Is Burning in Hell A Good Reason to Believe in God?

[Minor Axis]

Disclaimer: I think I got a little carried away with logical arguments. I'm going to make a general apology to anyone who thinks I am bashing their religion. I know that many of my statements come across as anti-Christian. But lately I've taken a few pokes at Islam too. Admittedly, I don't have it all figured out. I feel any religious commitment you make is based on a feeling in your heart and a lack of real evidence, which is good enough for many but not for me. I just don't see enough or feel enough to make any kind of a commitment to any particular theism.

And I realize and have previously stated that most religious faith-based debate is a total waste of time to everyone except maybe those sitting on the fence. Maybe we can influence you one way or the other. I assure you that no one had a direct influence on my Agnostic leanings. It's something I slowly came to realize. When I was a teenager and joined the church, I was just going through the motions to make the adults happy. If you have it all figured out, more power to you. On the other hand, please don't view me as a lost soul. I am perfectly content with where I am in this life. I think we are all in for a big surprise when we make the leap over the gaping jaws of death.

In the future I'll try to limit my comments to picking apart your arguments instead of starting new threads on my own.

 

[Butler]

I will continue to debate religion. You don't see people (well maybe here, but not much elsewhere) who make a thread about praying and then have atheists posts asking why they are bashing their lack of religion. If it bothers you to be here, then stay away from the subforum labeled religion in the damn debates section of the site. Christianity and indeed all major religions have plenty of followers, but there are problems with them all. If you are a peaceful religious person who doesn't want to debate it, don't complain that others are.

OBDURATE

Anyway, the issue at hand is "Should you believe in God just because hell might exist?" No. You shouldn't. I think that if there is a hell, you don't get ETERNAL SUFFERING just for not accepting a certain belief system out of a whole list.

Another question: Christians don't believe in the Hindu gods. They clearly see that Hinduism is incorrect. Hindus clearly see that Christianity is incorrect. How can both be so sure that the other is wrong?

 

[Obdurate]

There's a difference between debating religion and getting into heated arguments. Heated arguments continue to cause wars and at the very least hurt feelings. Some people -- and I won't mention names -- go on forums to argue just religion and it's so pointless it's ridiculous.

Minor is cool. He'll debate religion but he debates tons of other things as well.

And I absolutely love how freedom of speech only works one way for some people. I have every right to get after people for arguing religion, just like you people have every right to tell me to fuck off. It's funny how that works. "Don't come into the threads," doesn't really fly, considering I'm trying to make a point here and the only way you can create any kind of change is to tempt the waters. At the very least people should consider what they're doing themselves if others are saying they're going overboard. But people don't do that because people are stubborn.

Edit: Oh and both people who "got after me" should really read my last post before they comment. I said there's been quality religious threads made. It's not complaining unless you're complaining about religion, Butler? Double standards buddy. It's also hard not to notice when every single thread in the Debate section is about religion (it's an exaggeration but the point remains).

 

[pladecalvo]

Another question: Christians don't believe in the Hindu gods. They clearly see that Hinduism is incorrect. Hindus clearly see that Christianity is incorrect. How can both be so sure that the other is wrong?

....because of where they were born, raised and their indoctrination through childhood.

 

[Butler]

Well, sure, we need more than people preaching atheism or preaching theism. We need people getting into real discussion about philosophy and other things as well. Remember the guy on PTF who only talked about religion until we got him to tell us about his muscle cars?

 

[Obdurate]

lol I remember him. He seemed really nice but I couldn't wrap my mind around how he could only discuss one thing... all the time.

 

[lovinglife45]

Fear is a terrible reason! Unfortunately, it's the one most used by many christians to help convert people.

I disagree with this...... Dont get me wrong there are people who do this.... But its the wrong way to get any message across.... Most chrisitans who know the love that is offered do not use fear as a "tactic".

 

[gillibean]

I disagree with this...... Dont get me wrong there are people who do this.... But its the wrong way to get any message across.... Most chrisitans who know the love that is offered do not use fear as a "tactic".

I did not say most christians, I said many of them. Most christians know better than to threaten people, though in my experience fear is still used subtly and without realizing it.

 

[lovinglife45]

I did not say most christians, I said many of them. Most christians know better than to threaten people, though in my experience fear is still used subtly and without realizing it.

well then i am sorry you came in contact with people who use those kinds of methods to teach someone about God.

 

[gillibean]

The ones I've met personally don't even realize that they are using fear. They truly care about the people and misguidedly attempt to bring them over to their side because they are utterly convinced that they are right and everyone else is wrong, never mind what logic or common sense says.

 

[lovinglife45]

well i know i would be disinterested if i only heard that too..... thankfully i have not encountered that recently..... What logic and common sense are u speaking of?

 

[Minor Axis]

Thread resurrection! Don't hate me.

 

[satinbutterfly]

Of course I don't... which is why I'm agnostic.

 

[Dana]

I did not read this BUT how would one burn in hell for believing in God? *end transmission*

 

[Minor Axis]

Re: Is Not Burning in Hell A Good Reason to Believe in God?

I did not read this BUT how would one burn in hell for believing in God? *end transmission*

Is that better?

 

[Crackers]

Fear is powerful but should hold no place in a man's reasoning.

 

[Minor Axis]

Fear is powerful but should hold no place in a man's reasoning.

I can't completely agree with your statement. Fear serves a purpose as long as it is kept in perspective.

 

[MrKnight]

Christians preaching fear to get us to believe is wrong, and shouldn't be used as a tool to get non believers to believe.

 

[Minor Axis]

I'll correct my statement- Fear is good for physical survival, but not so good for convincing people about the possibility of retribution after physical death by a divine creator who keeps his presence known only in the imagination of humans who wants there to be one.

 

[ssl]

When you want to put it simply, fear is nothing more than a can to fill with courage you either have or don't have. Fear fuels courage or it rejects it, and because fear is entirely based on belief and what goes on in your mind, I have to disagree with Axis; if you believe that there will be retribution after death then fear can play a MAJOR part, as this fear could prevent you from doing things in your life that you may or may not do, only because it boils down to fear. So many people are sheep; if they believe in this fear, then convincing them of retribution will be no problem.

I think a tornado is quite fearful, not to mention it is fact that they exist, as well as being external to your mind.