For all the athiests.

[Truthabounds]

How will you feel when you find out that there really is a God and that you have spent your life mocking him?
I know of many athiests who have spent most of their life disbelieving, and then finding out they were wrong.
What will you do?

[dzug2]

<<Obviously they found out before death>>

They didn't 'find out' before death. They had a change of opinion

Similarly, I know of many (well some) christians who have become atheists later in life.

[Davethedog]

"Plus I do have proof he exists" HaHaHaHa Yes of course you do.

[mibn2cweus]

Naomi, Perhaps a better question would be -

//For All The Believers.

How would you feel to discover that the God you have devoted your life to believing was only a delusion?
I know of many believers who have spent much of their life believing, only to read their Bible and realise they have been worshipping a monster.

What will you do?//

But by all means, feel free to pose any questions for which any potential answers might interest you. So many questions . . . so little time. :o)

[andy-hughes]

Truthabounds - I am an aetheist and I have never mocked God, or people who believe in God.

If i discover that i am wrong, I am perfectly willing to repent, and since I have lived a good and honest life, the bible teaches me that God will forgive me and rejoice in me as a lost sheep found, and I will enter His kngdom.

That's what I will do, followed by what He will do.

Problem?

[rowanwitch]

I will probably go ooops...sorry...my mistake.... nice place you have here love what you've done with the clouds... not sure about the gates though...a bit kitsch don't you think?

[pa___ul3]

if that happens I'll say "good one old boy, with your 'enigmatic' act you really had me fooled!"

How did you come about meeting so many atheists who've been close enough to death to 'find out the truth'!? You must hang out in some weird places!

I'd still rather live my life to be judged by those who matter to me here and now rather than living in the hope that all I do will one day be appreciated enough to earn a place in 'the comfy zone'. I'd rather create my own 'heaven' here on earth with good friends and a happy family.

[redman41]

My god carries a hammer. Your god died nailed to a tree.
Any questions?

[cupid04]

Can I ask a question? , if this section is for religion and spirituality , why is
it filled with mainly non -believers. Perhaps there should be a section for
atheists and agnostics!

[emmie]

i wish people would learn to spell atheist. I don't believe in any religion, God, or whatnot, not since i was a child, but then i also believed in Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy, and now we know they aren't real are they?

[rowanwitch]

Cupid....try chatterbank.... most of us are over there

[andy-hughes]

Yes redman - why do you think his god died nailed to a tree?

It was not God but the earthly prescence of Jesus who died crucified.

The entire crux of the Christian faith is that God sent his Son to live and die as man - and the moment that Jesus cried out "My God, why hast though forsaken me?" was the moment that God knew for sure that his incarnation had been successful - Jesus was a mortal man who died in doubt and fear, as he was supposed to do, to save mankind from doing the same.

I may not believe in God, but I know the story, simplifying it does not defend your stance.

[redman41]

I am still carrying a Hammer andy simply because I do not believe in these Fairytales

[rowanwitch]

The pagan god was sacrificed nailed upside down from a tree a long time before the christians came along...the god would then be placed in the soil to ensure fertility for the harvest to be reborn as the offspring of the mother goddess with the greening of the land
So adult child of the deity....nailed to an upright wooden thing....buried and resurrected/reborn for the good of mankind... why have a new story when the old one would strike a chord with those you wish to convert.... similarly the virgin mother came to the fore when they wanted to convert all the goddess worshippers who would reject a totally male dominated belief structure

[pa___ul3]

Andy, if the story is that "Jesus was a mortal man who died in doubt and fear, as he was supposed to do, to save mankind from doing the same.".. then why is there still a doubt? Surely that means that Jesus' role was futile.

[Davethedog]

Cupid did you miss the title of the question?

[andy-hughes]

Not sure if I understand you paul - but it is advised that at the moment of his death, Jesus in his earthly form doubted God, and felt that he had been abandoned. His cry of despair was heard by all, who then saw that he was resurected - thus demonstrating that God's love for his Son, and for mankind, was true, and as foretold.

[gollysailor]

Henry VIII was a true believer. The Pope said "sorry matey, you can't divorce Mrs Tudor". So ole Henry said "never mind, I'll just have to make do with my own religion, let's call it the C of E, and I'll divorce whoever I please matey" God didn't get a look in.

[pa___ul3]

Andy - I just meant that if Jesus died in doubt and fear so that the rest of humanity would be spared the suffering of doubt and fear, then the fact that doubt in god's existence is so very clearly still affecting a hell of a lot of people (pun intended) means that god's intended plan didn't come to full fruition, or at least another example is required if that is what god wants so much.
I suppose, though, that's by the by. It can be read as just another contradiction or it can be read as just another example as to why people should believe the story, for those without doubt will follow god's path or something! That's the beauty of religion, to quote Bright Eyes "There is no truth, there is only you and what you make the truth".

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //If i discover that i am wrong, I am perfectly willing to repent, and since I have lived a good and honest life, the bible teaches me that God will forgive me and rejoice in me as a lost sheep found, and I will enter His kngdom[sic].//

You claim to be an atheist, but you don't sound terribly convinced. It seems you're plumping for Pascal's Wager.

[Ankou]

i think the point is that you could pretty much do your worst, die, say sorry and still trundle throught the pearly gates. its what many have done before.