stephen hawking: the afterlife does not exist

[Brooklyn Bridge]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Yes, there is an afterlife. God created us for His pleasure. Either the time we spend on this life results in our suffering His anger for eternity in a place called heck, or else it results in our enjoying the pleasure and presence of God for eternity.

Since all of us are guilty of rebellion against God (who gives us life every day and holds every breath in His hands), we are all on our path toward that destruction, of everlasting torment, because God's anger against sin is eternal. Every rebellion against a holy, righteous God must be punished, and eternity is not long enough to pay the price.

However, God in His mercy sent His Son, Jesus, who is God in the flesh, to suffer the eternal punishment of everyone who would renounce his or her sin and receive the gift of life. If we consider our sinfulness, repent and turn toward Christ, believe in Him and accept His gift by which He paid the price through His death and resurrection, then we will enjoy God's love, mercy and joy for eternity.

What I have said is true. But it is not knowable by the human mind. Everyone will reject this truth because it offends them. Even so, by rejecting it on the grounds that it is "unprovable," that person fulfills God's word. Paul condemned us Gentiles (especially those of us with Western tendencies) because we stumble at the truth of Christ because we want "wisdom." Most of you will reject the truth, and you may claim your own wisdom as a reason for doing so. Yet, to trust man's ability to reason and understand instead of the God who holds your life in His hands is the ultimate foolishness.

So what about babies who are only alive for a few minutes or a day or so. What did they do to rebel against God?

 

[schiezainc]

Yes, there is an afterlife. God created us for His pleasure. Either the time we spend on this life results in our suffering His anger for eternity in a place called heck, or else it results in our enjoying the pleasure and presence of God for eternity.

Since all of us are guilty of rebellion against God (who gives us life every day and holds every breath in His hands), we are all on our path toward that destruction, of everlasting torment, because God's anger against sin is eternal. Every rebellion against a holy, righteous God must be punished, and eternity is not long enough to pay the price.

However, God in His mercy sent His Son, Jesus, who is God in the flesh, to suffer the eternal punishment of everyone who would renounce his or her sin and receive the gift of life. If we consider our sinfulness, repent and turn toward Christ, believe in Him and accept His gift by which He paid the price through His death and resurrection, then we will enjoy God's love, mercy and joy for eternity.

What I have said is true. But it is not knowable by the human mind. Everyone will reject this truth because it offends them. Even so, by rejecting it on the grounds that it is "unprovable," that person fulfills God's word. Paul condemned us Gentiles (especially those of us with Western tendencies) because we stumble at the truth of Christ because we want "wisdom." Most of you will reject the truth, and you may claim your own wisdom as a reason for doing so. Yet, to trust man's ability to reason and understand instead of the God who holds your life in His hands is the ultimate foolishness.

So what about babies who are only alive for a few minutes or a day or so. What did they do to rebel against God?

Don't you know yet? It's all "God's plan". Or, as I like to call it, "Uh, we can't really explain why an all powerful being would allow such bad things to happen so let's pretend it's 'his' way of testing us. Yeah! Totally makes sense!"

 

[deskslave]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

It often seems as though those for whom God has ostensibly done the least are the most devout. And vice versa, of course.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

It often seems as though those for whom God has ostensibly done the least are the most devout. And vice versa, of course.

Whenever someone like Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens wants to get on their intellectual high horse and bash religion, they should be forced to watch "Roots" with their eyes propped open like in "Clockwork Orange." Would Bill Maher like to go back to 1850 and tell all the American slaves what a bunch of jamokes they all were for finding comfort in the idea that they would be repaid for this in the next world?

I understand that doesn't make the possibility of the afterlife any more logically probable. But, man, a little empathy goes a long way here. It is possible to engage in the "debate" without openly mocking believers. Not only possible, but, considering our own history, absolutely preferable. A little respect please.

 

[black dude with pompano]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

It often seems as though those for whom God has ostensibly done the least are the most devout. And vice versa, of course.

Whenever someone like Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens wants to get on their intellectual high horse and bash religion, they should be forced to watch "Roots" with their eyes propped open like in "Clockwork Orange." Would Bill Maher like to go back to 1850 and tell all the American slaves what a bunch of jamokes they all were for finding comfort in the idea that they would be repaid for this in the next world?

I understand that doesn't make the possibility of the afterlife any more logically probable. But, man, a little empathy goes a long way here. It is possible to engage in the "debate" without openly mocking believers. Not only possible, but, considering our own history, absolutely preferable. A little respect please.

I certainly am not in favor of mocking believers (or nonbelievers for that matter), but using slavery as an example is somewhat interesting.

Slave-owners wanted to Christianize their slaves, in part, for the same reason rulers have always found organized religion useful: Their subjects can believe there is a wonderful life to come if only they accept their current lot and behave in the current life.

 

[NickMordo]

Research shows Genghis Kahn has about 16 million LIVING descendants.

I thought that was Shawn Kemp.

No, it's Antonio Cromartie.

 

[Pastor]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

It often seems as though those for whom God has ostensibly done the least are the most devout. And vice versa, of course.

Whenever someone like Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens wants to get on their intellectual high horse and bash religion, they should be forced to watch "Roots" with their eyes propped open like in "Clockwork Orange." Would Bill Maher like to go back to 1850 and tell all the American slaves what a bunch of jamokes they all were for finding comfort in the idea that they would be repaid for this in the next world?

I understand that doesn't make the possibility of the afterlife any more logically probable. But, man, a little empathy goes a long way here. It is possible to engage in the "debate" without openly mocking believers. Not only possible, but, considering our own history, absolutely preferable. A little respect please.

What…? Where was the "mocking" of religion?

 

[Dick Whitman]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

It often seems as though those for whom God has ostensibly done the least are the most devout. And vice versa, of course.

Whenever someone like Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens wants to get on their intellectual high horse and bash religion, they should be forced to watch "Roots" with their eyes propped open like in "Clockwork Orange." Would Bill Maher like to go back to 1850 and tell all the American slaves what a bunch of jamokes they all were for finding comfort in the idea that they would be repaid for this in the next world?

I understand that doesn't make the possibility of the afterlife any more logically probable. But, man, a little empathy goes a long way here. It is possible to engage in the "debate" without openly mocking believers. Not only possible, but, considering our own history, absolutely preferable. A little respect please.

What…? Where was the "mocking" of religion?

No one here. Societally.

Well, a little bit here. Comments about Bill Goats Gruff and such.

 

[Pastor]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

It often seems as though those for whom God has ostensibly done the least are the most devout. And vice versa, of course.

Whenever someone like Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens wants to get on their intellectual high horse and bash religion, they should be forced to watch "Roots" with their eyes propped open like in "Clockwork Orange." Would Bill Maher like to go back to 1850 and tell all the American slaves what a bunch of jamokes they all were for finding comfort in the idea that they would be repaid for this in the next world?

I understand that doesn't make the possibility of the afterlife any more logically probable. But, man, a little empathy goes a long way here. It is possible to engage in the "debate" without openly mocking believers. Not only possible, but, considering our own history, absolutely preferable. A little respect please.

What…? Where was the "mocking" of religion?

No one here. Societally.

Well, a little bit here. Comments about Bill Goats Gruff and such.

So you end up lashing out here...?

I'm sorry, but if you can't handle having your beliefs challenged via humor then are they really something so deeply held?

 

[Dick Whitman]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

It often seems as though those for whom God has ostensibly done the least are the most devout. And vice versa, of course.

Whenever someone like Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens wants to get on their intellectual high horse and bash religion, they should be forced to watch "Roots" with their eyes propped open like in "Clockwork Orange." Would Bill Maher like to go back to 1850 and tell all the American slaves what a bunch of jamokes they all were for finding comfort in the idea that they would be repaid for this in the next world?

I understand that doesn't make the possibility of the afterlife any more logically probable. But, man, a little empathy goes a long way here. It is possible to engage in the "debate" without openly mocking believers. Not only possible, but, considering our own history, absolutely preferable. A little respect please.

What…? Where was the "mocking" of religion?

No one here. Societally.

Well, a little bit here. Comments about Bill Goats Gruff and such.

So you end up lashing out here...?

I'm sorry, but if you can't handle having your beliefs challenged via humor then are they really something so deeply held?

I wasn't lashing out at all.

 

[deskslave]

Everyone? There are upwards of 2 billion practicing Christians in the world.

Frankly, many are Iverson Christians.

They don't practice very hard.

I would say that is true of Western Christians, but there are many in South America, Africa and parts of Asia are practicing and very devout.

It often seems as though those for whom God has ostensibly done the least are the most devout. And vice versa, of course.

Whenever someone like Bill Maher or Christopher Hitchens wants to get on their intellectual high horse and bash religion, they should be forced to watch "Roots" with their eyes propped open like in "Clockwork Orange." Would Bill Maher like to go back to 1850 and tell all the American slaves what a bunch of jamokes they all were for finding comfort in the idea that they would be repaid for this in the next world?

I understand that doesn't make the possibility of the afterlife any more logically probable. But, man, a little empathy goes a long way here. It is possible to engage in the "debate" without openly mocking believers. Not only possible, but, considering our own history, absolutely preferable. A little respect please.

Well, that depends. Did they find comfort in the next world? If not, then don't you think they might wish they'd not accepted the party line and tried to do something about their condition?

Religion is absolutely about power. It's a lot more difficult to convince a bunch of peasants to fight for the rich guy up the hill than it is to get them to fight by telling them that if they don't, they'll suffer for all eternity.