Believers, how would you tell the difference between these two situations?

Question

1) You believe in a god that does not exist. You interpret positive events/feelings as rewards/boons from this non-existent god and negative events/feelings as punishments from this non-existent god (or his antipode).
2) You believe in a god that does exist and who takes an active role in rewarding prayer/need and punishing bad behavior.

Imagine yourself in both positions. From this perspective, could you tell the difference?

Answer 1

Interesting mental exercise :)
Let me answer from a non christian point of view.

I believe in many Gods. But I DO NOT interpret positive events/feelings as rewards/boons and negative events/feelings as punishments. No way.
I believe I am responsible for my actions and positive happenings are results of me acting well and interpreting the conditions in my surroundings well enough to achieve some gain from them - and vice versa.
My belief teaches to take responsibility for my actions, and not blame everything on Gods.
However, the Gods may of course take an active interest in my life, too. I believe I have learned to differ between the elated feeling of Gods' presence and the everyday feeling of success.
It isn't at all as simple as to:
"ask for something->have it granted = good gods favour me"
"ask for something->not have it granted = i angered gods"
This is a very simplistic, black-and-white way of looking at religion. It might work in fundie cases, but it certainly doesn't in a belief where gods have complex personalities on their own, which often contradict one another - on purpose. None of that "allmightly love you all but you'll burn in hell anyway". My Gods DO take active interest in our lives. But they do it the way it suits *them*.

Answer 2

The answer is quite simple. No one could tell the difference unless Mr. God popped out from the heavens and showed us all his omniscient omnipotence in person. Exegesis is so rampant amongst all those 'of religion' and everyone's interpretations are different. A man may commit adultery or have more than one goat and figure, hey, what he did isn't soooo bad; he'll still go to heaven if he prostrates himself before the Lord and promises not to ever, ever do it again. At least not until next week, when he will return to church to genuflect some more. Another man might be a homophobic ding-dong who steals shopping carts from Price-Rite and is having an affair with his first cousin. He too believes he will be forgiven - after all, only them homersexuals are really goin' ter Hell. In other words, religious people bend and twist their book and their god as they please.

I want to say that this is not the case for some but reality tells us it's the same for all. There are many Christians I love here and they base their Biblical interpretations upon the goodness of God and as such are charitable, sweet, and empathic. Still - an interpretation of God's goodness or his glory is STILL an interpretation. The Bible is there for all to read. I have read it. You've read it. The God of the Bible isn't always nice & kind. He is more often bigoted and violent toward his creations. For those whose values are dependent upon Jesus' compassion there are 100 who believe God is a punishing tyrant. (Punishing all but themselves, I imagine). Either way, since God has never appeared nor left any proof of his existence (and no, looking at the pretty sky all around me is NOT proof of any sort of God-figure), all is subjective. It's Pascal's Wager all over again. If he exists, they are all rewarded. If he doesn't, well, they probably won't know it anyway once they're underground.

The Christian God is one of the most popular gods around, and there were like a bazillion gods way back when. But this one is the right one. Of course. The Bible says so. And God says so in the Bible. There is ultimately no way whatsoever to know the difference in existence. At least not until the Rapture, when God comes, takes his 144,000 and leaves all the rest of us to sort it out in Hell.

(((AZ)))

Answer 3

From a believers point of view the only difference is whether the god exists.

We think there is a God.

I do not believe in a deity that offers rewards or punishment. I am on my own here.

Answer 4

In your hypothetical example, you couldn't tell teh difference.

However, if those were in facts your beliefs, you would not be following the beliefs that Christians hold.

I know my God exists because I can see how he interacts in my life when I walk with him and I can see how he doesn't interact in my life when I choose not to walk with him and go my own way instead. It's not about good stuff vs bad stuff though.

Answer 5

The god in situation one, because he does not exist, would never send his son to earth to reveal himself. Therefore, there would be no real justification for believing in him.

The God in situation two sent His only begotten Son to the earth. That Son told people about Him, worked miracles on His behalf, and demonstrated His power in the ultimate miracle of His own resurrection. That God gave proof to those who lived during that time, and it is their testimony, revealed through the New Testament Scriptures, that we can rely on to learn of Him, know Him, and enter into a personal relationship with Him, even though we cannot now see Him face to face.

BUT WE WILL SOMEDAY!....... I hope you will be ready!

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Answer 6

First of all I don't believe in a non-existent god, but I do believe in the living God.

You might want to get a little more creative with your questions, Thank you

Answer 7

I could tell the difference.
You have never seeked God. So you don't know Him to be real. Don't tell me you have been to church and it did nothing for you, but tell me you got on your knees and SEEKED Him, then I will see your questions or beliefs as relevant. Because God is a God who can't lie and says Seek him you will find.....I am not trying to be rude, I am telling you like it is.

Answer 8

That's why faith is necessary. Oh, and it helps to have all the miracles, visions, and other manifestations, not to mention all the teachings of prophets who have spoken with God.

Answer 9

Yes the diffrence is that 1. we are not crazy like ya'll want to beleive 2. If you do what the Bible says what the bible says will happen happens.

for u what is negative about beleiving in God either

1. Christians are right and you go to hell
2. christians are wrong we all die nothing happens

i answered yours please answer mine. GOD BLESS

Answer 10

You had me at 'Believers'. sigh... I'm just here to bask under your razor sharp wit, Acid, if you don't mind.