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This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
#1
This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
I'm only 26. And this is the first time in my life, that I noticed that I started to do this "mental gymnastics" by explain to myself, that even if I wish to live selfishly it doesn't mean that in afterlife there is a divine Creature of perfection, who might have to send me to unimaginable agony in afterlife, if I don't meet his standards.

Now I see why people avoid religion like "fire", because you gotta to embrace desperation to endure this form of voluntary "service"/self-punishment.
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#2
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
(December 11, 2016 at 8:31 am)purplepurpose Wrote: I'm only 26. And this is the first time in my life, that I noticed that I started to do this "mental gymnastics" by explain to myself, that even if I wish to live selfishly it doesn't meant that in afterlife there is a divine Creature of perfection, who might have to send me to unimaginable agony in afterlife, if I don't meet his standards.

Now I see why people avoid religion like "fire", because you gotta to embrace desperation to endure this form of voluntary "service"/self-punishment.


Some religions invented hell.  Panic
They invented a physical hell in order to put fear in people mind so the people would follow these corrupted and evil priests.
You do not have to worry however.
There is no such a thing as a permanent and physical hell except in the mind of these sick priests.  Smile
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#3
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
(December 11, 2016 at 8:31 am)purplepurpose Wrote: I'm only 26. And this is the first time in my life, that I noticed that I started to do this "mental gymnastics" by explain to myself, that even if I wish to live selfishly it doesn't mean that in afterlife there is a divine Creature of perfection, who might have to send me to unimaginable agony in afterlife, if I don't meet his standards.

Now I see why people avoid religion like "fire", because you gotta to embrace desperation to endure this form of voluntary "service"/self-punishment.

I'm not sure I 100% get what point you are trying to make. You catch yourself being afraid of hell?
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition

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#4
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
(December 11, 2016 at 9:40 am)Alex K Wrote:
(December 11, 2016 at 8:31 am)purplepurpose Wrote: I'm only 26. And this is the first time in my life, that I noticed that I started to do this "mental gymnastics" by explain to myself, that even if I wish to live selfishly it doesn't mean that in afterlife there is a divine Creature of perfection, who might have to send me to unimaginable agony in afterlife, if I don't meet his standards.

Now I see why people avoid religion like "fire", because you gotta to embrace desperation to endure this form of voluntary "service"/self-punishment.

I'm not sure I 100% get what point you are trying to make. You catch yourself being afraid of hell?

Yes. That's the short version.
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#5
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
Of which God, tho? There are so many, and they have rather different priorities.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition

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#6
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
I can sort of relate. For me it wasn't so much the fear of punishment as the desire not to disappoint this ideal being. I wanted to be its chum. (Caution: major narcissism lies in this direction.) But on the other hand mine was the sort of religious experience one has when given only a small dose and then left to ruminate on what it all means on ones own. I think I like my private version better than the stuff they sell you off the shelf but I don't miss any of it.
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#7
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
(December 11, 2016 at 10:33 am)Alex K Wrote: Of which God, tho? There are so many, and they have rather different priorities.

Main religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Muslims offer potential hell in afterlife for selfish life.
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#8
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
I've heard it's very common for fear of hell to persist after religious belief has been lost. It's an insidious psychological tool used to scare the brain into obedience, and emotions are bound to linger. In most cases I've heard, it fades over time, at least to some extent.

I consider indoctrinating children with the idea of hell to be disgusting and extremely damaging.

I'm not sure what you mean by "live selfishly". Maybe you could elaborate. As far as I'm concerned, if you're not hurting anyone, then do whatever you want.
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#9
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
Yes, I still sometimes wake up in cold sweats, with the urge to check my stockings for coals...
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one." - George Bernard Shaw
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#10
RE: This is strange. Explaining stuff to myself.
(December 11, 2016 at 11:43 am)robvalue Wrote: I've heard it's very common for fear of hell to persist after religious belief has been lost. It's an insidious psychological tool used to scare the brain into obedience, and emotions are bound to linger. In most cases I've heard, it fades over time, at least to some extent.

I consider indoctrinating children with the idea of hell to be disgusting and extremely damaging.

I'm not sure what you mean by "live selfishly". Maybe you could elaborate. As far as I'm concerned, if you're not hurting anyone, then do whatever you want.

I saw documentary about Detroit on youtube, homeless man there told that "gangs are recruiting young children and "initializating" them by demanding them to kill someone. And his neighbors, homeless people, are used for that "initialization".

That's extreme. Almost same shit nazis did to their country out of desperation.
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