as an apatheist, i could take the view of both parties, since i feel that theists have huge problems explaining exactly why they believe, i will take my throw on it:
wether or not people will burn eternally if they dont believe in god is unproven, the safest path to take however is taking the benefit of the doubt. If god exists, believers wont burn, if god doesnt exist, believers wont burn. For nonbelievers however, they will burn if god does exist.
However, where does this concept stop? There are some people who believe vampires really exist, it would be silly to walk around with garlic around your neck just for the benifit of the doubt.
I suppose the only difference between both concepts is the popularity. If everyone around you walked all day with garlic around your neck, peer pressure will probably convince you too to wear garlic.
So the answer to the question why theists believe, even though theists might not like this answer at all, is fear. Theists fear that if they dont believe, god will smite them. While atheists take the risk and say: well if god does exist, 'come at me bro!', im pretty sure he doesnt exist anyway...
Both viewpoints in my oppinion are perfectly valid, what i dont find valid however is that one viewpoint, namely the one of the theists, repulses anyone who has the other viewpoint. Each indiviual should have the choice, parents who kick out children because they dont believe, those parents should burn in hell.
Finally the reason why im an apatheist: Wether or not does exist, i dont feel like it has any influence on my life at all. It could be god doing a miracle or punishing me, or it could be pure coincidence, it makes no difference. The only thing for me that matters, which is my life motto: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
wether or not people will burn eternally if they dont believe in god is unproven, the safest path to take however is taking the benefit of the doubt. If god exists, believers wont burn, if god doesnt exist, believers wont burn. For nonbelievers however, they will burn if god does exist.
However, where does this concept stop? There are some people who believe vampires really exist, it would be silly to walk around with garlic around your neck just for the benifit of the doubt.
I suppose the only difference between both concepts is the popularity. If everyone around you walked all day with garlic around your neck, peer pressure will probably convince you too to wear garlic.
So the answer to the question why theists believe, even though theists might not like this answer at all, is fear. Theists fear that if they dont believe, god will smite them. While atheists take the risk and say: well if god does exist, 'come at me bro!', im pretty sure he doesnt exist anyway...
Both viewpoints in my oppinion are perfectly valid, what i dont find valid however is that one viewpoint, namely the one of the theists, repulses anyone who has the other viewpoint. Each indiviual should have the choice, parents who kick out children because they dont believe, those parents should burn in hell.
Finally the reason why im an apatheist: Wether or not does exist, i dont feel like it has any influence on my life at all. It could be god doing a miracle or punishing me, or it could be pure coincidence, it makes no difference. The only thing for me that matters, which is my life motto: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
