One final attempt to try and get through to you guys

[Alex K]

I disagree. I didn't consider my family "fucked up" as they raised me in the Christian faith. I don't think that we should view people who think differently as fucked up. :/

I think religion in and of itself is fucked up, but it can be taught with good intentions.

Just my pov.

Oh please. We're not talking about thinking a bit different, we're talking about living your life in fear of eternal torment. If you don't see why that is fucked up, you need to get your perspective checked. Of course it's all with good intentions.

[Rampant.A.I.]

No worries, take a break and come back when you're feeling less overwhelmed.

Thanks I'll do that. I know I've been a jerk, but I've been thought so much by people I know (not just my parents) that atheists are irrational and immoral, I just wanted to help you guys. But instead every argument I've had for Christianity has been debunked. I want to learn more about the stuff you guys are talking about, I know I don't even deserve to ask this but when I login again could someone here talk to me one-on-one via PM and help explain why atheists don't believe? Because right now I'm still confused about it, and I'm overwhelmed by all these people at once.

The people aren't overwhelming you. The fact that you've been lied to your entire life by people who were supposed to protect you from harm, and instead chose to convince you human nature is inherently evil, and if you don't do and say exactly as they tell you to, you'll burn in hellfire for eternity. . .

Well, naturally that's going to be a little overwhelming.

[Brakeman]

I SWEAR ON MY LIFE THIS HAPPENED.

so sad..

[Ryantology]

Oh, and NOBODY should fear Hell. Nobody.

If you're sure enough in your faith to believe it exists, you're not going there.

If you don't believe it exists, you don't believe you're going there.

Either way there is NO reason to believe you're going there.

Nobody should fear Hell.

I don't know. If you're the sort of person who needs the Bible for want of a functioning conscience, the threat of hell at least gives you a non-zero chance of being a marginally-useful idiot, rather than a full-on psychopath.

[*Deidre*]

I disagree. I didn't consider my family "fucked up" as they raised me in the Christian faith. I don't think that we should view people who think differently as fucked up. :/

I think religion in and of itself is fucked up, but it can be taught with good intentions.

Just my pov.

Oh please. We're not talking about thinking a bit different, we're talking about living your life in fear of eternal torment. If you don't see why that is fucked up, you need to get your perspective checked. Of course it's all with good intentions.

You can get used to anything. If you grow up being taught to fear hell, you grow acclimated to living that way. It's not like all Christians who live this way, stay locked in their bedrooms clutching their Bibles. lol They just think that hell is real, and that if they disobey God, they'll end up there.

My point is, when you live in it, you think it's normal. When you abandon it, you realize it's not.

Religion is fucked up, but my family of origin isn't. If you wish to think so, I can't stop you. lol Think as you wish.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

Thanks for the kind words. My parents do try and help with my OCD though. I've seen a few different people. One was a member of our church but still a highly regarded psychologist. Another was just a regular therapist but dosen't seem to know all that much about OCD. I talk to this woman on Skype now who has OCD, but she's not medically trained.

Your parents' focus should be on on ensuring that you acquire the smarts to live in the 21st Century on your own once they are dead. Whatever your age you will soon have to face the world by yourself. So being encumbered with 2000 year- old Middle East superstitions may put you at a severe disadvantage. Ask them to give you some useful information instead of a plate of ancient ethnocentric religious fairy tales. The clock is ticking.

[Creed of Heresy]

Thanks for the kind words. My parents do try and help with my OCD though. I've seen a few different people. One was a member of our church but still a highly regarded psychologist. Another was just a regular therapist but dosen't seem to know all that much about OCD. I talk to this woman on Skype now who has OCD, but she's not medically trained.

It's easy to see anyone's embrace as that of help when you're struggling with something. Less hard to see when they're using that embrace to start steering you towards more damage, whether knowingly or out of ignorance. Sometimes what may seem like help is either a callous disguise, or coming from someone who cannot, and maybe even should not, provide it. Case in point, let me ask, what did the psychologist say about your OCD?

[Alex K]

No, I'm not saying anything about your family of origin. But I don't really see how getting used to something horrific somehow makes it ok.

Oh please. We're not talking about thinking a bit different, we're talking about living your life in fear of eternal torment. If you don't see why that is fucked up, you need to get your perspective checked. Of course it's all with good intentions.

You can get used to anything. If you grow up being taught to fear hell, you grow acclimated to living that way. It's not like all Christians who live this way, stay locked in their bedrooms clutching their Bibles. lol They just think that hell is real, and that if they disobey God, they'll end up there.

My point is, when you live in it, you think it's normal. When you abandon it, you realize it's not.

Religion is fucked up, but my family of origin isn't. If you wish to think so, I can't stop you. lol Think as you wish.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

Even if hell is real, big deal. According to the New Testament fairy tale once you're dead your soul has to go to one of three places: hell, the sea, or death. The good news is that none of those states are permanent. They are temporary and you will get out on Judgment Day. At that time you will either move into the golden cube called New Jerusalem or you will get tossed into the lake of fire. So even if you go to hell you can still end up in the golden cube.

People should really read the Christian fairy tale before going off the deep end. Even Jesus went to hell and then he went to heaven. Now while you might end up in hell you will never end up in heaven. You could end up in the big golden metal cube on a waterless planet that is bathed in constant light for all eternity. Hope you have air conditioning.

The Muslims and Mormon guys have a better afterlife. The bad news is that they both have an actual hell, with fire and brimstone and the devil tormenting you. You definitely want to stay out of their hells but the Christian one isn't that bad.

[Mr. Moncrieff]

All these hells.

It's bloody awful.