Annihiliationism?

This is equating Atheism with a religion such as Hinduism is not a correct comparison. It is Atheism compared to Theism or Buddhism compared to Hinduism.

Where did you get this from?

I would answer b only

I have no disbelief or belief, he may or may not.

Then, as per your “Please post the multiple choice question to that structure”:

Do you believe there is a God?

a) I believe there is a God.
b) I lack that belief.
c) I do not believe that God exists.

You don’t understand what you read. Atheism is the natural state of humanity. People are then indoctrinated by others in their culture. If you were born in India, you’d likely be a Hindu. If you were born in Afghanistan, you’d likely be a Muslim. If you were born in Norway, you’d likely not get any indoctrination and remain an atheist.

It is obvious. Christianity is something that you learn, like any religion. No person, as an infant knows anything at all about Gods or religion. They have to be (mis)informed by the people around them in order to believe.

You were an atheist once, until you decided to believe what you do. You did this without evidence, by the way.

Going back to Tom Fiskaa.

If a person showed you a photo and claimed it was a photo of Tom Fiskaa’s trekking party taken yesterday in Antarctica:
(a) If you believe, you are more likely to accept this photo as true, and that person’s credibility on (just) that issue is likely to increase
(b) If you lack a belief that picture may be used to help form a belief
(c) if you do not belief that picture and claim would tend to have you discredit the person making the claim.

(a) and (c) are filters, while (b) in a potential learning state

I do agree that man teaches man religion, but I disagree that one is born (first self aware) a atheist.

You are incorrectly equating religion with theism.

It might be worthwhile to note that if a person felt it in their heart that Tom Fiskaa was in Nebraska, at a Denny’s, ordering a Grand Slam. That wouldn’t be evidence either way.

Yet others say just such a thing is evidence for religions.

They certainly don’t have any recognizable religious beliefs.

Theism is religion for people who don’t want to memorize stuff. :smiley:

Exactly :slight_smile: That’s theism without religion

:smiley: Another LOL close call with the keyboard.

Getting back to the OP, I have a counter-question that might show you where atheists are coming from:

Would you be more likely to believe in Santa Claus if I told you that he uses teleportation to deliver toys instead of a magic sled?

A more important question: If I know Tom Fiskaa as my personal savior, will I go to heaven?

Excellent, except that may I suggest an even more on point analogy?

Would you be more likely to believe in Santa Claus if he were to give you nothing at all for being bad, instead of giving you a lump of coal in your stocking?

Much better. Thank you.

Yes, but it’ll be really, really cold. You’d be better off choosing a warmer savior.

What is the agreed definition of “Eternal Joy?”

I have difficulty believing about eternal life because I’m just full of questions about it.

For instance,

a) What is “Eternal Joy?”

b) Is everyone’s “Eternal Joy” the same or different? What I like to do might be different than what someone else likes to do. Everyone has different hobbies. I like to go on the Internet and browse articles. Would I be able to do that in the after-life or would I have to do what someone else likes to do for all eternity?

c) What do Christians believe that eternal life is like? Do we spend an eternity skipping through roses or any of that stereotypical heaven nonsense?

d) Would heaven be “fun (for lack of a better word)?”

I guess it’s not as bad as non-Christians being tortured forever; however, non-Christians are still being punished. In my humble opinion, this is an unfair belief.

What if people were never introduced to Christianity? There may have been reasons why some people were never introduced to the religion, so why should they be punished?

What if people choose not to follow Christianity? In a sense, this is punishing people’s free-will. We have the freedom to choose what religion to follow. Christians believe that God gave us free-will, right? Is freedom to choose a religion somehow excluded from free-will?

It’s a reward system. Christians are being promised with the gift of everlasting-life. According to this belief, non-Christians have their souls destroyed (see the OP’s definition of Annihilationism). It seems like bribery to me. Am I wrong?

Twain’s Letters from the Earth touches on the “eternal joy” thing, at least in part. It discusses how the stereotypical Christian version of heaven made no mention of sexual pleasure, but simply described a rather vapid, bland and, in short order, extremely irritating place that nobody would voluntarily stay at for any length of time, let alone eternity.

Ick! According to that definition, heaven sounds like my definition of hell.

There’s the slight problem that for me Eternal Joy would require no-one suffering eternal punishment, for which there is no crime possible which is worthy of it.

I get way more of a kick out of believers telling me I’m going to hell, so please don’t change your fantasies on my behalf.