What will the atheists say when...

[sandyRoe]

While walking my dogs this morning beside the lake I fell into a reverie.
I imagined a time in the far distant future when most ABers were in Heaven. The atheists, though bemused, were as happy as anyone else to be there. But they soon moved to a remote corner of Elysium and began a debate.
'If we don't believe in this place how can we be here?'

Will you, if you're an atheist, be happy to admit you're wrong?

[sandyRoe]

Birdie 71, some Christians believe that 'you must be born again' in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. If that was the case there'd be no place for all the good people who follow other religions. So, in my humble opinion, there are numerous paths to salvation.
Teddy_Boy, unless you know something about ABers that I don't, why should the majority of us not find ourselves in Heaven some day?
Epichoric, I think the dogs follow some form of animism, sniffing everywhere at the spirits which inhabit their world. If they'll get to heaven is moot.

[sith123]

good one sandyroe

[sith123]

i agree 100%

[naomi24]

You sure about that, Sith?

[sith123]

yes, and besides, as many atheists have jokes about us religious lot, we can have jokes about atheists.

[naomi24]

Ah, right. I see. It's a joke. :o)

[sith123]

yeah, its a joke.

[sandyRoe]

It most certainly is not a joke.

[Redheadthere]

I`m of the opinion SandyRoe that all religion puts a lot of emphasis on what we should do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven etc. I`m not claiming to know it all but if it`s read correctly we may find that whatever we have to "do" to be "saved", "enter the Kingdom" and such like, are all made possible by the death of Jesus on the cross. Therefore being a Christian and being a good person, good and honourable though it is, is not the criteria for "getting into heaven. Even faith itself i.e the belief in God, is given by God himself. The way I see it is , not everyone will believe until God want`s them to believe. Trying to get someone to believe or trying to prove the existence of God to unbelievers is futile.

[birdie1971]

Sandy - “... some Christians believe that 'you must be born again' in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. If that was the case there'd be no place for all the good people who follow other religions. So, in my humble opinion, there are numerous paths to salvation.”

So what you're saying is that it is unnecessary to follow a particular religion in order to enter god's heaven? If you have any 'faith' (ie. either a strong or even a vague belief in an almighty creator) then there is no need to carry out any religiously ordained practise or join any group.

Which kind of begs the question: why pin your flag to a particular religion at all? Why not just claim that you haven't got a clue which is the 'real' god? But you don't... you still claim, despite all evidence to the contrary, that your god is the one 'true' god.

[keyplus90]

What will the atheists say? Nothing more than few words I have heard so many times. Should I believe in God? That really mean I might as well believe in Santa, Unicorn, Pegasus, tooth fairy and so and so. That is as far as they USUALLY go.

[jomifl]

Sandy ..It's ok for you, whatever transpires, you won't have to admit that you are wrong. I hope that is a comfort to you.

[naomi24]

Sandy's hedging his bets - but he may have made a big mistake in not backing the outsider. A lifetime of worrying about death - only to tear up the ticket. ;o)

[sandyRoe]

No. I'm only worrying about death now that I sometimes feel his angel's chill breath.
I was as Godless as any of you during the good times.

[naomi24]

Why worry about it? Worry won't change anything. Death is a fact of life - and I'm sorry if that sounds harsh - but it is - and no invisible man in the sky is going to change that. Nature does what nature does.

[jedimistress]

Will my little doggy be there? I miss her so much every day.

[jomifl]

Sandy..'during the good times' you knew you were godless, you still are godless even though you believe that you aren't.
Belief doesn't alter fact one jot as has been demonstrated so many times.