November 15, 2007
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Betting On the Afterlife
I am wondering how many people are that confident that God does not exist. So imagine you were offered $1 million.
If you die and there is no heaven and hell, you have lost nothing. However, if you take the $1 million and there is a heaven and hell you will go to hell for taking the $1 million. (This post is inspired by a message from Randy).
Would you take the $1 million?
Comments (195)
No way.
Not worth the risk to me.
Hell no!
Ha… bad pun….
YES!
Besides… looking at earth… I just try to see things a little objectively.
All bombs ever created was destruction. So a meteor supposedly created earth? Get real.
All creatures somehow evolved from a creature before them… doesn’t make sense.
Some higher being MUST have created us… I mean… we all must have a beginning somewhere… and it must be from a higher being. So there must be some truth in religions… then look at religions…
Christianity seems to make the most sense.
In which case, there sure as hell is a hell.
Nooo I’ll pass on the 1 million.
Hell, I’d take a dollar. haha.
probably not
Love_hate_define_me, there are a lot of reasons to believe in religion, or Christianity in particular, but scientific plausibility is certainly not heading the list.
la_faerie_joyeuse:
I know that scientific plausibility is not the head of the list. That’s just the particular line of logic I chose to follow in my comment.
Nope
There IS no risk in believing there is a God. Plenty of proof for me in nature alone. And plenty of proof there is a hell, look at the evil in the world. Why should I take a measley 1Million when God says as heirs with Jesus we have all that is His. Makes no sense. But hey, you folks who DON’T believe there is a Heaven or hell….keep living in your dream world, you’ll soon find out your folly! Have a good one Dan!
~Grampy~
Even if it was possible to sell my salvation, there is no price that’s worth it.
This question is dumber than satellite TV in prison.
Thumbs-down.
I’m going to Hell anyway.
No way Jose!
Silly question but no.
Better safe than sorry?
Dude, I’d do it. Seeing as I know there’s no god.
How, you ask?
I have an office job.
NO!
If you’re a Christian you can always get forgiven for your sins later. Problem is a true Christian would never commit sin on the condition of being forgiven later. Hmmm…So, a real Christian would not take the money, but not out of fear of hell. I love theology.
nope.
Absolutely. Hell is a heck of a lot better than not existing. So either way I’d feel as if I won.
No way, because I am confident that God *is* real.
Nope.
Yes, unless I was given the options by God himself. I don’t really believe anyone else and what they tell me about heaven or hell.
No $ please, would be my answer.
(I’ll take joy for free, alex?)
What a bunch of fucking pussies people are.
“Hmmm…So, a real Christian would not take the money, but not out of fear of hell. I love theology.” by loveandpolitics
I’d have to agree with you there.
Tough one. Nearly a border-case for me.
I’d take the money. Assuming that the money is untaxed, a million dollars would have me set for life as well as increase the quality of life of my immediate family members. The happiness and extra shelf life bought by this money would outweigh the slight chance of the Judeo-Christian god for me.
Absolutely not. But not out of the “fear of hell.” Out of the fear of hurting my God.
nephyo
Absolutely. Hell is a heck of a lot better than not existing. So either way I’d feel as if I won.
Ha! That’s the way I see things too. =)
Yes I would. I believe that strongly there is no hell. I still find this logic the best for this arguement using Christianity.
God created all. God knows all. God loves all.
God saves those that find him as saviour.
God knows what would make you find him as saviour.
God chooses not to make all find him as saviour.
If God loves all, would he condemn someone he loves to an eternity in hell because HE did not provide the necessary proof to show his creation he is the creator?
If the answer is yes, this is no God I want anything to do with. A jealous, vengeful, spiteful and selfish God that would be.
A jealous, vengeful, spiteful and selfish God that would be.
Well it says in scripture that God is a jealous God. He seeks his vengeance on those who deny Him…
So everything you hate about God is part of who the bible claims He is.
I’d hate to be you when I stand before Him.
i’d take the money. big surprise.
So knowing what you know about God then, if God were a person, would you be friends with him?
nope
Unworthy of his Grace
There IS no risk in believing there is a God.
Are you serious? I’ll list:
1.) Emotional distress (endless whorship of a ficticious figure, self hatred for inevitable “sin”)
2.) Wastes Sunday afternoons
3.) Wasted hours with bad fiction (the Bible).
4.) Being glued to an out-dated moral code (being emotionally coerced to hate gays, treate women differently from men, etc. etc.)
5.) Being forced to think stupidy when it comes to science (Anti-Evolutionism, Young Earth Science, No Stem Cell Research)
I always found it hysterical that technically, you can lead a life full of horrible sin and repent at the last minute, and you’re good in God’s eyes, but you can lead a pious life and fuck up at the last minute, and it’s Hell for you!
What a great system.
Oh, right, God’s perfect. My bad.
That question doesn’t make sense. loveandpolitics answered it from the Christian side; likewise, someone who truly believes there is no god would take it because he knows that heaven and hell do not exist. Therefore he would have no qualms about taking it. You can find out if people really believe what they say they believe, but it’s not a paradox or anything.
no
no, I wouldn’t.
I wonder how many of the people who are saying yes, really would say yes if they really were in the hot seat.
Drakon: That is because you are looking at it from the wrong angle.
Drakon: Wrong angle and the fact that your last sentence “but you can lead a pious life and fuck up at the last minute, and it’s Hell for you!” is not what Yeshua taught.
I fear god about the same amount as I fear space clowns arriving from the sky to eat my tie, because I believe they exist about the same degree.
I mean, I have no proof they don’t exist, but I don’t waste time fearing and worshipping what I have no faith in existing.
I like to think there’s a heaven. But either way, I don’t think I’d take a $1 million bet on it. Especially after you pay taxes on it, $1 million really isn’t that much money (hmm, maybe I’ve been living in high-priced areas too long…).
la farie joyeus: “Hell, I’d take a dollar. haha.”
That’s actually a bit sad. I suppose you’ve never played the lottery?! A dollar would more than cover the costs of any metaphysical gamble.
Nah!!…I’ll pass…you can’t place a price tag on heaven man…what’s wrong with you?
“Drakon: Wrong angle and the fact that your last sentence “but you can lead a pious life and fuck up at the last minute, and it’s Hell for you!” is not what Yeshua taught.”
But it is true, according to the bible. All that is required is acknowledging Christ as your lord and saviour, and repenting for your sins.
The rest doesn’t matter.
but… What good would the million dollars do me if I’m dead?
I always found it hysterical that technically, you can lead a life full of horrible sin and repent at the last minute, and you’re good in God’s eyes, but you can lead a pious life and fuck up at the last minute, and it’s Hell for you!
What a great system.
Or bearded Adolf and red red Joe frolicing behind the perily gates: Saved by a last second repentance! Hey, prostration before Jesus Christ, god and savior, could make up for any human crimes (Genocidal or otherwise)!
No
nope
Hmm, Dan, I love the question premise. But you’ve set the cash amount too high. A million dollars makes too much of a difference in people’s lives. If the difference between accepting the possiblity of God and rejecting it all together was $500 or even $5000 I’m sure that a lot of us fair-minded non-believers would seriously reconsider and possibly even revise our answers.
I always found it hysterical that technically, you can lead a life full of horrible sin and repent at the last minute, and you’re good in God’s eyes, but you can lead a pious life and fuck up at the last minute, and it’s Hell for you!
What a great system.
Oh, right, God’s perfect. My bad. Drakonskyr (message)
You clearly do not understand grace. If you live your whole life for the Lord Jesus and then mess up at the end do you know what happens? That’s right….nothing. Grace covers you. When you repent of your sins you have no fear of hell ever again.
He covers you. You don’t have to worry about constantly screwing up and Him taking it back…..it doesn’t work that way. That is good news.
EarthsAzureLight
If God loves all, would he condemn someone he loves to an eternity in hell because HE did not provide the necessary proof to show his creation he is the creator? If the answer is yes, this is no God I want anything to do with. A jealous, vengeful, spiteful and selfish God that would be.
Wow, you’re a lot more principled than I am. If a jeaous, vengeful, spiteful, and selfish God existed- I’d do anything to ensure a metaphysical afterlife. Even if it means cleaning my bathroom with my tounge, or tearting off my legs with a rusty butter-knife.
Basically, Christianity is like volcano insurance.
Basically, Christianity is like volcano insurance.
More like UFO insurance.
“Hmm, Dan, I love the question premise. But you’ve set the cash amount too high. A million dollars makes too much of a difference in people’s lives. If the difference between accepting the possiblity of God and rejecting it all together was $500 or even $5000 I’m sure that a lot of us fair-minded non-believers would seriously reconsider and possibly even revise our answers.”
That’s true, for $500, I probably would revise my answer.
When we start to get into 5 figures, $10,000+, it gets dicey
Of course I’d take the mulah. What kind of fickle mind do you take me for?
no way
huginn: Serious as a heartattack!!!! And as far as being forced to do something, no one forces me to do anything….accept the Government ie paying UNGODLY taxes. As I said, you and others like you will soon see your folly. You’re only doing whats natural for you, following after your father….the devil. Of course you look at the Bible as “BAD FICTION” it steps all over your pride and selfishness. It shows you your self. And it ain’t pretty. I hope God chooses to open your eyes to the truth. I’m sure glad He chose to open mine. I would hate to have your theology.
No way….if you take a bet like that, and you are a Christian, you are denying Christ, which we are never to do. I wouldn’t ever deny Christ, for any reason.
if there was a god i’m pretty sure he’d want me in hell by now.
Unworthy of His Grace
And as far as being forced to do something, no one forces me to do anything..
Indirectly, yes: Whatever the Bible says, you must accept. That acceptance means a moral obligation towards particular thoughts and actions. In that sense, Christians are forced.
As I said, you and others like you will soon see your folly.
Too bad atheists don’t have a clever retort for this one. There’s really no “I told you so!” in non-existance.
You’re only doing whats natural for you, following after your father….the devil.
Seriously, this is a poor, tasteless intellectual cop-out. Rather than truely investigating root causes, many Christians enjoy liberal applications of Devil and Devil influence.
Of course you look at the Bible as “BAD FICTION” it steps all over your pride and selfishness.
I meant this sincerely. Even as a work of fiction, the Bible isn’t very enjoyable. It’s language is thick– without realy liteary connection between its books. Most people would prefer Harry Potter over the chore of washign their eyes in scripture.
I hope God chooses to open your eyes to the truth. I’m sure glad He chose to open mine.
I try not to be taken in by cheap sleigh of hands and emotional blackmail. Even with a bone fide miracle, I really do have to check my sanity.
That’s all I have to do? Turn down a million dollars and never worry about the afterlife again? I’d obviously turn it down. You can probably deduce my shaky religious views from this comment.
-David
Also, the notion of free unearned money simply feels hollow to me.
-David
Nope. I’m not much of a believer in heaven and hell but no amount of money is worth taking the risk. (Not like you can take it with you, right?)
why would you go to hell for taking the $1 million? is that part of the bet? or is it somehow predicated on a sin having been committed by taking $1 million or is it predicated on betting? or just betting on god’s existance? i don’t make bets often since there are always too many questions. nor am i a good person to play this game with because there are all sorts of ways to “technically” get around the perameters of the bet. so basically i don’t know!
Um, I would go with the “no” option…
huginn: There really is no reasoning with your thoughts, you don’t believe in God so there’s no us in me WASTING MY time I guess huh. I choose faith, you chose in what you can see….what I see in this world isn’t anything to get me HAPPY about, except the good that God brings about…and by the way punishment of sin is one of those good things. You apparently know a lot about things of the Bible and just don’t believe them. So thats why it’s a waste of time for me to discuss it with you, only God can open your eyes to see it, NOTHING I say will open your eyes. So I leave it at that. I have much more important things to do than mess with this. You just go right ahead and disect everything I say if thats how you get your kicks…GO FOR IT DUDE!
No.
No WAY!!!!!
Unworthy of his Grace
I choose faith,
Blind faith is just as useful as a pink unicorn.
what I see in this world isn’t anything to get me HAPPY about, except the good that God brings about…
I’m glad, then.
So thats why it’s a waste of time for me to discuss it with you, only God can open your eyes to see it, NOTHING I say will open your eyes.
Yikes. I loiter and post on TheoCafe for fun. I didn’t imagine it being a serious chore for anyone to chat here.
You just go right ahead and disect everything I say if thats how you get your kicks…
*flying crane kick*
Unworthyofhisgrace, you give a terrible name to Christians posing as rational debaters.
-David
I think it is healthy to doubt your beliefs. If you don’t you loose free will. I imagine most people would say no. Yet there are rich people who go to church every Sunday just to become heartless greed mongers on Monday. If any of those people say no, they would be liars. Many other people would say until you waved the check in their face. That’s why I don’t like hypothetical questions.
This is a popular theology, but it isn’t a very good one. It may induce some thought, but it doesn’t impact the human heart.
EarthsAzureLight–you and I have had some of these discussions before, but your comment concerning repenting is correct according to Scripture. I’m glad to know that you understand that. Now all we have to do is get you to understand the Truth of it all. I’m not being smart about this. I’ve learned to like and appreciate you through xanga and I pray for you. I hope you learn the Truth prior to your departure from this earth.
Concerning the question, NO! No amount of money on this earth would be worth it. I know there IS a God as much as others who commented here know that there is not. I cannot prove His existence any more than they can prove that He does not exist. One’s inability to see someone or something does not prove that it does not exist. One’s inability to explain something does not negate the truth of it.
Reading some of the answers written here in response to the question makes me sad for people. Frankly, even if Heaven and spending eternity with the One who sacrificed His life for me were not true, I would not trade my beliefs for anything else because it is my understanding of my God that gets me through this life and that helps me to make sense out of a world that otherwise would make no sense at times.
Blessings to all of you.
stillooking2find
Always appreciate you, my friend. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
No, I’m agnostic
“I hope God chooses to open your eyes to the truth.”
Unworthyofhisgrace, so God only allows specific people to be with him, eh? Being God is the truth.
No point in searching for him then. According to you, it’s either someone is a lucky, holy one to have God’s truth or some hellish, blind fool destined to wonder forever. Ya know, I heard that same crap growing up from ministers and church goers. Your type ruins Faith and brings upon great self-hatred for the rest of us looking for this God figure. Yeah, fuck you.
And I give a second *flying crane kick*.
I’ve sort of heard variations of this argument when people bug me about being an atheist–”If there is no afterlife, then you don’t have a reason to be afraid!”
The problem here is that I *am* afraid of permanently losing consciousness. So no, I wouldn’t take the million bucks.
Gunstarhero1988: Though Unworthyofhisgrace and I are Christian brothers, I have a bit of a different take on some of these issues. I believe that God wants all people to come to a knowledge of Him. 2 Peter 3:9b in The New Living Translation of the Bible says “He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
I hope you will be able to read the signs all around you and begin to understand the Truth that He loves you. Blessings to you….and Huginn…..and all others who are seeking Truth.
^that right there is why I love that guy
Unworthyofhisgrace, so God only allows specific people to be with him, eh? Being God is the truth.
No point in searching for him then. According to you, it’s either someone is a lucky, holy one to have God’s truth or some hellish, blind fool destined to wonder forever.
Not everyone play by our rules. I didn’t mind his posting style or attitude so much. It’s really a mixed bag of peeps here on TheoCafe, and that’s part of the fun. =)
What pisses me off when Christians with his outlook are given admin. power on boards. I’ve been banned plenty of times by these sorta guys for petty excuses.
Love_Hate_Define_Me
//All bombs ever created was destruction. So a meteor supposedly created earth? Get real. //
What??? Where do you pull this crud from?
//All creatures somehow evolved from a creature before them… doesn’t make sense. //
If it doesn’t make sense to you, then go learn about it and study it instead of whining about it.
Not a chance.
Nope
This question is like a spoof of Pascal’s Wager, which I find tremendously annoying. I’d not take the money, but that’s because of what I already believe.
Would you take a million dollars if that meant being stuck in a closet with the boogey man, only if he really existed? I would because I don’t believe in the boogey man. Trying to get people to make decisions by appealing to their fear of the unknown is full of fail.
no, although I agree with loveandpolitics. If I shouldn’t take it, Ishouldn’t take it- regardless of hell or not.
You’re dead? I don’t get how 1 million can benefit you if you’re dead…
Didn’t mean any disrespect to any of you at all. I just agree with what the Bible teaches in Romans. With predestination, I don’t go so far as to say that since God predestines those He choses for heaven, that means the other’s He predestined for hell. I just simply believe we all deserve hell, He choses some, not for anything we do, but simply to show HIS power and soveriegnty. Because of original sin is why man goes to hell. Well, I have to go, I’ll have to finish this thought later. Sorry for those of you that have gotten the wrong Idea about me.God has His plan, it matters not what anyone here says or does, we can’t change God’s plan in any way. God bless you all!
“Trying to get people to make decisions by appealing to their fear of the unknown is full of fail.”
Not so much….
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001
aka
USA Patriot Act
You can’t be confident in something that no one is sure of. Anyway, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so no. And really, one million isn’t that much money.
pnklace
And really, one million isn’t that much money
Are you serious? I looked at it this way: 1 million dollars = $70,000/year over 15 years. That’s 15 years of not having to work– an extra 15 years of leisure time tacked onto your life.
There most definately is a God, so no, I wouldn’t take $1 million in exchange for my salvation. Actually, I wouldn’t take any money in exchange for my salvation!
If you increase to 1 billion, I might think about it … hihihi
Are you serious? I looked at it this way: 1 million dollars = $70,000/year over 15 years. That’s 15 years of not having to work– an extra 15 years of leisure time tacked onto your life.
Or Invest the last 5 years of that Salary, watch it grow over 10 years…
Could probably get 22-25 years of Salary at that rate.
Or Invest the last 5 years of that Salary, watch it grow over 10 years…
Could probably get 22-25 years of Salary at that rate.
Ha. I feel a bit dumb for not having thought of that. And good point. =)
Of course I would take the money.
I know that God does exist… so, NO way…Anyhow million dollars really wouldnt last long, but eternity lasts FOREVER.
Really though, It’s not that I don’t believe in god, it’s that I don’t know if a god does or doesn’t exist. What I do know is that I, in fact, do exist. As a realist, I focus on what is as opposed to what could be, that’s how I always have and always will think. So, I would naturally want to improve what is as oppose to hold out for what could be.
Honestly, though, if there is a heaven or hell, I’m fairly certain I would go to heaven anyways, due to my altruistic attitude, and if that isn’t enough, then oh well.
Anyways, here’s another question:
Would I still go to hell even if I used the money to help people in need?
Azure and Huginn–how about this one? Take the million and invest it immediately. I am absolutely sure you can get 7-10% return on it somewhere with that kind of cash (not that I know that from experience or anything! I’m still a working guy!!!). Live reasonably well off the interest of $70 to $100k per year and never touch the principle. Now that is living. Forget about 15-23 years (that may be all I have left). You could live at least twice that if you were smart.
What do you think? Am I right or not?
No, too risky!
I have no idea, I’m only 21, haven’t earned my first $70k in my life so far and don’t have the money to invest anything yet =)
I’d have to ask some friends more familiar with finance.
nope. I believe in heaven and hell.
still looking2find: I don’t know enough of investiment to judge the accuracy of the numbers, but that the plan seems sound!
Yes, I would take it and share it with my other crony friends.
No way!
According to your Bible, God forgives anyone who repents their sins.
Gimme the million!!!
Nice try Dan!
Sure.
Coming from a Christian stand point, no.
“Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
“You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24
Well, that depends on technicality. If we’re talking specifically the biblical heaven and hell that fundementalists rant about, I’m taking the million. Because no loving God would allow such a place to exist, so even if my atheism is incorrect, I’d rather be in hell than with the asshole that would throw people he allegedly loves into a pit of fire.
But if it’s any form of heaven and hell, such as a place for those who were good and those who were bad, independent of Christianity… I’d turn the million down. Because honesty, no matter how much I believe in atheism, I’m not so presumptuous as to assume I can never be wrong.
ryc: the only one I really know of is Kestryl.. she lives about a half hour from me
This is simply pathetic. Being bullied into believing something you don’t
actually believe simply because you’re scared to be wrong – that simply
isn’t right.
Shouldn’t
you be motivated to be a Christian (or whatever faith) because you want
to please your God? Shouldn’t you do it to make Him happy, not for
selfish reasons like fear and eternal gifts? Obviously I cannot judge,
that’s not my place, but I don’t think that the Christian faith was
bred out of selfishness and I’m not sure that should be your motivation.
It just reminds me of my ex who harassed me about not
believing in God and acting as if he did when he only went to church if
invited on Easter and Christmas, never did a kind, Christian thing in
his life, but was deathly terrified of death. Once again, it’s not my
place to judge, but I don’t want to lead that sort of life.
No.
Of course I would take the money. You foolishly didn’t provide an actual wager, so I get the 1 mil scot-free.
Which of course just goes to show the idiocy and presumptiveness of the religious.
I win.
I love it when people say they “know” God exists. No, you don’t. You might have FAITH that God exists. You might believe God exists, but you don’t “KNOW” God exists.
I would take the million because I don’t believe in hell, therefore I am not afraid of going there.
Believing in God does not mean that you also believe in Heaven and Hell. I personally don’t believe in Heaven and Hell and I have my own idea about the afterlife, but I do believe in God. Not the Christian God obviously, but a god.
I don’t know if I could ever be sure enough to bet that there wasn’t a Heaven and Hell though. No one knows what happens when we die.
I guess I could do without the $1 million. God exists.
Depends on if there’s tax on it.
I sure fucking would.
I’d take it.
Never would I take the million. I am absolutely confident there is eternal life for those who believe in Christ.
No.
I’m actually not sure if there is a God or isn’t one. It’s just something I don’t think about often.
So, really, it would depend on a few things. TAXES, oh man. And also, how hard up for cash I really was, because even if I don’t know – why risk it? I’d rather find out there is no God when I die, than burn in Hell for eternity. :] But I’m pretty much going to Hell, anyway, just because I’ve probably said some horrible stuff.
I had to read this question several times because it sounded like, fromt he title, a bet. So I was like, “How are you supposed to repay them if there isn’t?” Heh. Anyways, I’d pass ont he million.
I wouldn’t even sell my right to vote for 1 mill, much less my soul :O
I think reincarnation is a lot more likely than heaven or hell.
So I’d take the million in a flash.
I can’t believe a God of Love could be so hateful!
I’d pay a million to have the answers…
Nope
no but not because i’d go to hell but because money changes you and really i don’t want to change
I’m driving the bus to hell, so it really wouldn’t matter.
But yeah, why not take the million?
I’ll be dead when I find out anyway. Money’s no good if you’re dead.
nope! no matter how much we need it, I wouldn’t touch it.
Weird variant of Pascal’s wager. Interesting. By all means yes, I’ll take that $1 million now. Contact me and I’ll let you know how to make out the check and where to send it. Thanks.
“
Besides… looking at earth… I just try to see things a little objectively.
All bombs ever created was destruction. So a meteor supposedly created earth? Get real.
All creatures somehow evolved from a creature before them… doesn’t make sense.
Some
higher being MUST have created us… I mean… we all must have a
beginning somewhere… and it must be from a higher being. So there
must be some truth in religions… then look at religions…
Christianity seems to make the most sense.
In which case, there sure as hell is a hell.
Nooo I’ll pass on the 1 million.”
Well gee, the ignorant way you put it, yeah, there is a god!
I would take the $1 million. Free money!
Anyways…
If I needed the money to save someone’s life I would definitely take it.
Otherwise, no, I probably wouldn’t. I won’t deny the improbability of Christianity, but the fact is that I don’t truly know what it or isn’t out there. I really would rather not take the slightest risk of something like that. I am fine without a million dollars. I think.
I would definately not that the million. I have already learned (the hard way) that money and *stuff* doesn’t make you any happier or make any of life easier (except for paying the bills). If there was even a remote chance that I would go to hell for it, then no. I would not take it.
If someone with a gun said, “here’s $1 million. You can take it. I might shoot you…or I might not” I would not take it. Same applies here!
I have enough money to be comfortable and happy right now.
So I don’t reall need $1 million, and I’d prefer not to go to hell if there happened o be one. So no, wouldn’t take it.
* take (I wrote “that”) hmmmm….there’s a reason for proofreading, huh!?!
nope (;
what’s with the money questions, anyway? have you gone “themed”?
No!!!
No, there’s not a chance I would take $1mln to denounce my faith.
I would so do it!
No!!! When you believe in salvation…in Jesus Christ, everlasting, unconditional love there isn’t enough money in the world to make someone chose money over His love…His sacrifice. My soul finds rest in God alone;my salvation comes from Him,Ps 62:1
i’d take the million. but then i’d give it away to a good cause
and i don’t believe in god. do i go to hell for that?
The better question is “possibility of eternal life (read: heaven) or a million bucks?” My answer is an unequivocal hell no to the money.
are you familiar with pascal’s wager? based on his calculations, we gain a higher expected return for believing in god than not.
so no, i wouldn’t take the money.
nope.
HELL YEAH.
no pun intended.
Sadly people have traded their right to heaven for much less, such as a bite of fruit. And humans still do it, sometimes without even realizing it because the devil has many so confused about what is right and what is wrong.
It would be quite ironic and absolutely hilarious if the people who don’t choose to take the million dollars end up going to hell anyways.
And yes, I would take it. If I don’t believe in you, then you don’t exist.
hm. well. that really depends on what hell would be like. and if you take the money will you die instantly? i’d rather just not take the money.
God doesn’t exist.
I’m a million richer.
I don’t believe in God, but I don’t think I’d take the money. I don’t want $1 million.
Why would I take a million dollars when God has promised me so many things of infinitely greater value?
I’d take the money and donate it to the Church of Satan.
Ummmmmmm retarded question.
Seriously.
There is FOR SURE no hell, but if there was, that’s where all of us on Earth would wind up, Chirstian or not.
And yes I’d take the money.
i’d take it
If you’re talking about the Christian God or Muslim Allah, then, yes.
Ha
Grampy’s answer is the BEST!
There IS no risk in believing there is a God. Plenty of proof for me in nature alone. And plenty of proof there is a hell, look at the evil in the world. Why should I take a measley 1Million when God says as heirs with Jesus we have all that is His. Makes no sense. But hey, you folks who DON’T believe there is a Heaven or hell….keep living in your dream world, you’ll soon find out your folly! Have a good one Dan!
~Grampy~
<li class=”itemtimestamp”>15/11/2007 10:23
<li class=”itemsubmitter”>UnworthyofHisgrace (message)
Hell was thought up by men to scare people into joining the Church.
Not for a bilion, or a trillion, or even more.
Give it. Now. Why? Pascal’s Sucker Bet is retarded.
Why should I believe in your favorite version of your religion? Why not another version? Or another religion entirely?
Maybe. Can I take hell over?
Nope.
I prefer to think that karma would make it up to me, anyway.
I’m not completely confident God doesn’t exist, of course. But I am very confident in my opinion that a hell does not exist. So sure I’d take the million. And if I’d be sent to hell for something as ridiculous as taking a million dollars, I think it would be the rational place to be.
Yes. Of course.
I would not do it… People think God or no God, but it think The Good Lord is with us and gives us challenges like that one… But I feel if you do have a good and understanding reason as to why u took the million then God will understand and forgive you…. He loves us all, and we’re not perfect…..
xoxo
If it were more money, I’d do it.
I forgot to ask – is this being taxed?
No. I am confident He does exist and I believe that not out of fear, but faith and love.
UnworthyofHisgrace
-”There
IS no risk in believing there is a God. Plenty of proof for me in
nature alone. And plenty of proof there is a hell, look at the evil in
the world. Why should I take a measley 1Million when God says as heirs
with Jesus we have all that is His. Makes no sense. But hey, you folks
who DON’T believe there is a Heaven or hell….keep living in your
dream world, you’ll soon find out your folly! Have a good one Dan!
~Grampy~”
There is no risk in believing in God. There is a risk in deciding what religion to believe in though, if you believe (or just think there is a possibility) there is an afterlife that has the possibility of eternal punishment attached to it. Muslims would definitely argue there is a risk in believing in christianity, the same way christians would argue to muslims that there is a risk in being a muslim.
No, probably cause I believe in heaven/hell. Plus eternity is a long time.
Act like you read all these comments
)
(What can I say? MySpace gets pretty old after a while)
You missed me, didn’t you?
Never! Heavan has no price!
This is more of a question of how you plan to live your life than whether you believe there is a God. If you plan to live your life so that you can reach a goal in a death versus living life to its fullest, then of course you would choose to refuse the 1 million dollars. However, 1 million dollars is only valuable in the life you are living now. It can facilitate most everything and make life a little more enjoyable. I’m not saying that money is the key to happiness, but it will certainly take away those trivial, material worries that many of us have.
no
No way.
science simply backs up christianity.
that’s craziness, no way jose
no
I would not take the money because I know there is a God and I strongly believe that.. no ifs ands or buts
My response is a great big yes, though with reservation. I am not religious and I dont believe in god, but I dont believe that that is a reason to take a million dollars. It just seems like it is a big disrespect to the idea of faith to tempt people with money, much like the porn for bibles stuff that was going on. Not a big problem for those who don’t mind, but there are those in the sea of uncertainty that have extra stresses over this and supporting that sort of thing doesn’t necessarily sit well with me. But I would also take it because the existence of god, even the christain god, doesn’t necessitate heaven and hell; our beliefs about heaven and hell do not necessitate that that is their reality (heaven might actually suck and hell is a great fun place to be or something like that); there might only be one place in the afterlife like the Mesopotamian concept of Sheol (maybe it was Judaic pre-Zoroastrianism); possibilities of alternative afterlives such as Nirvana or Nothingness also exist; believing in god may not be the only way into heaven. So many things that make the million dollars a safer bet and able to give you a nice computer.
omg, i would so totally take the money. only a fool wouldn’t.
NO
money, now
I wouldn’t take the money.
I would offer 2 dollars to anyone who would come to my bible study with me just once. Come again and I’ll give you another 2 dollars…
Come to church with me on Sunday and I’ll give you 2 dollars. Come again and I’ll give you another 2 dollars…
Come to a christian concert with me (a good singer from the Christian radio stations who you can actually understand the words when they sing) and I’ll pay for your ticket. Come again and I’ll do the same…
Come to a church picnic, join the church softball team, come to a potluck, and I’ll give you 2 dollars each time you come!
I’m serious! Just think, In a month you could potentially earn $75! In a year, that would be almost $1,000 of free money! Hey, come to enough stuff and you just might reach that million!
You may be willing to “sell your soul” for a million bucks, but would you be willing to join the Family of God for bits and pieces of that million, made a little bit at a time?
Oh, and that’s all a gift…no tax!
> Have to go along with desesperada, I’d have to recieve the offer/warning from from someone with a more ‘saintly’, ‘angelic’, etc…. Man at large is a deceitful character and there is almost 100% of the time a ‘hook’ in the offer somewhere…. ….’ sides, I’d lose most of it in taxes and lawyer fees, so what’s the point….
Peace
When I get to Heaven I will walk on streets of gold.
Worth more than $$$$$$$
god’s real, there’s just no heaven or hell, so i guess I’ve lost nothing.
NO.
*Thinks*…Can’t i take the $1million and do things that would make God happy??.lol