Since you all have been non believers, has it ever crossed your mind "what if im wrong"?
Sure, & one can get all "Pascal's Wager" here, but I have to go with my reason (tho most religions frown on that!). Show me any proof for a creator god, & I may then "believe", but as to worship it will take even more than that. I'm a proud Yank, bending the knee does not come naturally! Up to this point I have seen no credible evidence for a god, specious locic tricks used by apologists notwithstanding. Wishful thinking is no way to go through life, in my opinion.
If God is truly all powerful and all knowing then she will forgive me for not believing in a god who has provided no tangible evidence of her existence. She will understand, if she does not then she is not God
My journey from believer to atheist took about ten years. Once I reached the point where I no longer believed in the existence of any kind of god (especially a revealed one that involves itself in human affairs) I never asked myself that question. If there should be some sort of creator being, force, energy, with self-awareness, I have no concerns that it is anything like the petty, vengeful, all-too-human god of the Bible.
Once in a blue moon, I've had that thought. It has always been fleeting. Though I believe there are no gods, if I am wrong, I have no doubt I'd pass the litmus test to get to go to wherever it is they all want to go. Personally, the place sounds pretty boring to me.
Yeah, my thoughts exactly. When I discuss 'heaven' with believers, I ask what exactly do they imagine it to be like. Many have never even thought about it; others have unrealistic visions. They're perturbed when I point out that in order to get to 'heaven' you pretty much have to give up anything that gives you please in this life; so, what exactly is the attraction of 'heaven'? It must be a hellaciously boring place (assuming it actually existed). The mumbling answer usually has to do with not wanting to fo to 'hell' being it's such an awful place. Therefore ... belief is based on fear of punishment and suffering. Is there a more effective method for mind control?
Yes this is me, I am morally and honest and I am sure I would get a high distinction in that test!
@zucicciu One thing I occasionally ask believers is what happens when a husband or wife dies while happily married; and then the living spouse gets married again; and eventually they are all three dead; when they all get to this "heaven" who is reunited with whom? Or do they have a heavenly threesome? It makes some believers think, and for others, they laugh nervously, admit they don't know, and change the subject quickly.
I think when an individual transitions from a believer to a non believer this may cross your mind ,like it did mine occasionally,until you completely break free of the brainwashing and have a crystal clear mind and are then capable of thinking logically.
I refuse to participate in Pascal's Wager
A lot of people do participate in Pascal's Wager. Good odds!
Do you mean debating it with believers? On that, I agree. Or do you mean refuse to participate in terms of simply having an answer to the question "Have you ever thought...."?
Both actually. It is a question that they will keep asking, maybe rephrasing, but it is always the same premise to the question and always meant to try and scare you into believing. I generally speaking will not use the same premise of pascals wager on any decision.
Yes, and all I can say if a God appeared and asked why I didn't believe, I'd be honest and say, "You didn't give us enough evidence!"
As a youth, you’re never sure who or what to trust, and will often doubt yourself, so that shouldn’t count... As an adult, with observation and experience -- I’ve absolutely no doubt whatsoever that anything the least bit resembling any god concept I’ve ever come across is the least bit true. And after settling with my cosmic insignificance, I work to make the most of it!
Of course...and it should! We should always be looking at the available evidence in support of or opposition to our beliefs, so they can remain those most likely to be true.
Now, I've never seen any evidence that even comes close to suggesting that gods, spirits, souls, ghosts, etc. are real, so I don't believe in them. But I'm open to evidence--real, documented, tested scientific evidence--if it comes along!
yep... but never stops to argue the point.
I don't know how many people would agree with this but the question, "What if you're wrong? is meaningless. I gave traditional theism a chance. I asked if any divine being would reveal his/her/itself to me. I have waited for an answer. I have sought and really found nothing. I am not going to chase after phantoms, if that makes any sense. If any divine being wants me to believe that s/he/it exists, then such a being ought to be perfectly capable of getting my attention and setting me straight.
Well said!! I won't believe in bigfoot till somebody shows up with a carcass.
At one point or another it has crossed my mind, but it’s not something I’ve ever put serious thought into. I simply look around at all the “good” christians, see what assholes they can be when they think they are going to be rewarded or punished for their actions in the end, and think that if a god did exist then they should (theoretically) be a just and rational god and know that I’ve been a good person just because I want to be and not because I thought I’d be rewarded. That in and of its self is pretty selfless and should be highly looked upon by this so called god so I should be good no matter if I’m right or wrong.
I'd be pissed and I would look at whatever deity or deities happen to be the right one and ask plainly, "Why did you intentionally mislead billions of people? Why did you withhold evidence of your existence?" I'd probably drop some F-bombs in there too.
In high school, I told a Brother that I didn't feel comfortable giving the confession of faith, because I didn't believe it and that if there is a God that God wouldn't want me to lie. I also always found inconsistency in the idea of an all knowing loving creator that would build you just to be damned to hell.