Wouldn't God forgive us since we don't know for sure?

Question

I am an agnostic. I think that atheists are just as silly, if not sillier, than theists, because who wouldn't want to have an afterlife? I certainly am holding out hope for there to be one, but we honestly can't be sure.

Anyway, so here's my actual question. If there is a god, and whoever it is does judge us, wouldn't he or she be understanding that we didn't believe because we really don't have any proof? Say, for example, god turns out to be in many forms like Hindus believe, or the god that Catholics believe in. And, when god confronted you for not believing, don't you think that god would be ok with your not believing since you really, logically, had no evidence to believe in god? And if you're going to cite religious text, there are SO MANY religions out there that all claim to be right. Wouldn't god be understanding if you said there honestly was no way besides faith in a certain religion to decide, and you held out hope but didn't choose because there's NO EVIDENCE?

Answer 1

All have sinned and all have fallen short of the glory of God.
It is the reason Christ came to the world to overcome temptation sin and death as a man for man.
Those who love and seek the truth will find him.
To those is given a gift from God called faith.
Through faith comes revelation of God.
Through revelation a personal relationship with God.

Answer 2

You misunderstand completely what an atheist is. An atheist does not believe in God. That's it. Being an agnostic has nothing to do with whether you believe in God or not. Agnostic means 'without knowledge', ie this is someone who does not KNOW if God exists. To that extent, we are all of us agnostic since none of us knows if God exists or not. Actual belief in the existence of God, rather than certainty either way, is entirely different. I am an atheist (I don't believe that God exists) but I am also agnostic since I am not, and can never be, 100% certain that he does or does not. People who DO believe in God are also agnostic since they cannot know either.

To the questioner: you either believe in God or you don't, it's as simple as that. If you don't, you are an atheist. Nothing else comes into it.

To answer your question (finally!) let's just hope that you're right and that if there is a god (or gods) he/she/they will understand what a mess everyone is in with all these different religions. On the other hand, maybe only atheists go to heaven because it's all God's big test and he only wants people who don't believe in silly ancient myths to be up there with him!

Answer 3

It is all based on your Faith. You have to have Faith, and the Word of God says that Faith comes by Hearing the Word of God. Once one hears the Word of God, then the Holy Spirit will begin a work on that person to give them the knowledge to understand the Word of God, and once that happens then they begin to believe it. Unbelievers will never understand the Bible, It was a gift from God for the Believers only. It was written so only those that believe can understand it, with the help of the Holy Spirit opening the Scriptures for them and giving them the knowledge of understanding. Thats why unbelievers argue with believers about the meaning of Scripture. The unbelievers simply do not have the knowledge to understand the Scriptures. They believe in their own mind that they are right, but they are in great error and don't even realize it.
If you would read the Bible and have a little faith in our Lord God, the Holy Spirit will open the Scriptures up for you to understand and you will see what I am talking about, and you will understand the Scriptures like you have never before.
And to answer your question, No, God will not understand, you have to make a choice on this side of the grave.Salvation is based on ones faith. Once you begin to understand the Scriptures, there you will find all the evidence you will ever need.

Answer 4

There actually is solid evidence and that is the Bible itself.
Most people would think "hey that's circular reasoning", but if you truly take the time to seek after God and study his word looking for Him, you *will* find him. The Bible has been my proof that God exists there is no other book like it on the face of the planet. It has the finger print of God on it and it cannot be replicated. If the Bible did not exist I would not believe in a God today and I would be an agnostic and think that there isn't a way to prove God exists as well.

Many people do not see the absolute awesomeness of the scriptures because their hearts are closed and they internally reject God. All they see are fables and contradictions and things they cannot understand. Hence God does not reveal anything greater to these people and He leaves them in their blindness. But if you have an open mind and are willing to search for Him with all your heart to find the truth you will find Him and He will reveal many things about the scriptures which prove His very existence.

Answer 5

I guess anything's possible, but isn't the concept of understanding a human construct? How do we know that this deity would even possess it?

I am agnostic, too, but I don't think atheists are silly. My brother is an atheist, and he isn't dis-believing because he doesn't want an afterlife. He's dis-believing, because he just doesn't believe. The part of the brain that is capable of that kind of fantasy isn't active in his wiring. I think if there is a God, and God has a human type of understanding, that not believing because one's brain isn't wired that way should be an automatic pass into heaven!

My brother has said before that he is envious of people who have a strong faith. He said life is so much simpler for them than for him. They have a built in reason for everything they think, do, or don't do, and it's spoon fed to them. He has to figure everything out for himself.

Answer 6

Not all atheists don't believe in an afterlife. But moving on.
For me atleast, I cannot control my beliefs. Things can influence and alter them, of course - and they can change. But I can't just decide one day that I'm going to believe in God (i am also agnostic) because I want to. You know - maybe one day I will, maybe some event in my life will cause me to, but if I do it's not going to be because I just decided I should. I don't have that kind of control over what I believe in - I'm not sure anyone does. SO, what I'm getting at is - if there is a God, and he is able to punish me for something I cannot help, then that seems pretty messed up. And I have every hope that if he does exist, it would be completely okay that I doubted his existence and never found it to be possible to determine if he were real - because it was something I could not help.

Answer 7

That is one of my biggest contentions with Christianity and their doctrine of hell.

Jesus makes several claims that people will appear claiming to be God or to know his will.

Why is it unacceptable to require measurable empirical evidence for God and his word in order to avoid being mislead to doom? Christians claim that you must first believe before being provided with a revelation or proof, wouldn't that open the door for temptation and fake Gods? Tangible evidence is required in order to avoid being misled to eternal torture at the hands of God right?

Regarding the sillyness of not wanting everlasting life, have you really considered it?

Everlasting life would end up turning into a prison. At some point, you will have exhausted, all the knowledge and experience in the universe because we know it is finite in size. That being the case, there would eventually come a point when there would be nothing of interest left to do, and you would still be facing eternity!!! Life would loose all meaning, achievement and purpose.

In essence people find meaning in life, trying to obtain eternal life that will eventually render life meaningless.

EDIT -- JT years of reading the bible and studying the canonization process proved that it was very contradictory and had been changed many times over, Have you read it bro? Do you know about the lives of the men who chose which books were 'inspired' and which ones weren't? Have you read the Dead Sea Scrolls written prior to any NT document that exists today? There is a reason why no original NT text exists, and why the Essenes wrote stories that appear in the life of Christ 100 years before he was meant to be born.

Answer 8

You are telling that, there's no evidence. Still, you are fearing him and thinking of getting his mercy. Is it not contrdictory?
Actually, everywhere there are evidences. Fact is that,you have to be logical to understand. However, God said in the Quran that, no direct proof of God's existence is given to human and God wants to see who believes in the unseen God.
Lastly, you can't be sure that God does not exist. So, what's the harm in believing?

Answer 9

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:12

the Bible is the evidence presented at this judgement against those who rejected the very gospel, the word made flesh, the son of God, Jesus Christ. who is the Judge by the way...

the Bible is just ONE of these books presented at this judgement. imagine God's library, He knows everything! be certain He has records on everything that everyone has done in secret. incedently the Bible is the most widely available book in the world, God loves the world indeed. that is why salvation is so simple... because He loves us. if a child of yours wandered away, you'd want to send it instructions as simply as possible in order to bring them home wouldn't you?

the Bible is God's love letter to us telling us where we can meet.

it is the evidence given, God's revelation book. if you reject the God of the Bible, don't show up to the judgement and throw yourself on the mercy of the court. don't expect mercy, it will not be given. if you want mercy you must have it in this life. upon death, you stand as you are before God. for your sake and the sake of everyone who reads this, i hope you'll be standing where the judgement of God already fell... on Jesus Christ. God can do all things but see my sin through the blood of His son.

Answer 10

Well, seeing the state how things are in now, I believe He is probably looking down and telling Himself how hard it must be for agnostics when it comes to religion. Personally, I have faith in God, I believe in God, I love God, and I try to live my life well, and remain educated about my own religion, and other religions, or lack there of. I truly believe God would forgive. He knows what really lies in the hearts of man, afterall.

Edit: And as someone stated, I think asking for forgiveness may pay a huge role in whether or not he would forgive you.