Yeah, I think that's pretty much it. It's just that all of the assumptions are so silly. I can buy that there could be or may have been another being, I can buy even that there could be a being that created us, although I find that far-fetched. (I can buy it, however, I don't until I see some evidence to the contrary.) Now I have to buy that we can comprehend this being, that he's essentially a big child and we're a big gameboard, that he cares, that he made us immortal, and then on top of that, even though we've been free to rip each other to shreds here, that this is actually a big fishbowl, he's keeping track, and when it's all over he picks a spot for us based on what we did. Right. It seems more likely we're rats in a maze.

Since we created god, as far as I'm concerned, I think we should keep "him" and all of his properties inside us. If we want to believe in life immortal, then we need to make it happen within the confines of what is available to us. That isn't true immortality, but in the case of our loved ones, keeping them immortal within us. And if we believe that we need to live free of sin to get our place next to god, then we'd better live our lives free of sin and enjoy that wonderful feeling of being close to god now, cause it ain't happenin' later. Just, please, keep it to yourself!!

Succinctly put in this article, so thanks for pointing it out, Chuck.

I don't think it disproves the existence of God, but I think it proves how shaky a belief in Hell is. At least, when it is approached with that sort of reasoning.

BTW - I find no need to apologize to your theist readers. You're not really arguing against the existence of God, you're pointing to a flawed argument that is often lobbed at atheists. Even those that believe in God must recognize that this argument is flawed.

When was the last time you heard a Christian say "Apologies to my atheist readers?" Chuck's respect for people is one of his best qualities.

Yeah. I've always been miffed by the "God has a plan" vs. "God gave you free will" thing. Not sure how much of a plan it is if I can choose to kill or not-kill someone. Won't that screw up God's plan for someone else?

Also the "God has a plan" vs. "God is merciful." Weasel-wording like "well, he's merciful later on, after you've earned it" doesn't quite cut it. Not sure what's the point of "mercy" if it's intermingled with planned suffering.

Julie

I'm stuck in purgatory between theism and atheism. For all intents and purposes, I'm an atheist, but I'm not ready to admit it to myself. I enjoyed the article.

Quite right. I think it argues more against proselytizing than the existence of any supreme being. Hard to be offended at someone saying "Don't force your beliefs on me"