Then they're not all doing it right...

Sorry to disappoint you.

But I don't knee jerk like you people...

But if God didn't even create the universe, why would he be worthy of praise? Why would we even acknowledge the existence of this being, if he let us suffer through billions of years of evolution before we would be able to see it? A God that doesn't take care of his creation isn't a very responsible one...
I don't know what you believe, though

THAT was a Kelso burn. Ouch.

In all seriousness though, as far as I am concerned, anyone who believes in a super natural power might as well believe in creationism because if this alleged being has unlimited power, then it can "poof" things into existence. So creationism isn't outside an omi-god's power.

I am not saying you personally believe it, but it makes as much sense as anything else a person my claim about a disembodied brain with no brain and magic super powers. Why not believe it, after all "God can do what he wants".

Might, but not necessarily.  Say, Jesus is my friend, he is my neighbor in the sky, he and his father evolved from ancient gods, who existed a long time ago before the universe (in some other universe probably, or they were the universes themselves).  When I play in a casino, I know that I can calculate my chances to win more or less accurately, but for me the chances come to 50/50, win or lose.  Here is where the gods come and help me or casino sometimes.  Their influence, though entirely within the width of the multiplicity function (thermodynamic accuracy, small in other words), means a lot for me.  So I can respect them and bend my knees before them.    

Let's say that god is god, and we don't know much about him (or them).  I don't see why god should be assumed to be "flawless", or "omnipotent", or anything else.  A simple answer would be 'we don't know'.   What if it is very hard to be god and 'poofing' things into existence is not as simple as some may think?  Imagine heavenly bureaucracy that needs to be passed by a god to get a permit for poofing something into existence, and this heavenly bureaucracy has all the eternity to consider the case.  

P.S.: Brian is of course right....

Pascal's wager isn't worth taking regardless.

Not all gods have been omnipotent, universe creators. It's not like the only god concept is the christian one. srsly guys...

Evidence?

How many people believe in gods with heaven and hell vs. yours?

Do you worry that your method of belief is similar to people committed to insane asylums? If you method of belief was only based on evidence, wouldn't this lead to a more sound mind? That could be the up side to being atheist.

Christianity took over in a lot of places because it promised a lot more and had a more powerful god. The evolution of God, an invisible friend more powerful than ever.

The reincarnation/karma thing is pretty much the same thing. If I understand it right, you get to some paradise with your invisible friend by leading a bunch of successively more 'holy' lives instead of just one. Heaven on the installment plan.

I don't see substantially how it's different than Catholic, Protestant or Islam. Do what the religious authorities tell you, so you'll get a better life after death. If you don't things get worse.

If I'm wrong why not enlighten us on how Hinduism is different. But I don't see how your religion can compete in the marketplace without promising paradise for being a good member.

Neither is anyone in the asylums.

The paranoid ones are on the outside. One needs to be paranoid about real things, if one is paranoid about imaginary things, one belongs in the asylum.

I'm waiting on an explaination of how your religion doesn't essentially have a heaven and hell, you just don't call it that.

Let't face it, religion is a business, how can your religion have 1 billion members if they don't think their getting as good a deal as the other religions?

That's not a fun fact.

That's a scary fact.

That you think it gives hinduism some kind of veracity, is simply retarded.

Here's a 'fun fact' : What's popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular.

Oh, I already know what I'm dealing with, with her.

They're a dime a dozen...

You're projecting. Nobody said anything about hindusim having veracity just because it's popular.

It's a good thing you're attacking that strawman, otherwise we'd have nothing to talk about.

It's actually your opinion. And you're trying to justify that opinion because the most popular religions have a heaven and hell. Hinduism doens't have a heaven or hell yet it's popular, but you think it has extreme reward/punishment like a heaven or a hell so it counts.

It's fine to have an opinion, just don't claim it as fact.

Then what was your fucking point, in telling us that there are a billion hindus except to cast the aspersion that it's 'believable'?

It's a good thing I don't rely on your authority to tell me if your pissing in my ear, or it's raining...

Say something cogent, say what you mean, mean what you say, and stop your intellectually dishonest backpedaling...

Fundy christian numbskulls certainly are a dime a dozen but carefully considered alternative lifestylers like Ciarin and Eloise are their own people.

Thanks. Things are going ok, I'm in Tennessee now, unfortunately.

I came back because Sapient posted on AN about RRS, which I had forgotten about.

Well what did the definition of Nirvana just say? Extreme Bliss.

From Wikipedia Naraka:

"Hinduism
A large central panel portrays Yama the god of death (often referred to as Dharma) seated on a throne; to the left stands a demon. To the right of Yama sits Chitragupta, assigned with keeping detailed records of every human being and upon their death deciding how they are to be reincarnated, depending on their previous actions.Naraka in Vedas, is a place where souls are sent for the expiation of their sins. It is mentioned especially in dharmaśāstras, itihāsas and Purāṇas but also in Vedic samhitas,[1][2] Aranyakas[3] and Upaniṣads.[4][5][6][7] Some Upanisads speak of 'darkness' instead of hell.[8] A summary of Upaniṣads, Bhagavad Gita, mentions hell several times.[9] Even Adi Sankara mentions it in his commentary on Vedanta sutra.[10] Still, some people like members of Arya Samaj don't accept the existence of Naraka or consider it metaphorical.

In Puranas like Bhagavata Purana, Garuda Purana and Visnu Purana there are elaborate descriptions of many hells. They are situated above Garbhodaka ocean.[11]

Yama, Lord of Justice, puts living beings after death for appropriate punishment, for example, in boiling oil. Even Mukti-yogyas (souls eligible for mukti or moksha, liberation), and Nitya-samsarins (forever transmigrating ones in Dvaita theology) can experience Naraka for expiation.[12] After the period of punishment is complete, they are reborn on earth[13] in human or animal bodies.[14] Therefore neither naraka nor svarga[15] are permanent abodes."

So the difference is your 'hell' is not permanent you can get out eventually?

A large religion can not have many dedicated followers with using a big carrot and a big stick. It's the only way to get people to go along with such ridiculous claims.

Which is a mealy mouthed way of not admitting your opinion was never worth more than sh1t...

That's pure bullshit.

You were attacking him as if he was simply making naked assertions, and that he was simply using circular reasoning.

You simply have ZERO grounds to assert that Hinduism does not have any concepts like 'Heaven and Hell', so you're talking through your ass.

I just showed you the description of Naraka, where Hindus believe one goes to be tortured for their sins. So you have a special politically correct version of Hinduism without hell?

Expectation of a reward/punishment is all that can possible motivate anyone to do anything. What other motivation can there possible be? Isn't this pretty much a given in psychology? The scientists assume that all behaviors are motivated by expectation of reward/punishment. Can you provide a counter example?

They need the fear of Naraka(aka Hell), to make people feel fearful if the want to leave the religion. Hell is used to maintain belief in individuals that were indoctrinated.

The fact is all major religions have a reward/punishment system for some afterlife. Any religion that does not is insignificant without fanatical adherents. I've showed you the wikipedia writups that prove it for one religion. Do you need more sources? Just google the name of the religion and 'hell' or 'heaven'.

I don't know what your religious beliefs are, but I do know if your religion doesn't have heaven and hell, this religion would be a tiny minority without fanatical adherents. Am I wrong? So what are the rewards and punishments in your faith?