Atheist version of Pascal's wager

[Lek]

No.  We shouldn't blindly believe.  We should be convinced.  Atheists also tell people what is right and wrong.

Some of us may tell others what we believe is right or wrong. But, we don't tell people that they must believe as we do or they'll be tortured for all eternity.

Just to put you to ease, I don't believe the bible teaches that unbelievers will be tormented in hell for eternity. I think they will be in hell, but not for eternity If you knew that your brother or sister was experimenting with addictive drugs, would tell him or her that you think what they are doing is wrong? We are told that we should love our brothers and sisters, and therefore, be concerned about their welfare. If I care about them, then I should be willing to offer advice, but I should do it with love, in a respectful manner. And if they tell me to leave them alone, I should respect that also.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

If God exists, so what? Since he's unknowable whatever you might believe about him is just your imagination and is not based on reality. Even the Bible says that if you want to be known it's foolish to hide yourself. So if the God creature exists then it needs to manifest itself to all people and show its true attributes.

The God creature of the Bible was simply the series of men who ruled the dominant Middle Eastern empire in ancient times. He bit the dust with the collapse of the Babylonian Empire and he has been seen since. He won't be returning. There's no celestial God in this solar system.

[Nihilist Virus]

Are you 100% sure that's the correct interpretation?

No. I'm not 100% sure about anything, but I also don't know anybody else who thinks it means that everyone should give away every single material possession and give it to the poor.

Don't you think maybe that's because they don't want to believe that, on account of the fact that they don't want to sell their stuff?

Then we would be poor and we would have to take from others' material goods.

Wrong. Jesus was broke and homeless yet he didn't need help from anyone. He said to consider the birds and lilies, they don't worry about where their next meal is coming from because God provides for them. Do you not believe God will provide for you if you wander the world doing good works and preaching the gospel? What do you need beyond food and clothing? What do you need that the Lord will not provide? So yes you'll be poor but no you won't be in need of material goods from others.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

No.  I'm not 100% sure about anything, but I also don't know anybody else who thinks it means that everyone should give away every single material possession and give it to the poor.

Don't you think maybe that's because they don't want to believe that, on account of the fact that they don't want to sell their stuff?

Then we would be poor and we would have to take from others' material goods.

Wrong.  Jesus was broke and homeless yet he didn't need help from anyone. He said to consider the birds and lilies, they don't worry about where their next meal is coming from because God provides for them.  Do you not believe God will provide for you if you wander the world doing good works and preaching the gospel?  What do you need beyond food and clothing?  What do you need that the Lord will not provide?  So yes you'll be poor but no you won't be in need of material goods from others.

Jesus was the ultimate sponger.  He lived off of his rich friends and gifts from hookers.  When he needed a place to stay he just told the mark that he was moving in for a couple of days.  When he needed a ride he told his minions to go steal one.

[Lek]

Don't you think maybe that's because they don't want to believe that, on account of the fact that they don't want to sell their stuff?

No. It's based on taking Jesus' teachings in totality and also examining the way he taught. It also involves the way the epistle writers expounded on his teachings. I don't just take one verse, out of context, and derive my entire interpretation from that.

Wrong.  Jesus was broke and homeless yet he didn't need help from anyone. He said to consider the birds and lilies, they don't worry about where their next meal is coming from because God provides for them.  Do you not believe God will provide for you if you wander the world doing good works and preaching the gospel?  What do you need beyond food and clothing?  What do you need that the Lord will not provide?  So yes you'll be poor but no you won't be in need of material goods from others.

If it's God's will that I sell everything and wander the world preaching, then he will provide what I need. That doesn't preclude me doing my part. I might need to open my mouth and let the people that I preach to know that I need a place to stray and something to eat. The apostle Paul didn't want to receive handouts, so that they couldn't say that he charged for preaching the gospel. He would give his services as a tent maker to pay for his room and board, even though, as an apostle, he had the right to receive these free from believers. The thing is God doesn't want everyone to wander the earth and preach the gospel. As members of "the Body of Christ" we all have different gifts which we are to use to further the "Kingdom of God". The truth is our call may be to be a fireman, teacher, ditch-digger, or whatever. The people you're called to witness to may be the ones who you just happen to run into somewhere.

[dyresand]

Don't you think maybe that's because they don't want to believe that, on account of the fact that they don't want to sell their stuff?

No. It's based on taking Jesus' teachings in totality and also examining the way he taught.  It also involves the way the epistle writers expounded on his teachings.  I don't just take one verse, out of context, and derive my entire interpretation from that.

Wrong.  Jesus was broke and homeless yet he didn't need help from anyone. He said to consider the birds and lilies, they don't worry about where their next meal is coming from because God provides for them.  Do you not believe God will provide for you if you wander the world doing good works and preaching the gospel?  What do you need beyond food and clothing?  What do you need that the Lord will not provide?  So yes you'll be poor but no you won't be in need of material goods from others.

If it's God's will that I sell everything and wander the world preaching, then he will provide what I need.  That doesn't preclude me doing my part.  I might need to open my mouth and let the people that I preach to know that I need a place to stray and something to eat.  The apostle Paul didn't want to receive handouts, so that they couldn't say that he charged for preaching the gospel.  He would give his services as a tent maker to pay for his room and board, even though, as an apostle, he had the right to receive these free from believers.  The thing is God doesn't want everyone to wander the earth and preach the gospel.  As members of "the Body of Christ" we all have different gifts which we are to use to further the "Kingdom of God".  The truth is our call may be to be a fireman, teacher, ditch-digger, or whatever.  The people you're called to witness to may be the ones who you just happen to run into somewhere.

1. how would jesus have teachings if he never existed. 

2. why would you listen to god for so many innocent people are starving in the world, dying from curable diseases. 
children  are dying of starvation and overall many people are suffering from different illnesses. Add onto the fact god
doesn't let the deformed into heaven so if you are not born perfect you get kicked out. Your god is very shallow and
uncaring so why 
listen...

[robvalue]

Jesus's teachings were based on a short time scale, where he would return within the lifetimes of those he was talking to. That's why trying to apply those principles to life in general doesn't work, and you need to ignore most of what he said even while claiming to follow his example.

http://youtu.be/5mLOUWl-L-s

[Expired]

Pascal's wager, for the one or two of you who don't know, says that because there is between a 0% and 100% chance of Christianity being true, and because the consequences of unbelief are infinite, one ought to believe in Christianity.  There are many rebuttals to this, but to me the most obvious one is that one cannot actually force oneself to believe in something that is irrational no matter what the stakes are.  Can you force yourself to believe in unicorns?

But if you already believe in Christianity, then you have to answer to the atheist version of your own wager.  You should sell all that you own and give to the poor, then wander the world doing good works and preaching the gospel.  There is clearly a 100% chance you'll get into heaven if you do this (provided your heart is right and all that jazz), but there is NOT a 100% chance that Jesus will accept you into heaven if you sit on your wealth while children starve to death.  Jesus did say that many will do good works, thinking they're Christian, but yet will still be cast into hell.  So if you live like a king in your Western world, occasionally going to church and giving a manageable tithe, there's no guarantee you will get into heaven.

You are saved by grace through faith, but faith without works is dead... so there is no guarantee that you are doing enough unless you do all that you can.

"Faith without works is dead"....

This is true, but the "works" that you gave an example of is not what that scripture is talking about.

John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jesus walked on water, through faith Peter also walked on water.

James 5:15
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

That being said, there is nothing you can do to earn your way in to heaven, you can only get there by the grace (unmerited favor) of God.

It's a free gift.

Yep, You always get a free gift when you take out life assurance.

[Huggy Bear]

Jesus's teachings were based on a short time scale, where he would return within the lifetimes of those he was talking to.

As usual, this statement is false.

Funny how you guys think you understand the Bible when you've never actually read it.

[GrandizerII]

Jesus's teachings were based on a short time scale, where he would return within the lifetimes of those he was talking to.

As usual, this statement is false.

Not according to a critical analysis of the text. It even says it in the Bible ...