NO one likes to be played for a sucker.

That is why it is most perplexing why quasi-insane people donate to the Powerball lottery instead of church offering plates, foolishly spend hard-earned money buying pulltab gambling cards at gas-station superettes (sometimes spending additional loot on cigarettes as big-shot visibly-irreligious smoke-puffing incarcinogenic asses) and waste hard-earned money with increasing frustration fruitlessly dropping coins into casino slot machines....only to again - over and over - be disappointed that the rolling items on the slot screens do not line up for a jackpot payoff.

Pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by never really happens. Time after time after time. The sullen beset themselves by relentless renegade-religion presumptive false prophecy.

The philosophy should not be: "How much can I win?" and "How much did you win?" but rather: "How much can I lose?" and "How much did you lose?"

Lu 12:15 And [Jesus] said to them, "Watch out, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

It should be obvious that the casino house is not in business to go out of business by handing out more filthy lucre than they take in. It almost goes without saying that they adjust the slots electronically to run slightly or more than slightly in their own favor. This in spite the free Coke and coffee, and the pretty flashing lights with the ding-ding allure captivating the greedy addicted to the futile quest of getting something for nothing. Of course, a few tidbit coin enticements are thrown to the time-wasting lapdog pigs lined up along the slot troughs to maintain the illusion of hitting it big sooner or later.

You have heard in the media and seen on car bumper stickers the blatant statement: "Question Authority," and one's typical first thought upon seeing that is: "What is their problem?" It is one way to get people in vehicles following to watch out for such defiant rebels by backing off and not tailgating such dangerous or potentially-harmful fools.

This webauthor realizes that the term fool should usually be confined to atheists who pompously disdain the following:

Ac 4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
Ac 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man,
Ac 17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything.

True, there is Scriptural warning to not be gullible:

Pr 14:15 The gullible believes everything, but the prudent looks where he is going.
Ec 7:21 Do not give heed to all the things that men say, lest you hear your servant cursing you;
22 your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others.

But within the realm of everything there are some things that can be believed:

Joh 10:41 And many came to him; and they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."
1Co 2:10 God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
1Co 10:26 For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."
2Co 6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2Co 7:14 For if I have expressed to him some pride in you, I was not put to shame; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting before Titus has proved true.
2Co 9:8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.
1Th 5:21 but test everything; hold fast what is good,
1Ti 6:17 As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy.
2Ti 2:7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.
1Jo 2:27 but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Don't be afraid, with apprehensive fear of mankind, to tell people this...or else!

Jer 1:17 But you, dress up your loins; get up, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.

Is it irritating when someone says that they do not believe you....when you know that what you say is true and is helpful or even vital for them to believe?

Ge 45:26 And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart fainted, for he did not believe them.
Ex 4:1 Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The LORD did not appear to you.'"
Nu 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs which I have wrought among them?
Nu 20:12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."
1Ki 10:7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not told me; your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report which I heard.
2Ch 32:15 Now therefore do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!'"
Job 9:16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
Ps 78:32 In spite of all this they still sinned; despite his wonders they did not believe.
Pr 26:25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
Isa 43:10 "You are my witnesses," says the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
Jer 12:6 For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; believe them not, though they speak fair words to you."
La 4:12 The kings of the earth did not believe, or any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
Hab 1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.
Mt 9:28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."
Mt 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mt 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.
Mt 24:23 Then if any one says to you, 'Lo, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.
Mt 24:26 So, if they say to you, 'Lo, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out; if they say, 'Lo, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.
Mt 27:42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
Mr 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."
Mr 5:36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
Mr 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
Mr 9:42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
Mr 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mr 13:21 And then if any one says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.
Lu 1:20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."
Lu 8:12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved.

Remember what Yoda said in the religious-parable sci-fi movie Star Wars in reply to Luke Skywalker when Luke failed to use the Force to levitate his mobile starship out of the swamp and stated that he did not believe he could ever do it? Yoda responded with: "THAT is why you fail."

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
Joh 4:42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
Joh 4:48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."
Joh 5:44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Joh 5:46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me.
Joh 5:47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
Joh 6:30 So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform?
Joh 6:36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him.
Joh 7:5 For even his brothers did not believe in him.
Joh 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he."
Joh 8:45 But, because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
Joh 8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
Joh 9:18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight,
Joh 10:37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;
Joh 10:38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Joh 12:37 Though he had done so many signs before them, yet they did not believe in him;
Joh 13:19 I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
Joh 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
Joh 14:29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.

The classic recorded case of disbelief was of the not-so-proverbial actual Doubting Thomas:

Joh 20:25 So the other disciples told [Thomas], "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Joh 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Have you [Thomas] believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

WHY did Jesus reprimand and upbraid Thomas for having to have see-and-touch proof? WHY did He even accomodate Thomas as a special case? Isn't is safe to be skeptical? Isn't it cute to question authority?

Not really. In fact, it frequently is not simply stupid and even ridiculous.....it can be lethal and fatal!

Must a doubtful person taste a little of the neuroparalysis poison to believe the skull-and-crossbones warning label on the outside of the bottle? Must the questioning person touch the high-voltage transformer in the electrical-grid power substation to find out if the HIGH VOLTAGE warning sign is really true instead of false? Must a person doubt and question the reliability of gravity and the absurdity of Superman-like launch-and-hover fables by jumping off the bridge, cliff, or out of the highrise skyscraper without a parachute or equivalent?

There are times and instances when it is quite sensible and rational to simply have the faith and trust of a little child, without creating insecurity and fear by reciting the childish mantra of: "Rockabye baby, on the treetop; when the wind blows, the cradle will drop. When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall; and down will come baby, cradle and all."

Ac 26:27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe."
Ro 3:22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction;
Ro 4:11 [Abram, NOT Abraham] received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them,
Ro 10:9 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Ro 10:14 But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?
1Th 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose thereafter, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have "fallen asleep."
2Th 2:11 Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false,
2Th 2:12 so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
1Ti 1:16 but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
1Ti 4:3 who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Jas 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. 1Pe 1:8 Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.
1Pe 2:7 To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,"
1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1Jo 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son.
Jude 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you were once for all fully informed, that he who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

It is NOT the fault of "religion" that there is so much misery and murder in the world; it is rather those gullibly or deliberately concocting and misbelieving and acting upon [religious] heresies who are to blame!