*** Heaven Knows Many Rules ***

One of the neatest things about being an Atheist is you can actually Do Any Damned Thing You Want!! -- as long as you don't get caught .

Sometimes, if you are rich enough or powerful enough, even if you do get caught, You Can Get Away With ANYTHING!

That's one of the draws to being an Atheist: No Rules.

Or, rather, One-And-A-Half Rule: 1) Never get caught. 1.5) If you do get caught be Rich or Powerful Enough to get off without punishment!

It's also one of the draw backs of being a Christian. You've got all these Rules and Requirements! Don't do Evil. Be Honest. Turn the Other Cheek.

Honestly, how do Christians deal with all of this?

"What about Muslims and Jews???" you ask.

Did you know that both the Muslims and the Jews believe in the Ten Commandments? The problem is they believe the Ten Rules ONLY apply to members of the Faith. Sometimes they believe it only applies to members of one's tribe. And, more often than can be believed, it only applies to one's family.

Yep.

Muslims, for example, believe all the Ten Rules are valid and should be enforced -- for any Believer in the Prophet, Blessed Be His Name. But you are allowed to kill Infidels (non-Muslims). God will separate the Good from the Bad after they are dead.

Jews are/were the same way. Except Jews had requirements. Moses, for example, would kick someone OUT of Judaism before having him Stoned. In other cases, the Tribes were free cheat, murder and lie to other Tribes or Gentiles (non-Jews).

This was one of the reasons JC was unique in his philosophy. He said something strange for the time and the place: He advocated that the Ten Rules be applied to EVERYONE! Jew, Gentile, EVERYONE! No Murderin', Lyin', Cheatin' on ANYONE! Even those NOT of the faith!

ARE YOU NUTS? How can you treat EVERYONE like that? As though God loves EVERYONE?

Sheesh!

The only downside of being an Atheist, I guess, is if you are wrong. Also you only have a 25% of getting int Heaven.

If I were a Good Christian, I have a 100% chance of getting into Heaven. Everyone else? Less than.

Look, let's run the numbers:

50% chance the afterlife exists, right? it either does or it doesn't. I happen to know it exists, but A) I have sources you don't and B) For all you know, I could be nuts.

If Atheists are right and it doesn't exist, then it doesn't matter to me because I get to assume I'm getting into Heaven and if nothing exists, then it doesn't matter. I thought I was going to Heaven when I died. The fact I did have a Heaven to get into is Null if nothing exists after life.

Now if Heaven DOES exist, there are two versions:

One version only those who are Good and Follow the Word(s) gets in and then there's the one that let Hitler and Stalin in*.

*Hitler is in his bunker. Ava has taken poison and is dead. He sitting there. The Allies are almost upon him. He takes his poison pill and suddenly realizes ALL THE EVIL he's done. He quickly and honestly prays to God asking for complete and utter forgiveness for ALL his sins up to and including his own murder. After saying "Amen" he's dead.

But because he confessed his sins, he's getting into Heaven.

-- *Same story for Stalin, but with different aspects.

Okay, so either Heaven lets EVERYONE who asks for forgiveness in or Heaven is where Judgement is rendered.

In the second version of Heaven you cannot rob a bank on Saturday and go to Church on Sunday and asked to be forgiven your sins and be cleansed enough to get in.

Actually, JC DID cover this: He actually said: FIRST Change your ways, THEN ask for forgiveness AND THEN you'll get in. But you HAVE TO stop doing bad first.

...

So either Heaven lets everyone in or membership is limited.

So, IS or is NOT and then Flexible or Rigid. No matter what, as long as I follow JC I'm in.

The Atheist? Well, 50% there is a place and then 50% of that chance that you've followed all the requirements to get in, one of which was to believe.

Opps! That hurts!

Atheist have a 25% chance of getting into an Existing Heaven is if it is also a Flexible one.

A follower of JC? Exist or not, believes will get in. Exists then hopes they have followed God's Words enough to be worth.

Huh. Yeah, following JC gives you a MUCH better chance of getting in. A good 100%.

Anything else? Then you have a about a 25% chance of getting in as an Atheist. Which, if you consider JUST Heaven, those aren't bad odds.

But then, if you throw in Hell ... Well, you'd better just hope that ghost of Grandma you saw after she died was just a false memory thingie and NOT an indication there is something BEYOND this existence.

Just cross your fingers as the bus hits you.

** I am Sielow and These are My Words