It basically suggests people feign a belief they don't hold in order to escape eternal punishment.

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I guess I could see how that might seem ridiculous, still seems like the safer choice overall.

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and how might one fool an all-powerful deity into believing that i believe in them?

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quote:

Originally posted by Alex If you want to use it to determine whether you want to believe in God or not fine

You are religious right?

Try to make yourself not believe in God, then see how dumb it is to assume an atheist could truly change his beliefs just so the odds will be in his favor when he dies

quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN and how might one fool an all-powerful deity into believing that i believe in them?

You cant, I was talking about actually genuinely believing.

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quote:

Originally posted by Sunsnail You are religious right? Try to make yourself not believe in God, then see how dumb it is to assume an atheist could truly change his beliefs just so the odds will be in his favor when he dies

Of course you're right, it was also partly a joke

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quote:

Originally posted by Alex You cant, I was talking about actually genuinely believing.

but how do you go about making yourself believe something?

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quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN but how do you go about making yourself believe something?

I don't know.

I used to be an Atheist and then for whatever reason I changed and became a Theist. I cant explain why, if anyone could offer a rational explanation (by rational I mean non personal experience, and based on empirical evidence) everyone would be theists.

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quote:

Originally posted by Sunsnail You are religious right? Try to make yourself not believe in God, then see how dumb it is to assume an atheist could truly change his beliefs just so the odds will be in his favor when he dies

All faith is founded upon doubt - it's the only healthy kind.

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quote:

Originally posted by Alex I don't know. I used to be an Atheist and then for whatever reason I changed and became a Theist. I cant explain why, if anyone could offer a rational explanation (by rational I mean non personal experience, and based on empirical evidence) everyone would be theists.

Ditto for me.

Belief isn't supposed to be perfect - it's why in Islam the cornerstone of faith is jihad, or "struggle".

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quote:

Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov Ditto for me.

jesus, really? (haha, no pun intended.)

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quote:

Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov Ditto for me. Belief isn't supposed to be perfect - it's why in Islam the cornerstone of faith is jihad, or "struggle".

My priest told me once that a good Christian doubts, and I've held to that ever since.

By the way, if you don't mind me asking, are you Christian? I assume that's what it is if you're from the US, but that's generalizing on my part.

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