Its scary that people need hell to not commit crimes and stuff like that.

I always hate that argument. Why be a decent human without the threat of eternal damnation? I mean that threat doesn't seem to stop a vast number of religious people from being unbelievably cruel to their fellow humans, so....

People who say they are only good because of the threat of eternal damnation are literal psychopaths.

Why be good if there is no hell?

Because morale is a societal and not a religious thing.

"Why even be good if there's no heaven?"

They are actually absolutely right. Because I don't believe in heaven, I'm exactly as evil as I want to be

Virgin "I live in an existentialist mental hell I've been indoctrinated into" vs Chad "A meaningless life in a purposeless universe means I'm the master of my own destiny, and therefore I choose to eat tacos"

Why be good if there is no hell?

Erm... If you need to be threathened with eternal torture in order to be a good person, then chances are you are not good person.

What I find even more reprehensible than the sentiment "Without the threat of consequences, why should I be decent?" is that their own fucking book holds the answer to their goddamn question (not an expletive here, their god should and probably would damn them for it):

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 7:12

The first half of this is a principle independent of religion, a fundamental social contract, the most critical idea underpinning any functioning society: Expect your behaviour to be reciprocated, and act accordingly. If you want others to help you if you need it, help people (if you can). If you want others to be kind to you, be kind to others. If you're gonna be a prick, expect others to be just as prickly to you.

If all that keeps you from murdering people is the threat of eternal damnation, you forget that your own scripture says "If you kill people, expect that others may kill you in turn."

Bonus: the biblical Jesus was known to hate hypocrites that pick out one piece of scripture to follow and ignore another and pharisees that carefully interpret and follow the letter of the law to find loopholes and ignore the heart of it. Those people lawyering their way around the otherwise unmistakable passages about generosity and giving away your wealth? Believe it or not, straight to hell.

More disgusting than the sentiment mentioned at the start is the hypocrisy of selectively applying it, the inconsistency in their own beliefs, the hollow facade of devotion while spitting on the principles they perjure to obey.

Signed, an apostate whose faith was shattered by fallacy of preaching love while children suffer and threatening hell while blasphemers thrive.

I can confirm that Heaven is on Earth and it's on the side of the road in Mexico. 🥰

If you need the promise of punishment to be good, then you're not a good person.

I've said it before I'll say it again. If you need the threat of eternal damnation weighing over you to be a good person, you're not a good person.

Instructions unclear. Unintentionally started sectarian conflict over whether mole poblano or salsa verde is the correct sauce for baptism.

"Have you accepted the al pastor into your heart?"

I want some tacos now.

you seriously don't understand god

says the poor lost soul who also says

why be good if there is no hell

Do many adults still go around ~~spouting~~ believing whatever they heard from their parents or Sunday school teacher when they were children, just to get them to stop asking "complicated questions"?

EDIT: a word

Early 2000’s Invader Zim holding up a spork type post.

I am faced with the knowledge that I have masa harina just sitting around.

I'm gonna go have a religious experience.

Edit: did, huge success

Okay this is actually a perfect eastern vs western philosophy debate hidden in a taco.

I am going to make some very broad strokes here. So no armchair quarterbacking me. I know it's way more nuanced but I'm not writing an essay on Lemmy.

In general Western philosophies always have a "goal." Your human life is to prove your worthiness. You need to look back and atone for your past mistakes. You need to look forward so you can do the right things to be worthy. It is very little about being in the now.

Eastern philosophies are much more about being aware of the moment. The past has happened it cannot be changed you should not worry about it. The future doesn't exist so there's no need to focus on it. The only thing you can affect is the very moment in time you're in and the only way to affect it is through your actions.

In this case tacos are the moment. So next time you're eating a delicious taco. Spend that moment to be one with your taco. Concentrate on the smell. Then feel the texture as you pick it up. How the various colors interact with each other. Then as you bite off some, feel the textures in your mouth and how the flavors interact. Watch yourself, be aware of every time you chew. Remember there is no past there's no future there is only tacos.

People may argue against this, but they probably have never had a real, good taco.