Question?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I dislike most churches and organized religion and wouldn't mind seeing many, other than my own, close their doors.  

Edited for accuracy.

[Athene]

However, if I were confident that the torment of Hell was finite

The problem with this is that the torments of hell or heaven, if they do indeed exist, are both eternal. When eternity is the curse, the initial conditions hardly matter. After a few billion years either will be unbearably tortuous and yet, you're still right at the beginning of forever.

The "eternal life after death" concept is the single most frightening thing man kind has ever dreamed up!

I agree, anything eternal would suck tremendously.

I was considering the concept of Hell not being permanent destination, with some biblical theists maintaining that the soul ceases to exist after a
designated period of roasting. Hell would be a price I'd consider paying, if I knew it would eventually get me to good 'ol non-existence.

[PETE_ROSE]

I dislike most churches and organized religion and wouldn't mind seeing many, other than my own, close their doors.  

Edited for accuracy.

Ha! Too funny, and with most of the likes of me would be so true. However, I have never subscribed to organized religion, and departed church 6 years ago.

I rarely attend a service now, but occasionally go for special functions such as weddings and the like. My best friend reaffirmed his marriage vows earlier this month, I was present for that as the best man.
The pastor is a regular at our poker game. Great guy. Not stuffy like many pastors, and actually works for a living outside of church. My kind of poker player, easy to read, plenty of cash, never bluffs, and doesn't get angry when you felt him.

[robvalue]

There is a fundamental flaw in assuming that one of the world's current religions must be the "correct" one. If there is such a thing, it could be anything. Since they're all just stories with no evidence, there's no way to choose between them rationally. The idea that God would punish you for picking the wrong story is pretty absurd too. The idea that God is as petty as any of the characters described is rather insulting to it.

But I don't need any of them anyhow. It is just probable that they are all a load of rubbish, perpetuated by indoctrination, social pressure, the placebo effect and confirmation bias.

[Edwardo Piet]

I think it would be hilarious if the least widespread religion turned out to be the truth.

It could be one any of us started 2 minutes ago.

[ignoramus]

I find the notion that the creator of the universe wants or needs insignificant lifeforms to worship it completely absurd and insulting in every sense.
If only religious people can just stand back for 5 minutes and examine the actual premise of their belief system in the cold light of day...

[robvalue]

Right. What the hell is wrong with it?

"Yes! The things I made just to worship me are worshipping me! What a plan. I feel great."

[vorlon13]

(somehow the quote thingy here scrambled the quote, I'll bandaid it a bit, sorry)

robvalue said:There is a fundamental flaw in assuming that one of the world's current religions must be the "correct" one. If there is such a thing, it could be anything. Since they're all just stories with no evidence, there's no way to choose between them rationally. The idea that God would punish you for picking the wrong story is pretty absurd too. The idea that God is as petty as any of the characters described is rather insulting to it.

But I don't need any of them anyhow. It is just probable that they are all a load of rubbish, perpetuated by indoctrination, social pressure, the placebo effect and confirmation bias.

Indeed.

But I'll throw in a 'however', [snicker].

With the propensity of the Christers to schism (70,000 and counting) it's clear that they are competing amongst each other for that elusive One True Faith designation in the eyes of their deity.  Certainly, a group would not break away from an established faith and still maintain those left behind, despite their fealty and piety to the 'wrong' way of doing things, are still guaranteed Salvation, Salvation being the assured reward of the new break aways now, not the stay behinds, lest they wouldn't bother with their schism in the first place.

LOL, this is looking like another one of those 'Religion 101' moments I am so fond of.

So despite my atheism, I note like the stopped clock being correct twice a day, that this particular aspect of Christianity, that only one sect/schism/denom is doing it right, is in fact True.

Not to put words in your post there, but in this Religion 101 analysis, I think you're adding just 2 words:

that only one sect/schism/denom at most, is doing it right

Clearly, any 'big ticket' item all christer faiths share in common (JEEBUS* for instance) that is demonstrated to be 'false' would consign all the christer franchises to the fiery pit of hell of some other non-christer faith that turned out to be True, if they have a hell [snicker].  So the 'at most' bit is certainly correct too, even if ALL christer sects/schisms/denoms are false.

And there is no guaranty any of the non-christer faiths is the One True Faith either . . .




* LOL: or GOD !!!

[ignoramus]

And then God pats himself on the back!

[Edwardo Piet]

I'm awesome me. And I didn't even need to use a cheat code this time.