(April 28, 2010 at 3:25 pm)sunflash Wrote: I used to be a Christian until I came accross a Jewish site which convinced me that Christianity is false. Now, I would consider myself an agnostic, but I feel like I should follow a religion simply to avoid a bad afterlife. I know this sounds cowardly and that there are so many choices, but I grew up believing in a burning hell and I find the idea of this terrifying.
But I don't think I can follow a religion that condemns people for their beleifs, sexuality, race etc and this is one reason why I haven't followed a religion yet. There are a few reasons, but fear keeps me in this sort of limbo.
I posted at thread like this a while ago, and several members have provided helpful advice, but I still don't feel that I can turn to atheism. I don't think I can be an atheist with this uncertainty, like Dawkins can. How can I let go of religion?
Islam in particular concerns me. I thought that evolution would have disproven many religions wrong, but Islam doesn't seem to reject the idea.
As coming from Christianity and converting slowly to non-theism, I think I may understand. I don't think any less of you and hopefully no one else here does. It's very scary to be uncertain about death and whether or not there is an afterlife. And since it can't be proven or disproven as of yet, we can't know. We more than likely won't know in our lifetime.
atheism/non-theism isn't for everyone. Some people need something to believe in, even a flying spaghetti monster can be better for some than for there to be nothing.
I recommend Buddhism, Hinduism or New Age beliefs. All (to my knowledge) seem better than Islam, Judaism or Christianity. So if you feel you must believe in something, it might as well not be anything as extremist as the latter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism
And even http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism
While I don't hold any of these beliefs, I do hope I helped a bit. More than likely if you have opened up your eyes enough to see through Christianity and Judaism, you won't be able to adhere to other religions. Please note I'm just trying to help. And while I think it would be best for you to not hold yourself to any religious or spiritual standards, you will believe what you want to believe. So I hope you find peace in whatever you choose.
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