And so what if I end up being wrong? I wouldn't have anything to lose if there isn't a god / Heaven / Hell.

SampleName

Pascal's wager.

Believe just in case. Not a fan of that myself, but each to their own and all that

coincidence?

"D2"

Just because they are similar doesn't make them any more true/false. From what i understand the Old Testament comes from the Jewish Bible. So given they are all based on the same source i don't see it as anything important that they are similar.

Though im not a bible expert.

Personally i think a person called Jesus DID exist 2000 years ago. however i tend to lean towards the Muslim ideal that he was a prophet and not the son of god in the direct sense of the word.

"D2"

There proberly was a guy back then called Jesus that claimed he was a Prophet. The question is was he anything more than a regular man, which unfortunately can never be answered with any certainty.

Side note. I don't believe in God for the sole reason of "just in case." I was only saying, so what if I'm wrong?

Most scientists will agree upon there being a man named Jesus who walked our earth 2000 some years ago. Whether he did miracles etc us up to you to decide, using what we know about that time. (The Bible)

I don't see how its possible to believe in something "just in case." Belief means you actually believe something, not that you think it would be better if you did believe!

I don't see how its possible to believe in something "just in case." Belief means you actually believe something, not that you think it would be better if you did believe!

kandiru

Believing "just in case" would be more like lying to yourself, and God, if one is to believe that. No, either you believe, or you don't. There is no middle ground (although you can be skeptical and unsure, but then you don't say one thing or another).

When it comes to the question of whether or not god exists, a lot of people do believe 'just in case' because, as per Pascal's wager, they'd have everything to gain and nothing to loose.

If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing.

I think I'll take my chances with hell

Whether he did miracles etc us up to you to decide, using what we know about that time. (The Bible)

Well if all that survived from the 21st century was a planet of the apes book, and 2000 years into the future when Apes were long extinct people read it. Would you then say that people should decide if apes could talk based on reading that book which is all they know of that time?

We know that in the past history was nowhere near as accurate as today. When there was battles it was normally whoever won who wrote down what happened, so it was always skewed to make them look good.

What im trying to say is that a book from such a long time ago may have values that you can learn from(Most books have a good message to them), but we shouldn't rely on any books which haven't been proven as fact to make up our minds. There are lots of people who blindly believe that everything written in the Bible(s) are true(All the stories, that the earth was literally made in days, etc).

There are lots of people who blindly believe that everything written in the Bible(s) are true(All the stories, that the earth was literally made in days, etc).

Stucuk

I for one do believe what the Bible says.
No, I'm not being blind and ignorant, it's just what I've chosen to believe. And why not? Everyone believes in something.

I can't prove there is a God, but at the same time, you can't prove 100% that there isn't.

( To the previous comment.)
Yes, I do believe in God, not "just in case" though. The matter is rather black and white for me. Either I believe in Him or I don't.

Each to his own.

I for one do believe what the Bible says.
No, I'm not being blind and ignorant, it's just what I've chosen to believe. And why not? Everyone believes in something.

SampleName

There is a difference in believing in the Bible and taking it as being literally true words from god himself/herself. The latter is a view that only a minority of religious people have, people who can not even see that there is a possibility that there views could be wrong(Hence that group is blind).

Take black holes for example. I strongly believe they exist but I have no hard evidence (Due to there not being one near me). I am still however open to the possibility that they may not exist. If i viewed it as a 100% certainty then i would be blind.

Note: I don't think you are blind. I believe that while you strongly believe there is a god that you still understand that nothing is certain. Though faith doesn't require certainty.

Also note that its not one sided. People who don't believe in a god can be blind as well if they are not open to other possibilities.

I think this thread has gone off topic...