Do you ever consider what if you’re wrong about God?

Question

As a Christian I believe wholeheartedly in God but if I am wrong I’ve lost nothing. I have enjoyed my life and tried to do good. I have wonderful friends and family and the church has been a great place to find love and encouragement. If atheists are correct we will all just die and that will be it, so I’ve lost nothing. Of course if they are right they won’t even have the satisfaction of knowing it.

If Christians are right then atheists may have lived just as enjoyable lives as I have but they will be judged and condemned for their sin. I will be saved through my faith in Christ.

Do any atheists think about this at all?

Belzebot - I see your point, but Christianity is all or nothing. Good works counts for something in most other religions.

Of course Pascals Wager can be applied to any religion; that doesn't make the point wrong.
Christianity makes claims that no other religion does. Jesus claimed to ne the only way to God; so a Christian can not hedge his Pascal bets.

Neo - please let me have the proof for evolution becuase no-one else has mangaged to give it to me so far.

pugwashjw - Thanks but the Bible is very clear that good works come as the result of faith and are not the cause of faith.

gibbonboy - thanks but I have read my Bible thoroughly and I have studied other religions. I'm not trying to convince people that I'm right; I'm simply asking if people have questioned their beliefs, I know I have.

alphacenturi - thanks for your sensible contribution. We may disagree but I see your veiwpoint.

tallthatsme - thanks, I never intended to try and prove Christianity to be true; I don't believe I can. I just wondered if people ever considered what and why they believe. A lot of people go straight on the defensive because are clearly not confident in their own beliefs. I appreciate your response.

Answer 1

No. But we are asked all the time.

If we asked ourselves that question, we would have to ask ourselves if we were wrong for not believing all the other futile superstitions.

Do you ask yourself if you are wrong about other religions what the consequences might be? Probably not if, as you say, you believe wholeheartedly in god. But there lies the problem for believers. Your position is faith based and any faith is no more valid or strong than any other faith. It is not logical or evidenced. Your faith could be misplaced.

Most atheists are not believers because they do not believe what you believe. Not that they believe something else, they just don't believe what you do. There is not good evidence to believe in your god, any more than there is to believe in Thor or pixies. In that respect it would, I am sure you agree, be ridiculous to wonder what happens if I am wrong about the pixies? It it would be an absurdity. Without good evidence of your god, your question is just as pointless.

Religious faith is not more credible just so many people profess to have it.

Answer 2

This is know as "Pascals Wager", posed by the famous mathmatician Blaise Pascal, who later in life became a devout Christian.

Pascal was famous for his work in probability, and tried to use it to prove the exsistance of God. He posed that since the probability of the existence of God is non-zero, the only rational course is to believe in God, because there is nothing to lose, yet enternity to gain.

Unfortunately, it did nothing to improve his reputation, as there are some obvious logical flaws. First, even if there is a God, it assumes that God rewards those who believe, where there is no proof of this whatsoever. In fact, it's equally likely that a God would punish such people, since the ways of God are not provable. Maybe there is a God, and that God is looking for souls who reject religion.

Also, as a means to prove christanity, it falis because, it doesn't show any prefenence toward that religion.

You do bring up a very good point: If my life would be better as a Christian than not, due to the benefits it brings me, then I should be one.

Since the church comes with a community, a school, etc, there's much to be gained. I've thougth at this at some length, as I'm sure most atheists have. I've ever tried. But I discovered that religion is a drug, that may feel good in the short term, it also hurts me deeply. I just don't buy it and feel horrible lying about it.

The solution to the community aspect, is for atheists to have community groups, and charities. We're working on it, and it feels great.

Answer 3

When I was a christian(for 16 years) I used to run around saying pascal's wager to people but then over the course of time and learning I realised what a monumental waste of time christianity is.if you read your bible thoroughly you will see through it for what it was - a control mechanism aimed at a time when forensic science was nil and crime went unpunished largely.the best way to overcome this was to invent a mythical being that can see every thought you have and is ready to punish you eternally for your crimes.hence if you get enough people to believe it,crime will fall dramatically.Why do you think it was endorsed by Constantine?he saw the pro's for a monotheism with eternal punishment as a way of instilling fear into the population at a time when disorder threatened the downfall of the empire.

Have you studied all the other religions out there?Do you know how many god's mankind has created for himself?how do you know which one is real,if any?

Answer 4

I've heard this a lot. It is quite a softer touch than the usual, "If you don't believe you are going to hell." approach. Still, if you base your belief on this are you still involved in a belief structure that you do not willingly want to belong to? No. There is no historical basis for christianity. None. Yet, the heathen and pagan structures have deep historical evidence. I truly believe that the belief structure that a person choses is the one they fit into. And, since we live in America, we have the fredom to chose our religion. Christianity's purpose is to homogenize religion, and that would make for a very boring world. We do not proselityze (sic) because we know that others are different, and we do not want to have the kinds of problems within our structure that you guys have. Backbiters.

Answer 5

The problem with your point is you have not thought of the possibility that you have chosen the wrong religion so now as a Cristian you are also doomed for eternity of torment for your sin of following the wrong religion. whats the difference if i was atheist with the same fate. Also Cristian's have different goal posts within there religion Catholic Protestant C of E etc... they all teach a subtly different version which one of them is right. Now if you tell me if you follow the fundamentals I'll be alright then whats the difference between that and leading a good life as an atheist.

Answer 6

It's too early to start drinking...

The argument you just stated is known as Pascal's Wager.

I am a Christian, by the way.

The problem with Pascal's Wager is that it could be applied to ANY religion. What if we Christians are wrong, and the right path to God is actually Buddhism? Or Hinduism? Or Wicca? Or Islam? And what if, by choosing Christianity, we're doomed to hell, or to a terrible reincarnation?

Fact is, Pascal's wager is a flimsy argument. If that's what we base our beliefs on, we might be in trouble.

I'm a Christian not because of what I MIGHT get after I die, but because it makes the most sense to me.

Answer 7

So you're saying we should at least pretend that we believe in an ultimate authority? Wouldn't such a being see through such false beliefs and condemn us anyway?

Pascal's wager is a really bad argument, even he realised that it was still risky given the multitude of other "all or nothing" religions.

Answer 8

yeah well im not a big beliver but im not a athiest either to be frank mate i have no idea what happens from here or why were here and i doubt il ever know till im 6 feet under, but id just rather live my life the way i have been trying to be good and show compassion and well just enjoy life since as far as i know i only get one and if i get another one great but im not going to put my bets on it just enjoy myself while im here, i mean everyone can believe what they want the onlt thing i dont like is people trying to force others to believe what they believe live and let live my freind

Answer 9

WHat you have just stated is known as Pascal's wager. It assumes that the only two options are the Christian God and no deity at all.

What are you going to do if it turns out that the Norse Gods were the one true gods, and they love the atheists as warriors of the mind, but despise Christians for what Christians did to their people?

Your argument is literally meaningless.

Answer 10

I see where your coming from but being an athiest i see this from a different point of view.
(my intention is not to offend you here, it is to try and get my point of view accross)

I feel i only have one life on this earth, only one opportunity to enjoy being here, spending time with my friends and family, going out, drinking alcohol, having sex, etc, etc.

I believe all religions are complete and utter rubbish, i believe in God no more than i believe in the the tooth fairy, the loch ness monster, big foot, you get the picture.
I see worshipping a god, going to church, singing really crappy songs, reading religious books, the whole subject of religion and a complete waste of time.

I feel doing any of these things is completely pointless and i'm happy with this decision as you are with yours.
There is one religion that believes that God lives in trees, so these people go and worship trees, a forrest must be of great interest to them!
Now, based on YOUR religion you would probably see this as pointless, going upto a tree in a park and worshipping it.
There are others that sacrifice animals by slitting the throat (while it's alive) allowing it to bleed to death, you again would see this as a waste of time or 100% going against what you believe.
Based on that, it could be argued there is no difference between me and you in that we both have a view that 'certain' acts of worship are of no value.

I hope you will see pint of view, and understand that with ABSOLUTELY no belief in any God, with absolutely no chance that anything will ever in my life change my mind, i would be incredibly hypocritical to turn up to church this Sunday.