# Attention: Atheists. You do not "Know the Truth". **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 22, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-atheists-you-do-not-know-the-truth/514708 "2009-10-22T03:42:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-atheists-you-do-not-know-the-truth/514708/381 "2009-10-28T15:29:11Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Why is it so hard to admit you might be wrong? That’s really the point of the thread. Nobody knows. The Ultimate Question comes down to a Cosmic Coin Flip. God/No God. Heads/Tails. > > Theists chose to hedge their bet, which is not necessarily an unreasonable thing to do. I prefer to play for higher stakes, so to speak. If I win, I get peaceful non-existence. If I lose, Eternal Damnation. What a rush. This is such a weak argument that I just don’t understand why you keep defending it. What is special about the God Hypothesis that makes it a 50-50 coin flip? Why aren’t the following also 50-50: We were created last Thursday We were created last Wednesday We are all part of the matrix You are a figment of my imagination I am a figment of your imagination There are an infinite number of gods Every night, every object in my house is replaced by identical objects God only exists every month that has 31 days God exists but he punishes people that believe in him God exists only to people who do not believe in him. Once you start to believe he no longer exists. There is nothing unique about the God Hypothesis that stops us from using our standard definitions of “true”, “exists”, and “real” or applying reason and logic. ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-atheists-you-do-not-know-the-truth/514708/382 "2009-10-28T19:34:39Z")
Huh, interesting that we seem to have finally found a real example of the famous “atheism as a religion” claptrap. **Oakminster** thinks god is just as likely as no god, but chooses to"believe in atheism (apparently based on some crazy bastardized Pascal’s Wager). I guess one could argue that he’s not a “real” atheist, but it’s an interesting insight into what the theists are ranting about. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-atheists-you-do-not-know-the-truth/514708/383 "2009-10-29T18:54:09Z")
I don’t see a 50/50 chance at all. Is there some kind of slim chance god exists and you should hedge your bet? Why, he would see through it and still take pleasure in fricasseeing you. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-atheists-you-do-not-know-the-truth/514708/384 "2009-10-29T20:52:59Z")
The god **Oakminister** doesn’t believe in is dumber than the god you don’t believe in. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-atheists-you-do-not-know-the-truth/514708/385 "2009-10-29T21:01:39Z")
I _do_ know the Truth. Since revealing it would irreparably damage your peace of mind, I choose to keep you in benevolent ignorance. There will be further opportunities for worship at 7, 10 and 11:59PM EST. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-atheists-you-do-not-know-the-truth/514708.md?page=19)