On Dec 6, 2004, at 1:30 PM, Dan Minette wrote:
However, lets assume that the system can be gamed...just for the purpose
of arguementation. Then, Christians should expect to have the same results
after they die, whether their actions are all good or all evil. This is,
essentially, the perception of an athiest, right? For an athiest, after
death, there is nothing, no matter how one behaves. So, if there is
heaven, instead, no matter what one does, what's the difference as far as
influencing behavior?
Recognition of the present as the only observable reality. I don't torture nuns because I would not like it if someone were to torture me. It's a mature perspective called empathy, which I don't have to be drubbed into by fear of a wrathful deity.
Since this life is the only one any of us gets (solid assumption; there is zero evidence to the contrary), it would be pretty shabby of me to set out to make others' lives miserable, or bring them to premature ends, wouldn't it?
That's the short-form answer to the question of why atheists aren't all thieving psychotic murderous drooling perverts.
-- Warren Ockrassa, Publisher/Editor, nightwares Books http://books.nightwares.com/ Current work in progress "The Seven-Year Mirror" http://www.nightwares.com/books/ockrassa/Flat_Out.pdf
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