What if you're wrong?

[Awake]

I would say "Lord, I don’t understand. I picked the religion founded by You through Your Son. I followed what You taught us through Your Church that Your Son established. Why Lord did you give us the wrong religion to follow? Why Lord did you teach me immoral things?

His response would probably be somewhere along the lines of “I didn’t give you the wrong religion. The religion you followed was human made. The right religion was actually xxxx and I made it clear to you.”

 

[Neolithic]

I hear believers often challenge atheists by asking “What if you die and you’re wrong and God does exist?” This is a fair question.

If I were an atheist, I would probably apologize to God and explain that based on what I had seen and experienced in the world, my conclusion was that he probably didn’t exist. However, since I’m not perfect, I came to the wrong conclusion.

Now, what if the same question was posed to you? What if you died and God said to you “You picked the wrong religion. Much of the morality that your religion taught was actually immoral”?

I object to this question because Jesus Christ is my God, period.

If I follow His teachings, and I try to, what possible god would consider it immoral?

 

[paul_c]

I don’t know why you’re so caught up in me being an atheist. I already told you that I’m not and that I don’t know what I believe in. I’m trying to figure that out.

My question is not regarding atheism versus theism. The question I ask is what if you die and God tells you that you pick the wrong religion.

Well, because there are many religions, it is inevitable that many people will be told that. So what religion is the most credible? And how would you judge credibility? One criteria would be to look at the moral fiber of the founders of each religion.

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ.
Mormons were founded by Joseph Smith.
Mohammad founded Islam
the Lutherans were founded by Martin Luther

Then look at continuity of doctrine. The true religion, supported by God would be unchangeable in doctrine, since there is only one truth.

You will be able to quickly weed your choices down to one by employing these and other critera.

 

[Pax]

I hear believers often challenge atheists by asking “What if you die and you’re wrong and God does exist?” This is a fair question.

If I were an atheist, I would probably apologize to God and explain that based on what I had seen and experienced in the world, my conclusion was that he probably didn’t exist. However, since I’m not perfect, I came to the wrong conclusion.

Now, what if the same question was posed to you? What if you died and God said to you “You picked the wrong religion. Much of the morality that your religion taught was actually immoral”?

I doubt that God will ask. The truth will be made clear and my culpability will be made known to me in all that involved my life and faith. God is just but he is also merciful. First comes His mercy, then comes his justice.

If I have, through no fault of my own, made the wrong choice but lived by what I believed was in keeping with God’s will, then God will be merciful. This assumes that I made every effort possible to seek the truth and to embrace the truth, and that I accepted the grace God gave to me.

We cannot argue that any and all forms of religious belief will bring us pardon if we follow the tenants of the particular religion. Some religions simply do not hold up under scrutiny because they clearly violate the moral and natural law. Scripture gives us some idea of how this works.

Romans 2:14-16 says:

“When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

I don’t know if I’ve answered the question in a way that satisfies your inquiry, but I hope that some this helps.

God Bless.

 

[kesa82]

It has been my bad luck, or my lot, or God’s will, that most of the people I have loved did not like me. How to deal with that?

My favorite saints, Joan of Arc, Philomena, and Dymphna seem so much better than me that it seems like I am contaminating the room by being in the same room with them. How to deal with that?

How to deal with God under the circumstances ? I would deal with him the same way I deal daily with the rest.

I believe I love you, I believe I mean well.
That’s it.

 

[BootCampJr]

And how would you judge credibility?

Perhaps by the one that has been around the longest, has not shaken its foundation, and the one that is followed by the most people? Just a guess, but Catholicism?

Catholic 1,050,000,000
Orthodox/Eastern Christian 240,000,000
African indigenous sects (AICs) 110,000,000
Pentecostal 105,000,000
Reformed/Presbyterian/Congregational/United 75,000,000
Anglican 73,000,000
Baptist 70,000,000
Methodist 70,000,000
Lutheran 64,000,000
Jehovah’s Witnesses 14,800,000
Adventist 12,000,000
Latter Day Saints 12,500,000
Apostolic/New Apostolic 10,000,000
Stone-Campbell (“Restoration Movement”) 5,400,000
New Thought (Unity, Christian Science, etc.) 1,500,000
Brethren (incl. Plymouth) 1,500,000
Mennonite 1,250,000
Friends (Quakers) 300,000

 

[VociMike]

I don’t know why you’re so caught up in me being an atheist. I already told you that I’m not and that I don’t know what I believe in. I’m trying to figure that out.

OK, but your original question was posed in terms of atheists vs. believers.

My question is not regarding atheism versus theism. The question I ask is what if you die and God tells you that you pick the wrong religion.

Well, I’m still waiting for you to point out those large parts of Catholic morality that are actually immoral, and have been revealed by God as being immoral. Until you can give that starting point, I can’t answer your question.

 

[anon5216]

…
What if you died and God said to you “You picked the wrong religion. Much of the morality that your religion taught was actually immoral”?

I have a different suggestion and a different question:

To a Catholic: become like Padre Pio (or your favorite saint) before you die.
To a Tibetan Buddhist: become like Milarepa (or your favorite enlightened sage) before you die.
To a Hindu: become like Ramana Maharshi (or your favorite enlightened sage) before you die.
etc., etc.

What if you died and God said to you:
"Your religion had many examples, in every generation, of individuals who pleased Me, and they clearly demonstrated how to emulate them.

Why did you think mere membership, believing a few doctrines, participating in a few rituals, (and perhaps arguing over why your religion was true and others were false) was enough?"

 

[VociMike]

I just want to add, that God is not a means to an end (heaven). God is an end in himself.

That’s why I hate Pascal’s Wager.

But Pascal’s Wager is not the end of the quest for God, though it can perhaps be the beginning.

 

[rotlex]

I would say "Lord, I don’t understand. I picked the religion founded by You through Your Son. I followed what You taught us through Your Church that Your Son established. Why Lord did you give us the wrong religion to follow? Why Lord did you teach me immoral things?

Disclaimer: I’m Catholic, fully believing that Jesus is God he Son of God.

However, WHAT, as we are all speculating here, if God said, I do not have a Son. Jesus was a prophet, the greatest prophet that ever walked the earth, but not divine. He was simply a man, who started a religion, much as many others have. What if the Jews, or Muslims, or anyone else does have it right?

For me, I don’t really know. I would most likely ask for forgiveness, and HOPE down deeply in my heart, that while I may have believed in the wrong God, or rather, did not fully understand what he was trying to teach me, that he would be forgiving, and recognize my want to please him over the fact that I was “wrong”.

 

[warpspeedpetey]

I hear believers often challenge atheists by asking “What if you die and you’re wrong and God does exist?” This is a fair question.

If I were an atheist, I would probably apologize to God and explain that based on what I had seen and experienced in the world, my conclusion was that he probably didn’t exist. However, since I’m not perfect, I came to the wrong conclusion.

Now, what if the same question was posed to you? What if you died and God said to you “You picked the wrong religion. Much of the morality that your religion taught was actually immoral”?

Lord, i am a human, who used the tools that i was given, my reason. to determine that i could not rationally say that you were not.

after all nothing comes from nothing.

therefore i accepted you were and acted to find you.

Lord, i used that same reason you have given me, as inadequate to the task as it was, to determine the truth of all the Faiths found in the world, and it told me that The G-d of Abraham, the G-d of more than half the world, was the one true G-d.

having used all these tools that you have given me, i then faithfully followed that religion.

i did as i was instructed, having spent my life in an attempt to please you, and cooperate with your purpose for me, i now find that you have allowed me to be led astray.

it was still a good life, i helped the poor and less fortunate than me. i behaved in a manner that i found moral according to what i knew, and i sacrificed myself to belong to you.

i can only cast myself on your mercy.

now that said, the OP implies some parity of faiths that dont exist under closer examination.

 

[Catholicc]

I hear believers often challenge atheists by asking “What if you die and you’re wrong and God does exist?” This is a fair question.

If I were an atheist, I would probably apologize to God and explain that based on what I had seen and experienced in the world, my conclusion was that he probably didn’t exist…

Unfortunately, by that time, it would be too late. Its easy to believe in God when you’re looking at him face to face. No faith is required.

 

[anon5216]

Unfortunately, by that time, it would be too late. Its easy to believe in God when you’re looking at him face to face. No faith is required.

Well, actually, just because a being you encountered after death impressed you so much that it appeared to match or exceed your human conceptions (and/or religiously taught conceptions) of what God must be, and you assumed that being must therefore be God, that still doesn’t guarantee you aren’t being mislead.

Our conceptions, including those taught by religion are finite. Any being beyond our finite conception can pose as God if they so chose.

 

[TheDoctor]

His response would probably be somewhere along the lines of “I didn’t give you the wrong religion. The religion you followed was human made. The right religion was actually xxxx and I made it clear to you.”

To which I would reply "Lord, if You did not give us religion, then who did? Is not following the teachings of Your Son religion? How did you make it clear to me? Only the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus - all others were founded by men and human made. Only the Catholic Church has faithfully taught Your Word as given by Your Son. I will bow to Your will O Lord for I am as dust before You, but please if Jesus was not Your Son, how could You allow Him and those who came after Him to work miracles in Your name?

 

[TheDoctor]

Disclaimer: I’m Catholic, fully believing that Jesus is God he Son of God.

However, WHAT, as we are all speculating here, if God said, I do not have a Son. Jesus was a prophet, the greatest prophet that ever walked the earth, but not divine. He was simply a man, who started a religion, much as many others have. What if the Jews, or Muslims, or anyone else does have it right?

For me, I don’t really know. I would most likely ask for forgiveness, and HOPE down deeply in my heart, that while I may have believed in the wrong God, or rather, did not fully understand what he was trying to teach me, that he would be forgiving, and recognize my want to please him over the fact that I was “wrong”.

Then I would say “Lord, if Jesus was but a prophet, why did You allow Him to say He was Your Son and mislead us from the true religion? Is not the role of the prophet, O Lord, to be Your mouth on Earth and convey Your thoughts, Your rules, Your wisom, Your laws? How can Jesus, if He was Your prophet, lead Your people astray?”

 

[VociMike]

Well, actually, just because a being you encountered after death impressed you so much that it appeared to match or exceed your human conceptions (and/or religiously taught conceptions) of what God must be, and you assumed that being must therefore be God, that still doesn’t guarantee you aren’t being mislead.

Our conceptions, including those taught by religion are finite. Any being beyond our finite conception can pose as God if they so chose.

Well, the complete absence of sin and inclination to sin, of pain and of suffering, in you and in every person (being?) you met, would be a hint. That’s a lot more than just having vast powers (ref. “Q”).

 

[Awake]

OK, but your original question was posed in terms of atheists vs. believers.

No it wasn’t.

Well, I’m still waiting for you to point out those large parts of Catholic morality that are actually immoral, and have been revealed by God as being immoral. Until you can give that starting point, I can’t answer your question.

Oh, for heaven’s sake, this is not a debate on morality. The question is very simple: what if you’re wrong? Your response seems to be “how can I possibly be wrong?”

Most of the people that have actually answered the question seem to respond in the same manner. First, there would be a quite a bit of shock because they strongly believe in the faith that they are currently following. Second, they would respond with sort of an apology/defense by telling God that they did their best to seek him, but apparently wound up following the wrong faith.

This seems like a fair answer. Considering the number of different beliefs, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the norm.

I don’t know where we draw the line between a humble religious follower and a zealot, but I think a good indication might be a refusal to admit that one might be in error.

 

[Awake]

Perhaps by the one that has been around the longest, has not shaken its foundation, and the one that is followed by the most people? Just a guess, but Catholicism?

Catholic 1,050,000,000
Orthodox/Eastern Christian 240,000,000
African indigenous sects (AICs) 110,000,000
Pentecostal 105,000,000
Reformed/Presbyterian/Congregational/United 75,000,000
Anglican 73,000,000
Baptist 70,000,000
Methodist 70,000,000
Lutheran 64,000,000
Jehovah’s Witnesses 14,800,000
Adventist 12,000,000
Latter Day Saints 12,500,000
Apostolic/New Apostolic 10,000,000
Stone-Campbell (“Restoration Movement”) 5,400,000
New Thought (Unity, Christian Science, etc.) 1,500,000
Brethren (incl. Plymouth) 1,500,000
Mennonite 1,250,000
Friends (Quakers) 300,000

I understand where you’re coming from and I also feel safety in numbers, but this could possibly be just jumping on the bandwagon. If the number of Pentecostals were to overtake the number of Catholics in the world, that wouldn’t necessarily have any barring on the validity of either.

After all, Catholicism started with Jesus and just a few apostles.

 

[Catholicc]

Unfortunately, by that time, it would be too late. Its easy to believe in God when you’re looking at him face to face. No faith is required.

Well, actually, just because a being you encountered after death impressed you so much that it appeared to match or exceed your human conceptions (and/or religiously taught conceptions) of what God must be, and you assumed that being must therefore be God, that still doesn’t guarantee you aren’t being mislead.

Our conceptions, including those taught by religion are finite. Any being beyond our finite conception can pose as God if they so chose.

Well, I meant in the event when you really DO stand before God. We all will: That is a truth of our existance.

At that time, it will be too late to make excuses for why you didn’t believe

 

[Shlomey]

I hear believers often challenge atheists by asking “What if you die and you’re wrong and God does exist?” This is a fair question.

If I were an atheist, I would probably apologize to God and explain that based on what I had seen and experienced in the world, my conclusion was that he probably didn’t exist. However, since I’m not perfect, I came to the wrong conclusion.

Now, what if the same question was posed to you? What if you died and God said to you “You picked the wrong religion. Much of the morality that your religion taught was actually immoral”?

I would say: You cannot be God.