# Atheists - Would you swap knowing the truth for beleiving in a loving God and Heaven? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682 "2009-10-22T00:07:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/1 "2009-10-22T00:07:45Z")
You are offered the chance to swap places with a believer. It is explained to you that if you accept the swap you will not be aware that it happened, or that you were ever the person you were before the swap. You will just think you are the person you swapped with and today is a day like any other. You happen to believe in the Good kind of Deity. The one who loves all people and intervenes at the carefully calculated times. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/2 "2009-10-22T00:13:22Z")
I, the OP [an atheist of the ‘strong’ sort], voted yes. We only get one life. And I think it would be better spending that life looking forward to something blissful afterwards than wondering about the cessation of sentience and what happens when that which is self aware stops. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/3 "2009-10-22T00:13:25Z")
Positively not, for much the same reason I wouldn’t consent to any other brainwashing - I value my capacity for reason, modest though it may be, more than anything else. I would not compromise it, no matter how “happy” I might be. Plus, though I’m an atheist, the Judeo-Christian God is quite an unpleasant sort - genocidal, really. (See: Great Flood, Sodom, Gomorrah, Egypt, etc.) The prospect of loving such a creature is precisely as appalling, and for precisely the same reasons, as the last lines of 1984: “He gazed up at the enormous face. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark moustache. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving breast! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.” (Yes, I know it’s been out for a while - but why take a chance on spoiling it?) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/4 "2009-10-22T00:21:18Z")
I’m happier knowing the truth than being force-fed a lie. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/5 "2009-10-22T00:21:21Z")
I think the question is seriously flawed. If I switch places with a believer, that means I accept the biblical inconsistancies and rhetoric? I believe if I switched places with a believer, I’d eventually end up right where I am because I’m still me… ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/6 "2009-10-22T00:28:06Z")
Voted no. I have known quite a few heartfelt believers (and still do!) and I can’t say there’s a big difference between their satisfaction with life than mine. Some of them are happy folks, some of them are miserable, just like us. Belief in the promise of heaven and God’s love doesn’t seem to make much of a real-life difference in that respect. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/7 "2009-10-22T00:28:08Z")
No. I’d rather be right than happy for no good reason. I also find the idea of worshipping anything disgusting, and “God” to be either evil or uncaring assuming it existed. And the kind of theist you describe is the sort who will ignore the suffering of others, and cheerfully commit massacres and atrocities because it’s all part of “God’s Plan”. A theist who buys the idea of a God “who loves all people and intervenes at the carefully calculated times” is the kind of theist who disregards all the suffering in the world as either not mattering, or as the just punishment of his God. Believing in that kind of God in a world so full of natural and imposed tragedy _ **requires** _ that you convince yourself that those tragedies are consistent with kindness and love. Which means that you are using a definition of “kindness and love” that is indistinguishable from indifference or outright malice. A warped and destructive attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/8 "2009-10-22T00:32:25Z")
> [@Who\_me\_1](#): > > I think the question is seriously flawed. If I switch places with a believer, that means I accept the biblical inconsistancies and rhetoric? I believe if I switched places with a believer, I’d eventually end up right where I am because I’m still me… I came in here to say exactly that. If I was an athiest (I am more agnostic) and took The Blue Pill as stated above, I would get back to where I was spiritually eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/9 "2009-10-22T00:33:38Z")
I answered no, and I will always answer no to any “you won’t remember who you were before” kinds of questions. Such a swap would be tantamount to suicide. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/10 "2009-10-22T00:35:04Z")
I vote an ironic “Hell, no!” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/11 "2009-10-22T00:36:42Z")
No way in hell. I can’t understand why anybody would say yes. I think the OP presumes that atheists are unhappy. I’m as happy as a clam. I feel _good_ that there isn’t any afterlife. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/12 "2009-10-22T01:11:40Z")
Giving up my reason freely? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/13 "2009-10-22T01:18:39Z")
A more interesting question would be whether they would exchange atheism for certainty of God’s existence. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/14 "2009-10-22T01:23:07Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No. I’d rather be right than happy for no good reason. I also find the idea of worshipping anything disgusting, and “God” to be either evil or uncaring assuming it existed. > > And the kind of theist you describe is the sort who will ignore the suffering of others, and cheerfully commit massacres and atrocities because it’s all part of “God’s Plan”. A theist who buys the idea of a God “who loves all people and intervenes at the carefully calculated times” is the kind of theist who disregards all the suffering in the world as either not mattering, or as the just punishment of his God. Believing in that kind of God in a world so full of natural and imposed tragedy _ **requires** _ that you convince yourself that those tragedies are consistent with kindness and love. Which means that you are using a definition of “kindness and love” that is indistinguishable from indifference or outright malice. > > A warped and destructive attitude. Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/15 "2009-10-22T01:28:34Z")
Blind myself to evidence in exchange for fawning over a celestial dictator? Never. I think it’d also make one less inclined to enjoy life, to the contrary of the OP’s insinuation. This is the only life we get, might as well enjoy it, not treat it as some sort of pathetic entrance exam. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/16 "2009-10-22T01:28:46Z")
No. Don’t do drugs. Won’t take a pill that makes me stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/17 "2009-10-22T01:32:06Z")
Nope. Not just because it still wouldn’t be true, but I like my atheism. I feel it makes me more responsible for my own life and the life of those around me because I can’t outsource the destiny of my life or the responsibility humans have to each other to something invisible. Plus knowledge of the amorality of natural selection and evolution makes me more grateful for all the good things our species has accomplished. I’d be happier as an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/18 "2009-10-22T01:35:43Z")
No. I think I would be a very different person with the ability to believe in such improvable, unlikely fairytales. I prefer myself the way I am. When I was a kid I believed, loosely (I always struggled with the plausibility of the whole thing), in a loving god and heaven. It didn’t enhance my life in any way I remember. ‘Losing my faith’ was freeing, not painful. ---
**Author:** ![wmdkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19adc/32.png) [@wmdkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmdkitty)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/19 "2009-10-22T01:55:08Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > You are offered the chance to swap places with a believer. It is explained to you that if you accept the swap you will not be aware that it happened, or that you were ever the person you were before the swap. You will just think you are the person you swapped with and today is a day like any other. > > You happen to believe in the Good kind of Deity. The one who loves all people and intervenes at the carefully calculated times. Yes and no. Yes, because it would be an interesting experience. No, because despite all the shit I’ve had to deal with, I turned out okay. It made me who I am now, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. And all that is apart from my personal opinion of your God (a cosmic abusive spouse.) Honestly, I’ve had enough abusive spouse to last a lifetime, and have no desire for more. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682/20 "2009-10-22T02:04:09Z")
So, what if there really is a God? Would you take a pill (or whatever) for knowing the complete truth of reality and the universe, if it meant that you might well find out that you were wrong? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-would-you-swap-knowing-the-truth-for-beleiving-in-a-loving-god-and-heaven/514682.md?page=2)