Topic: Atheists do you have your doubts? What if you are wrong?
Anonymous A started this discussion 15 years ago #4,403
Let's try to keep this serious, it's an honest question.
If you are wrong, you will regret it for eternity.
What makes you so sure that god doesn't exist? Who gave you the idea of atheism? Your parents?
inb4:
> only trolls have opinions on controversial subjects!
If you are wrong, you will regret it for eternity.
What makes you so sure that god doesn't exist? Who gave you the idea of atheism? Your parents?
inb4:
> only trolls have opinions on controversial subjects!
(Edited 42 seconds later.)
Anonymous A (OP) double-posted this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later[^] [v] #78,605
(Citing a deleted or non-existent reply.)
Yea, "lol", maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I am talking to myself (how silly!). I might be wasting a little time. Maybe being moral won't be rewarded in the afterlife.
Or maybe you are wrong. Maybe atheism will cost you eternity in heaven.
If someone offered you a chance to play a betting game, where $10 was the fee to play, and a flip of the coin would either win you nothing or win you one million dollars, wouldn't you play? Even though you have a little to lose, you have much more to gain.
Yea, "lol", maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I am talking to myself (how silly!). I might be wasting a little time. Maybe being moral won't be rewarded in the afterlife.
Or maybe you are wrong. Maybe atheism will cost you eternity in heaven.
If someone offered you a chance to play a betting game, where $10 was the fee to play, and a flip of the coin would either win you nothing or win you one million dollars, wouldn't you play? Even though you have a little to lose, you have much more to gain.
(Edited 1 minute later.)
Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 6 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,606
> If you are wrong, you will regret it for eternity.
Not necessarily. If I'm wrong about the Judeo-Christian god I will regret it for eternity. If I'm wrong about Zeus, I may or may not regret it for eternity, and if God rewards atheists and punishes the religious, I won't regret it. There are so many thousands mutually incompatible branches of religions that pretty much everyone, religious and non-religious alike, should expect to go to hell as a matter of probability anyway, so I'm no worse off than any religious person is.
> What makes you so sure that god doesn't exist?
I'm not certain he doesn't exist, I just haven't heard a compelling argument that he does.
> Who gave you the idea of atheism? Your parents?
Partially. I was still religious until I was like 16-17 when I watched debates about God's existence and saw how weak the arguments in favor of His existence were. Since the arguments were weak, I felt that belief in God was unwarranted and so I stop believing in him. That's all there is to it.
Not necessarily. If I'm wrong about the Judeo-Christian god I will regret it for eternity. If I'm wrong about Zeus, I may or may not regret it for eternity, and if God rewards atheists and punishes the religious, I won't regret it. There are so many thousands mutually incompatible branches of religions that pretty much everyone, religious and non-religious alike, should expect to go to hell as a matter of probability anyway, so I'm no worse off than any religious person is.
> What makes you so sure that god doesn't exist?
I'm not certain he doesn't exist, I just haven't heard a compelling argument that he does.
> Who gave you the idea of atheism? Your parents?
Partially. I was still religious until I was like 16-17 when I watched debates about God's existence and saw how weak the arguments in favor of His existence were. Since the arguments were weak, I felt that belief in God was unwarranted and so I stop believing in him. That's all there is to it.
hamfist !!H5dpJbHDI joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 33 seconds later, 6 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,607
Atheist status:Told []
PENN & TOLDER [X]
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 13 seconds later, 7 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,608
Every few years Pascal's Wager becomes a popular evangelical argument. It seems to be coming around again.
(Edited 13 seconds later.)
hamfist !!H5dpJbHDI replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 9 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,611
Also, we should ban TV Evangelists
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 13 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,614
@78,606 (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)
> Not necessarily. If I'm wrong about the Judeo-Christian god I will regret it for eternity.
Yes.
> if God rewards atheists and punishes the religious,
Let's use some of that "reason" you atheists love so much, why would God reward people that said he didn't exist, and punish those that said he did? C'mon you're smarter than this.
> There are so many thousands mutually incompatible branches of religions
1/3 of the world is a Christian. There is a reason Christians have done so well, and that's because of God's help. You can't pretend it's just as likely as a religion you pull out of your ass.
> >What makes you so sure that god doesn't exist?
> I'm not certain he doesn't exist, I just haven't heard a compelling argument that he does.
Well then, what's the compelling argument he doesn't exist? None? Then why aren't you a theist? It works both ways, sweetie.
> Partially. I was still religious until I was like 16-17 when I watched debates about God's existence and saw how weak the arguments in favor of His existence were. Since the arguments were weak, I felt that belief in God was unwarranted and so I stop believing in him. That's all there is to it.
Judging a king by the actions of his subjects, are you?
> Not necessarily. If I'm wrong about the Judeo-Christian god I will regret it for eternity.
Yes.
> if God rewards atheists and punishes the religious,
Let's use some of that "reason" you atheists love so much, why would God reward people that said he didn't exist, and punish those that said he did? C'mon you're smarter than this.
> There are so many thousands mutually incompatible branches of religions
1/3 of the world is a Christian. There is a reason Christians have done so well, and that's because of God's help. You can't pretend it's just as likely as a religion you pull out of your ass.
> >What makes you so sure that god doesn't exist?
> I'm not certain he doesn't exist, I just haven't heard a compelling argument that he does.
Well then, what's the compelling argument he doesn't exist? None? Then why aren't you a theist? It works both ways, sweetie.
> Partially. I was still religious until I was like 16-17 when I watched debates about God's existence and saw how weak the arguments in favor of His existence were. Since the arguments were weak, I felt that belief in God was unwarranted and so I stop believing in him. That's all there is to it.
Judging a king by the actions of his subjects, are you?
Anonymous A (OP) double-posted this 15 years ago, 48 seconds later, 14 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,615
(Citing a deleted or non-existent reply.)
Okay, what in your "independant experience" proved that god didn't exist?
Okay, what in your "independant experience" proved that god didn't exist?
Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 15 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,617
I'm very unsure about my opinion of whether God exists or not. The idea of atheism for me came mostly from online forums. Don't judge: 4chan. I was being exposed to an atheist environment, which was something new for me. There were a lot of "durr atheism vs religion" threads and whatnot. I was one of those faggots that would rage at the atheists. Then I really started reading and understanding what they had to say, it sort of made sense. I haven't been attached to God for a good year now. I'm slowly starting to deny his existence as the days go by. There are moments in my life though when I am terrified for my life and say a prayer I know by heart. It's probably just a delusion of "hope" and habit though. My parent's just think I'm not religious. If they were to find out I didn't believe in God, they'd probably blame every single aspect of my life and actions. But never themselves. ;)
hamfist !!H5dpJbHDI replied with this 15 years ago, 13 seconds later, 15 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,618
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 16 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,620
Anonymous A (OP) double-posted this 15 years ago, 5 minutes later, 21 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,627
Sometimes people wonder why there are challenges, and hardships in life when God can just make everything better.
Ever played an "MMORPG"? Ever wonder why the admins don't just give everyone infinite gold, and the best levels? It wouldn't be fun to play, would it? There would be no advancement once you had everything, nothing would get better, everything would get boring fast.
Anonymous F replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 24 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,629
@78,620 (A)
I just looked at the biological perspective of life and it made better sense to me then "hey the earth was created in 6 days, adam and eve ate the apple... mmkaay. Deal with it." Also, a lot of books are out there that have extraordinary evidence about the scientific side of the universe coming to be. That's all that ever intrigued my mind. How things to be, how we exist...etc. I never cared too much for religion or what was a sin, and what was not.
I just looked at the biological perspective of life and it made better sense to me then "hey the earth was created in 6 days, adam and eve ate the apple... mmkaay. Deal with it." Also, a lot of books are out there that have extraordinary evidence about the scientific side of the universe coming to be. That's all that ever intrigued my mind. How things to be, how we exist...etc. I never cared too much for religion or what was a sin, and what was not.
Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU replied with this 15 years ago, 50 seconds later, 25 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,631
@78,614 (A)
> Let's use some of that "reason" you atheists love so much, why would God reward people that said he didn't exist, and punish those that said he did? C'mon you're smarter than this.
The biblical God may have said that, but notice I never said "If the biblical god rewards atheists", I just said "if God rewards atheists". Surely you noticed that distinction.
> 1/3 of the world is a Christian.
Yes, but if say the southern baptists are right, then the Catholics are really fucked because they're preaching a false gospel. Substitute any branch of Christianity for "catholic" and "southern baptist" and you'll see what I mean when I said that religious people are no more likely to go to heaven than atheists.
> There is a reason Christians have done so well, and that's because of God's help.
So you assert, but you haven't demonstrated that is the case.
> You can't pretend it's just as likely as a religion you pull out of your ass.
I'm not pretending, and I don't need to pull religions out of my ass, there are already enough of them around to show that the odds of being right are very slim (hinduism, bahai, islam, jainism, ancient canaanite religions, native american religions, etc. all make incompatible claims).
> Well then, what's the compelling argument he doesn't exist? None? Then why aren't you a theist? It works both ways, sweetie.
That's a huge, fundamental misunderstanding of the burden of proof. Religions claim "God exists!". I say "Prove that claim". They fail to do it. I am justified in not believing that claim. I do not say that God does not exist, I simply say that I am not convinced that he does.
> Judging a king by the actions of his subjects, are you?
No. I'm judging a claim based on the arguments in favor of it. The arguments are not compelling, so I'm don't believe the claim. It's quite simple.
> Let's use some of that "reason" you atheists love so much, why would God reward people that said he didn't exist, and punish those that said he did? C'mon you're smarter than this.
The biblical God may have said that, but notice I never said "If the biblical god rewards atheists", I just said "if God rewards atheists". Surely you noticed that distinction.
> 1/3 of the world is a Christian.
Yes, but if say the southern baptists are right, then the Catholics are really fucked because they're preaching a false gospel. Substitute any branch of Christianity for "catholic" and "southern baptist" and you'll see what I mean when I said that religious people are no more likely to go to heaven than atheists.
> There is a reason Christians have done so well, and that's because of God's help.
So you assert, but you haven't demonstrated that is the case.
> You can't pretend it's just as likely as a religion you pull out of your ass.
I'm not pretending, and I don't need to pull religions out of my ass, there are already enough of them around to show that the odds of being right are very slim (hinduism, bahai, islam, jainism, ancient canaanite religions, native american religions, etc. all make incompatible claims).
> Well then, what's the compelling argument he doesn't exist? None? Then why aren't you a theist? It works both ways, sweetie.
That's a huge, fundamental misunderstanding of the burden of proof. Religions claim "God exists!". I say "Prove that claim". They fail to do it. I am justified in not believing that claim. I do not say that God does not exist, I simply say that I am not convinced that he does.
> Judging a king by the actions of his subjects, are you?
No. I'm judging a claim based on the arguments in favor of it. The arguments are not compelling, so I'm don't believe the claim. It's quite simple.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 26 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #78,632
(Citing a deleted or non-existent reply.)
> Religion and 'God' divorce you from your reality, from your nature, from everything that makes you know and learn, and from that, to flourish.
I've always said that about science. People stop looking at things and admring them for what they are, but instead "look through" them to what they have been told in class. That's not a baby! that's a bunch of cells! That's not free will! That's just psychology, and a fatalic system following the laws of physics at the molecular level.
A baby is a baby. A person is a person. Science dehumamizes, and tries to get us to think about things in ways that have us ignore what's in front of our eyes.
> Religion and 'God' divorce you from your reality, from your nature, from everything that makes you know and learn, and from that, to flourish.
I've always said that about science. People stop looking at things and admring them for what they are, but instead "look through" them to what they have been told in class. That's not a baby! that's a bunch of cells! That's not free will! That's just psychology, and a fatalic system following the laws of physics at the molecular level.
A baby is a baby. A person is a person. Science dehumamizes, and tries to get us to think about things in ways that have us ignore what's in front of our eyes.
(Edited 1 minute later.)
Anonymous G joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 3 hours later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,688
God told me in a vision that he doesn't exist, so that's how I know I'm right.
Saturn !khEOdtKF56 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 53 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,706
Atheists BELIEVE that God doesn't exist the same way Christians BELIEVE God exists. We don't know if he exists or doesn't exist but we believe he doesn't.
Anyway I went to a Catholic school and I use to troll the nun with my anti religion arguments she use to rage so hard.
Also had a huge argument with my mother becaue I told her I was an atheist.
She told me I was going to hell, I lol'd so hard that day.
Anyway I went to a Catholic school and I use to troll the nun with my anti religion arguments she use to rage so hard.
Also had a huge argument with my mother becaue I told her I was an atheist.
She told me I was going to hell, I lol'd so hard that day.
(Edited 59 seconds later.)
Unintentional Jackass !LASXURl1b6 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 9 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,708
@78,614 (A)
That is surely the best way to judge a king. If a king is a good king, his subjects will be good, wealthy and kind. If he is a bad king, his subjects will be dying liars and thieves
That is surely the best way to judge a king. If a king is a good king, his subjects will be good, wealthy and kind. If he is a bad king, his subjects will be dying liars and thieves
DrGreen !pFNWNYROxA joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 7 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,710
I'm hoping God smiles on me today.
Charles T. Oakland joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 23 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,712
Or, you know, Deity will just not preserve their souls, so in the end, it's exactly the outcome they expected?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+9:5&version=NIV
Yup, seems like at least the Bible is okay with this theory.
http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=89135
Hm, interesting.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+9:5&version=NIV
Yup, seems like at least the Bible is okay with this theory.
http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=89135
Hm, interesting.
Charles T. Oakland double-posted this 15 years ago, 50 seconds later, 5 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,713
Yes, we know it's you MM.
Leo Vegas !gNoGoD5HzQ joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,719
Ok. Honest answer a la Ricky Gervais. If there is a god and I am an atheist then why did he make me?
Anonymous M joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,721
advi !!3gpAcg/hF joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,729
because god appears to be an artificial construct of man, and if I want to believe in something made up, i'll pick something awesome like a flying unicorn with laser eyes
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 6 hours later, 13 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,860
@78,708 (Unintentional Jackass !LASXURl1b6)
Many Christians volunteer, and are very charitble friendly people. You cannot say god doesn't exist because one Christian doesn't convince you. Talk to others. Some atheists are murderer's, does that mean Richard Dawkins is a murderer?
Many Christians volunteer, and are very charitble friendly people. You cannot say god doesn't exist because one Christian doesn't convince you. Talk to others. Some atheists are murderer's, does that mean Richard Dawkins is a murderer?
The Owl !KThEOwLwbU joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 13 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,861
cat !COOOOOLbus joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 39 minutes later, 14 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,869
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 14 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,870
@previous (cat !COOOOOLbus)
I'm a Christian and also a murderer? Not possible, the 10 commandments prohibit killing, so if someone does kill they are no longer a Christian.
I'm a Christian and also a murderer? Not possible, the 10 commandments prohibit killing, so if someone does kill they are no longer a Christian.
Anonymous Q joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 15 minutes later, 14 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,873
You got told by Fake Anon.
Anonymous R joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 25 seconds later, 14 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,874
@78,870 (A)
> guys it's against a rule so it's literally impossible to do it
In some cases, Christianity came to prominence when people used it as an excuse to do bad things to people and expect divine forgiveness for it.
> guys it's against a rule so it's literally impossible to do it
In some cases, Christianity came to prominence when people used it as an excuse to do bad things to people and expect divine forgiveness for it.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 15 minutes later, 14 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,883
@previous (R)
> >guys it's against a rule so it's literally impossible to do it
*sigh* This isn't what I said, and you know it. This is getting sad.
Someone can go to church, call themselves a Christian, but once they kill someone they prove they aren't actually a Christian. Just as no one is both a soldier and a pacifist.
> hurr but pacifists aren't bound by those rules, they can break them.
And the second they do, they are not longer pacifists.
> >guys it's against a rule so it's literally impossible to do it
*sigh* This isn't what I said, and you know it. This is getting sad.
Someone can go to church, call themselves a Christian, but once they kill someone they prove they aren't actually a Christian. Just as no one is both a soldier and a pacifist.
> hurr but pacifists aren't bound by those rules, they can break them.
And the second they do, they are not longer pacifists.
Anonymous R replied with this 15 years ago, 22 minutes later, 15 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,902
@previous (A)
> but once they kill someone they prove they aren't actually a Christian.
People are Christians if they believe they are. That is how religion itself works: faith. No central power or authority actually controls it; the Bible is just a set of guidelines. A member of a religion will believe what they want to believe; how do you think Protestantism branched off in the first place?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman
> but once they kill someone they prove they aren't actually a Christian.
People are Christians if they believe they are. That is how religion itself works: faith. No central power or authority actually controls it; the Bible is just a set of guidelines. A member of a religion will believe what they want to believe; how do you think Protestantism branched off in the first place?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 15 minutes later, 15 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,915
DrGreen !pFNWNYROxA replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 15 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,916
Fuck God. He didn't help me, so now he doesn't exist.
totoforhire !!Phkn/3Gic joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 13 seconds later, 15 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,917
Anonymous R replied with this 15 years ago, 6 minutes later, 15 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,925
@previous (totoforhire !!Phkn/3Gic)
Do you mean that as in I'm correct or as in "get a load of this guy"?
Do you mean that as in I'm correct or as in "get a load of this guy"?
totoforhire !!Phkn/3Gic replied with this 15 years ago, 8 minutes later, 15 hours after the original post[^] [v] #78,935
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 17 hours after the original post[^] [v] #79,022
The Owl !KThEOwLwbU replied with this 15 years ago, 3 hours later, 20 hours after the original post[^] [v] #79,265
@78,883 (A)
> once they kill someone they prove they aren't actually a Christian
One is a Christian if they accept Christ as the Jewish messiah.
> once they kill someone they prove they aren't actually a Christian
One is a Christian if they accept Christ as the Jewish messiah.
Saturn !khEOdtKF56 replied with this 15 years ago, 8 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #79,437
@previous (The Owl !KThEOwLwbU)
^
Just because you kill someone it doesn't automatically make you a non-Christian.
What about all those Christian crusades or murders who find god in prison?
We are all sinners.
^
Just because you kill someone it doesn't automatically make you a non-Christian.
What about all those Christian crusades or murders who find god in prison?
We are all sinners.
drea mworks joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 3 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #79,454
What makes you so sure Allah doesn't exist?