Not even that they teach that you go to hell, but in some of the religions (i.e. Christianity) they don't even really agree what hell is, what the duration of it is, who all goes there, etc.
Studying the history of hell is probably one of the most therapeutic things a person who is afraid of it can do, because it shows you just how much people have always disagreed about its nature, and just how much bullshit has become attached to it over time.
I can't say it will work for you, but what worked for me is leaving organized religion altogether. They can't all be right, but they can certainly all be wrong. Hell is just a way to keep the tithing plate full and to keep everyone in line.
If you fear hell, that implies that you think it's real; why?
that's the catholic understanding of it, but you still have (and have had) other ideas amongst christians. The concept of universal reconciliation used to be fairly common amongst christians, with father basil of caesarea having once claimed that it was the most common belief in his time (4th century ad)
It's not for me to judge, but honestly if someone is an evil person who makes no effort to ask God for forgiveness, or change his, or her evil ways then that person has kinda brought it on his, or herself. All a person has to do to avoid eternal damnation is to accept Jesus as their Lord, and savior, and repent of their sins.
If you're afraid of Hell then maybe you ought to rethink your beliefs, because you sound awfully afraid of a place that atheists don't believe exists.
That's ridiculous! The burden of proof is on the people who assert that there IS a God, not on the people who don't assert that. I mean, I take it you don't beileve in leprechauns, pixies, etc., but can you prove they definitely don't exist? No, but the burden of proof is on the people who assert they DO exist. The same goes for God.
"if someone is an evil person who makes no effort to ask God for forgiveness, or change his, or her evil ways then that person has kinda brought it on his, or herself."
I'm not evil, but it seems to me that even people who ARE evil, still don't deserve infinite torture for finite crimes. That just doesn't make sense. Speaking of evil, do you know who creates it according to the Bible? God. Just read Isaiah 45:7.
"All a person has to do to avoid eternal damnation is to accept Jesus as their Lord, and savior, and repent of their sins."
So, if you don't accept Jesus, you'll be damned, huh? That seems like pure blackmail to me. Also, what if Christianity isn't the answer and there is some other God? How would they respond to you?
"If you're afraid of Hell then maybe you ought to rethink your beliefs, because you sound awfully afraid of a place that atheists don't believe exists."
I've come to realize that there is just as much (or as little) reason to fear the Hell of Christianity, than it is to fear all the Hells of all the other religions. In any case, God can't expect me to believe in him, if he doesn't provide any evidence. I'll just try to be a decent and kind human being and that should be enough if it turns out there is a God.
Well, I'm not an evil person. While I've done some really shitty things, I think I'm generally a kind person. Even IF you are truly evil, though, I STILL don't think you deserve eternal torment. Temporary, yes, but not eternal. Finite deeds don't warant infinite punishment.
I've tried very hard to believe, but I just can't. I honestly think Yahweh (were he to exist) is a vile monster. One of the MANY examples of this is the story of the Egyptian firstborn in Exodus. I can't possibly worship such an utterly disgusting bully. My conscience and morality simply won't allow it. I don't see how anyone can worship this celestial thug. If I were to believe, it would be exclusively out of fear, which wouldn't, of course, be sincere in the least.
However, weird as it sounds, I, as an atheist, am indeed awfully afraid of Hell. A lot of atheists actually have this fear. Why? The guy in the following video explains it very well.
Well, the only solution I have to get rid of a fear of Hell is to have faith in Jesus Christ, and accept him as your Lord, and Savior. Jesus loves you! We're all children of God, and made in his image.
You are free to believe in whatever you want to believe in, if you can't bring yourself to believe in a Judeo-Christian God at least try to be the best person you can be.
I know you don't want to pray, because you're an atheist, and all that but you could always pray for the willingness to be willing. It literally takes only a few seconds to pray for that!
"the only solution I have to get rid of a fear of Hell is to have faith in Jesus Christ"
But what if it's actually a different religion that's true?
"Jesus loves you!"
How do you know? It's a nice thought, but I highly doubt it. Also, according to Matthew 15:24, Jesus said: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." That doesn't seem to include me.
"We're all children of God, and made in his image."
Again, how do you know? And are people with Down's Syndrome made in God's image too?
"You are free to believe in whatever you want to believe in"
Not really, if the consequence of not believing in Jesus is burning forever. A truly free choice doesn't have negative consequences.
"if you can't bring yourself to believe in a Judeo-Christian God at least try to be the best person you can be."
Yes. But just out of curiosity, though, doesn't such a person go to Hell according to your religion, regardless of how nice, etc. they may have been?
"you could always pray for the willingness to be willing."
I've tried that many times, but to no avail. Nothing happened. Moreover, if everything happens according to God's plan anyway, prayer is useless (except for clearing your head maybe).
Religion is frustrating
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Not even that they teach that you go to hell, but in some of the religions (i.e. Christianity) they don't even really agree what hell is, what the duration of it is, who all goes there, etc.
Studying the history of hell is probably one of the most therapeutic things a person who is afraid of it can do, because it shows you just how much people have always disagreed about its nature, and just how much bullshit has become attached to it over time.
I can't say it will work for you, but what worked for me is leaving organized religion altogether. They can't all be right, but they can certainly all be wrong. Hell is just a way to keep the tithing plate full and to keep everyone in line.
If you fear hell, that implies that you think it's real; why?
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Technically Hell is for eternity, if it's temporary then it would be something like Purgatory.
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that's the catholic understanding of it, but you still have (and have had) other ideas amongst christians. The concept of universal reconciliation used to be fairly common amongst christians, with father basil of caesarea having once claimed that it was the most common belief in his time (4th century ad)
Do you think it's fair for anyone to burn forever? I sure don't. No finite deed warrants infinite punishment.
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It's not for me to judge, but honestly if someone is an evil person who makes no effort to ask God for forgiveness, or change his, or her evil ways then that person has kinda brought it on his, or herself. All a person has to do to avoid eternal damnation is to accept Jesus as their Lord, and savior, and repent of their sins.
If you're afraid of Hell then maybe you ought to rethink your beliefs, because you sound awfully afraid of a place that atheists don't believe exists.
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But what if someone was a kind person who simply saw no evidence of God?
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RoseIsabella
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Well, there certainly isn't any evidence that I can see that disproves the existence of God either.
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There also isn't any evidence that disproves the existence of the Easter Bunny. Is that a valid reason to believe it exists? The OP is 100% right.
That's ridiculous! The burden of proof is on the people who assert that there IS a God, not on the people who don't assert that. I mean, I take it you don't beileve in leprechauns, pixies, etc., but can you prove they definitely don't exist? No, but the burden of proof is on the people who assert they DO exist. The same goes for God.
"if someone is an evil person who makes no effort to ask God for forgiveness, or change his, or her evil ways then that person has kinda brought it on his, or herself."
I'm not evil, but it seems to me that even people who ARE evil, still don't deserve infinite torture for finite crimes. That just doesn't make sense. Speaking of evil, do you know who creates it according to the Bible? God. Just read Isaiah 45:7.
"All a person has to do to avoid eternal damnation is to accept Jesus as their Lord, and savior, and repent of their sins."
So, if you don't accept Jesus, you'll be damned, huh? That seems like pure blackmail to me. Also, what if Christianity isn't the answer and there is some other God? How would they respond to you?
"If you're afraid of Hell then maybe you ought to rethink your beliefs, because you sound awfully afraid of a place that atheists don't believe exists."
I've come to realize that there is just as much (or as little) reason to fear the Hell of Christianity, than it is to fear all the Hells of all the other religions. In any case, God can't expect me to believe in him, if he doesn't provide any evidence. I'll just try to be a decent and kind human being and that should be enough if it turns out there is a God.
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Okay, good luck with that.
... and no, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.
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Thank you.
Well, I'm not an evil person. While I've done some really shitty things, I think I'm generally a kind person. Even IF you are truly evil, though, I STILL don't think you deserve eternal torment. Temporary, yes, but not eternal. Finite deeds don't warant infinite punishment.
I've tried very hard to believe, but I just can't. I honestly think Yahweh (were he to exist) is a vile monster. One of the MANY examples of this is the story of the Egyptian firstborn in Exodus. I can't possibly worship such an utterly disgusting bully. My conscience and morality simply won't allow it. I don't see how anyone can worship this celestial thug. If I were to believe, it would be exclusively out of fear, which wouldn't, of course, be sincere in the least.
However, weird as it sounds, I, as an atheist, am indeed awfully afraid of Hell. A lot of atheists actually have this fear. Why? The guy in the following video explains it very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrfBFZggqhg
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RoseIsabella
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Well, the only solution I have to get rid of a fear of Hell is to have faith in Jesus Christ, and accept him as your Lord, and Savior. Jesus loves you! We're all children of God, and made in his image.
You are free to believe in whatever you want to believe in, if you can't bring yourself to believe in a Judeo-Christian God at least try to be the best person you can be.
I know you don't want to pray, because you're an atheist, and all that but you could always pray for the willingness to be willing. It literally takes only a few seconds to pray for that!
--
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"the only solution I have to get rid of a fear of Hell is to have faith in Jesus Christ"
But what if it's actually a different religion that's true?
"Jesus loves you!"
How do you know? It's a nice thought, but I highly doubt it. Also, according to Matthew 15:24, Jesus said: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." That doesn't seem to include me.
"We're all children of God, and made in his image."
Again, how do you know? And are people with Down's Syndrome made in God's image too?
"You are free to believe in whatever you want to believe in"
Not really, if the consequence of not believing in Jesus is burning forever. A truly free choice doesn't have negative consequences.
"if you can't bring yourself to believe in a Judeo-Christian God at least try to be the best person you can be."
Yes. But just out of curiosity, though, doesn't such a person go to Hell according to your religion, regardless of how nice, etc. they may have been?
"you could always pray for the willingness to be willing."
I've tried that many times, but to no avail. Nothing happened. Moreover, if everything happens according to God's plan anyway, prayer is useless (except for clearing your head maybe).
I don't necessarily think Hell is real, but you just don't know.