How do you decide what to believe?

Brad Murphy · #1 06-10-2010, 08:39 AM

What if you had never been introduced to the Bible? I know some people abhor hypotheticals on here, but sometimes that is the only way to get a specific answer to a question that has been posed.

Scenario: Let's say you are 30 years old, were raised on an island without any religious contact or influences of any sort but somehow knew how to read and could comprehend what you were reading...

Catalyst: You've just been informed that if you do not choose a theology and then subsequently adhere to it, then you will spend eternity in everlasting torment.

Tools:

1. You are presented with one modern day KJV bible (which seems to be the most commonly accepted version, at least until the last decade or so)
2. You are presented with the Koran (not sure how many versions there are of that, so let's assume the most commonly accepted one.)
3. You are presented with the Torah (and someone explains to you that the rules for this theology are different than the rules of people who follow the New Testament)
4. You are presented with the most commonly accepted Buddhist Sutra (if there even is one)

You are told that unfortunately since you have now been exposed to theology, your eternal soul (which you didn't even know existed until a moment ago) is in danger of everlasting torment and you are liable for your choice from this moment on... and if you choose correctly you have a chance at not spending eternity in torment (still only a chance because you may interpret things incorrectly).

Solution: ?

jfrog · #2 06-10-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Murphy

What if you had never been introduced to the Bible? I know some people abhor hypotheticals on here, but sometimes that is the only way to get a specific answer to a question that has been posed.

Scenario: Let's say you are 30 years old, were raised on an island without any religious contact or influences of any sort but somehow knew how to read and could comprehend what you were reading...

Catalyst: You've just been informed that if you do not choose a theology and then subsequently adhere to it, then you will spend eternity in everlasting torment.

Tools:

1. You are presented with one modern day KJV bible (which seems to be the most commonly accepted version, at least until the last decade or so)
2. You are presented with the Koran (not sure how many versions there are of that, so let's assume the most commonly accepted one.)
3. You are presented with the Torah (and someone explains to you that the rules for this theology are different than the rules of people who follow the New Testament)
4. You are presented with the most commonly accepted Buddhist Sutra (if there even is one)

You are told that unfortunately since you have now been exposed to theology, your eternal soul (which you didn't even know existed until a moment ago) is in danger of everlasting torment and you are liable for your choice from this moment on... and if you choose correctly you have a chance at not spending eternity in torment (still only a chance because you may interpret things incorrectly).

Solution: ?
4.

Hit yourself on the head enough times to develop amnesia and then you won't have to choose?

NotforSale · #3 06-10-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Murphy

What if you had never been introduced to the Bible? I know some people abhor hypotheticals on here, but sometimes that is the only way to get a specific answer to a question that has been posed.

Scenario: Let's say you are 30 years old, were raised on an island without any religious contact or influences of any sort but somehow knew how to read and could comprehend what you were reading...

Catalyst: You've just been informed that if you do not choose a theology and then subsequently adhere to it, then you will spend eternity in everlasting torment.

Tools:

1. You are presented with one modern day KJV bible (which seems to be the most commonly accepted version, at least until the last decade or so)
2. You are presented with the Koran (not sure how many versions there are of that, so let's assume the most commonly accepted one.)
3. You are presented with the Torah (and someone explains to you that the rules for this theology are different than the rules of people who follow the New Testament)
4. You are presented with the most commonly accepted Buddhist Sutra (if there even is one)

You are told that unfortunately since you have now been exposed to theology, your eternal soul (which you didn't even know existed until a moment ago) is in danger of everlasting torment and you are liable for your choice from this moment on... and if you choose correctly you have a chance at not spending eternity in torment (still only a chance because you may interpret things incorrectly).

Solution: ?

Pressing-On · #4 06-10-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Murphy

What if you had never been introduced to the Bible?

It's too late, Gingerbread Man (lol). We've already been introduced to it. We are all without excuse.

Brad Murphy · #5 06-10-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

It's too late, Gingerbread Man (lol). We've already been introduced to it. We are all without excuse.

Yeah... that seems fair... like being forced to play slugbug when you are not interested but someone just keeps hitting you in the arm and insisting that you are in the game whether you like it or not...

Timmy · #6 06-10-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Murphy

Yeah... that seems fair... like being forced to play slugbug when you are not interested but someone just keeps hitting you in the arm and insisting that you are in the game whether you like it or not...

POTD!