The Problem with Christians

[TheRocketSurgeon]

I am a convinced Atheist. I'll make you a deal.

You show me an instance of someone who starts to live again after being clinically dead for say a week, in a way I can investigate myself* - so that I can rule out any obvious physical explanation - and I will believe in the supernatural.

Sounds familiar.

"And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:30

But there's another half to the bet. If you believe that you are going to spend eternity in heaven, you obviously don't need all your worldly goods. Any possession you have is irrelevant next to the eternal bliss that awaits you.

So give all your money to me, except a bit to feed, clothe and house you. If you know that - ultimately - you're going to be rewarded with far more than money, then anything you have now doesn't matter at all.

Deal?

I don't follow the logic. It sounds like you're saying, "because your afterlife is going to be better than this life, you should make this life a whole lot worse for yourself." Why would a rational person want to do that?

An excellent question. Let's ask god-and-son-of-god:



Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
[...]
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifee or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

[Bold emphasis my own.]