This sounds like Pascal's wager, which says that if you don't believe in God and you're right, then you'll lose nothing when you die. However, if you're wrong, you have much to lose. Therefore, it's a "better bet" to believe in God so as to have a chance in the afterlife. However, that has nothing to do with reason and everything to do with selfishness.

Ah, Pascal's Wager lives. At least I think it does. If the person asking this considers themselves to be in the Christian camp (and his/her other questions seem to support that they are), I'll try to put a spin on this for you to think about. Your question and Christian belief would suggest that there's a 50-50 chance that an atheist is wrong. Or right. So in a sense, an atheist is no more likely of being right than someone who does believe. An equally relevant question would be "Christians: What if you're wrong?" But where it gets really interesting is if you begin to think of all the other religious possibilities in the world. The 50-50 idea is based on only one possibility: an athiest won't have an afterlife, a faithful believer will, assuming they live by certain codes of conduct. The problem is that religion is based on belief, faith. A belief does not necessarily translate into fact. That is not a commentary on religion -- it's simply to address the logic behind this question. The fact of the matter is that not only does an atheist have an equal chance of being "right," there are scads of religions out there with their own theories about what happens once someone dies. If your question is then a challenge to atheists, it would seem to follow that you should be taking Buddhists, Muslims, Wiccans and everyone else to task.

At the point in time where you realize the answer, I really don't think it would matter. All things come to an end, regardless of how it ends, it just ends.

Of course I have!!!! But if I were religious, I'd still be asking myself the same question.

As I said in a comment here, I'm not just going to say "OK, I believe in God, just in case". If God did exist, he would know that I was only pretending to believe, so it would be pointless. Also, I've always stood by the fact that if God did exist, how could he hold it against me for using my free thought that he gave me?

What if you are both wrong, and you should have been an Orthodox Jew, or a Muslim. Then everybody goes to Hell. Come on, if you cannot do better than fear tactics like Pascal's Wager, then perhaps you ought to stay out of the Evangelism business untill you mature a bit.

The point that someone reaches in their life when they can truly consider themselves to live free of the very human concept of God and the various myths that surround "deity" is one that requires MUCH thought. I would wager that far more "believers" have not given their faith as much thought as "non-believers" have.

Naturally I've thought about the possibility that I'm wrong. If I'm wrong, and this God is omniscient, this God will know that I chose my path honorably and earnestly, not casually. This God will know that I am am person of integrity and principle and that I strive always for my actions to live up to the highest of standards. Therefore, God, go ahead and pass your judgment.

I've pondered it, but God is illogical and impossible in my opnion. And as Auntie Em stated(And I must admit Auntie Em, I have become a fan of your answers!), have you ever wondered if you were wrong?

Doesnt it say in the bible, that "all fall short to the glory of GOD" and "God is forgiving" I'de like to think that if GOD is real an judgement is unavoidable he'd measure man by what he has done, His/Her acheivments, the willingness to help others. The morals from which they live there lives..Not because some book told us to live by this an beleive in that..

I definetly have....and if I'm wrong, there's not much I can do about it is there?...i'll get to the end and realize I was wrong and spend eternity in Hell...is that what you wanted to hear?

I totaly agree man, what would be the point..All things live an die, thats the cycle of life. From the moment we are graced with our first breath...We start our path to death.

Of course I have. If I am wrong, and there is God, he/she/it/whatever can punish me however they see fit, I honestly don't care. I mean, you could be wrong. Everyone could be wrong. But there is no way to see. There is no way to prove the difinative right or wrong, is there? So its all about belief. Why would I worship something I don't believe in? Do you think God would want that?

Yes, I have thought about it. And no, I'm not wrong. Oh... and no, I didn't start thinking about it because I wasn't sure of my beliefs.

The question's been answered correctly many times, but not in true color! So, without further ado, I bring to you everyone's favorite skeptic, Richard Dawkins!

Then I'll go to hell. I'm willing to risk it. After all, by selecting to be Christian I'd be at a risk that the Muslims were right, selecting to be Muslim I'd risk the Christians being right- it's just too much of a minefield. At least this way I get to live a good life, living on my own terms, using my logic and compassion to decide right from wrong, trusting my instincts, and being myself. I do as I please provided it doesn't hurt anyone else and I don't need to worry about commandments and prayers and churches and suchlike. Frankly I like to work with what I KNOW to be true, rather than worry about what might be.

I don't like to sink to their level by challenging their faith.

Yes, have you?

As has been expressed elsewhere often, you and I are not that different. There are thousands of gods that you don't believe in: Zeus, Wotan, Isiris, Baal, Krishna and on and on. The only difference between us is that I don't believe in one more god than you don't believe in.

Then it appears i will burn for eternity in hell..... *rolls eyes.

lol... no!, sorry but as it stands I haven't been proven wrong yet and as this will never happen I have better things to think about

All humans are wrong in my opinion..nobody knows the whole complete truth about anything.

I guess it'll be, like, 'oooops'?! ;-)

Believers: What if you're wrong? Sorry you wasted all that time?