Your Religion!

[Xantar]

Originally Posted by Vampyr

I dont understand why anyone would be Aetheist. If you would pick a religon, read its religous teachings, have faith and believe in the mercy of its God, then when you die, you have a chance. You have a chance for something better. If you were wrong, and the religon was a much of lies and crap, than what happens? You lay in the ground and rot. With the path you have chosen, thats all you have. Thats the only thing you have to look forward too, you dont even have a chance.

Ah yes, Pascal's Wager. The problem with it is choosing which religion to believe in. Why exactly is it that picking a religion equates to having "faith and believe in the mercy of its God?" Not all religions have a God that's supposed to be merciful. In fact, not all religions have a God.

Besides, you can't exactly just wake up in the morning and say, "Hey, I should be religious so I have a chance for something better. I didn't believe in God before, but I'm going to start believing now."

Originally Posted by mickydaniels

So then, you're not an atheist. You're an agnostic.

I don't get it. I don't see anything in your definition of the word "agnostic" that says an agnostic is someone who, among other things, tries to be a good person as much as possible. Are you saying that if someone is atheist, he can't possibly be making every effort to be good?

With all due respect, I think that's absurd.

I'd say more, but I'm really not sure you've thought through exactly what you're trying to say. If you could clarify more, I'd be happy to discuss my point of view.

By the way, I'm a Buddhist, and I'm also Atheist in the sense that I don't think there is a God. The two are not incompatible.