For Theists-If you found out God didn't exist

I recently saw a thread titled What if God didn't exist and thought, "Hey, this is an interesting idea. Then I saw it was just another theism vs atheism thread, and decided I'd make my own.

So, for any theists, or those who consider themselves people of faith - what would you do if one day you found out, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that there was no God(s)? That your faith was undeniably wrong? Would your life change, and if so, how? How would your philosophy change, habits, lifestyle, etc?

And please don't respond with, "Well I can't even imagine it" because that's bullshit. Yes you can you lazy git. :sunny:

 

I Would Carry On With My Life As Usual,

We All Make Mistakes In Life....



Cheers Glen.

 

Well, I can't imagine a circumstance where this could be proven in either case, but if it could and was somehow proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I would have to assume that there is no afterlife, no divine justice, so I would devote my life to literally ridding the planet of people and institutions who make life on this planet shitty. In essence, I would declare war against evil, suffering, hunger and poverty as I see it - but instead of taking the peaceful approach that I currently align myself with, I would persecute the evil I see in the world with expediance and ultra violence. Of course, I would likely meet a very violent end, myself.

 

^ have you seen the movie, "Boondock Saints?"

This is a hard question to answer. I don't think my life would change much, instead if saying "God" I would say "spirits of the Earth" and it would fit just about the same.

Let me ponder about this a while and I'll get back to ya.

 

Bump.

 

If only we all could be as pragmatic as Glen

 

There is so much about this that seems very odd to me.
The least of which is that one needs an afterlife to keep one from going on a killing rampage.

 

I agree, but this is totally hypothetical. Thanks for your reply.

 

I consider myself a potential theist, so I'll chime in.

I would feel extremely lucky. Think about the astronomical number that adds up to the likelihood that you as a person would exist to have the thought your currently rolling around in that brain of yours.

If I was a theist, I might reconsider pissing my life away on trivial matters with this twice over insurance policy in the back of my head. I would travel. Take risks. Explore every avenue of emotional feeling. I've done these things all ready, just in case it all turns out to be a sham.

You have to consider though. There will still be people who absolutely refuse to refuse to believe. As long as generations ignorantly continue to practice it with their children.

 

As I said, there would be no divine justice - no question of an eternal punishment.

I imagine - no I'm certain - that there is a very large number of borderline psychopathic people who are simultaneously god fearing people, but with no god to fear they would go nuts and kill indescriminately and engage in all manner of debauchery, for the sheer psychopathic joy of it (and if you think that such an animal doesn't exist, I'd invite you to spend a few hours and mingle at any given gun show here in the U.S. - I promise you'll be rubbing elbows with more than one, and in all likelihood, they'll be some of the most outspokenly religious bastards in the room. In my experience, the most fanatical Christians are the ones who fear their own dark urges the most, and they depend on their belief in divine justice, and with good reason. I also promise you that if the day ever came that the existence of God was disproven in the United States, it would turn into a dystopian nightmare inside of a month, precisely because these people do exist, and in vast numbers.

Knowing that, it seems to me that the sensible and moral alternative would be to position myself at the opposite end of that spectrum in a vain and ironic attempt to rid the world of these psychopaths - and yes, I am making the case that the United States is a fertile breeding ground for psychopathy.

 

Fixed that for ya.

 

Well when we get to the end of the road im sure we will know, are we simply worm food or does our spiritual self live on...

at that point your hypothetical question becomes relevant

hypothetically I die, I am dissolved into the ether of the universe, and i realize beyond a shadow of a doubt, there is no God

I realize that i have been trying by best in life to be a decent person, but there is no 1 here to reward me for it. I feel like a child deceived by simple magic trick. I could have raped that drunk girl. I could have murdered my neighbor. I could have stolen all of my grandma's old jewelry. I could have been porn star, fucking men and women for profit. I could have worship L Ron Hubbard and been rich. I could have cheated on my wife and got away with it. I could have told others that there is no God, and could have had them living like me.

But since there is no God in this hypothetical universe

my spiritual being floats aimlessly amongst the stars of the cosmos , filled with ceaseless
regret, I spent 55 years or so crystallized into unique human form, living for god instead of myself, trying but failing to make myself a better person in my faith.

and as my consciousness floats In Infinity

I realize that even though there is no God, I have lived a life that has benifited my fellow human

and so i have no regrets because I know my time on earth was never wasted.

 

What is wrong about it is the fact that atheists who have no belief in any deity live as normal citizens. Those who think they can only behave or be happy if God exists for them are seriously mentally challenged.

 

As the saying goes:

If a mature person has an invisible friend he is outside of reality,

If all mature people have an invisible friend it is called RELIGION.

 

I use to be a Christian, then decided that the whole concept is ludicrous. Morphine of the masses. I have been chronically depressed most of my life. Like an idiot I served God, sacrificed lots. Then got to thinking....if this entity could create a universe, surely he could take away my suffering..but nnoooooo not the sadist in the sky. So I said "Get thou well and truly f'ed" I burnt my Bibles and gave God the bird.
How has it changed my life? Look out everyone! I'll do to others what God has done for me. Sweet F A.

 

Oh and I forgot to say, I have a "friend" who I have endured and been sympathetic to. This "friend" in reality is just a smart ass prick. Id tell him to " get the f out of my life. I don't want to know you." You are a head f'ing dick. The next contact we have will be my fist half way down your throat. Ahhhh that feels good. To hell with you f wit!
To hell with religious control. To hell with constantine, the jews, the romans, the lot er ya!....gtf out a my life! AMEN!