(December 2, 2008 at 9:32 am)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: I know how certainly at least a LOT of believers do. They "believe" in God because they fear him and hell and/or want a reward in heaven. The whole Pascal's Wager thing is a thing entirely based on risk/reward. Placing a bet so that one will go to heaven rather than hell. Totally based on fear and/or desire to go to heaven.
Pure ignorance based on fear and/or selfish desire. Or selfless desire perhaps if they actually try to get their family, friends and others to make the same wager.
Extreme ignorance at its highest level. Based on fear, desire or - usually - both.
"If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. " - Albert Einstein.
I agree with Einstein's opinion.
To a extent I agree with what you are saying, with the general idea of it. There most certainly is that fear based upon ignorance in modern day Xianity. But what I have learned is that a great deal more of that fear, when examined more closely, is actually selfrighteous indignation.
I once knew some JWs who had a discussion with a local fire and brimstone (hell) preacher. They told him there was no hell and he smiled and said he knew that. Somewhat surprised they asked him if he taught hell nevertheless in order to scare his congregation into being good Xians and attending church and actually laughed out loud at this. He said; "No! Not at all. I teach hell because if I didn't my congregation would fire me."
If you stop and think about it the atheistic general consesus that Xians or even the Laws in ancient Bible times were designed to control people is a fairly oversimplistic, short sighted, if not completely incorrect one. I myself, even after a few years of study of the Bible and discussions with Xians thought that way.
