Here's how I explain my lack of belief in a god or any type of all knowing, all seeing omnipotent being to people that inquire about why I don't believe in god. Simply put, I live my life as well as I know how. I don't steal, or kill people, I try not to be dishonest(telling your kids that Santa exists isn't really lying is it?), basically I try as much as I can to live in harmony with my fellow organisims. But I don't believe in god, satan, heaven, or hell. Furthermore, I don't accept the notion that my passage into some type of afterlife paradise should be dependant on believing. The way I see it, if there is a pre-requisite for passage of my soul into a paradise then regardless of my attendance in a temple, or even believeing in the existance of said paradise, as long as I live a fair and "good" life I should still get in. Shouldn't I? Now let me be clear. I DO NOT believe in heaven, hell, god, satan etc..but I fully admit that I don't know for sure. It's more of a logical conclusion on my part, based on the evidence at hand . I guess you could say that if I had to wager everything I own on whether or not there was any kind of afterlife...I'd bet on not. That I know. Here's my opinion. If there truly is an all knowing, all seeing being that created the universe, the earth and everything that's in existence, then went on to create a "heaven" where the souls of all living things can go when they die, why should he/she/it be concerned about whether or not I believe it? Seems to me that the basic premise(outside of slave-ish devotion) of the major faiths is "Be nice, try not to act like an asshole" That being said, most people, regardless of their beliefs should be in the club right? Frankly, any being that dictates that my ultimate salvation is DEPENDANT on my belief in that entity seems a little tyrannical. Almost like a dictator or movie arch villan(think Sauron from LOTR or the Galactic Emperor from Star Wars). That doesn't seem right. I mean if we had a political ruler like that it would be grounds for violent revolution!! Religious types are always telling me, God loves you, God is the ultimate good, God wants the best for people, God wants you in heaven etc... Now should this entity exist and these things be true then god really shouldn't care if I buy into it's existence, but if I hedge my bets and live my life as a good person he/she/it should still let me into the the VIP line at the nightclub in "Heaven" without having to believe. Thoughts?
I think you should. Thousands wouldn't. The Paulist approach emphasizes justification by faith alone, and many Evangelical Protestants carry this idea to its extreme: A person who lives a life similar to Mother Teresa but doesn't accept Jesus as his/her personal savior will burn in hell for all eternity, while Charles Manson, if he had a deathbed conversion, would go straight to Heaven without passing go. I think you're doing the right thing by rejecting that notion. The case for doing so is rooted in reason, judgment and intuition about what is fair. I agree with you, and think you deserve to be applauded for your moral sense and your courage.
From what I know and I'll admit its not a terrible amount in regards to the subject but the God of the old testament is pretty tyrannical and ruthless. So going simply based on that and foresaking your intuition, Im not so sure that is all that safe of a bet. I don't see what your human 'logic' would really have to do with the scenario. Almost by the same logic you would assume that one could choose if they wanted to be born or not. That being said I kind of hold the same view as you in that I don't believe in the social afterlife clubs of heaven and hell but I do think there are some flaws in this way of thinking about the issue.
Well i you are talking to me..Afterlife is an oxymoron. "The grave is a calm and quiet pace. But none i fear do there embrace" "Death is not something that happens to you you . It is the end of all happening" wise words. NONE have yet shown them false. but HOPE and FAITH
was more directed towards the op. I was trying to keep my comments within the framework of his/her argument.
