Would it change anything?

[Willamena]

Eggzacherry!

I totally disagree with "Eggzacherry!" I'm going to debate that.

Everyone knows Eggzamuffin not a cherry!

 

[Scuba Pete]

Fixed that for you.

You can't fix what ain't broke: especially with faulty grammar. Criminy, you haven't been able to even fix your faulty premise! You have only succeeded in deceiving your self!

 

[sojourner]

If it weren't for the dangling carrot of heaven and the threat of eternal torture in hell, would you still be a christian?

Your premise is faulty. Since Christianity isn't predicated upon a rewards-based paradigm, there is no "carrot" to "dangle."

 

[LogDog]

Do you find belief in heaven and hell to be convincing enough to convert you to theism, LogDog?

No, but it could be for others.

 

[LogDog]

I personally don't follow God because of any promise of "Heaven" or any threat of "Hell". I don't honestly believe that there are many Christians that do.

Thanks for your reply. I'd suggest that the expected value of believing is greater than the expected value of not believing and that this notion has led many to define themselves as christian.

Did it ever occur to you, Logdog, that some of us are Christians because of the teachings of Jesus or some other reason?

Sure.

You are an atheist--Do you believe in, hmmm, let's say evolution because you think there is a reward if you do or a penalty if you don't believe in it?

The theory of evolution doesn't promise anything.

 

[dawny0826]

Absolutely. I'm a Christian because of Jesus Christ. Christ is truth. Christ is the only thing that is right in my life.

 

[ChristineES]

Thanks for your reply. I'd suggest that the expected value of believing is greater than the expected value of not believing and that this notion has led many to define themselves as christian.



Sure.



The theory of evolution doesn't promise anything.

I know, that was my point.

 

[Sunstone]

Not a Christian, but I know a few for whom it wouldn't change a thing.

I second Patty.

 

[methylatedghosts]

I totally disagree with "Eggzacherry!" I'm going to debate that.

Everyone knows Eggzamuffin not a cherry!

Lies and slander!!! >_<

 

[angellous_evangellous]

If it weren't for the dangling carrot of heaven and the threat of eternal torture in hell, would you still be a christian?

Perhaps some atheists are just as stupid to characterize Christianity in this way as the people who follow Christianity like a rabbit after the carrot stick. I suppose thoughtless religious fundamentalism has its dualistic parallel with dogmatic, proseltyzing atheism.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Perhaps some atheists are just as stupid to characterize Christianity in this way as the people who follow Christianity like a rabbit after the carrot stick. I suppose thoughtless religious fundamentalism has its dualistic parallel with dogmatic, proseltyzing atheism.

He shoots... HE SCORES! The crowd goes wild!

 

[angellous_evangellous]

He shoots... HE SCORES! The crowd goes wild!

It doesn't please me to see slime like this. Many atheists appreciate the humanist qualities of religion, and I'm thankful that like dogmatic theists, dogmatic atheists appear at least to me to be as repulsed by artless (atheist) propoganda as the rest of us are by evangelical dribble.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Perhaps some atheists are just as stupid to characterize Christianity in this way as the people who follow Christianity like a rabbit after the carrot stick. I suppose thoughtless religious fundamentalism has its dualistic parallel with dogmatic, proseltyzing atheism.

OTOH, most atheists probably get Pascal's Wager thrown at them more often than most theists do. I imagine that this might skew each group's estimate of what an "average Christian" believes.

 

[LogDog]

Did the expected value of believing and the expected value of not believing play any role in your decision to follow christianity? Since Pascal's Wager is a common argument put forth by theists to suggest to nonbelievers that christianity is a reasonable world view, I would assume that many converts found the argument compelling.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Did the expected value of believing and the expected value of not believing play any role in your decision to follow christianity? Since Pascal's Wager is a common argument put forth by theists to suggest to nonbelievers that christianity is a reasonable world view, I would assume that many converts found the argument compelling.

You have totally the wrong picture....
Faith never comes from winning or losing arguments.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

The premise is faulty since heaven is here and now. It's not a dangling carrot, but a real slice of carrot cake and it tastes good!

Can you offer any Scripture to prove that point?

 

[sandy whitelinger]

If it weren't for the dangling carrot of heaven and the threat of eternal torture in hell, would you still be a christian?

If I were to die tommorow and that were the end then my life as a Christian would still have been totally wortwhile. But that is not the case.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Did the expected value of believing and the expected value of not believing play any role in your decision to follow christianity? Since Pascal's Wager is a common argument put forth by theists to suggest to nonbelievers that christianity is a reasonable world view, I would assume that many converts found the argument compelling.

There's a big difference between weighing the virtue of belief and a rabbit mindlessly following a carrot (as in your pathetic excuse for an OP). You're forsaking your own charicature!

 

[sandy whitelinger]

Did the expected value of believing and the expected value of not believing play any role in your decision to follow christianity? Since Pascal's Wager is a common argument put forth by theists to suggest to nonbelievers that christianity is a reasonable world view, I would assume that many converts found the argument compelling.

Pascal's Wager was found to be faulty logic.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Can you offer any Scripture to prove that point?

Plenty...

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. NIV

We have it all- NOW! Notice the tense!

Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. NIV

Here we have it handed to us!

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. NIV

Again, notice the tense of "brought". We are in the Kingdom of heaven. If heaven is communion with God, then I have it RIGHT NOW.