[Moiraine]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: Moraine - You ask what a believer would do if they were presented with irrefutable proof that God did NOT exist. That is an interesting question - and one that I can only answer for myself. Even though I don't follow Pascal's Theory as a reason for believing (ie, that I have nothing to lose and a great potential to gain), I would have to say that my reaction would be that of one who had. I've lived my life as I saw fit. I've treated my fellow man with kindness and respect just as I would want to be treated and I've been respectful of those whose beliefs contradicted my own. I have been as good a person as I know how (for the most part anyway, but nobody is perfect )So if I were to die and discover that God did not exist, the life I've lived would be reward enough for me. Even if presented with irrefutable proof that God does not exist, I would not change my lifestyle. I am who I am and the absence of God would not change that. I admit that your question made me defensive at first. After all, I honostly and sincerely believe it would be absolutely impossible for anybody to present me with irrefutable proof that God does not exist. Also, I don't claim to be a scientist, so I have no obligation to "keep an open mind" about the subject. But, if I wish for atheists, agnostics, pagans, heathens and others to look deep within themselves and examine thier belief systems and consider "What if you're wrong" - then it is only fair that I subject myself to the same hypothesis and examination. I would be critical of any "irrefutable proof" and I would do my best to refute it...but if it were proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had been wrong all these years...I would still continue to live my life the way I do now. I cannot change the person I have become.

Thanks you very much Cerek for taking my question fairly and replying honestly and spiritually !