Let's say that a God does exist

[Zetesis Apistia]

This is not an argument for the existence of God. This is not a trick to say gotcha. Just curious as to your response. No levity please. Here is the scenario......

You die and all of the sudden you find your self still consciously aware in a spiritual dimension that is foreign to the world in which we live. You are suddenly apprehended by an angelic host and carted off to a courtroom of sorts....You are then seated before a judge (God). God then asks you to plead your case before he makes his decision on your eternal destiny. What would be your response?

[JoeyKnothead]

...
Actually the vast majority of humans are going to heaven not hell.

Which leads me to wonder why so many theists seek to create, in the here and now, a hell on earth for all who reject their goofy tales.

[Zetesis Apistia]

Back to the OP ...

Were I to die, retain consciousness, and meet the Almighty, here's what I would say.

"Well, I did my best to make your world a better place. If you're going to reward me for that--for following the spirit of what most of the religions on earth espoused, despite the fact that I did not believe you existed and I'd gain no eternal reward for doing so--then I accept the reward with my thanks, and with respect for your judiciousness.

"If you're going to punish me for not believing in you, despite my trying to make the world a better place simply because it's the right thing to do, then" <--and here I stick up the middle finger.

Judges aren't in the business of rewarding good behavior they are only in the business of criminal prosecution.

What crimes are we talking about here ?

You'll have to ask God about that. I'm not privy to that info.

[Dantalion]

[Replying to post 82 by Zetesis Apistia]

So I need to wait until I die and only then will I know what I did wrong in the eyes of your deity?
Bible not good enough anymore?

[Morphine]

[Replying to post 66 by southern cross]

Besides your idea that "the vastly majority of humans" is going to hell is false. Actually the vast majority of humans are going to heaven not hell.

Luke 13:23-24 and 28, Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able ... There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

I want you to look at that entier scripture carefully and notice what he says." All ye workers of iniquity"27, in otherwords those who's chosen or has the capacity to wilfully sin and not repent.

Now when we understand how many humans who has repented over their sins and how many children who's died over the centurys from abortion, war, famine, and from accidents and natural causes the number is staggering. And to many to count.

There are many who has the capacity to choose that are going to hell.
But there are a staggering amount of humans who didnt have the capacity to choose and along with the millions that did choose the way of life that will be saved on the day of jugdment..

So yes I agree that out of the humans who has the capacity to choose,more humans are going to hell. But out of the human population in general who's ever existed there is a high prabability that more humans (joined by those who has the capacity and has chosen the right path, and those who lack the capacity to choose the right path and died)intotal are going to heaven.

I'll concede your point about more going to heaven. But since there really is no way to determine the amount of who weren't able to choose, I can't agree, nor disagree with the "vast" majority going to heaven.

[Zetesis Apistia]

[Replying to post 82 by Zetesis Apistia]

So I need to wait until I die and only then will I know what I did wrong in the eyes of your deity?
Bible not good enough anymore?

Unless you think your perfect you should be able to answer that question without the bibles help.

[otseng]

may need to change my original position, which paraphrased was "up yours".

is that beyond you mental faculties to understand?

And quite obviously have no comprehension of the thread you have inserted your uninformed beak into. It's not surprising to the thinking, but do make the best attempt you can to answer my questions.................there's a good chappy.

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[otseng]

And quite obviously have no comprehension of the thread you have inserted your uninformed beak into. It's not surprising to the thinking, but do make the best attempt you can to answer my questions.................there's a good chappy.

Do you know how to debate the material without hurling all of the persoanl insults, or did mommy forget to make you read miss manors when you was a youngin?

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[McCulloch]

Were I to die, retain consciousness, and meet the Almighty, here's what I would say.

"Well, I did my best to make your world a better place. If you're going to reward me for that--for following the spirit of what most of the religions on earth espoused, despite the fact that I did not believe you existed and I'd gain no eternal reward for doing so--then I accept the reward with my thanks, and with respect for your judiciousness.

"If you're going to punish me for not believing in you, despite my trying to make the world a better place simply because it's the right thing to do, then" <--and here I stick up the middle finger.

Judges aren't in the business of rewarding good behavior they are only in the business of criminal prosecution.

What crimes are we talking about here ?

Apparently the punishment is not for disbelief. The punishment is for any behavior you may have had in your lifetime that was less than ideal. The Greek word translated as sin is derived from an archery term meaning to miss the mark. The Christian idea of divine justice is that you deserve eternal damnation for being less than you could have been in any way at any time in your life.

[Morphine]

[Replying to post 71 by Herndon]

Don't you think it would have been much more efficient to simply eliminate both satan and hell? And while you're at it, how about not creating the forbidden fruit. I mean really, it served no purpose but to damn a few billion people to Hell...
Easy fix, no?

Boooring. We wouldn't have Heston in the 10 Commandments or Moses. The christian god obviously likes a little action entertainment.

Seriously, I have yet to hear a plausible reason why a perfect being would do anything these gods are suppose to have done.

Preeeeeach.

I agree. He sounds like the average person to me. Just way more powerful.

[Zetesis Apistia]

Were I to die, retain consciousness, and meet the Almighty, here's what I would say.

"Well, I did my best to make your world a better place. If you're going to reward me for that--for following the spirit of what most of the religions on earth espoused, despite the fact that I did not believe you existed and I'd gain no eternal reward for doing so--then I accept the reward with my thanks, and with respect for your judiciousness.

"If you're going to punish me for not believing in you, despite my trying to make the world a better place simply because it's the right thing to do, then" <--and here I stick up the middle finger.

Judges aren't in the business of rewarding good behavior they are only in the business of criminal prosecution.

What crimes are we talking about here ?

Apparently the punishment is not for disbelief. The punishment is for any behavior you may have had in your lifetime that was less than ideal. The Greek word translated as sin is derived from an archery term meaning to miss the mark. The Christian idea of divine justice is that you deserve eternal damnation for being less than you could have been in any way at any time in your life.

According to the bible everyone that has ever been born will miss the mark and enter into a guilty phase with God. At that point we arrive at a crossroad where we may either accept a free pardon or reject it. The free pardon is offered to all excluding no one. So the real issue is not missing the mark, but rejecting the free pardon. Sin would only be a problem if there wasn't a solution to it. There is a solution so it doesn't have to be a problem........ According to the bible.