Welcome!


Join more than 151,000 members on FunAdvice to ask questions, share advice, photos and make new friends today.
FunAdvice RSS for this page:
Rss_feed

The non-believer and god's relationship in hard times

me :) Asked by jax 10 months ago, 20 answers.

I heard someone say something about the world ending and got to thinking about the relationship between a non-believer and God in the disasterous time.
What is the natural human response to facing a danger much greater than him? I have heard that it is...

to run to that which can give protection. However, if all around him is crumbling and falling and burning, and being destroyed, where is he to go to be protected? Is there only one way to turn? To God? God is the greatest thing that can be thought of by a human, in this space and time. The greatest thing that can be conceived by man, and He and can undoubtedly protect you from destruction. My question is, can a person with free will and the ability to make sound conscious decisions, deny God and keep his back to him, even in this situation? Is it possible not to turn from your previous ways and beliefs and give you heart to Jesus even if you had only minutes to live?

Now another question. Would God even hear your plea, your cry for help, or would he look at you as insincere and leave you to be destroyed? Without his grace and love and whatever else He gives?

internet Answered by kingofpop on Jan 07, 2009, 03:41AM
327 answers

Religion makes two appeals: convert, and God will be at your side in times of need, and...convert, and you will be spared in the afterlife. Both of these appeals play on ancient human instincts and fears, and that is why they are so powerful.

The natural human response when faced with danger is to seek help from a higher power. And, on top of that, humans have an instinctive fear and uncertainty of death. These are hard-wired into the brain.

When our ancestors faced natural disaster and calamity, they tried to appease nature, and be on nature's good side. Today, these are the same thought patterns that result in belief in gods, religion, and spirituality. And fear of death is nothing more than the survival instinct, once again, hard-wired from an ancient realization that death is the end, and there is no coming back.

Knowing this, I think it's entirely possible to resist the deathbed conversion temptation. That temptation is an instinct, nothing more.

2 people thought this was helpful
nicea meetcha Answered by jimbalaya on Jan 06, 2009, 11:38PM
37 answers

the non believer can still pray for peace..it seems that the religious are the one that seek to fullfill the prophesy of end times...sure the world is falling apart...as it always has..but you gotta keep hope alive..hope in humanity and peace..those involved in war always think that god is on their side...well, one side is wrong...or both sides are wrong..which does god love more the indians or the pakistanis? north or the south? georgians or russians...hindus or jew? or are they all going to hell to make room for only those born again?

lens flare Answered by captainassassin on Jan 07, 2009, 12:04AM
6184 answers

***God is the greatest thing that can be thought of by a human, in this space and time. The greatest thing that can be conceived by man***

So you think God was conceived by man? That makes you sound atheist. Regardless, your opinions of God are nothing more than your opinions, and cannot be verified.

***He and can undoubtedly protect you from destruction.***

Undoubtedly? How do you KNOW? There are other religions too, you know. And THEIR deities are JUST AS LIKELY/UNLIKELY to exist.

2 people thought this was helpful
nicea meetcha Answered by jimbalaya on Jan 07, 2009, 12:09AM
37 answers

was that bit of enlightenment for me or jax?

lens flare Answered by captainassassin on Jan 07, 2009, 12:13AM
6184 answers

The person whom I was QUOTING.

nicea meetcha Answered by jimbalaya on Jan 07, 2009, 12:19AM
37 answers

yes yes of course

me and my boyfreind :] Answered by jazlovestoskate on Jan 07, 2009, 01:09AM
10499 answers
Advisor-small

if people dont belive in god, they dont
no natural disasters or anything are going to make them change there beleifs
they beleive there is no gods, including the one you beleive in
so anything you say about god to them goes in one ear and out ther other
becasue they simply couldnt care less
as could I, because I am an athiest and damn proud
you know,
how can you expect anyone to respect you for what you beleive in
when you dont respect other peoples beleifs?
without respect you will get none in returne

me :) Answered by jax on Jan 07, 2009, 02:02AM
774 answers

Yes of course God was conceived by man, captainassasin. If man did not have the capability to understand the ideas that God constists of, which are his own, there would not be such a concept of God. Whether someone believes in Him or not, He still represents the greatest idea that the human mind is able to wrap itself around. A man cannot conceive of a thing greater or less than the range of that which he is able to conceive.

This goes for the idea that God is undoubtedly able to protect man from destruction. If God is the greatest idea in the range in which man is able to conceive, then he must have the ability to do anything or be anything that He pleases. Including a protector. If one were to think of a being as great as God, that being would be God.
Also, I never dismissed any other religion, or an associated diety. I agree 100% that they are just as likely or unlikely to exist.
Since God is only an idea, for now at least, it would be the idea of God that man would turn to as he faced destruction. I never claimed that God exists. Niether did I claim that anything I have said is anymore than my opinion.

Me when I'm busy Answered by arachnid on Jan 07, 2009, 02:19AM
1771 answers

There is no relationship between a non-believer and God any more than you can have a relationship with fairies at the bottom of your garden, because god doesn't exist.

God is the greatest thing that can be thought of by a human, in this space and time.

I disagree. I can think of the entire universe, or a multiverse consisting of many universes. I can consider an entire pantheon of gods, or the prospect of an even-more-immensely-powerful being capable of creating and destroying gods and universes at a whim.

Answered by amblessed on Jan 07, 2009, 05:43AM
12241 answers

As long as you have breath it's not too late - consider the thief on the cross when He realized who the Lord was, 'Remember Me'...'TODAY, you will be with me in Paradise'.

In darkness and light the truth remains Answered by jester_x on Jan 07, 2009, 06:25AM
883 answers

can a person with free will and the ability to make sound conscious decisions, deny God and keep his back to him, even in this situation?

first you have to realize that we don't turn our back on him. we don't believe he exist there for nothing to turn our backs on.
For the same reason we don't think God is the ultimate thing man can wrap their heads around either.

many non believers face disaster as much as believers do.
For me its realizing thats life. I just deal with it and move on. I use logic to help me decide what to do next. I relies on friends and family to support me.
I don't pray to some spirit in the sky that I have no proof that exist and sit back and wait for him to do something.

If God is the greatest idea in the range in which man is able to conceive, then he must have the ability to do anything or be anything that He pleases.
but according to this he is only an idea and nothing more. as such this statement as referring to him as an actual being is an oxymoron.

lens flare Answered by captainassassin on Jan 07, 2009, 08:24AM
6184 answers

***Yes of course God was conceived by man, captainassasin.***

Don't state you 'opinions' as if they are factual, unless you think you can prove it. To say mankind conceived God, is an atheist statement, and is completely opposite to what theists believe. And JUST as when the theists state their beliefs as factual, that makes your wrong by default.

***He still represents the greatest idea that the human mind is able to wrap itself around.***

Pondering God's origins (where he came from, what he was doing before creation) THAT in itself is greater than God, pondering what may be beyond our universe, THAT is also greater than God. All three cannot be proven or disproven, and all three have evidence (depending on your opinions) that support both their existence or nonexistence.

***A man cannot conceive of a thing greater or less than the range of that which he is able to conceive.***

...to say that God is the LIMIT of man's conceptual ability, is to limit you're OWN imagination.

Toushiro Answered by bou on Jan 07, 2009, 10:38AM
240 answers

No, god is not real.
No, god does not forgive.
And this statement is as valid as yours, being god is real, god forgives.

God hears our plead but he just doesnt awser them because he whats you to know you can be strong without him

Most of the christians said the oposite.

lens flare Answered by captainassassin on Jan 07, 2009, 12:18PM
6184 answers

***God lets the people who do not believe that he die on the cross for our sin suffer***

WRONG.

***God your probalby going to hell because isn't a sin to have sex and have a baby before marring***

WRONG.

me :) Answered by jax on Jan 07, 2009, 04:57PM
774 answers

captainasssassin, you are trying to argue me on the existence of God. When I said that the things I were opinion, I meant the non-factual things. You bring me a non-human being whose race has existed longer than human beings and has historic evidence that shows they had a concept of God longer than human beings, and I will have no other choice to believe that man did not conceive of God. But again, that is my opinion happy

Also, whether He exists or not, He can still be in the imagination. Just as I am able to create in my mind a purple dragon witih green dots and a horned tail. does that mean it exists? absolutely not. As for where He came from, I believe that among all else, God is good and the potential for good. Good becomes good when the potential for good becomes kinetic. When God decided to make the universe, which would be considered the energy which turns his potential goodness kinetic, He (being good) created the universe. Which means that God is the stored energy which turns potential goodness into kiinetic goodness, He is the potential goodness and He is the kinetic goodness that is ultimately responsible for the creation of the universe. He is God, therefore he has the ability to be. The potential for good has always existed, I believe. Therefore, so has God. Thats just a thought. Also, God is and has the potential to be omnipresent, so He is beyond our universe and any other universes beyond our own, still making him greater than pondering what is beyond our universe. Also just a thought.

I know that saying that He is the greatest thing man is able to conceive is a limitation to my own imagination. I don't like it. I really don't, but thats just how it seems to me right now.

And like you said there is evidence for both sides of the argument (depending on your beliefs) that would prove the exsitence or non-existence of God. Thats what it comes down to. So a person has the right to invest or no invest their lives in something they believe to be in their best interest. If that fact is respected, no one gets hurt happy

Shark Atack Answered by funadvice on Jan 07, 2009, 06:10PM
53975 answers

Okay I really dont see how im stupid ---The RIGHT WAY TO SPELL IT!!! Yea and plzz tell me how im stupid if your so smart Gezz

me :) Answered by jax on Jan 07, 2009, 06:14PM
774 answers

girls...come on. this was going so well. please just calm down happy Its ok we all have our opinions and beliefs, and thats ok happy so lets try not to get upset

Me when I'm busy Answered by arachnid on Jan 08, 2009, 12:18AM
1771 answers

You can not really touch see smell or taste love its just something you have to believe Same with God

Nonsense. I can prove love exists. I can put you in an MRI scanner while you're experiencing love and observe the specific patterns of brain activity. I can do this repeatedly with different people and show that there's a definite neurological pattern that humans call 'love'.

Toushiro Answered by bou on Jan 08, 2009, 08:43AM
240 answers

If I remember right, love realises some kind of impulses or chemicals(I don't realy remember which one it was) in your brain, which has pretty much the same effect as drugs.

And god is simply your imagination.

By the way, Kitty, no offense, but you realy should not make statements that you yourself have no knowledge of. You would sound even more ridiculous if you would compare god to air. Just an advice, not trying to offend anyone. I do that sometimes, too, I agree, but to a reasonable extent, and I try to think about what I'm saying wink

lens flare Answered by captainassassin on Jan 08, 2009, 04:20PM
6184 answers

***captainasssassin, you are trying to argue me on the existence of God.***

No... I'm not... you were stating your opinions as if they are factual...

All you have to do is add 'I believe' at the beginning of your statements, to make them acceptable.

Answer this Question: "The non-believer and God's relationship in hard times"

Your Answer: HTML is not allowed.


Our members said the answers on this page also answer the following questions:


Dangers of marrying a non believer, Non believer in god, How can you make a nonbeliever believe in god, Bible verse on afterlife for non believer, What's something to say to a non believer in god, Relationships in hard times, Hard questions for the non believer, Spirituality for the non-believer, Born again non believer boy friend, Can a christian make a relationship work with a non believer?, Hard times and a real god, Bible marriage nonbeliever, Ery=having relations with a non beliver, Relationship with a nonbeliver, Non believer to god, Loving a non believer of humankind

Religion & Spirituality Photos

Techno-godhardme before i cut my hair and my god brother

Share this question

Copy and paste this code:
It will display on your blog or site like this:
The non-believer and god's relationship in hard times