At Least in Hell the Christians Won't Harass Me - Softcover

Knight, Andrew F.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0966102630 ISBN 13: 9780966102635

Publisher: Knight Pubns, 1998

Synopsis

Christianity has managed to survive well into the most enlightened and technologically advanced era of all time by instilling in people the fear of Hell and the temptation of Heaven. But do these entities really exist, or are they just inventions designed to command your obedience?

This unique book provides new evidence and compelling arguments in evaluating the answers to many of time's most enduring questions, including:

Is there really a Heaven and Hell? Is there an afterlife? Is there a God? Is time travel possible? Is altruism really beneficial? What is the key to happiness?

About this title

From the Publisher:

Andrew Knight is raising some hell with his new book, At Least in Hell the Christians Won't Harass Me. If you have ever doubted contemporary religion, if you are skeptical of Christianity, or if you have ever been harassed by arrogant, aggressive Christians, this book is for you. Atheists-- buy this book! Agnostics-- buy this book! Anyone who is struggling with questions about Heaven, Hell, or an afterlife-- buy this book!

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

(CHRISTIANITY) All too often I hear the claim, "Life with Jesus is a win-win situation. What have you got to lose? And if you're right, then you will get into Heaven and avoid Hell." Ironically, the truth is that Christianity is a lose-lose situation. This book will attempt to show, through logic and mathematics, that no such entity as Heaven or Hell can exist. In that regard, Christianity is a loss, because it drives people to preclude many potentially pleasurable experiences from their lives in attempting to avoid Hell, and to spend a great deal of time pursuing useless or painful activities in attempting to get into Heaven. However, regardless of what happens in the afterlife (if there is one), Christianity harms people now, in many fundamental ways. First, Evangelism. The detriment of Christianity's evangelism is simply this. Christianity has spread, but only because it possesses ideas that spread easily. The ideas that spread easily are not necessarily those that are most true. The evangelistic nature of Christianity is neither a search for nor a spreading of truth, but rather a self-perpetuation of an entity whose sole purpose is self-perpetuation. So even if Christianity ever did possess the essence of truth, it has long since been distorted by what is most interesting, or scary, or intuitive. The attribution of "truth" to Christianity is analogous to the attribution of truth to the movie, Star Wars; both are popular self-perpetuating entities, and that's all. It is time for Christians to recognize that Christianity is not "inspired;" it is a man-made invention that, much like the Bee Gees, is trying desperately to stay alive. Second, Exclusivity. It appears as if Christians are good, decent, moral people, but in fact the opposite is often true. Christianity needs people, and its "weed-out" process is not as stringent as one might expect. In fact, this exclusivity has nothing to do with the background, ethics, or morals of those that it attempts to convert. Convicted murderers, thieves, and rapists are prime prospects for Christianity. Alcoholics and crack addicts are welcomed with open arms. Child molesters, wife beaters, and adulteresses become brothers and sisters just as soon as they proclaim faith in Jesus. Liars, cheaters, bullies, and regular assholes are the staple of Christianity. It appears as if Christianity is inclusive and accepting of all, but in fact the opposite it true. Christianity violently excludes anyone who will not convert. As long as a person appears open to the possibility of Christianity, Christians will flock to that person in a faade of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. However, the moment that the person shakes his head no, "I don't believe that Jesus is the son of God and I don't believe that I am a sinner," Christians will damn that person to an eternity of fire and brimstone. It is not ethics or morals that is the basis of exclusivity in Christianity, but rather one's potential for becoming a Christian. Third, Ignorance. Ignorant can mean uneducated or ignoring. Christians are often unaware of the evidence that may discredit their Bible, or else they ignore it. However, it is inconceivable that most Christians are unaware of this evidence because they don't know it exists. Rather, they generally know that it exists, and choose to remain unaware. Narrow-mindedness is irrationality. I do not want as a jury a group of people who believes in good faith that Abraham was justified in killing his son. I do not want a professor teaching me physics who is convinced that Moses parted the Red Sea. I do not want a spouse arguing with me about finances who believes that Jesus fed ten-thousand people with a picnic basket of food. I do not want a politician leading an army who has been sent from god to destroy all infidels.

One who has closed his mind to other possibilities has stopped learning. Staying open-minded is not only the politically correct thing to do, it is ultimately beneficial. An open-minded person will be able to avoid pain and pursue pleasure using information that was previously unavailable; he is also more adaptable to his surroundings. Fourth, Reality Distortion. Christianity offers hope when hope doesn't necessarily exist. In that sense, it provides a distorted view of reality. After all, a Christian might spend his entire life preparing for a life in Heaven, even though it is perfectly conceivable that Heaven does not exist. How will that Christian feel then? A little let-down? A little deceived? A little resentful of Christianity?

Consider. If I promised you that tomorrow you would have the best sex of your life, and you were convinced that tomorrow you would have the best sex of your life, then you would probably feel pretty good today. The thought would be exciting, and fulfilling, and it would allow you to take today's troubles with a grain of salt. I instilled in you a false hope. But what happens when tomorrow comes and the prophecy turned out to be a lie? All of the pleasure you garnished from today's hopes would turn into pain garnished from tomorrow's frustration. The same is true of Christianity. The price you pay for the hopes offered by Christianity today is the confusion and pain you will feel when you discover that Christianity is incorrect.

I've heard the argument that it doesn't hurt to believe Christianity, even if Christianity offers false hopes. After all, think of all the hospital patients and accident victims who have recovered due to their faith and hope in Jesus. My response: think of all the hopeless, scared teenagers who have killed themselves in hope of a better life in Heaven.

About this edition

• Publisher: Knight Pubns
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0966102630
• ISBN 13: 9780966102635
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 303