An obvious argument against christianity

[Jannabear]

An obvious argument against the morality of christianity that many pass up is this.
"Would you go to hell if you didn't know about the story of jesus and god."
If yes
"why would god punish someone for something they can't control?"
if no
"why would you spread this message then, if people would go to heaven regardless if they don't know, why would you tell them?
(This isn't an argument original to me)

[Mike Cl]

An obvious argument against the morality of christianity that many pass up is this.
"Would you go to hell if you didn't know about the story of jesus and god."
If yes
"why would god punish someone for something they can't control?"
if no
"why would you spread this message then, if people would go to heaven regardless if they don't know, why would you tell them?
(This isn't an argument original to me)

No this isn't original to you.  But it is an interesting argument anyway.  I have always chuckled about the answers of of my christian friends try to pass off--tie themselves into all kinds of knots.

[aitm]

No different that the idea of the flood. Million of little children HAD to suffer. God made sure of this. What was the point when an almighty god could as easily waved his hand, or….even easier for a god…make himself more believable eh?

[SGOS]

A Christian woman told me one time, if you never heard of Jesus and God, you go to Hell.  That's why they have missionaries they send to every corner of the Earth. Missionaries even out the playing field and give everyone exposure to Christianity.  But then, even Christians in her own church told me they often disagreed with her on some issues.  I'm just pointing to her, because she's the only Christian that I asked.  When I asked her about undiscovered Amazon tribes (this conversation took place 55 years ago when we were still discovering Amazon tribes), she shrugged her shoulders, and just repeated that they went to Hell.  "Win a few lose a few.  We do what we can.  Can't save everybody,"  and she followed that up with a vindictive grin that sent shivers down my spine.

[Baruch]

Imperialism is a gift that keeps on giving.  And religion is a handmaiden to imperialism (see Constantine and Umar).

[Blackleaf]

I had this conversation recently. If people who haven't heard the gospel get a free pass, then we should burn every Bible and hide the gospel as best as we can. Otherwise, we risk people hearing it and rejecting it.

If people go to Hell even when they've never even had any reason to think that Jesus exists, then God is a monster.

If God only allows good people a free pass, then why do we need Jesus? Good works are enough to save.

No matter how you spin it, you can't get around this issue.

[Munch]

Imperialism is a gift that keeps on giving.  And religion is a handmaiden to imperialism (see Constantine and Umar).

[Unbeliever]

No different that the idea of the flood. Million of little children HAD to suffer. God made sure of this. What was the point when an almighty god could as easily waved his hand, or….even easier for a god…make himself more believable eh?

"Need an ark? I Noah guy..."

[Jack89]

An obvious argument against the morality of christianity that many pass up is this.
"Would you go to hell if you didn't know about the story of jesus and god."
If yes
"why would god punish someone for something they can't control?"
if no
"why would you spread this message then, if people would go to heaven regardless if they don't know, why would you tell them?
(This isn't an argument original to me)

From a Catholic perspective - No, you won't go to hell just because you don't know about Jesus and God.  You spread the word because there are better ways to heaven than others.  What I find interesting is how people perceive heaven and hell.  I'm leaning toward a state of mind developed by the way you live your life.  Is that something that persists after you die, and if so, in what way?  Is heaven harps, clouds and winged angels, or is it the positive affect you have on others during your life?

[SGOS]

What I find interesting is how people perceive heaven and hell.

I've spent time in the past inventing concepts of Heaven, but not so much Hell.  But no one knows anything about them.  That's "nothing", nothing at all, as in zip, nada.  There has never been an eye witness account.  It's likely a myth, and even if it was real, you would have to have a functioning brain to experience them.  The best that science tells us (It's only the best we can do, since only religion claims perfect knowledge [you know... religion; that concept invented by cave men]) is that when you die, your brain stops functioning.  The electrochemical circuits shut down and no consciousness experience exists.  Of course, science can be wrong, as any wizard or alchemist will gladly tell you.

[Baruch]

As best I can tell from personal experience, being dead is like being in a dreamless sleep ... which pretty much means you have no awareness and no thought.  But that might be better than being aware and thinking about that awareness ... depends.

[gentle_dissident]

As best I can tell from personal experience, being dead is like being in a dreamless sleep ...

You were dead? We won't know anything about being dead, as our brains will cease to function.

[Baruch]

You were dead? We won't know anything about being dead, as our brains will cease to function.

I don't "know" anything about dreamless sleep either ... but I do it several times every night (so medicine tells me).  My personal experience, positive or negative (I was describing dreamless sleep negatively ... not awake, not dreaming) is pretty reliable on this point.  Your epistemology only colors inside the box I see.  Do you see death as being something different that dreamless sleep?  If you do, on what justification sir ;-)  Or maybe you are dreamless sleep agnostic, or death agnostic?

[gentle_dissident]

Do you see death as being something different that dreamless sleep?  If you do, on what justification sir ;-)  Or maybe you are dreamless sleep agnostic, or death agnostic?

When you are having dreamless sleep, you are alive.

How did you get personal experience being dead?

[Baruch]

When you are having dreamless sleep, you are alive.

How did you get personal experience being dead?

Drums fingers on desk ... I am making a reasonable extrapolation.  That and I have been to a few funerals.