Hostage to fear

[Spacetime]

There is no hell. It doesn't make sense. The bible god is supposed to love everyone and yet, he sends people to an eternity of torment because they commit some finite crime. Religion decides what actions constitute a sin. So, a child murderer that asked forgiveness will be in heaven but two gay men might go to hell only because they had sex with one another. 

I don't know how to tell you to act with your wife. Does she know that you don't believe in god? Perhaps you could ease her into accepting your stance by telling her that you have doubts.  You could even say that you don't believe in hell. There are Christians who also don't believe in hell also so it might not freak her out too badly if you express disbelief. 

Jewish people don't believe in hell, at least not the Christian version of hell, so perhaps you could point out to her that Jesus would not have believed in the Christian  hell either

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cd...n-Hell.htm

I would read mythology with my son and explain that people invented gods, not because they were stupid, but because they didn't know how else to explain things like lightning and death. Later you can read the book of Genesis with him with the same critical eye. You can even point out the cruelty of god in  those stories

I read this book multiple times in the fourth and fifth grade. Maybe your son would enjoy you reading this to him?
http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/DAulaires...1653732460

Thank you for the reply and the links.

I openly preach in my home that there is no hell.  I got into a bit of social trouble at church when my eldest pointed this out in Sunday school.  We read about the ancient myths openly because they are cool stories, but I'm also quick to point out to my son that the bible is just another story as well.

My wife knows that I am more a deist than anything, but she also knows that I love Christ.  She sees my sincerity on that point.  She's the type of person who will believe something if told it without investigating or giving much thought to it, because that's her personality.  When we talk about it, I say "God gave us faith, hope, and love... and if the greatest of these is love, then I'd like to think hoping that these things are true will account for my lack of faith."  But even then, do I really *want* these things to be true?  Do I want my God to be the type that commands genocide?  Or stoning children?  No, I don't want these things to be true.  I want to have my cake and eat it.  I want God to be the hippy-Christ who loves everyone and everything's just splendid, but I want none of the eternal torment.

The problem is, there is absolutely no truth to the story and no evidence that a loving God exists.  I just worry that I would be taking something good away from my family because it is the Church that gives them so much happiness.

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It isn't like turning on a switch, you know.  They have spent years indoctrinating you into their superstitions and you've made remarkable progress in rejecting them but you are still surrounded by them and just because you have come to your senses does not mean that they have.  It will take time to throw off these inane dogmas which xtians spout with such certainty.

Try to limit your conversations with your associates to mundane topics and save the heavy thinking for here. We have just enough theists around here to serve as bad examples.

Meanwhile, read Chris Hitchens "God is Not Good."

Welcome.

Thank you!

The irrational fear is almost intolerable.  I was less scared in actual situations where I could have been shot or blown up.  I have trouble convincing myself that there will be no eternal consequence for leaving the idea of God behind.

I'll tell you what made me question it all.  I mean, I read about the fundamentals critically, but I wasn't ready to cast it off.  What's pushing me over the edge... was watching Neil deGrasse Tyson's Cosmos.  Realizing the majesty of the whole of existence and that it does not require a personal god, made my God seem so small.

I enjoy Hitchens talks on YouTube.  I've just not read his books yet.  I will pick up a copy.

Thanks again.