Risk, Reward, and God

notjeffgoldblum · 10-09-2008, 06:06 AM

Quote:

If you believe in God, and he turns out to not be real, then you have lost nothing, but if he is real, you've gained everything.

Assuming God is as benevolent as many would like to believe she is, I'd like to present the following thought for discussion:

Quote:

If you don't believe in God, and he turns out to not be real, you've gained everything, but if he is real, you've gained everything.

SolitaryWalker · 10-09-2008, 06:35 AM

What is God?

There is a myriad of possible notions we could explore with regard to that topic, which one do we have in mind here?

Eileen · 10-09-2008, 10:41 AM

What is "real"? What is "true"? What is a "lie"? Sometimes I think that is so much more relevant than "What is God?"

Also, what is "everything" and "nothing"?

Beat · 10-09-2008, 01:24 PM

I think there is something lost if you spend a life time devoted to a God that turns out to not even exist. Maybe it doesn't matter after you die but for the life spent on Earth. I realize many are not this way, but I know a number of people that arise in the morning and then sleep at night, having spent their entire day devoted to study, worship and fellowship within the confined box of their faith and religion. While they may mean well and carry out their ministry with good intention, they're still called to "save the world" which leaves those of us who aren't like minded feeling isolated and looked down on.

So to those who are totally immersed, I do feel its a risk. Lost nothing? Well, you've spent the one life you have misfocused and then disregarded other trains of thought.

Jennifer · 10-09-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beat

I think there is something lost if you spend a life time devoted to a God that turns out to not even exist. Maybe it doesn't matter after you die but for the life spent on Earth. I realize many are not this way, but I know a number of people that arise in the morning and then sleep at night, having spent their entire day devoted to study, worship and fellowship within the confined box of their faith and religion. While they may mean well and carry out their ministry with good intention, they're still called to "save the world" which leaves those of us who aren't like minded feeling isolated and looked down on.

So to those who are totally immersed, I do feel its a risk. Lost nothing? Well, you've spent the one life you have misfocused and then disregarded other trains of thought.

That tends to be how I look at it now, from the outside.

IMO the question of existence shouldn't really be, "Where are you going when you die?" which tends to be just self-serving and protectionist [i.e., it's all about hedging your bets to maximize your personal profit], I think it's much better for it to be, "How am I going to live today?"

Life starts right now.
So whatever Big Things exist (God, truth, etc) logically should be relevant right now.

Rachelinpa · 10-09-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

to those who are totally immersed, I do feel its a risk. Lost nothing? Well, you've spent the one life you have misfocused and then disregarded other trains of thought.

Well, I certainly do not agree with narrow-mindedness and blind devotion. However, if you are immersed in what you truly believe (however misdirected), then I would not consider it a life lost.

Quote:

it's much better for it to be, "How am I going to live today?"

Agreed. I think the question should be two-fold. What am I living for? Followed by, how am I going to live? Matching your actions with your set of values and beliefs in order to experience the richest life possible.

Beat · 10-09-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennifer

I think it's much better for it to be, "How am I going to live today?"

Backed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachelinpa

Well, I certainly do not agree with narrow-mindedness and blind devotion. However, if you are immersed in what you truly believe (however misdirected), then I would not consider it a life lost.

The faith and belief itself, no, you're right. However, an immersion can easily lead to narrow-mindedness and blind devotion. Even if God is legit, it's wrong. Doubly wrong and unfortunate if he's not.

p.s. Did I create a word when I said "misfocused"? I think so.

notjeffgoldblum · 10-09-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueWing

What is God?

I was speaking of the judeo-chrIslamic God.

Orangey · 10-09-2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notjeffgoldblum

Assuming God is as benevolent as many would like to believe she is, I'd like to present the following thought for discussion:

What's up with the last quote?

"If you don't believe in God, and he turns out to not be real, you've gained everything, but if he is real, you've gained everything."

How will you have gained everything if you don't believe in God and he turns out to be real? Are you suggesting that God will reward equally those who believe in him and those who don't?

Beat · 10-09-2008, 04:58 PM

^pretty sure that's a typo.

10-09-2008, 06:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
SolitaryWalker Iconoclast Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: INTP Posts: 2,526	What is God? There is a myriad of possible notions we could explore with regard to that topic, which one do we have in mind here? __________________ 'And the great deadly serpent Superstition, bred of fear and ignorance, keeps watch on the treasure of knowledge. Only he who has slain the serpent and knows not fear can bestride Odin's horse and ride through the wall of fire; only he who wields Odin's sword can draw near to that sleeping might and beauty, and sunder the stifling links of mail, and show the divine face to men.' 'To be a philosopher,you must first be a Spinozist; if you have not Spinozism, you have no philosophy at all' Hegel

10-09-2008, 10:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Eileen Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: INFJ Location: an awesome bubble Posts: 1,963	What is "real"? What is "true"? What is a "lie"? Sometimes I think that is so much more relevant than "What is God?" Also, what is "everything" and "nothing"? __________________ INFJ - 4w5 sx "Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility: that's the essence of America's promise." -- Barack Obama

10-09-2008, 01:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Beat ...lost Join Date: Oct 2007 Type: ISTj Location: Yonder Posts: 4,808	I think there is something lost if you spend a life time devoted to a God that turns out to not even exist. Maybe it doesn't matter after you die but for the life spent on Earth. I realize many are not this way, but I know a number of people that arise in the morning and then sleep at night, having spent their entire day devoted to study, worship and fellowship within the confined box of their faith and religion. While they may mean well and carry out their ministry with good intention, they're still called to "save the world" which leaves those of us who aren't like minded feeling isolated and looked down on. So to those who are totally immersed, I do feel its a risk. Lost nothing? Well, you've spent the one life you have misfocused and then disregarded other trains of thought. __________________ "Come on boy, come on girl, succumb to the beat surrender" - The Jam Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

10-09-2008, 04:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
Beat ...lost Join Date: Oct 2007 Type: ISTj Location: Yonder Posts: 4,808	^pretty sure that's a typo. __________________ "Come on boy, come on girl, succumb to the beat surrender" - The Jam Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

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