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).
You have a decision to make. Which is greater your atheism, or your fear of Hell?
Okay, this is just a shot in the dark, but perhaps you should study Buddhism? A lot of people see Buddhism as more of a philosophy than a religion.
You have to find some way to reconcile your lack of belief with your fear of damnation. If one believes in God, dies and there's no God it's not a much of a loss. If one doesn't believe in God, dies and it turns out there is a God it's another story.
"If one doesn't believe in God, dies and it turns out there is a God it's another story."
In this story, it depends if God is good, or vengeful.
If you have lived a good life and God is good
then
.....He will reward you;
Else if you have lived a good life and God is vengeful
.....You will be glad you chose goodness and didn't fear a God that was a jerk;
End if;
It all seems pretty simple to me. Think ethically and don't get conned by emotional thinking.
Religion is frustrating
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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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Anonymous Post Author
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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).
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RoseIsabella
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Well, what do you want me to tell you, man?
You have a decision to make. Which is greater your atheism, or your fear of Hell?
Okay, this is just a shot in the dark, but perhaps you should study Buddhism? A lot of people see Buddhism as more of a philosophy than a religion.
You have to find some way to reconcile your lack of belief with your fear of damnation. If one believes in God, dies and there's no God it's not a much of a loss. If one doesn't believe in God, dies and it turns out there is a God it's another story.
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dude_Jones
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"If one doesn't believe in God, dies and it turns out there is a God it's another story."
In this story, it depends if God is good, or vengeful.
If you have lived a good life and God is good
then
.....He will reward you;
Else if you have lived a good life and God is vengeful
.....You will be glad you chose goodness and didn't fear a God that was a jerk;
End if;
It all seems pretty simple to me. Think ethically and don't get conned by emotional thinking.
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BLAh81
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Well reasoned.