What can i do to ease my mind over this subject?

8 Comments

WARNING: long post ahead!

So tomorrow my family is going to, not exactly a funeral but more of a gathering, for my uncle who died last month. I didn’t know him very well, but it’s reminding me of my own fears and worries about death. I’m probably what you would call an agnostic: I don’t know if there’s a God or an afterlife, and I don’t pretend to know. At least, not to myself, but for my own social safety I need to pretend that I’m a Christian in real life (luckily I can be a bit more secretive online). Even though my family is nice to me, they believe wholeheartedly in Heaven and Hell, and even so much as doubting God’s existence is enough to worry them (infact my mom always tells my sisters that they should marry a Christian boy, if they ever do marry).

But here’s the core of the problem: it’s really scary not knowing. The fact of the matter is, I will die someday, and so will everyone else that I know. I really don’t want to die without having my mind made up, according to some that would make me for sure going to Hell! And I’ve thought a lot about hell, which in all honesty was the only reason I ever was a Christian, because I was so scared of it. But looking at it objectively, if such a place does exist, I’d almost intentionally go there out of protest of such an unfair justice system!

But I’m especially terrified of there being no afterlife. It’s really a hard concept to explain, but just simply being gone, without any form of consciousness whatsoever, it’s just beyond comprehension. Sometimes I feel like I would rather go to Hell than experience this. But in a weird way it kind of motivates me. It really makes me treat this life the best I can, just in case it’s the only one I have.

But I figure that if any of this Heaven and Hell, Angels and Demons, stuff is real, it’s probably more complex than we think. Like, you probably have an image in your head of what an angel or demon looks like, and I’d assume they could take that form if they wanted, but that how they really are is probably beyond human comprehension.

But I’ve said a lot already. Everyone has their own opinions on these sorts of things, but basically what I want is to be ready for death. I know it’s highly unlikely for someone as young as me (19, soon to be 20) to die soon, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. I’m probably going to get a variety of answers, if anyone bothered to read all this, but I’m thankful for anyone who wanted to help.

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Comments ( 8 )
  • OofMasterBoi
    5 years ago

    My father and I talked about religion a while back. He is a Christian and I’m an atheist, but we talk about religion and other topics that usually tear people apart. We discuss it carefully, showing each other what evidence or source we each believe in and other ideas to support/argue.
    We try to be open-minded, and both of us know, there is no way to know if God really exists, so you better hope he does/doesn’t exist.
    I would recommend that the only way of preparing for death is to do what you want right now, because you won’t come back to this place.

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  • leggs91200
    5 years ago

    The only reason anyone is religious is because they're scared of going to hell. It has nothing to do with loving God or any of that bullshit. Of course the scary part is not knowing. I work with this guy who used to be hardcore into religion but then in college he studied psychology a little bit and long story short, he finally figured out that religion is nothing more than a coping mechanism in an unsure world.

    I remember in the early 90s how a lot of religions and churches were saying that the Rapture was right around the corner, and of course if you sent them $1,000 they would pray for your soul. Needless to say that never happened.

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    • RoseIsabella
      5 years ago

      I don't believe in the rapture.

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      • leggs91200
        5 years ago

        I guess though that you remember in the early 90's how they pushed the idea. They thought it would be in 1993 then the 7 year tribulation and by 2000 the world would be over over.

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        • RoseIsabella
          5 years ago

          I think it's a bunch of bullshit, but it's also not a part of my religious beliefs. I tend to find it rather comical.

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          • leggs91200
            5 years ago

            I hope the OP realizes, like we do, that a lot of what preachers say is just to make money.

            I was in a church once and the preacher told a story about how some congregation member was laying on his death bed but still managed to send in money. He was one of those people who like to try guilt-tripping others.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              5 years ago

              Most, but not all. Despite all (or maybe because) Of all this I’ve been going to Church more frequently. Our pastor is a good guy, and even though I don’t share his beliefs, I always like to listen to him. I respect him on the level you would your favorite teacher or philosopher.

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            • RoseIsabella
              5 years ago

              Oh my God, those damn prosperity gospel people are such charlatans! Fundamentalist are always trying to scare people into going to their churches so can stick their hands out for the money.

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