And may I inquire as to why you quoted me? I gave a metaphor which was in relation to the OP and was piggy backing Babs post but your comment is based on @Hal Pollner‘s successful attempt to throw yet another thread off topic. It seems that every time the subject of a person’s belief or disbelief in God comes around, someone just has to make a huge joke about it or worse, throw the thread off topic. Whether Joy is still around or not to monitor her own thread is irrelevant because in essence, it’s a good thread and some respect should be given to it’s integrity. It’s obvious that I’m a believer in Christianity but that doesn’t stop me in any way shape of form from being interested in what others have to write concerning their own stance or in this case, one’s sudden need to set the books straight at such a late age.
I quoted you so I could piggy back of of Hal's post. You'll have to excuse me. I didn't know there are strict guidelines to follow when anything relating to a belief system is the thread. Since you took offense to what I posted it would help me if you posted the guidelines that dictate what is & isn't allowable when posting in any thread dealing with religion. Actually I try to find humor in anything, life is to short to be uptight about what an anonymous person like me posts. Nope uptight doesn't work for me.
Getting back on track, I'll say that I tried sharing my Christian beliefs with my Atheist parents 20 years ago only to receive an angry, how dare you response - with a threat that I'd better never try such an act again. Last summer, with my 91 year old Dad becoming more sensitive and emotional from Mom's death, I tactfully asked him again if he was content with his beliefs and promised to respect his answer and not raise the issue again. I had hoped (and prayed) that nearing death might have changed his perspective. No such luck. He's a hard hearted non-believer and doesn't want to talk about it. I now face the sad reality, if my Christian faith is correct, of my parents going to Hell. It's a trajic thought and hopeless feeling. To Hal and others who so confidently deny any chance of an afterlife, I'd ask: If you can't embrace Christianity for the love and blessings given to you by God, if you can't embrace Christianity for the sacrifice on the cross that's been made for you, if you can't embrace Christianity for the purpose and guidance in life it provides for you, if you can't embrace Christianity for the loving church family it can offer you, and if you can't embrace Christianity for the eternal reward in heaven that awaits you after this life, then have you no fear of an eternal damnation of your soul? After all, that's what's at risk if you're wrong in your beliefs. I understand that Atheists don't believe in a god, soul, or Hell, and I've heard my own good friend say that even if he's wrong, he wants no part of a god that allows such evil and suffering in the world. I think he'd quickly change his mind though if he got a sampling of what lies ahead for those who defiantly reject their Creator. Might I suggest that the likelihood of an Atheist being wrong about God is far, far higher than the likelihood of his house burning down or his car getting stolen - and yet such people would consider it foolish not to have insurance for such unexpected circumstances. Why would you take precautions to protect the loss of such temporary material things but completely diregard any concern for a potential eternal soul that's so much more valuable? It doesn't make sense to be so reckless and foolish - even if there's only a 1% chance of your being wrong. And I can say that the evidence for a Creator, as well as the Bible's authority in representing that Creator, is well beyond a reasonable doubt. Adhering to one's unbelief is an incredible risk beyond imagination, and to me, defies logic.
Why "if" ? That suggests you have doubt A lot of "if's" there. A person would have to believe or have blind faith that humans have souls. I firmly believe dead is dead nothing happens to the body other than decomposing when buried or turning into a pile of ashes when cremated.
I never bought this logic. Sounds like bargaining. If you believe, you believe. Period. Unconditionally. If I were God I'd be insulted at someone playing the odds, hedging their bets, with me, just to play it safe.
Even as a Christian, I quite agree. If a chance at heaven was the only benefit I was hanging onto, I may very well go in a whole different direction. I would have a hard time loving a God who put me here and then left me on my own to muddle through till the end when He may or may not take me back. That is a very sad man made religious thought.
But God didn't leave us alone to muddle through till the end....He left us His Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, etc. until His Son Jesus Christ returns to take control of His rightful Kingdom and give satan and all his evil demons their just rewards! He also left us the Bible which contains His truth and promises.