It's worse to believe, and there be no god.
Here's why:
If you don't believe, and there is a god there are two possible scenarios:
Scenario A: God doesn't care if you believe, and doesn't expect you to follow any rules. Under this scenario you are rewarded, and get to live life with no worries. Bonus that you do good deeds to do good deeds, rather than because someone expects you to.
Scenario B: God DOES care what you believe, and expects you to follow specific rules. In which case he's an asshole, not worth following in the first place. So while you are eternally punished, it's by a dick god who was probably going to punish you anyway. Especially since this God could not provide you with any evidence of his or her existence.
On the other hand if you believe there is a god, and there isn't one, it means you let someone from 2000 years ago control the ONLY life you'll ever have to hinge your bets in a bet you cannot win. You've allowed them to poison your thoughts, and control your life, and you end up with nothing.
I'll take not believing over believing any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
Here's why:
If you don't believe, and there is a god there are two possible scenarios:
Scenario A: God doesn't care if you believe, and doesn't expect you to follow any rules. Under this scenario you are rewarded, and get to live life with no worries. Bonus that you do good deeds to do good deeds, rather than because someone expects you to.
Scenario B: God DOES care what you believe, and expects you to follow specific rules. In which case he's an asshole, not worth following in the first place. So while you are eternally punished, it's by a dick god who was probably going to punish you anyway. Especially since this God could not provide you with any evidence of his or her existence.
On the other hand if you believe there is a god, and there isn't one, it means you let someone from 2000 years ago control the ONLY life you'll ever have to hinge your bets in a bet you cannot win. You've allowed them to poison your thoughts, and control your life, and you end up with nothing.
I'll take not believing over believing any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
The whole tone of Church teaching in regard to woman is, to the last degree, contemptuous and degrading. - Elizabeth Cady Stanton
