Religion question, For the SoA.

Apon talking to my atheist friend,high.
He asked me am I a christian because I believe in Jesus, and god.

-OR-

Am I a christian because im scared of hell.

So here and now I purpose the question to all religions, where there is a heaven, a greater diety, and a hell.
Are you that religion because you love the diety and want to live in salvatian and harmony, Or are you that religion because your undieing, nightmarish fear and awe of hell?

Figure this out ere you go to sleep when reading this, live the rest of your life according to the question, as you see fit.

I myself cannot, I myself am to god damn afraid to answer my own question, that I have lost sleep over it, I am sorry if I effect anyone else as I have myself.

 

When I was Catholic I believed because I didn't want to go to hell. So I guess fear.

But now I just say God has as much power as you give him.

 

I would have to say that you are afraid of hell. I am atheist. If there was no such thing as a mythical place as hell, then christianity would have a harder time thriving, because you cant only have a good side, you have to also have a bad side to make you thrive for the good side

 

when i was going to sunday church school they didint let me pass the 1st comuny or w/e its called in english since then i never been in church and i don't believe in gods ...

 

Christians are Christian because they believe in Jesus Christ, and God.

Now in your non literal way:

I'm Roman Catholic, but in a very loose way.

I hate to put money in the basket when it comes around, because I know a portion of my hard earned money will eventually be put toward buying the Pope another solid gold cross, or other meaningless purpose.

I hate the fact that they don't consider the bible "open to interpretation". There is no other way to understand it than how they do.

I could go on and on with other meaningless rants too, but I'm not trying to convert anyone, so...

I honestly think the Freemasons got it right.

Beyond acknowledging a belief in what they refer to as the "Great Architect of the Universe" (which you refer to in your first post as the Supreme Diety), they don't care what practices/religion you follow, nor do they want to. Belief in a power greater than oneself has numberous benefits. In a Godless world, chaos would be inevitable. Without fear of retribution later, the world's leaders would have no limits. Without the looming threat of being reincarnated as a bug, or burning in hell, what's to keep Bush from saying "Aww why not" and launching some nukes. How can the families of the victims not fight back if they cannot find peace in the fact that he will be punished for the rest of eternity? Humans are a stupid, imperfect, and strong willed creatures. Their need for revenge and penance and lack of self control or (for many) common sense can't be overcome by any other means.

Finding Forrester was recently aired on cable. I thought one scene reflects my thoughts pretty well.

If people pray in school ad you don't want to, out of differing faith or a lack thereof, then let them have their fun. You don't need to get your mommy to sue. If you don't want to say "Under God" in the Pledge, then don't. If you don't like "Under God" on a coin, then ignore it. People that force schools to not offer prayers, or the country to remove words are hippocrits. They complain about the government violating their 1st Amendment rights. What they don't realize is that by removing God from everything, they force a majority to conform to their religion - none.

 

option 3: one believes because it's all they've known.

But I think you'll find the "better" preachers speak of fire and brimstone more than the promise land.

 

I highly doubt that in this day and age (thanks to technology, culture, and other changes) people haven't been exposed to other ideas.

Shredder: This wouldn't be a bad topic to move into SFA assuming that the OP can spell "Upon" right.

 

I'm a Catholic, and yes, I was raised Catholic, but I won't ever convert. I have seen so much that I know there is a God, and I really couldn't care less what other people say. And Gnomey, I'm almost positive that the Bible is open to interpretation...

 

I've actually thought alot about this. It is a hell of a trip. I all my life have went to church on Sunday and never questioned anything untill this the last few months.

I think in most peoples minds, it's the safest thing. If there isn't a god, then what would they lose? But if they live there lives in "sin" and there is a god then they're fucked.

I guess the ones that are really blessed are the ones that are ignorant to everything. Ignorant to questions or doubts.

I will continue to go to church because I have not decided what I'm going to believe or not believe. I will explore and research, and I will come to a decision in the future I hope. I think that if there is a god, he would understand my search, instead of being harsh.

 

Hell as we know it is not a place, its a state of Soul.

The soul is seperated from God. and left alone.

 

The thing about some Christians is they view this bible as a Rule book to heaven. If you actually read the bible in depth you will see the bible is not quite a rule book. More like a life lesson, the story of Job for example.

I'm not scared of hell or anything else.

 

only reasons religons exist is because everyone is afraid of what might hapen to them aftert death and they dont know why simply put

 

Well, I was raised a Roman Catholic, but a few years ago I stopped buying into the crap. To be honest, I was to young to believe in god/jesus or be afraid of hell. It was just all I knew. All the adults around me told me about god and all this over crap.

 

You have heard of the inquisition, right? (The origins of the Lutheran branch would work too). Brush up on your medieval history if not... Some branches (and churches depending upon where you go) of the catholic faith require a strict adherence to the clergy's interpetation. The church/branch (not sure which one dictates it, sorry) that my parents (and myself as a result) belong to are one of the many in that follow that practice.

 

it comes down to that there is no "solid" evidence of a god, if there was solid evidence i would want to please him. it comes down to that i believe in god but i do not worship him