Discussion»Questions»Outside the Mug» If an atheist was forced into an arena with a hungry lion which god do you think he might ask for help as a last resort. .?
If an atheist was forced into an arena with a hungry lion which god do you think he might ask for help as a last resort. .?
Thinking perchance there might be one god around that actually exists The God that Christians asked for help never did anything for them -if they did ask.
"The Lord of the Jungle." That lion's dad. He might want to consider praying to the "antelope god" too. Maybe he could have a couple for the hungry lion to play with for a minute or two.
An atheist would have no more inclination to ask any God to rescue them than he would to expect a winged Pegasus to swoop in and fly him to safety. Q: How many true believers did the Judeo-Christian God save from the lions, ... or the gas chamber?
It is readily apparent to anyone with a grasp of history or any common sense how utterly unlikely divine forces are to intervene in such a crisis. It is just as likely that the lion(s) would suddenly go on a hunger strike, or turn on each other.
As an aside, does anyone else find it disturbing that believers will often thank the very God who didn’t stop a tornado or a fire from destroying homes and livelihoods, and then beseech that same God to “look after” those He refused to save from the disaster?
This post was edited by Don Barzini at July 28, 2018 8:15 AM MDT
Atheists seldom, if ever, pray at all, because there is no reason for it, and realizes, as any sane person should, that it IS up to him, regardless.
The man who prays is the one who thinks (their) God has arranged things all wrong and seeks to instruct God how to put them right - typically to advance his own advantage. The call to prayer is self-cancelling.
This post was edited by my2cents at July 28, 2018 9:58 PM MDT
There is, and has been, and will always be One God. No beginning, no end, always is and always will be. As for your atheist guy and any believer cast into the arena, lunch has been served for the lion. haha
This post was edited by Baba at July 28, 2018 7:40 PM MDT
Many of the first Christians had no problem with death because they believed that they would be in heaven, this is why the Roman rulers struggled with Christians because they had no fear of death. Same as world war I and II, in letters home to their loved ones' soldiers had no fear of death because not only were they fighting for the freedom of their country so their families would be safe, but also they believed that they would go to heaven, or whatever belief they had of eternal life.
I don't think an atheist would call on anything, but many atheists say that life can have meaning when they are just made up of a few firing chemicals and hormones and will die, and eventually, all their offspring will die, and life would have begun and ended for no reason as it all adds up to zero, how you can get meaning from that I don't know? Believing life has meaning because if "feels" like it has meaning, doesn't mean that it does.
This post was edited by kjames at August 1, 2018 7:52 PM MDT
I still like this story/fable/myth---however one chooses to characterize it:
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly! 26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Merlin 