(March 3, 2018 at 6:03 pm)Jenny A Wrote: I have over the years gotten tired of discussng whether there is a god, with well meaning relatives. I have a new program. I say,
I would like to (1) believe in god, if god exists; and (2) to not believe in god, if God does not exist. Can you say the same? If the answer is "no," I refuse to discuss the matter as we have left the realm of what is in favor of we would like to be.
I've tried this just three times now. The answer has never been flat out no at least not initially. Instead, the responses have been: but you are trying to take away my faith; Pascal's Wager; and I just know he does. To which I respond, that unless you are willing to consider the possibility there is no god, than there is no point in the dicussion. It isn't perfect, but so far this works better than anything I've tried yet.
I always ask "If you are bleeding out after a car accident, do you call an ambulance or pray?" makes them think for seconds at least. Pointing out that without a fear of death religion has no power.. sometimes strikes a chord. Getting people to actually read the book changes their own minds for them. Disrupting church services by noisily eating a bag of crisps always helps..
