A few days ago I was debating with a Christian friend of mine, and he made the claim that atheists “don’t get as much out of life as Christians do.” Of course that was a grossly biased statement, but I decided to reply to it with this
Back when I was younger and still believed in Santa, Christmas became more about getting the reward from the man who supposedly knew whether I was “naughty or nice”. During the few weeks prior to Christmas, I would be exceptionally nice to others, not because I wanted to, but because I wanted Santa to see that I deserved something good. Yet as time passed and I grew out of that childish fantasy, Christmas turned more into a time for enjoying family and those dear to me, rather than snagging rewards from that magical man.
So no, I told him, Christians do not get “more” out of life than atheists do. If anything, atheists enjoy it far more, because we accept that it’s the only one we have, and we’d rather use it to it’s best, rather than try to reap rewards from a character from bronze-age mythology. How could you possibly enjoy life if you spend it preparing for when it’s over?
-madhatter0719
#1 by askegg on November 25, 2008 - 10:51 am
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I am never sure what people mean when they make these comments. I often ask people who values life more – the person who believes they are destined for an eternity in paradise after they die, or the one who believes that you simply cease to exist when you die and this is the only life you will ever get? I often never hear a reply.