Isn't pantheism safer?

[chakka35]

Someone suggested (it might have been Dawkins) that those who believe in God might discover, when they reach the hereafter, that the Bloke-in-Charge is actually some other deity and that they have therefore been worshipping the wrong one all the time. I can just picture the scene:

Theland and I are sitting together at Afterlife Reception waiting to be interviewed, classified and sent to our fates. An official calls out "All rise! Your god approaches!" and into the room walks�Zeus!

Zeus is cross with me for having refused to believe in any god, including him. But he is absolutely livid with Theland for having worshipped a false deity called "God" all his life. So I am grudgingly given second-class accommodation in heaven and poor old Theland is consigned to the other place.

So, Theland and others, isn't monotheism risky? Wouldn't it be better to embrace pantheism � covering all possibilities, just in case?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Alternatively, you might as well argue that since Pascal's Wager says it's better to believe than not, you should determine the one with the worst punishments for not believing and go with that. And hope God doesn't see through your specious logic...

[naomi24]

I'll plump for Baccus. Doubt he'd be capable of seeing through anyone's specious logic. :o)

[naomi24]

Sorry, should have been 'Bacchus'. It's the wine, you know. :o)

[Theland]

Tut tut! Wine! And it's not even the weekend! Hope it was a good one, with a real screw top and inflammable vapours drifting out of the neck of the bottle!

No, monotheism is not risky, since there is a promise that I believe in, that this creator God is the one true living God, and Jesus Christ is His son. I wanted to continue, but it would sound like preaching, but you get my drift.
So much of the Bible warns us against false gods, and that is a warning I heed.

[naomi24]

Theland, A real screw top? What else!! Nothing but the best, you know - especially on a week night!

Chakka has a point. By hedging your bets you'd surely have more chance? The evidence for the promise you believe in seems pretty shaky, to say the least. Have you ever seriously considered you may be wrong? (And that's a serious question).

[Theland]

I feel that I am assured of my salvation, so there is no room for doubt there. If there was, I would be even more screwed up than I already am.

[naomi24]

So you've never considered you may be wrong?

[Theland]

On the contrary, the Bible, amongst other things, convinces me that I am right.

[brionon]

The safest of ALL is to rely on your Parents ,Family etc. If there is an after-life I can Rely on my Mum getting me in,with a cuff round the ear for being late !

[Theland]

.... and playing your harp too loudl!

[Octavius]

It may well be the safest bet, but wouldn�t it cost you a fortune in all the collection plates?

[Theland]

Think of all of the religious holidays though! It has some merit after all!

[Octavius]

They'd be spent praying, there would be no time for anything else.

[Theland]

As long as we didn't have to give presents!

[keyplus90]

If that would be right then Hindu believe in more than 18 million gods. If all of them be true gods then we may end up with more gods and less people in hereafter.

[Theland]

That's called, "The old school tie ...... "

[Octavius]

So we all agree then, pantheism is better than atheism.

[Theland]

Well it's a start.

[China Doll]

No, not all of us agree!

I worked for a betting shop, the punter pretty much can only ever expect to break even. Hitting the jackpot is unlikey.

[Octavius]

Well what chance do we have then?

If I reached my expiry date and went to the gates of heaven, I'd be a bit jiggered if God was caled Kevin or Tracy wouldn't I.

What am I to do...?