One of the tactics proselytizers use to try to convert nonbelievers is the appeal to fear. What if you’re wrong? What if it turns out there really is a god and you’ve lived your life on the assumption that there isn’t? They invoke Pascal’s Wager in an attempt to scare people into believing. And this reminds me of my favorite skeptic Michael Shermer’s delightful appearance on Mr. Deity.
In that episode, Shermer has died and it turned out there was a god after all being referred to as Mr. Deity. Denied entry at the Pearly Gates, Shermer pleads his case before Mr. Deity:
Mr. Deity: The bottom line is you didn’t believe in the boy here (referring to Jesus).
Michael Shermer: Well, look, you gave me this brain to think critically. I read the Gospel stories…what about all those inconsistencies? They’re inconsistent about where he was born, who was there when he died…you know, come on.
Mr. Deity: Well maybe you were supposed to learn to walk by faith. Ever think of that, genius? Huh?
Michael Shermer: Uhm, well, sir, you remember, you created us in your image and you don’t walk by faith, do you? You walk by sound knowledge, and science is based on sound knowledge so I was trying to be more, you know, deity-like.
Mr. Deity: Yeah, but-
Michael Shermer: Plus if I said I really believed and I didn’t, you being all knowing would know that I’m lying and lying is a sin, right?
Now let’s take a look at the following definitions of believe:
1. To accept as true or real: Do you believe the news stories?
2. To credit with veracity: I believe you.
3. To expect or suppose; think: I believe they will arrive shortly.
Based on the above, it appears that belief doesn’t imply a conscious choice but rather something people arrive at as a result of some other mental process. To some people the mental process can be as simple as memorizing what an authority figure says while others use a more elaborate method of counter checking for fallacy.
While skeptics like Michael Shermer choose to scrutinize truth claims with no less than the scientific method, can the all-knowing, all-reasonable God blame them for arriving at a position of non-belief even though they did not actively choose non-belief itself? I suggest you watch the video so you’ll have an idea what to do in case you died and came face to face with God, and he isn’t happy.
what would be scarier would be meeting a jackal-headed or multi-limbed deity come judgment day.
the prudent thing would be to have a script ready for EVERY god of the underworld of every religion known to man so you can cover all your bases
"I suggest you watch the video so you’ll have an idea what to do in case you died and came face to face with God, and he isn’t happy."
LOL
He is God. He is a highly intelligent being our feeble minds can't comprehend. If we were to meet him after we die, he wouldn't be unhappy of our skepticism about him, right? He's intelligent so faith or unbelief wouldn't matter.
That's if He exist, though.
@innerminds
Assuming that it's the Abrahamic God we're referring to.
Said god could just as easily be the deity of countless other religions around the world.
I am way passed all that fear stuff I don't dwell on it. But let me tell you what I believe, this article is one of the best and currently my favorite from innnerminds. That I believe.
Just for the hypothetical. Supposing god is real and I died, and was brought before him like that in the video, then as a human being, I would try and rip the sadistic evil bruha to peices. For the stink on those refugee camps in Darfur Sudan. For the victims of pedophile priests,.. for humanity… I believe, with strong conviction, that I would.