Warnings or Threats?

I've never spoken with an atheist about hell without that person viewing the discussion of the topic as a threat. They never see it as something helpful, like a warning. Only and always as a threat.

Isn't that interesting?

I saw a documentary about a young Canadian woman who wanted to climb Mt. Everest. True story. It took place this spring of 2012. She'd never climbed a mountain in her life, but she was physically fit and she wanted to start with Everest. 

Problem: Her lack of experience meant she couldn't find a tour company who would take her. Not for any amount of money. At least that was the case until this newbie mountain climber found a newbie tour company. She was their first client.

And so she went. And wonder of wonders, she made it – to the top of Mt. Everest.

Problem: She was a very slow climber. This meant she took longer than other climbers and hence used up more oxygen than other climbers.

Her Sherpa guides made to her what sounded like threats. At the Hillary Step they warned her that she couldn't make it to the top. They told her that she didn't have enough oxygen.

They gave her a warning.

She heard it as a threat.

“I've paid $40,000.00 for this and I'm going to the top.”

In essence she was saying, “I see no reason to believe your interpretation of my circumstances.”

So on she went. She spent half an hour at the top of Everest celebrating her accomplishment.

Dead woman walking!

She spent half an hour at the top of Everest celebrating her accomplishment with her oxygen flow turned to high.

Dead woman walking!

To make it down below the death zone, she needed eleven more hours of oxygen. She was carrying less than four.

Dead woman walking!

No one could deter her from what she wanted because their warnings were interpreted as threats. All she heard were threats to keep her from getting what she wanted.

She died back at the Hillary Step, pleading with those on their way to the top, “Please don't let me die.”

Too late.

Too late.

And that is what it's like to speak with an atheist.

Dead man walking.

Too late.