(May 19, 2009 at 12:14 am)icthus Wrote: Madscientist, there is a such a thing as an unwavering faith. That is why people lay down there lives everyday for whatever their cause is. Your question is about religion and the afterlife though so let me tell you about my faith please. You state that we will enter paradise because of depriving ourselves of some kind of earthly pleasure. I will enter paradise not because of something that I have or have not done but because of what Christ has done for me.
So, faith alone is enough to receive the afterlife rewards?
You could be a murderer, child rapist, or anything else as horrible, but as long as you have faith then the sacrifice of Jesus will allow you to be forgiven when the final judgment is made?
You could be a real bad drugies, indulging in group sex and Jesus sacrifice will save you?
Convenient...
(May 19, 2009 at 12:14 am)icthus Wrote: If,after my life is done,and there is only nothingness as you state,what have I lost because of my faith? Nothing-I still had a wonderful life because of my faith-however ,you speak of a hell in your post,so if I am correct I have gained everything.
As other have said, if we are right you have lost the possibility to live the life YOU have chosen, live by the value YOU have chosen.
(May 19, 2009 at 12:14 am)icthus Wrote: Now please let me rephrase your question and let me know what you think. Does the atheist ever worry that he will suffer in this hell that you speak of just for a little bit of earthly pleasure? Let me close with the statement that--I HAVE AN UNWAVERING FAITH--
I can't talk for other, but i don't.
I'm supremely convinced that it is impossible for heaven or hell to exist.
You could say that i have unwavering faith in that, but it is not faith. It is the answer i have made for myself looking at every side of it and considering all the data i had avaible.
(May 19, 2009 at 8:08 am)Tiberius Wrote: 3) What if god exists but applauds honest disbelief and condemns blind faith? After all, didn't god give us our free will? It would be quite hypocritical to then condemn us for using it.
Very interesting concept indeed...
Wizard's first rule
eople are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true.
eople are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true.