Question for Atheists

[Anonymous]

In the end, on your deathbed, will you hope that you are right about your atheism or hope that you are wrong?

[Anonymous]

Obviously I have no idea since I am hopefully far from my deathbed. But I hope that on my deathbed I am remembering the people I love and the memories that made my life. I hope that the incredible flood of love that rushes through me sometimes as I think about my two kids (now in their late teens) is what I feel as I end my journey.

[Anonymous]

I hope that I can forgive the Cathoilc Church for molesting my friend and his suicide. Feel better now with your stupid question?

[Anonymous]

I won't care at all about that. I am at total peace with myself in terms of beliefs.

[Anonymous]

It wouldn’t occur to me to hope for either. As long as I am capable of rational thought I will be focused on the loved ones I’ll be leaving behind.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Perhaps I misstated my (sincere) question, as none of these responses addressed it.

To simplify- do you hope you’re right or do you hope you’re wrong? Forget the deathbed part!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Perhaps I misstated my (sincere) question, as none of these responses addressed it. To simplify- do you hope you’re right or do you hope you’re wrong? Forget the deathbed part!

I still don't care. I am doing what works for me. I am not kind to people in order to get into "heaven" or to avoid going to "hell." That's not my guiding force. If that's what helps others behave well, then I'm glad they found what works for them.

[Anonymous]

Why? How would it make a difference? I try to be a good person. I would hope if there is a God that they would judge me based on my behavior and not worshiping them since I have no evidence they exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why? How would it make a difference? I try to be a good person. I would hope if there is a God that they would judge me based on my behavior and not worshiping them since I have no evidence they exist.

It makes a difference because, if you’re right, then you have nothing to worry about after you die. But if you’re wrong-well- I’d hate to be you.

The question is- do you HOPE you are right or do you HOPE you are wrong?

I’ve yet to meet an atheist IRL who hopes that s/he is wrong. So I’m asking here.

[Anonymous]

OP - I have a friend who is devout. She feels God in her heart and her faith is such a central part of her life. She simply cannot understand that not only do I not share her beliefs, but that there is no “hole” where God should be. I am explaining this badly but I think your question comes from the assumption that people must be for or against the idea of God. I neither hope I am right nor do I hope I am wrong. I just don’t think about it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why? How would it make a difference? I try to be a good person. I would hope if there is a God that they would judge me based on my behavior and not worshiping them since I have no evidence they exist.

It makes a difference because, if you’re right, then you have nothing to worry about after you die. But if you’re wrong-well- I’d hate to be you.

The question is- do you HOPE you are right or do you HOPE you are wrong?

I’ve yet to meet an atheist IRL who hopes that s/he is wrong. So I’m asking here.

If I were to suddenly have religious beliefs again, they wouldn’t include a deity who would play games with and torture the people it created.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why? How would it make a difference? I try to be a good person. I would hope if there is a God that they would judge me based on my behavior and not worshiping them since I have no evidence they exist.

It makes a difference because, if you’re right, then you have nothing to worry about after you die. But if you’re wrong-well- I’d hate to be you.

The question is- do you HOPE you are right or do you HOPE you are wrong?

I’ve yet to meet an atheist IRL who hopes that s/he is wrong. So I’m asking here.

Wrong about what? Be a good person regardless of if you believe and then when you die it’s a nonissue. I am not wasting my time worrying about it.

[Anonymous]

The thing about being religious is that being so can become central to your life and belief system. Morality is built around that. It's your foundation.

For an atheist, the lack of religion isn't an absence. You don't go around thinking, oh there's no god here, now what? You build your foundation yourself and you have a foundation, voila. What I'm trying to say is, I'm not constantly questioning the lack of god. Is he or isn't he?

I wouldn't MIND if I'm wrong. A lot of people put a lot of weight on him, and it would be a comfort for them to be right about it all. It surely will be not ideal if I am in eternal hellfire for all of eternity because I do not believe. At the same time, I won't pretend.

And what about you? Do you HOPE that you are wrong? If you do not hope you are wrong, why do you think atheists should hope they are wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why? How would it make a difference? I try to be a good person. I would hope if there is a God that they would judge me based on my behavior and not worshiping them since I have no evidence they exist.

It makes a difference because, if you’re right, then you have nothing to worry about after you die. But if you’re wrong-well- I’d hate to be you.

The question is- do you HOPE you are right or do you HOPE you are wrong?

I’ve yet to meet an atheist IRL who hopes that s/he is wrong. So I’m asking here.

If I were to suddenly have religious beliefs again, they wouldn’t include a deity who would play games with and torture the people it created.

+1. Especially not a diety who would torture the people he "loves" just because they couldn't make themselves believe something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Perhaps I misstated my (sincere) question, as none of these responses addressed it. To simplify- do you hope you’re right or do you hope you’re wrong? Forget the deathbed part!

I still don't care. I am doing what works for me. I am not kind to people in order to get into "heaven" or to avoid going to "hell." That's not my guiding force. If that's what helps others behave well, then I'm glad they found what works for them.

Pretty much this.