Hell is for Christians, Heaven for Atheists?
Offline What if science someday advances to the point where it has all the powers that Christians claim only God has? This would include resurrection of the dead. So our consciences could be revived by scientists in some future millenium.
To me this is a remote possibility, yet it is way more plausible than Christianity or any other religion being true.
What would these scientists do to the Christians that had put their faith in Christ? Create an eternal Hell for Christians to exist in? A heaven for atheists?
If you're going to play Pascal's wager, why not consider this possibility?
Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure. A centrally planned totalitarian state represents a complete defeat for the civilized world, while a totally voluntary society represents its ultimate success. --Mark Skousen
- Login to post comments
Sounds like you want to recreate Christianity in a scientific image with scientists playing the role of Satan/GOD simultaneously by resurrecting the dead, punishing those whom you disagree with, and rewarding those you agree with eternally. This might be possible, but not very plausible. As for the plausibility of this vs the Yahweh/Christian God, I would say this is more plausible. It is also intentionally vindictive and evil to ensnare someone's consciousness for eternal punishment in the cause of science. If you are trying to invoke Pascal's wager as a means of providing people( that believe in Yaweh as the only true possible God) with a new perspective, I think there are better examples that don't make science look evil and dogmatic while imposing a moral judgment. It is an interesting thought though.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda
I don't want to do this. But in thinking about the possibilty of life after death, to me this seems like the most plausible possibility of an afterlife. Most Christians are "believers" because of Pascal's wager, but they never consider that Islam or other religions may be possible as well. This is just another possiblity they should consider before betting it all on Jesus.
If these scientists did this and punished Christians for making the wrong bet. I would have a hard time loving them. I would tell them these Christians were just pretty ignorant and fearful, give them a second chance. If they didn't I'd say they were pretty cold and cruel. Yet Christians believe they are going to be required to love a God that sends us to Hell.
So scientists are evil if they act like the god of the bible, yet the god of the bible is loved and worshiped for being who he is.
It like the debates with stem cells, genetic engineering and cloning. Man is evil if he takes on God's powers. Explain that!
Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure. A centrally planned totalitarian state represents a complete defeat for the civilized world, while a totally voluntary society represents its ultimate success. --Mark Skousen
I don't think most scientists have any interest in punishing Christians or even acting as though they are in a battle in the first place. All scientists want is to be left alone to do their work and publish their findings. The only time I see scientists engage Christians is when the Christians attempt to obstruct their efforts.
Scientists with the power of God would be just as terrible and frightening as the idea of God is now.
Lazy is a word we use when someone isn't doing what we want them to do.
- Dr. Joy Brown
I don't think you are proposing this as a valid option, but falling into the trap of using your opponent's logic and their frame to create a debate is inventing a losing battle. Working within their beliefs about God is love, whereas he is evil in his acts(genocide, infanticide, hell) is only furthering the irrationality of their cause by inadvertently legitimizing the idea of God's powers being used by scientist and replacing God with science. I understand where you are trying to go with this, I just wonder if "thinking inside their box" in this situation is counterproductive.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda
I'm not proposing this as valid, or that the scientists that were cruel to Christians were anything but scumbags. But, Christians tell us we need to consider this insane, extremely remotely plausible idea that Bible story is true. So to be intellectually honest in this debate, atheists and Christians both need to consider other possibilities and the consequences of these outcomes. If I'm to consider Jesus as God is possible, then I should also consider scientists as God is possible.
Christianity has the golden rule: 'Do unto others as you would have them do undo you'. So they are supposed to put themselves in the other persons position in all things. So in this scenario, they would want atheists to lobby the scientists to not torture them forever. Yet, if the bible is true, they will throw out the Golden rule when the are in heaven and worship, love and adore the God who tortures people that did not pick Jesus.
Taxation is the price we pay for failing to build a civilized society. The higher the tax level, the greater the failure. A centrally planned totalitarian state represents a complete defeat for the civilized world, while a totally voluntary society represents its ultimate success. --Mark Skousen