The World’s Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

What If we're wrong??

One of the biggest questions asked of us who have publicly announced that we are non-believers is "What if your wrong?" Here's my theory: The story goes that god forgives those that ask for it right? Or if we are truly sorry then we will be forgiven and won't go to hell. If that's the case and we're wrong, will we be forgiven by christian and catholic logic? It makes no sense to me because I can ask a "believer" the exact same question and they will dance around it or just plainly say "I'm not wrong, GOD is real and your going to hell" (Kinda rude but ok lol)... Just trying to pick a few brains here.

P.S. I was asked this question 2 days ago and thought i'd get a few opinions.

6 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Simeone on October 24, 2012 at 11:11pm

I have to say that I really don't think there's any chance that we're wrong. So, I don't even worry about it. The idea that a supreme being is watching over everything is so beyond reality that I'm certain we're right. If someone wants to judge me because I don't believe in fantasies--let them.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by shavante williams on October 24, 2012 at 11:22pm

I Understand...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael J. McCleary on October 24, 2012 at 11:39pm

If I remember correctly, Shavante, you are referring to "Pascal's Wager" (Google it!) The great thing about being asked the "what if youre wrong?" question is that you can immediately put the believers faith in question. If god is all knowing and one must have true faith to reap the rewards of heaven than god would surely know when someone is believing "just in case". In my experience anyone asking an atheist that question is in the midst of a crisis of faith (even if they don't know it), and as a non-believer you then have a real shot at shaking their foundation and making them think. Hope that helps!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on February 13, 2013 at 6:27pm

Thanks, Michael. That a believer even knows Pascal's Wager is a start.

The few who cited it to challenge me knew only two of its four choices: the two that assume a god exists.

I point out the other two choices and hope I shake their foundation:

1) If no god exists and I comply with a religion's rules, I miss out on a lot of fun.

2) If no god exists and I ignore a religion's rules, then if the sheriff doesn't care, I don't.

Read #2 metaphorically, not literally; I'm not a sociopath.

I like to tell believers my favorite lines. In no particular order they are:

1) Religion is the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on humankind.

2) The more who look for happiness in another life, the fewer who want me to share this life's happiness.

3) God fucked up. I like to follow up with "Most boys discover wet dreams; few girls discover their equivalent."

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by shavante williams on October 25, 2012 at 8:09am

Very nice michael :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by booklover on October 25, 2012 at 8:25am

If we're wrong, and we're Not, I would ask this 'god' why he/she/it gave us the capacity to question him/her/it, and then punish us when we don't come to the right conclusion. No loving 'god' would do that. I love my children unconditionally. I am a better parent than 'god.'

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by shavante williams on October 25, 2012 at 10:08am

Kudos my friend.. very nice response :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on October 25, 2012 at 10:28am

I don't accept "God" as a legitimate concept. It's self-contraditory and makes no sense. Yes it seems to make sense if you think like a child. I see religion from memetics, as a self-perpetuating information entity like a computer virus, using human beings as a host.

Talking to a believer as if "God" makes sense is self defeating, like trying to reason with a drunk while pretending he has no alcohol problem. It's a waste of time.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by shavante williams on October 26, 2012 at 5:49pm

Well said ruth..

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Grinning Cat on October 25, 2012 at 10:43am

If we're wrong, and there is a god (that cares about us humans, etc., etc.), then given the universe, our planet, and our societies looking exactly as they would if there weren't one, she/he/it would have a lot of explaining to do!

Then again, the fundamentalists would have some explaining to do, themselves!

In Jim Huber's tract "Dead to Rights" (a parody of the Chick Publications tract "Last Rites") the publisher Jack Chick dies and meets his god face to face. It doesn't go quite as Chick imagined...

...