|
|
Post by darklight on Jun 4, 2005 12:14:37 GMT -5
That other people are afraid to not believe in God. I was thinking about that the other day. Afraid that if they don't beleive there will be some kind of "punishment".
Or does that only make since to me?
|
|
|
|
Post by solidsquid on Jun 4, 2005 13:47:25 GMT -5
I've had people tell me that. They maintain the idea without question that such a deity exists and think that a "choice" of "not believing" is simply along the lines of spiritual treason.
|
|
|
|
Post by sealab2021 on Jun 4, 2005 18:03:00 GMT -5
i feel that people believe in a god, because it brings them comfort. people are afraid of the unknown. they want to die believing in some sort of great afterlife fairytale.
|
|
|
|
Post by Superhappyjen on Jun 5, 2005 10:48:16 GMT -5
I agree with sealab2021, people believe in God because it brings them comfort. I have Star Trek to bring me comfort.
Also I never got the whole punishment for not believing thing. If God doesn't exist how can He punish anyone?
|
|
|
|
Post by darklight on Jun 5, 2005 11:06:57 GMT -5
I'm not saying that's the reason all people do but just some
|
|
|
|
Post by william on Jun 7, 2005 3:40:10 GMT -5
the problem with this aproach is it is like a two edged sword. we can respond that the unbeliever is affraid to believe in God.
|
|
Iestyn
Maverick's Chew Toy
Posts: 28
|
Post by Iestyn on Jun 7, 2005 13:17:59 GMT -5
Why?
|
|
|
|
Post by william on Jun 7, 2005 16:01:38 GMT -5
the reasons vary like the reasons some believers are afraid not to believe. I would say mostly beause of some lifestyle chioce that God might punish. like someone who likes unprotected sex ,not wanting to believe that they will contract any dissease. I dont think anyone believes for fear of being punished for not believing. as was said earlyer, if you dont believe, who is going to punish you. you would have to believe befor you could fear the punishment. |
|
|
|
Post by Enuffalready on Jun 8, 2005 4:05:52 GMT -5
I dont think anyone believes for fear of being punished for not believing. as was said earlyer, if you dont believe, who is going to punish you. you would have to believe befor you could fear the punishment. You would think so, but isn't that sort of the essence of pascal's wager? Its kind of a cover your ass way of thinking, a person doesn't really believe but they are afraid of the consequences associated with being wrong so the just essentially go through the motions and try to convince themselves they believe. |
|
|
|
Post by william on Jun 9, 2005 4:07:54 GMT -5
I think that only works on the undecided, rather that someone who doesnt believe.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mistwalker on Jul 6, 2005 1:33:51 GMT -5
I dunno, I've met quite a few "fire insurance" christians, as I like to call them, who believe JUST IN CASE there's a hell.
|
|
|
|
Post by Enuffalready on Jul 6, 2005 2:16:56 GMT -5
I like that term "fire insurance"
|
|
|
|
Post by nonny on Jul 7, 2005 12:06:38 GMT -5
Yeah I only read the first few posts because i'm lazy. But in my opinion to answer darklights question(or my perception of his quesiton). Yes, people are aafraid of not believeing because if you believe you are good and treated well in what ever comes after life, if you don't believe and there turns out to be a god you are screwed so there is no draw backs in the opinion to believeing. And it scares poeple that they could be wrong so they rather go along with the herd then against it. And I've heard the question "But what if you are wrong" my answer is so?? I stood up for my principals and beliefs and didn't follow everyone else. Does that answer your quesiton?
|
|
|
|
Post by pieisgood on Jul 7, 2005 18:44:53 GMT -5
I am sure that someone out there is an atheist because they are afraid to believe in God.
...but just because it's a possibility doesn't refute any arguments against a God. It may sway someone's beliefs, but it's not safe to assume that any given nonbeliever will reject the God theory because they don't want it to be true.
Many believers accept a God because they want a God.
Nothing can be assumed until proven. Unless you can prove a nonbeliever "afraid" of God, you can't assume anything about them.
|
|
|
|
Post by AuntieSocial on Jul 7, 2005 22:24:51 GMT -5
It makes perfect sense to me that there are some that "believe" in a deity out of fear. If one was unfortunate enough to grow up in an environment that did not allow for personal development and was extremely religious, the individual will most likely develop a fear of God. Christianity, for example, is filled with a dual message. "God is Love" and "Fear God". I personally think that the Christian scriptures lean more toward a deity to be feared, than one that exhibits anything that can be loosely defined as "love". Young children are taught that their misdeeds are sins and that sinning will result in an eternity in Hell. Hell is described as a tomentuous place (particularly in Middle Ages texts, such as Dante's allegorical work, The Divine Comedy.) With these images in a young mind, coupled with a discouragement to think for oneself, it is quite understandable that someone may develop a belief system that is based solely on their fear of eternal punishment. The question could be asked, is this a genuine belief? Blais Pascal, a French Mathematician, proposed in what is commonly called "Pascal's Wager" that one should believe in God just in case there really is a deity. If the deity does exist, and there is a chance that you may suffer eternally, the only logical (according to Pascal) solution is to believe in that deity. His theory is terribly flawed on many levels, but I have encountered Christians who will argue from the same "logical" standpoint. Fear is a great motivator (and tool for indoctrination/behaviour modification). In school, I did not speak out in class for fear of detention or additional assignments. At home, I behaved according to my mother's rules for fear of being grounded (or spanked). There are some who will "believe" in a deity for fear of the consequences of not believing, should there actually be a deity who is capable of meting out an eternal punishment. |
|
