Religion
So I was walking back from having a beer with my dad when I ran across these two christian guys who were walking around campus. I stopped and talked with them about religion for a little while. I explained my religions views and I they explained theirs. Nice guys, didn't try to cram anything down my throat like most people I've met.
For those of you who don't know I consider myself agnostic. I don't discout that there may be a god, it's just not something I'll ever know so I don't do anything with religion. The best way I can put it is that it's not so much that I don't believe, it's that I don't do believe. But this conversation got me thinging about about my religion. No one could ever convence me to become christian again. I can to hold my views through my own thought and feelings. The only thing that can change that is me and would involve myself changing drastically. I am where I am because of who I am and only I can lead myself elsewhere.
One thought does stand out. I think it is harder not to believe. Being agnostic, athiest, or humanist (whatever non god (any god) believing group you want) is not the right chose for someone who is weak. If I knew someone who was going through I really bad time I would never suggest that he take up my views. The simple matter of the problem is that if you don't believe in a god or afterlife then life does seem a bit worse. Well not really worse, just very different. If I'm wrong then fine, according to most religions I'm going to hell. I'm a big boy, I've made my choice. But everyone who believes gets to go to heaven. That's good. On the other hand if I'm right and there actually isn't a god then we're all screwed. We all die and that's the end of that. So basically my end is either in hell or nothing. If you believe then you go to heaven or it doesn't really matter cuz you're dead. If you ask most people if they'd rather hold a view where they're screwed or a believe where they're saved what do you think most people would choose.
Someone might say that this is very pessimistic, but I don't think that it is. If I die and that's the end I'm perfectly fine with that. Life is nice, it might be nice to live forever in an afterlife, but I don't think that's our choice. The choice has already been made long ago and there isn't much to do to stop it now.
Think about it this way. If there is a god and god has cookies in heaven then cookies here will always taste like shit compared to the cookies that god has. Knowing this how can you every fully enjoy the great taste of a cookie here on earth if you know there's a cookie that's that much better? It may be a good cookie, but it will never be as good as god's. I'd rather go get a cookie and enjoy it because it's my cookie and I know that nothing will ever beat it.
For those of you who don't know I consider myself agnostic. I don't discout that there may be a god, it's just not something I'll ever know so I don't do anything with religion. The best way I can put it is that it's not so much that I don't believe, it's that I don't do believe. But this conversation got me thinging about about my religion. No one could ever convence me to become christian again. I can to hold my views through my own thought and feelings. The only thing that can change that is me and would involve myself changing drastically. I am where I am because of who I am and only I can lead myself elsewhere.
One thought does stand out. I think it is harder not to believe. Being agnostic, athiest, or humanist (whatever non god (any god) believing group you want) is not the right chose for someone who is weak. If I knew someone who was going through I really bad time I would never suggest that he take up my views. The simple matter of the problem is that if you don't believe in a god or afterlife then life does seem a bit worse. Well not really worse, just very different. If I'm wrong then fine, according to most religions I'm going to hell. I'm a big boy, I've made my choice. But everyone who believes gets to go to heaven. That's good. On the other hand if I'm right and there actually isn't a god then we're all screwed. We all die and that's the end of that. So basically my end is either in hell or nothing. If you believe then you go to heaven or it doesn't really matter cuz you're dead. If you ask most people if they'd rather hold a view where they're screwed or a believe where they're saved what do you think most people would choose.
Someone might say that this is very pessimistic, but I don't think that it is. If I die and that's the end I'm perfectly fine with that. Life is nice, it might be nice to live forever in an afterlife, but I don't think that's our choice. The choice has already been made long ago and there isn't much to do to stop it now.
Think about it this way. If there is a god and god has cookies in heaven then cookies here will always taste like shit compared to the cookies that god has. Knowing this how can you every fully enjoy the great taste of a cookie here on earth if you know there's a cookie that's that much better? It may be a good cookie, but it will never be as good as god's. I'd rather go get a cookie and enjoy it because it's my cookie and I know that nothing will ever beat it.