Poor Apologetics 2: "Just in Case"

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Poor Apologetics: Why Risk It?

The Theist's Argument:

I can't tell you how often I receive emails from people saying: "You're risking Hell! Not just for you, but for your daughter, you're going to send her to Hell to! Why risk it? Why risk it? Why worry about that? Go to Heaven!"

Why they use this argument (What they believe)

I need to believe in Jesus, just in case. Just to make sure I avoid Hell, because if I don't I'm going to be damned, and I'm going to damn the rest of my family at the same time.

The Rebuttal:

Now, the way the American court system works, or the way the jury system works, is basically - you're convicted or released based on the beliefs of the jury. (Or what the jury SAYS they believe.) If the jury believes the prosecutor, you're probably going to go to jail. If the jury believes the defense attorney, then you're probably going to be let off.

So the idea of both attorneys is to tell the story in such a convincing manner that it causes the jury to believe their version over the opposing versions being offered.

Imagine for just a moment that the defense attorney comes up to the jury and tells them all that if they find his client innocent, he will reward them and pay them all $1,000,000 each.

Some people can be easily bought, and some people will claim immediately that "Yes, the defendant is innocent." Other people will hold out because they are not that shallow. They believe in the court system, and they want to be true and honest to themselves.

Now, the people who accept the money and claim that the defendant is innocent - Do they really believe he's innocent, or are they just saying that to get the reward?

Answer is: Most likely they are just saying it to get the reward.

What if the defense attorney again came up to the jury, when he realized the bribe didn't work for everyone, and said: "If you find my client guilty, I will hunt you down and I will kill you. I will burn you alive and I will slaughter your children."

Well now some more people are going to claim that the defendant is indeed innocent because they don't want to risk the harm to themselves and their family.

You see, I'm one of the jurors who is sitting there saying: "I can't honestly believe that the defendant is innocent just because his attorney is offering to pay me off. I also can't honestly believe that he's innocent because the attorney is threatening me."

The threats and the bribes won't actually change my mind. They may change my actions. In reality, I wouldn't want harm to come to my family, so if I honestly thought that was a serious threat I would probably LIE and say that the person was innocent because I wouldn't harm to come to me or come to my family because of my decision.

But, even if I do lie, I'm not necessarily going to believe that the man is actually innocent, I'm not going to necessarily believe the claims of his attorney just because I'm being threatened and bribed at the same time.

The same can be said about God. For all you people who email me and tell me that: "I need to convert! I need to convert! I need to accept Jesus and just do it - just in case." That's like trying to be that attorney who's bribing me and threatening me simultaneously.

Either way you're not going to make me change my mind.

You need to actually submit a case and make an argument PROVING your God - and PROVING YOUR POINT.

You can't just threaten and bribe your way to victory... and too many people can't see that.

Before the rewards of Heaven or the punishments of Hell can be honestly considered, you must prove that the God responsible actually exists.

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