Why do you believe in religion?

[Risen Prussia]

When confronted with the option of eternal torment, eternal life, or an eternal sleep where I don't "record" anything, I'll probably choose the eternal sleep after any given amount of time.

Immortality gets old, even with promises of never wanting anything.

Well all I know I wouldn't want to sleep for eternity, it doesn't seem all that pleasent.....

I would love to go to heaven and stay with my other family members...

(Have you heard of the little boy who went to heaven and came back, powerful story)

You mean the book, “Heaven is for Real”? Yes

[Valrifell]

When confronted with the option of eternal torment, eternal life, or an eternal sleep where I don't "record" anything, I'll probably choose the eternal sleep after any given amount of time.

Immortality gets old, even with promises of never wanting anything.

Well all I know I wouldn't want to sleep for eternity, it doesn't seem all that pleasent.....

I would love to go to heaven and stay with my other family members...

(Have you heard of the little boy who went to heaven and came back, powerful story)

It wouldn't be anything, that's what an eternal sleep is. You wouldn't feel it, you wouldn't recognize it. Take a moment and blink - that's basically how long forever feels like when you're dead.

[Brizalia]

amazing, miracles, miracles, all the way!!!!!!!!!!!












^{CAN I GET A HALLELUJAH!?!}

Hallelujah! Lol

I would die for Christ and that is how I plan to die

agreed, whatever the Lord wants me to do I will. If he wants me to carry a elder up mount. Everest I will without hesitation.

[VoVoDoCo]

I don't remember what made my go from protestant to atheist.

Maybe it was the "Why is sin sin" argument.

Maybe it was the arbitrary levels of organizations in one's one body.

Maybe it was the bible's silent disregard for free will, which contradicts the way God talks about and acts against sin.

Maybe it was the fossil record.

Maybe it was something else.

[Albrenia]

When confronted with the option of eternal torment, eternal life, or an eternal sleep where I don't "record" anything, I'll probably choose the eternal sleep after any given amount of time.

Immortality gets old, even with promises of never wanting anything.

Well all I know I wouldn't want to sleep for eternity, it doesn't seem all that pleasent.....

I would love to go to heaven and stay with my other family members...

(Have you heard of the little boy who went to heaven and came back, powerful story)

There's been several children who have reported going to the afterlife and coming back. It's an uncommon but not unheard of effect of coming extremely close to death... or dying for short amounts of time but being revived.

There's non-religious explanations for them, but I won't poop on your party with 'em.

[Brizalia]

Well all I know I wouldn't want to sleep for eternity, it doesn't seem all that pleasent.....

I would love to go to heaven and stay with my other family members...

(Have you heard of the little boy who went to heaven and came back, powerful story)

It wouldn't be anything, that's what an eternal sleep is. You wouldn't feel it, you wouldn't recognize it. Take a moment and blink - that's basically how long forever feels like when you're dead.

Well I know (not physically) but I don't like the concept of it......also wouldn't that lead up to the idea of reincarnation??

[Valrifell]

Well all I know I wouldn't want to sleep for eternity, it doesn't seem all that pleasent.....

I would love to go to heaven and stay with my other family members...

(Have you heard of the little boy who went to heaven and came back, powerful story)

There's been several children who have reported going to the afterlife and coming back. It's an uncommon but not unheard of effect of coming extremely close to death... or dying for short amounts of time but being revived.

There's non-religious explanations for them, but I won't poop on your party with 'em.

Also if we want to be technical, nobody's ever come back from true death. That is, a complete cessation of functions in the brain.

[Rosengarten]

My experiences with religion below (Methodism, Baptism, Atheism, Judaism)

I grew up obligatorily religious. No one in my family is actually religious beyond believing in a god and being scared of death, but it's was just expected to put me in a Methodist preschool when I lived in Illinois and then Baptist youth group when I was lived in Mississippi.

I can't remember not being agnostic/atheist as a child despite countless after school programs, school prayers, and expectations. I would pray some nights, asking for some proof or a sign because I felt depressed I didn't believe in something so beautiful because it didn't seem scientifically possible. Then I started to see the uglier parts of organized religion as I grew older, particularly as a questioning lgbt kid (ended up trans and gay).

Around middle school, I had a phase where I hated religion, I hated church. I never had any real proof and now the experience and culture of religion left such a stain on my childhood. I remember we had to write argumentative essays in bible belt ass middle school, and I wrote about not allowing creationism in public school (Confused, distraught glares) while my classmate wrote about how gays and trannies should be institutionalized and forced to attend church every day (Not an exaggeration. Also got applause.) Needless to say, I was turned away from religion for a long time because of people, not God.

Cut to today after my slow trek out of reactionary (in my case) atheism, and I'm constantly questioning converting to Judaism. I've always wanted, prayed, to have more faith and for something to push me in that direction. A few months ago, I was in the throes of believing I wouldn't worship God even if I knew he was real because I don't think I'm worth(?) it to be a worshipper, but just a tool. Idk, it was an interesting spot to be to say the least.

But now I'm slowing coming around to treating religion as just a betterment of myself and the world around me through faith. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you think a higher being scientifically exists or not. What's real is how I use my religion to physically help myself and those around me by creating a culture of knowledge, sharing, and self-discipline.

*Also if you're wondering why Judaism, my family isn't ethnically or culturally Jewish, but I've done a bit of reading and talking with a few friends about what religion means to them, and everything just kind of struck me in a way it never has before. So I'm excited to talk to a Rabbi soon and potentially re-establish my faith!

[VoVoDoCo]

(Have you heard of the little boy who went to heaven and came back, powerful story)

The Heaven is for Real kid? The authors of that story have since come out saying they'd made the whole thing up.

[Great Minarchistan]

For those asking the full pic: http://wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/ ... /aVSVQ.png

[Valrifell]

It wouldn't be anything, that's what an eternal sleep is. You wouldn't feel it, you wouldn't recognize it. Take a moment and blink - that's basically how long forever feels like when you're dead.

Well I know (not physically) but I don't like the concept of it......also wouldn't that lead up to the idea of reincarnation??

Not necessarily, it's a metaphor since there's not enough time to register the thought that you've blinked in that moment.

The point is you don't feel or consciously experience anything, and this pure nothingness is a very difficult concept to grasp and understand.

[Risen Prussia]

Hallelujah! Lol

I would die for Christ and that is how I plan to die

agreed, whatever the Lord wants me to do I will. If he wants me to carry a elder up mount. Everest I will without hesitation.

I support that the second coming of Christ will happen soon (because Jerusalem is Israel’s now, and they’re going to rebuild the temple soon), and before that comes the tribulation (3 1/2 years of persecution) so I’m ready to be persecuted for my faith when the time comes...

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I don’t, however, many are trying to search for greater meaning for their lives. In comes religion.

[Brizalia]

(Have you heard of the little boy who went to heaven and came back, powerful story)

The God is for Real kid? The authors of that story have since come out saying they'd made the whole thing up.

huh? Show meh proof please.......Also the kid said it himself, describing every bit, that kind of stuff can't be made up....!

[Albrenia]

(Have you heard of the little boy who went to heaven and came back, powerful story)

The God is for Real kid? The authors of that story have since come out saying they'd made the whole thing up.

Yeah, they did. There's been other cases that have not admitted to lying though although I find them suspect too.

[Valrifell]

agreed, whatever the Lord wants me to do I will. If he wants me to carry a elder up mount. Everest I will without hesitation.

I support that the second coming of Christ will happen soon (because Jerusalem is Israel’s now, and they’re going to rebuild the temple soon), and before that comes the tribulation (3 1/2 years of persecution) so I’m ready to be persecuted for my faith when the time comes...

The theme of martyrdom in Christianity may have gone too far.

[Crushbossian]

amazing, miracles, miracles, all the way!!!!!!!!!!!












^{CAN I GET A HALLELUJAH!?!}

Hallelujah! Lol

I would die for Christ and that is how I plan to die

That is also how I plan to die

You a Pentecostal?

[Brizalia]

Hallelujah! Lol

I would die for Christ and that is how I plan to die

That is also how I plan to die

You a Pentecostal?

No, I'm not sure what I am, all I know is that im Christian, I used to go to a catholic church & catholic school though/.........

[Brizalia]

The God is for Real kid? The authors of that story have since come out saying they'd made the whole thing up.

Yeah, they did. There's been other cases that have not admitted to lying though although I find them suspect too.

I refuse to believe that..

[Risen Prussia]

Hallelujah! Lol

I would die for Christ and that is how I plan to die

That is also how I plan to die

You a Pentecostal?

I’m non-denominational, but I agree with the Pentecostal theology

[Brizalia]

I support that the second coming of Christ will happen soon (because Jerusalem is Israel’s now, and they’re going to rebuild the temple soon), and before that comes the tribulation (3 1/2 years of persecution) so I’m ready to be persecuted for my faith when the time comes...

The theme of martyrdom in Christianity may have gone too far.

what do you mean by that? (not in a rude way tho)

There is going to be the end of the world/rapture when the Lord believes it's time.....well that is what many Christians, including myself, believe

[Albrenia]

Yeah, they did. There's been other cases that have not admitted to lying though although I find them suspect too.

I refuse to believe that..

Doing a google search quickly found me a rather large amount of places reporting it, including the child in question specifically recanting it.

[Crushbossian]

I support that the second coming of Christ will happen soon (because Jerusalem is Israel’s now, and they’re going to rebuild the temple soon), and before that comes the tribulation (3 1/2 years of persecution) so I’m ready to be persecuted for my faith when the time comes...

The theme of martyrdom in Christianity may have gone too far.

Meh, it’s prophesied to happen. I too think it’ll happen soon and am ready to give my life.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

If I am being honest, it is out of fear.

The alternative to not believing in it is believing that when you die, nothing happens. Thats just it. No heaven no hell, just nothing.

I don't want to believe that, it's just too scary.

When confronted with the option of eternal torment, eternal life, or an eternal sleep where I don't "record" anything, I'll probably choose the eternal sleep after any given amount of time.

Immortality gets old, even with promises of never wanting anything.

Heaven sounds nice, more fun then any mortal can have.

[Shabandra]

i don't believe in religion i believe in the message most religions send out into the world.