Atheists: What If You Are Wrong?

[Gadarene]

Atheists, do you ever worry what will happen to you if you are wrong in your disbelief in God and He really does exist.

Christians - do you ever worry what will happen to you if the Muslims are right?

Do you find the thought of there being no afterlife depressing?

No. It is what it is.

 

[Gadarene]

How do Atheists conquer the fear of hell? Especially if they have come from a Christian background and been raised to believe in such things?

Apart from not being convinced it exists, developing a sense of integrity. If it turns out I am wrong, any deity has no moral justification to send me to hell over a simple disagreement.

Beyond that, learn to appreciate and maximise your life to the fullest.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I just can't get over the fact that someone would ask how anyone would get over the fear of something they don't think exists, it boggles my mind.

 

[Gadarene]

I just can't get over the fact that someone would ask how anyone would get over the fear of something they don't think exists, it boggles my mind.

Indeed, one must be convinced of the existence of something before one can fear it. It is the sort of the question that shows that the asker is struggling to think outside of their own worldview.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Indeed, one must be convinced of the existence of something before one can fear it. It is the sort of the question that shows that the asker is struggling to think outside of their own worldview.

Although what bugs me most is the Confederate flags in the OPs avatar pic.

 

[Texas Ranger]

Although what bugs me most is the Confederate flags in the OPs avatar pic.

Why would that concern you?

 

[lesliedellow]

Also, Pascal's Wager has long since been destroyed. What if you are wrong and you should have been worshipping Vishnu this whole time?

Not quite.

If atheists are right, oblivion awaits. If they are wrong, some flavour of hell awaits.

If Christians are right, heaven awaits. If they are wrong, either oblivion or some other religion's version of hell awaits.

Either way, Christians, Muslims, Jews, and other theists, are at least in with a chance of eternal life.

 

[KnowtheSilence]

If atheists are right, oblivion awaits. If they are wrong, some flavour of hell awaits.

Not necessarily. I'm not going to Hell if Hinduism or Buddhism are true, for instance.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Not quite.

If atheists are right, oblivion awaits. If they are wrong, some flavour of hell awaits.

If Christians are right, heaven awaits. If they are wrong, either oblivion or some other religion's version of hell awaits.

Either way, Christians, Muslims, Jews, and other theists, are at least in with a chance of eternal life.

You do understand that "chance" is minuscule should a deity care how or what you worship. For all we know it is a deity of a religion which has died out, lost to time, and everyone is equally hell bound

 

[PsychoSarah]

Why would that concern you?

-_- because of what they represent.

 

[Texas Ranger]

-_- because of what they represent.

It is a symbol of resistance to tyranny, and the right of self government. What's the problem?

 

[PsychoSarah]

It is a symbol of resistance to tyranny, and the right of self government. What's the problem?

they also symbolize slavery

 

[lesliedellow]

You do understand that "chance" is minuscule should a deity care how or what you worship. For all we know it is a deity of a religion which has died out, lost to time, and everyone is equally hell bound

If he allowed that to happen, he wasn't much of a deity.

 

[PsychoSarah]

If he allowed that to happen, he wasn't much of a deity.

That deity might be a jerk, who knows?

 

[Mediate]

Atheists, do you ever worry what will happen to you if you are wrong in your disbelief in God and He really does exist. Do you find the thought of there being no afterlife depressing?

I imagine that question is probably the one that motivates the majority of christians to be christians. 'What if I go to hell?'

Of course, admitting it would be contrary to many of the doctrines of the hellfire churches but nonetheless, I would imagine a fair few sheep have been called to the herd for the threat of being thrown from the cliff.

 

[variant]

Assuming god is reasonable.

If God exists and is insane we have a bigger problem, and there would be no basis in trusting such a being when it supposedly makes a promise.

Pascals wager fails because belief isn't something you can flip on and off like a light switch and fake belief wouldn't be good enough for a God that required it. So you can't believe "just in case" you either believe or you don't.

In the case of an insane God pascals wager fails because God is insane and you can't trust a word it says, so believing doesn't necessarily make a difference.

 

[Texas Ranger]

they also symbolize slavery

Only to the ignorant. It is actually the Confederate battle flag. If you want to see the real Confederate flag, visit Texas. It's the same flag.
I hate it that most are so ignorant on this subject. I have ancestors that fought on both sides of that war. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, they fought each other.
I for one do not need anyone's permission to honor my ancestors.

 

[variant]

Only to the ignorant. It is actually the Confederate battle flag. If you want to see the real Confederate flag, visit Texas. It's the same flag.
I hate it that most are so ignorant on this subject. I have ancestors that fought on both sides of that war. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, they fought each other.
I for one do not need anyone's permission to honor my ancestors.

As the confederates rebelled for their slaves, nothing you do can make them more honorable.

 

[variant]

Also.

Do you find yourself believing because you are afraid of hell, or because you wish to live forever?

Atheists generally answer questions like "is there a God" on the merits of the evidence or arguments for or against rather than basing it on how it will effect them personally.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Only to the ignorant. It is actually the Confederate battle flag. If you want to see the real Confederate flag, visit Texas. It's the same flag.
I hate it that most are so ignorant on this subject. I have ancestors that fought on both sides of that war. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, they fought each other.
I for one do not need anyone's permission to honor my ancestors.

Look dude, who is going to recognize the difference at a glance? And since when is the flag of Texas look like a Confederate flag? You want a symbol of battle and self-sovereignty, that's fine, but you shouldn't pick something that is going to be mistaken as being racist more than it will be recognized as you intend. It would be like someone using that cross that unfortunately resembles the Nazi swastica. Sure, obviously that individual wouldn't intend that, but is it really worth it to invite yourself a chance to try to make people feel stupid because they didn't notice the small details that make your flags slightly different than normal Confederate flags? Also, they still are racist.