If only you knew the truth of God what would you do?

Question

Hypothetically speaking, if you had some way of definitively knowing God was not real would you tell the world and put an end to all religions or would you keep it to yourself and allow people the comfort of their beliefs? Also, could work the same if you had a fool proof way of knowing who/what is the true God. A friend asked me this earlier and was curious as to what others would do.

Answer 1

I would publish my proof and allow others to draw their own conclusions. I would not evangelize.

I can also read the subtext below this question...arguing the opposite: what if you knew god existed, would you want to share the good news?

The problem is that people conflate belief with faith with knowing as a matter of proven fact.


I have always been an atheist. OK, that is not completely true. I am not an atheist. I am not a believer. I am not an agnostic. I am none of these because the answer to god's existence is unimportant.

People ask what would convince me that god truly exists. While I am not sure, I am certainly open to any tangible evidence. I do not know what evidence would convince me because I believe it is impossible to prove the existence of god. What evidence would convince you that god does not exist? See the conumdrum: it is difficult to answer their question! See falsifiability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability ) for an explanation of theory and the rules of evidence.

Do not quote bible passages as evidence of god's existence. This is my standard of proof, not yours. However, if proof were proffered that convinced me god exists, I would change absolutely nothing in my life or my behavior. The existence or not of god does not matter. Like many humans I live a purposeful life and god does not add more purpose.

What if evidence were produced that convinced you god does not exist with certainty (evidence according to your standards of proof)? What would you change in your life?

- Would you stop evangelizing?
- Would you start sinning more?
- Would you stop helping those less fortunate than you?
- Would you feel that life is meaningless?

Let us examine one area Christians think about atheists. Christians seem to think non-believers hope that their good deeds will get them into heaven, should heaven really exist. The Torah (Old Testament) has a word for this: mitzvah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitzvah ). Many atheists such as myself perform mitzvahs not for the sake of getting an admission ticket into heaven, but because performing good deeds and helping those in need is the right thing to do. In other words, these are selfless acts.

Christians sometimes proffer Pascal’s Wager (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager ) suggesting to non-believers that they should accept Jesus (John 3:16) as some sort of insurance policy against hell, just in case it turns out god really exists. The fallacy with this line of reasoning is that faith in god for some reward or to avoid punishment is not faith at all. It is a selfish act to receive something in return for a belief. The point of religious belief so that one becomes a better person, not to receive a reward or please a spiritual being.

Even the Torah addresses sacrifices or any other act in an effort to please god as displeasing god.

So why do you believe in god? If it is to enter heaven, that is very selfish. If god, heaven, and hell do not exist, would you still perform mitzvahs and follow the Golden Rule or would you say what is the point? Mitzvahs are not meant to please god.

Many Christians also claim that only those who believe can live a moral life and those who do not believe in god have no moral compass. That implies that one lives a moral life, not because it is the right thing to do, but because god expects us to be moral. Again, the fallacy with this reasoning is that mitzvahs and morals should be followed because god or a holy book dictates rules to us and not for personal philosophical or spiritual reasons.

In summary, I have no stake in god's existence. I do not see existence of heaven or hell as a reward and punishment system. If the whole purpose of the Golden Rule preached by Jesus was to treat others and I would like to be treated, I can follow his philosophy without believing in god. What type of god would want me to pledge my fealty to him or her simply for the sake of believing or proving my allegiance? I would expect god is beyond pride and the need for some following.

For all those thumbs down votes, I ask you to examine your personal motivation for believing in god.

Why is the concept that one can perform selfless mitzvahs and possess moral values without belief in god so difficult for many Christians to comprehend?

Answer 2

WOW you got me thinking, theres a first on Answers.
(Thought process) Will I take away the only comfort some people have Or by taking away a false belief will I make these people do something to better their lives since there is no happy afterlife and make them realise that they are being duped by priests and mullahs and others who wish to keep them subservient.
OK second part of the above tell everyone.
If I could prove that a super being existed of course I would tell the world. Truth is probably good in both cases.

Answer 3

That is a hard question to answer. To KNOW for sure one way or another would be quite satisfying. If I knew for sure that there was no God, however I still did not know what the meaning of life was (if there even is one) then I would not tell Christians about it. They would not believe me anyway. Why try to burst their bubble if you have no real answers for them after you do it. They would be depressed.
On the flipside, if I knew that there was a God I would want to know everything about him or her or it before I would go around telling people.

Answer 4

Religion is a culture that for centuries is so bound up by ancient rituals, rites and cultures, it is a part of the everyday life and often the reason for living... so whether they are proven to be right or wrong, their beliefs should be respected... just as we would ask anyone else to respect our own beliefs. (because it is their belief)
Simply... the answer to this question is that you would lead by example... Not to demand that others follow... Just set your own example and live by it

Answer 5

The burden of proof is on those who say something exists .They've been sayingthat he does for thousands of years but they still have no proof.

No proof , no God.

God is a myth does not even qualify to be a theory.

Answer 6

True this true that, there can only be one truth. Bull ****.
I find it amazing the people can cheerfully discount 25k years worth of worship to convince themselves that 2000 worth is the only truth around.
Give me a break.

Answer 7

You are living in a world that someone else defined for you. You have believed the crap about not being able to know who God is. The bible was written so that you can definitely know God. You either do or your don't. Its that simple.

Answer 8

I would only tell those who were looking for the answer. It would be an excercise in futilty to try to tell those who don't care

Answer 9

If god did not exist, many human beings would make one up.

Answer 10

I know the truth of God, and it is written in the Bible for everyone to explore. I do share His Gospel, the good news that God loves us.