Do you ever worry

StormWarrior

That us non-believers are wrong and we might just end up burning in hellfire?:eek:

seamus

Do you ever worry that Santa Claus is actually real, but doesn't give you presents because you don't believe in him?

Dades

No, because the notion is so patently ridiculous.

Let's face it - only man could have come up with the concept of eternal torture for those who transgress.

JimiTime

Dades wrote: »

Let's face it - only man could have come up with the concept of eternal torture for those who transgress.

believe it or not, I'm right behind you on that.

Dave!

No, not at all.

Obni

Consider the unfortunate young bully who resolves to beat every small schoolboy that he encounters, each and every time he encounters them. The poor child would be exhausted and would have no time or energy to enjoy the benefits that come with a mass of cowering subjects.

Far more effective to convince them he can beat them all without expending any effort.

Intimidation is an effective and efficient management technique.



Anyway, short answer ... NO

5uspect

Well at least you'd know you were wrong.
The believers won't get that luxury if the non-believers are right.

Of course some might define that nastly place they speak of as non-existence so were screwed either way. Its all really very silly anyway.

Dades

Dades wrote: »

No, because the notion is so patently ridiculous.

Let's face it - only man could have come up with the concept of eternal torture for those who transgress.

+1

LaVidaLoca

imagine finding out that God did exist after all. But Hell? Its so obviously just a medieval invention to keep people in check.

In any case if God is in any way loving it couldnt exist: As there is no crime you could possibly commit (not even Hitler) for which it would be a just punishment - as it goes on for ever.

5uspect

If that God existed why bother with this life on this planet? Why not just let everyone be imortal from the start? He's just toying with us!

RedXIV

I'm pretty sure me and my mates will end up there if it turns out true. and sure if my mates are there, who gives a toss

Tim_Murphy

I’d wager that if and when an atheist were to think ‘I am wrong’ then they would invariably be asking that question in relation to whatever religion they happened to be indoctrinated in growing up. That really tells you all you need to know. I’d be shocked if many lapsed Catholics were to give a second thought to whether or not they are wrong about Allah, yet guilt and probably a combination of other factors may have been thinking twice about Christianity.

eoin5

Hell is a horrible invention that is very effective at putting the fear of god in children when they are very young. Then they tell them that god loves them deeply and that in his eyes they are special. Its child abuse to play with a kids brain like that.

gramlab

Sometimes when I'm outside at night and there is a clear sky I see all those nice shiny stars and think there must be more to all this (not allowed smoke in the house:rolleyes:)

Then I remember all the crap that goes on, and think if there is a god then he's twisted git who needs a good kick up the hole.

bnt

There's an old saying, about how it's better to die on your feet than live on your knees. I think it referred to war and conquest, in the original, but it makes sense in this context too. Any smart god - one worthy of worship - would rather see people living their lives to the full, than becoming sheep, watched over by some invisible shepherd. :rolleyes:

Beruthiel

StormWarrior wrote: »

That us non-believers are wrong and we might just end up burning in hellfire?:eek:

No.

Anyways, if it did exist, all the interesting people are there....

Charlie3dan

So let's say I arrive at the pearly gates and God wants an explanation. I think I'd say:

"Look I tried to to what was best for me, do right by others and live my life to full. If that's not enough for you, you aren't a God I want to worship anyway, so go ahead do your worst"

18AD

I've already reserved my place, en suite, mini-bar, balcony overlooking the lakes of fire.
Standard rate for eternity.

Hope to see you's there.
AD.

Galvasean

Dont be bold or Santa wont give you presents.
Dont be wicked or God will send you to hell.
Same difference.

Akrasia

5uspect wrote: »

Well at least you'd know you were wrong.
The believers won't get that luxury if the non-believers are right.

Of course some might define that nastly place they speak of as non-existence so were screwed either way. Its all really very silly anyway.

Well considering the diversity of different beliefs, if even one of them is right, there could be a huge amount of very disappointed 'believers' cast into hellfire for believing the wrong thing.

I never worry about being wrong. Even if there was a christian god, he'd either be A, So merciful that he'd probably let me into heaven just for being a decent guy, or B a small petty vengeful god who will probably condemn the vast majority of christians for breaking silly petty little rules (like eating meat on a friday or having sex before marriage) and therefore I wouldn't get into heaven no matter what I believed.

legspin

gramlab wrote: »

Sometimes when I'm outside at night and there is a clear sky I see all those nice shiny stars and think there must be more to all this (not allowed smoke in the house:rolleyes:)

+1 for the same reason

gramlab wrote: »

Then I remember all the crap that goes on, and think if there is a god then he's twisted git who needs a good kick up the hole.

+2

horsecrap

if ye are non believers all of ye, why do ye talk about a god or hell or anything. ye shouldnt even be mentioning it....the fact that yer discussing it shows yer probably thinkn about it more then the average 'believer'.

Xhristy

This post has been deleted.

Dave!

horsecrap wrote: »

if ye are non believers all of ye, why do ye talk about a god or hell or anything. ye shouldnt even be mentioning it....the fact that yer discussing it shows yer probably thinkn about it more then the average 'believer'.

You got me

seamus

horsecrap wrote: »

the fact that yer discussing it shows yer probably thinkn about it more then the average 'believer'.

What does that say about the average believer.

Is it not worrying to religious people, that the people who spend the most time reading and talking about God, are atheists? Does that not draw a link between religious study and atheism (i.e. that if you actually go and learn about religion, you'll realise it's a big pile of ****)?

horsecrap

ok well, i wouldnt call ye non believers then .......................................... just doubters!!!

robindch

horsecrap wrote: »

ok well, i wouldnt call ye non believers then .......................................... just doubters!!!

You can call us whatever you like. Though 'doubters' does suggest that the onus of proof is upon us to disprove the existence of the invisible deity-du-jour.

You're happy being called a doubter wrt the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

horsecrap

robindch wrote: »

You can call us whatever you like. Though 'doubters' does suggest that the onus of proof is upon us to disprove the existence of the invisible deity-du-jour.

You're happy being called a doubter wrt the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

just coz u cant stare someting in the eye, doesnt mean it dont exist.

i believe, coz id rather not take the risk of been proved wrong when i die!
but its ur choice;)

Overheal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYmkvyR_jFA

seamus

horsecrap wrote: »

just coz u cant stare someting in the eye, doesnt mean it dont exist.

So then you accept the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

Charlie3dan

horsecrap wrote: »

i believe, coz id rather not take the risk of been proved wrong when i die!
but its ur choice;)

I wager (see what I did there) god will be delighted: "you believed in me....but just in case....not because of genuine reasonable belief......out of fear of being wrong......fair play lad welcome to heaven put your feet up!"

robindch

horsecrap wrote: »

id rather not take the risk of been proved wrong when i die!

That's Pascal's Wager and it's a distinctly rotten reason to believe some religious idea you've heard.

The bible could of course be completely wrong and god could be really mad that religious people waste so much of their short lives obsessing about him upon bended knee. Alternatively, Allah could be the right god to worship, and the very best of luck in winning that argument!

Anyhow, the FSM is a much nicer god -- there's a beer volcano in his heaven. Beat that Jesus!

Memnoch

For me it's a win-win situation either way.

If hell does exist and I do end up there (which I don't think I will since I refuse to believe that any omni-potent diety could be as idiotically petty as most religions claim), I take great solace in the knowledge that G. W. Bush and others like him will be waiting for me when I arrive. I'll have so much fun laughing in his face that I won't mind the eternal flames at all.

CerebralCortex

horsecrap wrote: »

just coz u cant stare someting in the eye, doesnt mean it dont exist.

i believe, coz id rather not take the risk of been proved wrong when i die!
but its ur choice;)

You sound like a closet atheist to me.

Dudess

"I believe in god because it's a risk not to."
"I believe because I like the idea of a loving god."
"I believe because I want there to be a god looking after me."

I've heard all of the above: wake up folks! None of them mean you actually believe god exists.

Dave!

Bloody heck, that's a fairly pathetic reason to believe in god horsecrap... At least go with something like 'cos without god theres no morality'!

Zillah

5uspect wrote: »

If that God existed why bother with this life on this planet? Why not just let everyone be imortal from the start? He's just toying with us!

Sure, he's all loving and we're too small to understand His Divine plan...but why do all of his plans involve millions and millions of dead children? Doesn't that seem strange to anyone?

Sam Kade

If the Devil does exist he likes to dance. He was supposed to have been in the majestic ballroom in mallow during the seventies. He asked this girl for a dance. As they were dancing she looked at his feet and saw hooves. This story went around at the time.

horsecrap

DaveMcG wrote: »

Bloody heck, that's a fairly pathetic reason to believe in god horsecrap... At least go with something like 'cos without god theres no morality'!

nah, thats me reason and im sticking to it!! listen i dont go to mass at all, i pray rarely, i look down on how some priests have destroyed the caltholic churchs name.

But... i still think its better to believe then to not believe. you've got nothing to lose by believeing, and nothing to gain by not.
thats all.

Dades

horsecrap wrote: »

But... i still think its better to believe then to not believe. you've got nothing to lose by believeing, and nothing to gain by not.
thats all.

Call us mad if you like, but most of us hold the beliefs we do because we actually believe them!

Oddly enough, the benefits of one belief over another aren't really a factor to take into consideration in deciding which is more likely to be true.

horsecrap

Dades wrote: »

Call us mad if you like, but most of us hold the beliefs we do because we actually believe them!

Oddly enough, the benefits of one belief over another aren't really a factor to take into consideration in deciding which is more likely to be true.

well if ye actually believe that theres no god etc etc, it comes to my first post here.
why are ye even discussing it?

it should be a closed book for ye.
end of.;)

CerebralCortex

horsecrap wrote: »

well if ye actually believe that theres no god etc etc, it comes to my first post here.
why are ye even discussing it?

it should be a closed book for ye.
end of.;)

I love the patronising wink But you don't really believe in god either thats why you are here.

Dades

horsecrap wrote: »

well if ye actually believe that theres no god etc etc, it comes to my first post here.
why are ye even discussing it?

I don't believe in white whales either, but I'll have a damn good chat about Moby Dick if you let me.

Mena

horsecrap wrote: »

well if ye actually believe that theres no god etc etc, it comes to my first post here.
why are ye even discussing it?

it should be a closed book for ye.
end of.;)

Because the ******** that is religion is force fed upon us all constantly. From condoms to stem cell research, the list goes on. Religion has a decidedly negative impact on our culture (humans) and until it's pushed out of the mainstream we'll have to continue to discuss it and raise awareness.

Overheal

my views and beliefs only have to conform to me. Not to any church or any cult.

Its always the ones that harbor doubt that come in here and attack us for not conforming.

horsecrap

CerebralCortex wrote: »

I love the patronising wink But you don't really believe in god either thats why you are here.

sure i said earlier in other posts i actually do believe, im not here to try and convince ye that there is a god etc bla bla bla, im just saying, an atheist is one who denies the existence of a deity or of divine beings<---straight from the dictionary!lol

what im trying to say is, why are ye discussing it more then the average believer, and im not trying to annoy ye, yer free to discuss watever ye want, but as a belever, i dont have to reassure myself or my friends everyday that god does exist. (maybe wer supposed to) but as i said, i pray rarely and go to mass rarely, but i still believe. because i do.
heres another patronising wink for ya;)

Overheal

oh dont get me wrong. i gave belief a shot in my earlier years. read the kids bible and all that. but it just wasnt happening. sorry.

CerebralCortex

horsecrap wrote: »

sure i said earlier in other posts i actually do believe, im not here to try and convince ye that there is a god etc bla bla bla, im just saying, an atheist is one who denies the existence of a deity or of divine beings<---straight from the dictionary!lol

what im trying to say is, why are ye discussing it more then the average believer, and im not trying to annoy ye, yer free to discuss watever ye want, but as a belever, i dont have to reassure myself or my friends everyday that god does exist. (maybe wer supposed to) but as i said, i pray rarely and go to mass rarely, but i still believe. because i do.
heres another patronising wink for ya;)

Its predominantly christian and sheepish country thats why I discuss it. Atheist aren't looked upon favourably by the confused flock thats why I talk a lot about the idea behind "God". Still doesn't really change my beliefs.

Xhristy

This post has been deleted.

horsecrap

Xhristy wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

NO, not fear. just wat have i got to lose by believing?? im sure god would prefer that i did believe, rather then didnt.

Dinner

horsecrap wrote: »

NO, not fear. just wat have i got to lose by believing?? im sure god would prefer that i did believe, rather then didnt.

Do tou have shrines to Allah, Thor, Zeus as well?

Y'know, just in case...