Which is more sinful?

[Hitti-Litti]

If you don't believe in God, but want to be sure that you have at least a small chance of getting to heaven if it happens to exist, which would you do: get a confirmation without really believing in Jesus or not get a confirmation. Both of them are regarded as not believing to God, but would you rather lie but get a confirmation or not lie and not get a confirmation? Which one would you think that God would think less sinful?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I always figured God would rather you follow your conscience, even if it means being wrong, than do the right thing for the wrong reasons. That He is not so much interested in us checking off a list of things to do to get into heaven, but in doing the things that will perfect us.

 

[Love]

Lie whith, then you got atleast 1 point at God vs Devil.

 

[stormbind]

If this hypothetical person believes its maybe possible to arrive in heaven, I guess they would convert to whichever religion they believe provides a valid entry ticket.

Your question does not make sense to me.

 

[Hitti-Litti]

That person doesn't believe in God, but wants to cover his own back if heaven happens to exist. So the question makes sense, he's just thinking should he get a confirmation and lie with it or just not get a confirmation and not lie. He wants to know which is more sinful and thus makes chances of getting to heaven(IF it happens to exist, this guy doesn't know is he wrong or not) smaller.

It makes sense then.

 

[warpus]

But which church do you get baptized into, should you choose to lie?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Yeah, if one is attempting to cover one's bases one would have to go through the initiation rituals for every religion on earth, then hope that a) the right religion currently exists and b) God wouldn't be concerned that one joined thousands of incorrect religions.

 

[stormbind]

I still don't get it. Does the person believe in heaven?

 

[Hitti-Litti]

The person doesn't believe in heaven, but thinks that billions of people may be actually right. So he wants to cover his back.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Is this person . . . hypothetical?

Anyways, there are far too many possible attributes God could have for this to work. Maybe God would be fooled, but it is more likely God either wouldn't be impressed or would actually consider it wrong.

 

[Hitti-Litti]

It is partly hypothetical. In Finland most people take confirmation when they're 14-15 years old. I'm not going to do it, as I believe that taking confirmation without believing in God would be more sinful than believing in the wrong thing but being honest. I was just interested to hear your opinion.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well, I agree with your decision, then. Well, sort of; obviously, I am a believer and thus would take confirmation; but given that you don't, you are probably much better off even if God does exist and does care about these things.

 

[JZ_UK]

Few options for ya:

1, Neither are sins, there is no sin, sin is a meaningless concept.

2, Get confirmed, don't believe... all you did was lie to the Catholic church, no harm, no foul.

3, Don't get confirmed, make a moral stand... upset the congregation and ostracize you and possibly your family...

4, If there is some magical being that sees into yo soul then dude j00 neck deep in it already...


ooh... a 50/50 split... how delightful...

 

[Babbler]

If you don't believe in God, but want to be sure that you have at least a small chance of getting to heaven if it happens to exist, which would you do: get a confirmation without really believing in Jesus or not get a confirmation. Both of them are regarded as not believing to God, but would you rather lie but get a confirmation or not lie and not get a confirmation? Which one would you think that God would think less sinful?

Sounds familiar...

 

[Hitti-Litti]

^^

Option 2: I didn't even know that I'm Catholic!

Lutherian.

Edit: Babbler@ The problem in his thoughts is that he may lose something by believing, as true God may be actually a God of another religion! No way you're getting out of incarnation circle of Hindus if you sacrifice goats to Satan, no.

 

[stormbind]

The person doesn't believe in heaven, but thinks that billions of people may be actually right.

He doesn't believe in heaven but thinks it might exist?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

One can never be certain.

 

[JZ_UK]

^^

Option 2: I didn't even know that I'm Catholic!

Lutherian.

I wasn't aware they adopted this Catholic silliness... point stands... just flip out the label

 

[warpus]

Do you even need to get confirmed to get to heaven?

I thought all that was required was baptism.

 

[Ecofarm]

This reminds me of a great episode of "Sanford and Son" in which they board an airplane:

Son: "Pop, why are you wearing a buddha, a muslim symbol, a cross, and all that other religious stuff?"

Sanford: "On the ground, I'm a protestant. But up here, I'm not taking any chances".

---

As if you could "fool" God with fraudulent paperwork!

Another morsel of wisdom from TV-Land: don't you guys know the mormons are the one's who are right? (South-Park).