Religious people enjoy telling atheists, "If I'm wrong and you're right, it's really no big deal because our fates will be identical. If you're wrong and I'm right, it's an enormous deal because I'll be in heaven for all of eternity while you'll be experiencing pain of the worst kind."
But what if we're both wrong? What if there is a god, but every single religion in the world is way off regarding the specifics?
And what if the creator of the galaxy is extremely upset so many people buy into unsubstantiated rumors that he's in favor of stoning homosexuals?
About atheists, what if he says, "Big deal if they don't believe in me; at least they think logically."
About those involved in organized religion, what if he says, "They believe I did what!? I'd rather them not believe in me at all than believe I have no moral compass."
What if it irks him to no end that so many people constantly ask for small favors? Or what if he's actually quite humble and therefore annoyed with all the worship? "Stop making such a fuss over me and get on with your life!" After all, had you created an entire civilization, would you want your minions running around asking for things unworthy of your time? Do parents appreciate it? "Can I get a new skateboard, can my tax refund be large enough for a trip to Disney World, can I get enough votes to be named captain of the cheerleading squad, etc."
If there is a creator, and he isn't exactly like the being described in your holy book, chances are he's nothing like the being described in your holy book, and may even get a little offended at how he's portrayed. Say your parents never told you which religion was correct, but, on your own, you deduced a deity created the universe. Would you automatically assume he despises the behavior of individuals who simply act on their inherent attraction to members of the same sex? Or would you assume he'd say, "As long as they're not harming anyone, what's the big deal?"
But only religious beliefs taught to you by family elders, or individuals clad in decorative robes surrounded by stained glass, bring the peace of mind you seek, and I'm sure the comfort level that accompanies thinking your bases are covered for all of eternity is off the charts! The fear of the unknown is the reason organized religion has spread like wildfire. It's the reason so many otherwise rational individuals are willing to believe irrational tales originating eons ago as passed down by individuals whose sanity can't be verified. "There's no way I can know what the afterlife holds, so I'll convince myself that those who dreamed up a perfect, albeit far-fetched, scenario are correct!"
Peace of mind is important. You sleep better knowing with certainty you closed the garage door. It's something you can't control. "Just go to sleep, you know you pushed the button," you tell yourself. Then you hear a noise. Probably just the wind, but you convince yourself it's a gang of unruly teenagers that consider a wide open garage, "the motherload." So much irrational doubt simply because you lack peace of mind...
Because peace of mind is so vital when pertaining to the mundane, when it comes to matters of great significance, such as where you'll be spending eternity, peace of mind becomes more valuable than gold.
It's a shame that the comfort peace of mind brings cripples the ability of many to arrive at rational conclusions.
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