What would you do....

[Apocalypse]

I got to think about this issue many times already.
If a divine entity turned out to be true, something that I see as having a zero percents chance to occur, I would still not worship him, as I don't bow to anyone.
An entity that has created Mankind, fully controlled them, and then had to ask them to worship it, is really not an almighty entity, and I'd bet on a fifty that it couldn't even break my score in the Arcade.

 

[Laila]

Hmm, i'd think i had a bumped my head and/or is drunk.
The only way i'd believe Jesus is God is if he comes down personally and has a drink with me and we can discuss godly things :lol:

 

[Jerry]

What would you do- if the opposite of your religion turned out to be true.

If there was absolute without a doubt proof that the religion opposite of yours turned out to be the 'true' religion.

For instance you are a devout Christian and Allah comes out of the sky and proclaims Islam is the correct religion and all other religions must now accept Allah as their God.

How would that type of event change your life and your views and what would you do?

Allah is God...they are one in the same :doh...I can't think of a religion which is "opposite" of Christianity....Satanism maybe? But Satanists accept damnation...so....idk....

 

[Gardener]

I suppose this is just one of those threads where the Unitarian universalists need not reply.

 

[B L Zeebub]

As an atheist I would probably crucify someone to add substance to the argument.

 

[Ikari]

I worship the Dark Lord Xenu. There's no way in hell Tom Cruise is right.

 

[Frodly]

Unlike some other atheists on this thread, if god did reveal himself to me, I would accept that God totally. I would not cling to any preconceived notions, as obviously I was wrong. I would not challenge a real god, as that is just silly. However, the likelihood of a God existing and revealing himself is so low as to be a near impossibility.

 

[Tucker Case]

However, the likelihood of a God existing and revealing himself is so low as to be a near impossibility.

Personally, I would say the likelihood of God actually existing is about the same as the likelihood of God not existing.

What I believe doesn't impact the likelihood.

Now, as far as God actually revealing itself?

I'd say that's just flat out impossible. Whether or not such a being exists, it's clear that revealing itself is not on the agenda.

 

[rivrrat]

Unlike some other atheists on this thread, if god did reveal himself to me, I would accept that God totally. I would not cling to any preconceived notions, as obviously I was wrong. I would not challenge a real god, as that is just silly. However, the likelihood of a God existing and revealing himself is so low as to be a near impossibility.

Really? You would just bow down and worship any god just because it's a 'god'? No matter how evil it is?

 

[1069]

Really? You would just bow down and worship any god just because it's a 'god'? No matter how evil it is?

Some people are like that. Natural followers.
It comes naturally to them to bow to the authority of anyone (or anything, I suppose) that is more powerful than themselves.
I'm not saying there's anything inherently bad about this. If there weren't many of this type of person, perhaps civilization never would've existed at all. Or perhaps it would merely be very different.
At the opposite extreme, you have those who are constitutionally incapable of recognizing/ not challenging any authority of any kind, just on general principles.
Today, they're diagnosing this type of person with something called "Oppositional Defiant Disorder".

 

[Frodly]

Really? You would just bow down and worship any god just because it's a 'god'? No matter how evil it is?

No, I would trust God's judgement on what constitutes evil over my own.

 

[Sanitas]

What would you do- if the opposite of your religion turned out to be true.

If there was absolute without a doubt proof that the religion opposite of yours turned out to be the 'true' religion.

For instance you are a devout Christian and Allah comes out of the sky and proclaims Islam is the correct religion and all other religions must now accept Allah as their God.

How would that type of event change your life and your views and what would you do?

No offense but Christianity and Islam are very similar religions in perspective of things. It's like comparing apples to apples. How about we suddenly find out that Greek gods have been looking down after all. That's comparing apples to spinach.

 

[rivrrat]

No, I would trust God's judgement on what constitutes evil over my own.

Why would you just up and trust some random god just because it's a 'god'? That makes absolutely no sense at all. It just astounds me that people would blindly follow someone or something 'just because'. No matter what. It's like a ****ing cult. Scary.

Personally, I couldn't lower myself to follow anything or anyone that commits genocide and torture or condones rape, slaughter, slavery, and blatant, violent sexism. But hey to each their own.

 

[mikhail]

If a religion was true it would be highly unlikely to be any of the main modern ones statistically.I would tell god to go **** himself and then burn in hell.How could i possible respect a god who didnt intervine when the worst kind of rapes or pain where caused on people.

 

[Frodly]

Why would you just up and trust some random god just because it's a 'god'? That makes absolutely no sense at all. It just astounds me that people would blindly follow someone or something 'just because'. No matter what. It's like a ****ing cult. Scary.

Personally, I couldn't lower myself to follow anything or anyone that commits genocide and torture or condones rape, slaughter, slavery, and blatant, violent sexism. But hey to each their own.

Trusting the judgement of an all knowing omniscient God over my own judgment makes no sense? The arrogance to think that way is astounding. Let me make this clear, I am an atheist, and a devout anti-theist. I am talking only if god revealed himself as god. If they did, thinking I know what is right or wrong better than god does is just an absolute absurdity!!!

 

[rivrrat]

Trusting the judgement of an all knowing omniscient God over my own judgment makes no sense? The arrogance to think that way is astounding. Let me make this clear, I am an atheist, and a devout anti-theist. I am talking only if god revealed himself as god. If they did, thinking I know what is right or wrong better than god does is just an absolute absurdity!!!

Why is it absurdity? "right and wrong" are completely subjective. If it is omniscient (which would be debatable of course) then it can prove that to me and prove itself worthy of my undying devotion. Because if all I see is some murderous, sadistic twit, I'm sure as **** not going to give it the time of day. If/when it is able to convince me that it's worthy of my devotion, then I'll consider it.

Like I said, depends on which god or goddess revealed itself. I'd have to judge said being's worth myself when it reveals itself to me.

 

[Apocalypse]

Trusting the judgement of an all knowing omniscient God over my own judgment makes no sense? The arrogance to think that way is astounding. Let me make this clear, I am an atheist, and a devout anti-theist. I am talking only if god revealed himself as god. If they did, thinking I know what is right or wrong better than god does is just an absolute absurdity!!!

You are absolutely correct, if God exists, he is not to be messed with.
It's just that I know myself, and my ego won't be able to take bowing for some superior entity.

 

[Tucker Case]

"right and wrong" are completely subjective.

Well, if there really was a God, then "right" and "wrong" would actually be objective form a human perspective and subjective from the creator's perspective.

As the creator of all things, it would necessarily dictate what right and wrong would be for all things.

You could disagree with it, but as the end-all and be-all, it would have the last say on things.

At that point, fighting for your beliefs would be an exercise in futility. It would be a no-win situation.

You can gain nothing from the disagreement, and it can lose nothing.

In the given hypothetical, the rational thing is to adapt to the reality, and seek out ways to maximize your benefit.

Acquiescence would be the only avenue one can take to achieve personal gain, because rebellion would achieve loss.

The only logical purpose for rebellion is to achieve gain.

 

[WI Crippler]

Boy, a lot of people have brass balls and high opinions of themselves here. If a god truly existed, you'd tell him/her to go **** themselves :roll:One, how arrogant, to think they might even be bothered to recognize your existence. Two, do you really think in the instance you were granted audience with said god and you told them to **** off, they would just slink away, feelings hurt that the almighty peon in front of them just rejected them? **** no. If I were a god, I'd take a certain sadistic pleasure in tormenting those that believed they could get away with such blatant disrespect for my power.

If a god of some manner were to reveal itself as real I cannot say whether or not I would swear fealty and become its follower. But I'm not going to tell it to **** off. Thats just asking for trouble that you don't need in your life.

 

[Orion]

If God revealed himself, I would have nothing to say or do, since I already know what he's about. I'd just watch the other pathetic humans bow down from my nice, quiet mountain in the middle of nowhere.

 

[rivrrat]

Well, if there really was a God, then "right" and "wrong" would actually be objective form a human perspective and subjective from the creator's perspective.

I disagree. And the fact that I do disagree is evidence of the fact that it is subjective. Otherwise, I'd just naturally agree with whatever the god/dess said or did.

As the creator of all things, it would necessarily dictate what right and wrong would be for all things.

Based on its perspective.

You could disagree with it, but as the end-all and be-all, it would have the last say on things.

At that point, fighting for your beliefs would be an exercise in futility. It would be a no-win situation.

You can gain nothing from the disagreement, and it can lose nothing.

In the given hypothetical, the rational thing is to adapt to the reality, and seek out ways to maximize your benefit.

Acquiescence would be the only avenue one can take to achieve personal gain, because rebellion would achieve loss.

The only logical purpose for rebellion is to achieve gain.

I disagree. The logical purpose for rebelling against a supposed all powerful, evil, sadistic being is to be removed from the world it has lordship over. I'd want no part. And there would be no way in hell I could even pretend to accept something so vile. Not to mention the fact that if it was all knowing, it would know I was pretending anyway.

Boy, a lot of people have brass balls and high opinions of themselves here. If a god truly existed, you'd tell him/her to go **** themselves :roll:One, how arrogant, to think they might even be bothered to recognize your existence. Two, do you really think in the instance you were granted audience with said god and you told them to **** off, they would just slink away, feelings hurt that the almighty peon in front of them just rejected them? **** no. If I were a god, I'd take a certain sadistic pleasure in tormenting those that believed they could get away with such blatant disrespect for my power.

If a god of some manner were to reveal itself as real I cannot say whether or not I would swear fealty and become its follower. But I'm not going to tell it to **** off. Thats just asking for trouble that you don't need in your life.

I stated specifically that I would tell the god portrayed in the christian and muslim bibles to **** off - IF it actually was the same god who did the same things in those books. Yes, I would tell it **** off. I would want no part of any world where such an evil being was lord over it.

If the god/dess that revealed itself was one of any other dozens of possible gods and goddesses, then I can't really say until I know which one it was.

 

[1069]

Boy, a lot of people have brass balls and high opinions of themselves here. If a god truly existed, you'd tell him/her to go **** themselves :roll:One, how arrogant, to think they might even be bothered to recognize your existence. Two, do you really think in the instance you were granted audience with said god and you told them to **** off, they would just slink away, feelings hurt that the almighty peon in front of them just rejected them? **** no. If I were a god, I'd take a certain sadistic pleasure in tormenting those that believed they could get away with such blatant disrespect for my power.

If a god of some manner were to reveal itself as real I cannot say whether or not I would swear fealty and become its follower. But I'm not going to tell it to **** off. Thats just asking for trouble that you don't need in your life.

As I mentioned in my first post, I don't bow to tyranny.

 

[Tucker Case]

I disagree. And the fact that I do disagree is evidence of the fact that it is subjective. Otherwise, I'd just naturally agree with whatever the god/dess said or did.

Only one perspective would matter in that scenario, and it wouldn't be yours, hence, objective for all humans.

Based on its perspective.

Which, in that context, would be the only perspective that had value.

I disagree. The logical purpose for rebelling against a supposed all powerful, evil, sadistic being is to be removed from the world it has lordship over. I'd want no part. And there would be no way in hell I could even pretend to accept something so vile. Not to mention the fact that if it was all knowing, it would know I was pretending anyway.

That is an emotional purpose for rebellion, not a logical one. Look at the emotionally charged words in your statement.

Emotion an logic are oil and water.

It may well be a personally VALID reason, but it would still have no logical foundation.

 

[rivrrat]

Only one perspective would matter in that scenario, and it wouldn't be yours, hence, objective for all humans.

My perspective matters to me. So no, it's not objective. Objective isn't defined as "the most powerful person's opinion is the objective one".

Which, in that context, would be the only perspective that had value.

I disagree. :mrgreen:

That is an emotional purpose for rebellion, not a logical one. Look at the emotionally charged words in your statement.

Emotion an logic are oil and water.

It may well be a personally VALID reason, but it would still have no logical foundation.

Completely logical to me. To me, it is purely emotion and fear that would make someone bow to an evil, sadistic being. Certainly not logic. Logical, to me, would be to be removed from the situation. It wouldn't be the slightest bit logical to pretend to accept a being that we're presuming is all knowing.

And, if it's all powerful, then there's no issue at all anyway. It would just make us all worship it.

 

[americanwoman]

Allah is God...they are one in the same :doh...I can't think of a religion which is "opposite" of Christianity....Satanism maybe? But Satanists accept damnation...so....idk....

Come on, you know what I mean. Not like Allah is the opposite of Christianity but the beliefs of Muslims are quite distinctly different from the beliefs and customs of Christianity.