME kind of deity exists. That still leaves a lot of questions.

It still begs the question of whether or not there's a soul, an afterlife, what kind of afterlife (it could just as well look like "Beetlejuice"), or that this deity even cares at all about me, or cares but can do anything about me, or that one particular religion was "correct".

Answer 10

believe me---if it turns out that atheists were wrong---they are going to care. And YES it will matter to them. You can't scare people into believing one way or another.

You know, if Christians are wrong---all they have "wasted" is a lifetime. If atheists are wrong---all they will have "wasted" is eternity in heaven.

Just my opinion. God Bless you.