I just have this one thing that I can't get into my head about atheism. First let me introduce the topic a bit...
You have no proof that there is a God, no scientific proof anyway. You also have no proof that there isn't a God. Ok so far?
Let's take a look at the Christian God for a quick sec. For argument, let's assume everything is true, he exists, etc. He promises eternal life after death, guidance and care during life on Earth and in exchange he asks that you do not sin, you acknowledge when you have sinned and you admit and accept him for what he is. Now most law-abiding moral people do the first two anyway.
Ok now let's assume there is no God. Ok so you die, you die and there is no ultimate purpose to life. Woohoo.
If you believe in the first argument that there is a God etc., and you learn about him, and in the end believe then two things could happen when you die:
1) You will be rewarded for your faith with eternal life and happiness when you die, i.e. you go to "a better place". Everything is cool.
2) You were mistaken about God and He doesn't exist and you just die. What have you lost? Nothing.
If you believe in the 2nd argument that there is no God you live your whole life in that belief and then you die. If you were mistaken and there is a God you will have lost your whole Earth life without that knowledge and the happiness, peace, guidance it could have brung. You also could lose your place in eternal life. If you were not mistaken then you die anyway and that's it.
NOW for my question:
seeing as you have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by believing and you have so much to lose and nothing to gain by not believing, why is it that so many people are atheists? I just don't get it?
This is truly puzzling for me since people have no proof either way, it makes much more sense to believe and I haven't even mentioned all the other indications (note I do not say evidence) that there is a God.
So any atheists care to shed some light on the matter?
I'm not trying to give this "nothing to lose" as a reason for believing I'm just saying if nothing else makes you believe, what do you think about this post?
my thoughts continue near the bottom of page 3 in the bloody long post if you still interested
[ 01-22-2003, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: Vaskez ]