Another Question For Christians

[David Sklansky]

Today the pope blessed his flock and the president asked us to pray for the soldiers. I'm one of those who is virtually certain that neither action will result in a response from any god. Others are positive it will, (or at least that there is a god out there who will listen and consider a response).

But what about those who are not sure one way or the other? More precisely what about those who believe that there is only a pretty good possibility that there is such a god out there? (Some of those people will not admit their serious doubts for Pascal Wager reasons. But they still have them.) Are they subjected to the same punishments as out and out non believers?

[Bodhi]

David, I love your books, but this is the psychology forum. Everything useful here is going to get drowned out again by a whole new wave of God posts.

[PassiveCaller]

I don't know why people keep arguing that God has nothing to do with Psychology. The concepts have a very strong connection.

[PassiveCaller]

People believing in religion for Pascals Wagers reasons is an interesting concept and I'd have to assume that they would mostly file this into the "it can only help not hurt" even though the whole concept of asking for blessing in an act of War which God by nature would not seem to condone to begin with seems "silly at best".

[David Sklansky]

"David, I love your books, but this is the psychology forum. Everything useful here is going to get drowned out again by a whole new wave of God posts."

God, rushes, its all the same thing.

[OrianasDaad]

Basically, does a person who thinks that there is most likely a God out there that is active in our day-to-day lives (but with some doubts) going to receive the same punishment that a pure non-believer would get?

Let's assume the balance of good and evil that weighs their souls are equal for the three folks described here. Three? Oh, yes. We should ask if the semi-believer will receive less punishment than a full believer as well.

All other things being equal, is the belief in God enough to warrant some sort of treatment in the afterlife (however you define it)?

That depends on which religion you ask, I suppose. Religion != spirituality or faith. Religion is just a structure through which faith functions. I don't think any religion has gotten it right.

I don't have an answer to your question, just more questions.

Still waiting for an answer to your queston in the Rand thread. I don't remember, either.

[Myrtle]

......scrolling through the cable TV listings this past Friday night, there it was......

Besides the fact that it's one of the best movies ever made.......

.....how deliciously ironic the timing was.

For those who have never seen it, give it a shot...........then come back and talk religion.

[Bork]

David, the answer they will undoubtedly give is:

I don't judge who gets punished and who is rewarded, that is for God to decide.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

My favorite movie of all time. Gene Kelly as H.L. Mencken was classic.

[trying2learn]

[ QUOTE ]
"David, I love your books, but this is the psychology forum. Everything useful here is going to get drowned out again by a whole new wave of God posts."

God, rushes, its all the same thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

That made me laugh out loud pretty hard.