: Doubt about things for which there is no evidence (nor can there be) is actually quite easy. Your assertion "He is so real!" is not particularly convincing. If I say "how can you doubt that there is an invisible dragon living in my garage? He is so real!" would you be convinced?Now that is tour de force man, a high coup.
A faith that is reached and held by a rational adult, despite an absence of evidence, can be a very comforting thing. A faith that is based on a childish fear of eternal punishment is not.
Straight up man, I have to agree entirely, my postition when this type of dilemma is present to me evangelical pals is 'listen, I cant believe as you do', because I cant, I cant do it, no more than I can believe gravity doesnt apply to me, I could pretend to but God would know my fear wasnt the real McCoy BTW I think fear of God means you simply dont want to upset him, like a friend.
: : Better safe than sorry? Isnt that agnosticism?
: No, technically it's Pascal's Wager, although phrased much less eloquently. Basically, Bethany is trying to say "If you believe exactly what I do, and it turns out that there is no god, you don't lose anything (except the tithes) but if I'm right, and you don't believe exactly the same thing I believe, then you'll be tortured for all eternity by my petty playground-bully deity." Pascal, of course, phrased it with a bit less sarcasm, but it means the same thing. The major problem is it's nonsense. If she's right, I've lost nothing because I wouldn't want to spend eternity with a petty little bully like the one she worships, and she's lost a lifetime's attendance in a church, as well as any tithed money, and got stuck having to spend eternity kissing up to the bugger (cause I doubt he'd let you off the hook of obedience, just because you were dead. He'd find a way to keep you from asking questions anyway, like "Why didn't Moses get in?") If she's wrong, she's still lost the time and money, and I've still lost nothing, so I come out ahead either way. Pascal's wager is a sucker's bet.
It still sounds like agnosticism but a silly cringing variety. If we both die and the bouncer angels dont allow us into heaven dude and we dont want to go to hell because frankly I hear the place is a fire hazard and there's no pubs open in the earthly realm, do you want to make up a darwinist cherry drinking alternative to the lot?
: Anyway, must dash. Peace, comrade!
Cheers again.
: -Floyd
None.
