It is better to believe in the God of the Bible than to be an Atheist

Thank you for accepting. Con begins by using an argument usually directed at Pascal's wager but it fails against what I propose. The reason for this is because there are many differences between Pascal's wager and what I presented. The argument here is not which denomination is correct but simply belief about the afterlife based on atheistic beliefs that life cease when you die. It is specifically based on accountability and as such when you die. The argument I proposed can also be further extended to answer Con"s objection and since he mentioned it I will address it although it deviates from the initial proposal. The orthodox view is that we are saved by faith without works in the finished work of Christ. Therefore it is required to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior. A Jehovah's Witness believe that if you do not believe like them that you will cease to exist when you die. In that respect I will not be held accountable for anything for believing the above (faith in Christ without works) but they do have something to be held accountable for. I will simply cease to exist, like the atheist proposes as well and not face any accountability. The Roman Catholic Church these days teach everyone can go to heaven, even atheists. Rejecting the RCC will therefore not require accountability from me because good works can save you according to them. If I am right, the RCC believers will face accountability accordingly when they die because good works cannot save you. I can go on and on to show how distinction can be made. Your counter argument therefore does not hold any credibility against the orthodox view of Christianity. Your argument for the statistics presented does not cover all possibilities and therefore is not a very good argument. Although the amount of people in prison does not justify whether a belief system is better or not and also irrelevant to this debate, I will however point out the short comings. 1. Many people become religious while in prison. It gives some serious reflection time. When they entered prison they were not religious. 2. Many people claim to be part of a certain religion in which they were brought up. That does not automatically make them a true follower. The statistics is therefore not very representative of the actual situation. 3. Many atheists claim to have been Christians. Based on their previous beliefs, should we consider them Christians or deem Christianity useful into bringing people to "light"? 4. Millions and millions of atheists in China and Russia over many years (to name but two countries) have killed and tortured people needlessly and never went to prison for it. It should be clear by now how deficient your argument really is. If all those people were to be placed in prison then your conclusions reached will be quite different. Your concluding remark is based on a religion where works can save you and as I stated this is not my belief or the orthodox Christian view. If you kill someone and go to trial, will the judge let you go if you tell him: "Your honor, I only killed once, there are many other people out there whom I did not kill. I gave money to support charities, cared for my wife and children. Weighing the good I did against this single act should show I should be set free". See how preposterous your assertion is?