I was on the atheist experience :)

[robvalue]

I was thinking about what you said, and you're right. If I really believed this life was a temporary test deciding my eternal future, and I decided to take that seriously, then I'd do everything I could to ensure I won. Everything. This life simply wouldn't matter at all, no matter how bad, compared to an eternity of badness.

So at the very least, I'd follow what Jesus said as much as I could, as well as Paul, as well as Yahweh... I'd try and cover all my bases. I'd live like a pauper. I wouldn't bank on "oh Jesus was probably joking/wrong/doesn't apply now/parable".

This makes me think the people who so easily dismiss Jesus' (supposed) exact words aren't taking it very seriously at all. They're doing what they would do anyway, and lining this up with bits of the bible and telling themselves it's enough to get into heaven.

No one ever thinks they're not doing enough, do they? Except perhaps the people who kill themselves because they think God hates them, and find life unbearable. Yes, this really happens. Or the people who kill themselves to go straight to heaven; yes, this really happens too. Religion is so dangerous.