(January 2, 2015 at 9:33 pm)TaosFlower Wrote: Hello. I'm a 23 year old woman who was raised her whole life in a devoutly christian home. My father reads the bible everyday and talks about Jesus Christ all the time. Several of my siblings are christian, while a couple are not.Then seperate your 'religion' from your understanding of God.
I have been struggling with religion my whole life.
Quote:The logical side of me knows it doesn't make any sense. But my heart keeps telling me my parents can't be wrong.What specifically about your religion is wrong verses what are you so sure of about your parents beliefs?
Quote:I feel so trapped, because Christianity goes against everything I believe in. For instance, I have a gay brother whom I care for very much and I can't fathom him going to hell for just loving another man.then rest assured that it is not our love for one another in of itself that sends us to Hell. It is our unrepentant spirit and pride that sends us there.
Quote:I've studied the bible and I see so much hate and archaic reasoning.like where?
Quote:I've tried to force myself to believe in it, but I just can't. I'm honestly comfortable not being religious,I'm not comfortable being or being around the very religious either.
Quote:but that fear of hell is still there.well the good news is if you hang out long enough with people who typically visit atheist sites like this one they will give you comfort you need to bury that fear down deep. Deep enough to where when your reminded of it that fear will turn to anger, which leads to hate, and ultimately suffering...
Quote: It's always in the back of my mind.The fear of hell is not what biblical Christianity is about. Hell is a concern for the unsaved, but when one seeks and accepts attonement hell ceases to be a motivation for anything. Love becomes the currency in which we are motivated for what we do.
I'm not sure why I'm writing this, but I have no one else to talk to about this fear. How do I overcome this? How can I stop being so scared about hell, when I know it can't possibly be real?
Quote:I'm so angry that my parents raised me in this religion. I wish so much that I was born in a agnostic or atheist home so that I wouldn't be crippled with this fear of hell.Being born outside of a religious house doesn't keep you from the knoweledge or fear/respect of hell.[/quote]
