Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric Tawney on October 27, 2012 at 6:12pm

I've usually asked the same question back to the zealot who is brave (or rude) enough to ask it.

I then explain that they are the one being arrogant by assuming that the god who rules the universe is also the same god you ask to help the Packers win the Superbowl ( or make me not late to work, or help me find the car keys...name any trivial situation here). What kind of arrogance does that take!? If your god exists and he can excuse you for this kind of hubris, I'm sure he'll forgive me for believing in reality.

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Permalink Reply by shavante williams on November 22, 2012 at 12:08am

Basically using "God" as a crutch and a scape goat

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Cosgrove on November 24, 2012 at 1:33am

Agreed - to me religion = abdication of responsibility. If things go well he/she gets credit and if they go badly, I am being tested. What a great gig! Talk about win win for the god thing.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Wesner on October 27, 2012 at 6:57pm

If the heavens opened and god spake unto me and saith: "Jer, you're gonna die in five minutes.  If you return to the faith you were taught as a child, you can spend eternity with me in heaven.  If not, you take your chances.  What'll it be?" I'd have to saith right back "Thanks for the offer, but I couldn't claim to accept all that and not throw up.  I'll take my chances.  Most likely, it'll be over.  Next best, I can spend eternity (you do realize that's far too long?) with the people like me.  That would have its points."

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Permalink Reply by shavante williams on November 22, 2012 at 12:07am

Break off from the mold

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Holmstrom on October 27, 2012 at 10:54pm

Well what if they're wrong? What if the truth was some now long dead religion? What if there's no objective truth at all? It's so subjective that I don't think anybody is wrong.. but I don't think anybody is right either.. since subjective is subjective. Cultural is cultural.

Pascal's Wager doesn't take into account the over 2780 Gods that people have believed in and the hundreds of afterlives. What if I'm wrong? What if YOU'RE wrong? ;)

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Permalink Reply by shavante williams on November 22, 2012 at 12:06am

I agree

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Permalink Reply by lucas ferguson on November 8, 2012 at 8:42am

It's a good question. No-one can absolutely prove or disprove religious claims, so for me it's a case of what is most likely to be true given the information and evidence available. And I might still be wrong after I've looked at all that.

If I'm wrong about Odin, but happen to die fighting a mugger, I'll end up in valhalla. Or I'll end up in hel if I die of old age.

If I'm wrong about Zeus but have lived a good life, I'll still go to the elysium fields.

If I'm wrong about christian baptism not being required to get into heaven, I'll join all the christians who were also wrong on that subject in hell.

Whether any gods exist or what religion is correct should be based on the evidence and reasoning, not merely picking a currently popular religion which has the worst consequences for unbelief.

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Permalink Reply by shavante williams on November 22, 2012 at 12:05am

Cool

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Permalink Reply by Michael Brice on November 8, 2012 at 1:21pm

I would reply that it is unlikely that I am wrong, but in the event that I am when I get to meet god I will have a list of some really tough questions for him/her/whatever.

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Permalink Reply by shavante williams on November 22, 2012 at 12:05am

Very nice and so will I

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Permalink Reply by TrueAtheist on November 21, 2012 at 11:59pm

I don't think we're wrong.

But here's my take on it. I don't believe in god. I just don't. If there's a punishment for that then I'm going to be punished. If that really is the case then I don't see a way around it.

I could go to church, spend hours reciting scripture, clasp my hands every night shut my eyes and say prayers, and I could do this all in the off chance that I just might be wrong and maybe, just maybe there is some higher being watching me do it all. The fact is, even if I did all that, it would be a complete lie.
 I don't believe in god. If god is as omnipotent and all knowing as everyone claims, then he / she / it, would know it's a lie and I'll be punished being a non-believer.

There's simply no point in pretending to believe in something I don't. That's the answer I give to Christians when asked this question.

Clearly I'm not worried about it. It's the same reason I don't take precautions on the off chance that Peter Pan is going to fly in through my kid's window and take him to Never Never Land.

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