Comments on: But What If You’re Wrong? http://shamuswrites.com/2005/12/02/but-what-if-youre-wrong/ Trapped within my own mind Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:07:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Writer’s Blog » Blog Archive » But What If You’re Wrong - Followup http://shamuswrites.com/2005/12/02/but-what-if-youre-wrong/#comment-35 Writer’s Blog » Blog Archive » But What If You’re Wrong - Followup Mon, 05 Dec 2005 01:49:48 +0000 http://open-dialogue.com/blog/index.php/archives/31#comment-35 [...] But What If You’re Wrong - Followup Cassandra and franky point out a couple of good questions, ones that have been asked by people [...] [...]
But What If You’re Wrong – Followup

Cassandra and franky point out a couple of good questions, ones that have been asked by people [...]

]]> By: franky http://shamuswrites.com/2005/12/02/but-what-if-youre-wrong/#comment-34 franky Sat, 03 Dec 2005 20:19:18 +0000 http://open-dialogue.com/blog/index.php/archives/31#comment-34 Please see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascals_wager" rel="nofollow">Pascal's Wager</a> Please see Pascal’s Wager

]]> By: Donnell http://shamuswrites.com/2005/12/02/but-what-if-youre-wrong/#comment-33 Donnell Sat, 03 Dec 2005 18:38:38 +0000 http://open-dialogue.com/blog/index.php/archives/31#comment-33 Great article Jim. I heard the song last week when the single debuted on a Christian radio station in Atlanta. If I am wrong for trusting in Jesus then I guess that's a risk I rather take. The benefits of operating in the Kingdom of God are not limited to the after life. Even if I need proof like Thomas did, God has already done enough for me during this lifetime for me to believe it's worth it to live by faith in the Word of God. God bless you! Great article Jim. I heard the song last week when the single debuted on a Christian radio station in Atlanta. If I am wrong for trusting in Jesus then I guess that’s a risk I rather take.

The benefits of operating in the Kingdom of God are not limited to the after life. Even if I need proof like Thomas did, God has already done enough for me during this lifetime for me to believe it’s worth it to live by faith in the Word of God.

God bless you!

]]> By: franky http://shamuswrites.com/2005/12/02/but-what-if-youre-wrong/#comment-31 franky Sat, 03 Dec 2005 13:39:06 +0000 http://open-dialogue.com/blog/index.php/archives/31#comment-31 Jim, This is just Pascal's wager. The major fallacy here is that there are several religions in the world so what if you and I are wrong about god, the afterlife, and etc. What if it's really Muslims that are right? Or Hindus? Or Mormons? Or etc. How do we know? We don't. On top of that, each religion makes extraordinary claims about the world with a significant lack of evidence. Plus, why don't you play it safe as well? I mean, what if you are wrong Jim? Jim,
This is just Pascal’s wager.  The major fallacy here is that there are several religions in the world so what if you and I are wrong about god, the afterlife, and etc.  What if it’s really Muslims that are right?  Or Hindus?  Or Mormons?  Or etc.
How do we know?  We don’t.  On top of that, each religion makes extraordinary claims about the world with a significant lack of evidence.  Plus, why don’t you play it safe as well?  I mean, what if you are wrong Jim?

]]> By: natalie http://shamuswrites.com/2005/12/02/but-what-if-youre-wrong/#comment-30 natalie Sat, 03 Dec 2005 04:49:10 +0000 http://open-dialogue.com/blog/index.php/archives/31#comment-30 That's a good question. I think the main problem atheists face is the apparent humiliation of believing in something that might turn out to be false. It's a pride issue. "The whole idea of believing that what I do with my life will determine if I end up in a place of eternal bliss or eternal torment is just as silly as waiting for Santa Clause to drop down my chimney on December 24th after it flew around the world on a slep pulled by flying reindeer." As a christian, I feel the same way. Nothing I DO will ever get me any closer to God. It all has to do with Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. He gave that freely - it's nothing I did. ("For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast" Ephesians 2:8-9) That’s a good question. I think the main problem atheists face is the apparent humiliation of believing in something that might turn out to be false. It’s a pride issue.

“The whole idea of believing that what I do with my life will determine if I end up in a place of eternal bliss or eternal torment is just as silly as waiting for Santa Clause to drop down my chimney on December 24th after it flew around the world on a slep pulled by flying reindeer.”

As a christian, I feel the same way. Nothing I DO will ever get me any closer to God. It all has to do with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. He gave that freely – it’s nothing I did. (“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9)

]]> By: Cassandra http://shamuswrites.com/2005/12/02/but-what-if-youre-wrong/#comment-29 Cassandra Sat, 03 Dec 2005 02:54:59 +0000 http://open-dialogue.com/blog/index.php/archives/31#comment-29 Well, "playing it safe" would mean living a lie for *me* and working my entire life for something that I don't believe exists. The whole idea of believing that what I do with my life will determine if I end up in a place of eternal bliss or eternal torment is just as silly as waiting for Santa Clause to drop down my chimney on December 24th after it flew around the *world* on a slep pulled by flying reindeer. As an atheist, I never really think, "what if I'm wrong." Possibly ending up in hell never crosses my mind. If someone told you that you must believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster and eat pasta every Friday or you would end up boiling for eternity in a pot of Ragu, would you stock up on spaghetti or take the risk? :-) Well, “playing it safe” would mean living a lie for me and working my entire life for something that I don’t believe exists. 
The whole idea of believing that what I do with my life will determine if I end up in a place of eternal bliss or eternal torment is just as silly as waiting for Santa Clause to drop down my chimney on December 24th after it flew around the world on a slep pulled by flying reindeer. 
As an atheist, I never really think, “what if I’m wrong.”
Possibly ending up in hell never crosses my mind. 
If someone told you that you must believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster and eat pasta every Friday or you would end up boiling for eternity in a pot of Ragu, would you stock up on spaghetti or take the risk?
:-)

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