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Lintu said:I don't think I believe in God anymore, but I really wish I could. I particularly wish I could believe in an afterlife. I find death extremely scary now that I don't
Lintu said:I don't think I believe in God anymore, but I really wish I could. I particularly wish I could believe in an afterlife. I find death extremely scary now that I don't
Daria said:i get what you mean, but death doesn't need to look so scary now... because maybe it's just the end of everything, and so when you die, you won't realise that you don't exist, and so it wouldn't matter that you no longer exist... does that makes sense?
sahra-t said:But it's the same as how it was before you were born! Were you scared then!?
I disagree. I believe I was fully cognizant for a few billion years before I was born.sahra-t said:But it's the same as how it was before you were born!
I'm curious as to why you feel that way. I mean, I do believe in God, and in an afterlife, but I don't think I'd find the idea of non-existence particularly frightening. In trying to imagine how I'd view the inevitability of death if I believed death to be the end of my existence, I think I'd feel sadness or regret, but not really fear. From your OP, I'm gathering that you were once a believer. May I ask how you came to lose your belief?Lintu said:Oh definitely--once you're actually dead, if it really is just the end, you don't know. But the thought of consciousness being gone forever scares the bejeesus out of me.
Katzpur said:I'm curious as to why you feel that way. I mean, I do believe in God, and in an afterlife, but I don't think I'd find the idea of non-existence particularly frightening. In trying to imagine how I'd view the inevitability of death if I believed death to be the end of my existence, I think I'd feel sadness or regret, but not really fear. From your OP, I'm gathering that you were once a believer. May I ask how you came to lose your belief?
Lintu said:I still believe there could be an underlying unifying spirit, but not a God that comforts and punishes and leads us all into an ultimate goal.
And Super Universe, I'm not saying that there isn't happiness in the world. It's just death in particular that I find really troubling without faith, more so than most other issues.
Lintu said:I don't think I believe in God anymore, but I really wish I could. I particularly wish I could believe in an afterlife. I find death extremely scary now that I don't
If you go outside you will realiza that the trees are the same, the sky is the same, the smile of the children are the same, life is the same.Lintu said:I don't think I believe in God anymore, but I really wish I could. I particularly wish I could believe in an afterlife. I find death extremely scary now that I don't
Lintu said:I don't think I believe in God anymore, but I really wish I could. I particularly wish I could believe in an afterlife. I find death extremely scary now that I don't
uruk said:I feel ya. I'm kind of where you are, too. I'm really trying to hang on to my Christian beliefs, but they're flowing down the drain and I can't find the stopper!
Funny, I always had trouble truly beling God forgave me of my sins. I have struggles that I just couldn't overcome. Places I really wanted to reach but just couldn't no matter how much I fasted and prayed and begged God for help. So, eternal damnation was a thing I had trouble with.
But, I'd rather there be no afterlife at all, than to have an afterlife filled with eternal burning in a lake of fire. I mean, I really believed in it and was afraid of it. That scared me more than having nothing at all to look forward to.
If I understand correctly, you converted from Christianity to Judaism? Jews don't believe in eternal damnation like many christians, right? My facts aren't straight on that, so don't quote me on it.
Super Universe said:You will have trouble believing that God can forgive your sins until you forgive yourself for them. Make a concerned effort to sin no more and go on with your life. What person is without sin?
I was taught that fasting provided an edge in one's spiritual growth. Fasting is how you "kill" the sinful nature and cause the inner or spiritual man to thrive and grow stronger while the sinful nature is deminished. We had a saying at my church . . . . "if you don't fast, you won't last. If you don't pray, you can't stay". Suffering is the way into God's kingdom to many people from my background. You couldn't have told me a year ago that I wasn't doing any of this in His name. If I wasn't, I truly believed I was. Just giving you insight into my past so you can better see where I'm coming from. Not trying to pick a fight on anything.Super Universe said:Fasting and prayer are for you, your body, not for God. He does not wish for anyone to suffer. It is certainly not in His name that you do this for.
Super Universe said:Look up eternal damnation in the bible, you will not find it because there is no such thing. It does not exist other than in the human imagination. Why would God create such a place?
God does not work through fear. These things that you have learned come from the imagination of people not from God.
uruk said:If I understand correctly, you converted from Christianity to Judaism? Jews don't believe in eternal damnation like many christians, right? My facts aren't straight on that, so don't quote me on it.
robtex said:Wow it is great to see you!!!! Hey so last time you were here you were all gung-ho about converting to Judiasm, having conflicts with your conservative christian mom about it....what happened between now and than?
uruk said:I must admint, you make a good point. Unfortunately, my religious background is so full of a "works" oriented dogma. In one ear, I've been taught that God loves us and forgives us and the blood of Christ will wash us. In the other ear, I'm told that if I don't "get my life right" I'll forfiet the cleansing power of Christ and end up in "the Lake". So, having to depend on my own spiritual growth to maintain God's grace becomes frightning -- for just as you said, "what person is without sin"? I know what the teachers and preachers of my religious system say. But in the end, all the talk of mercy and grace gets contradicted in practice.
I was taught that fasting provided an edge in one's spiritual growth. Fasting is how you "kill" the sinful nature and cause the inner or spiritual man to thrive and grow stronger while the sinful nature is deminished. We had a saying at my church . . . . "if you don't fast, you won't last. If you don't pray, you can't stay". Suffering is the way into God's kingdom to many people from my background. You couldn't have told me a year ago that I wasn't doing any of this in His name. If I wasn't, I truly believed I was. Just giving you insight into my past so you can better see where I'm coming from. Not trying to pick a fight on anything.
Eternal damnation seems to be there. Maybe it's just the way other people have always interpreted the bible to me. Revelations comes to mind -- the last three chapters. Maybe eternal punishment is only for the "beast" and such and everyone else just gets dumped into the lake and is burn up once and for all. But it's sounds clear to me that the end for unbelievers and sinners will be at least painfu -- if taken literally.
Why would God create such a place? I've wondered that lately. Perhaps it is all human imagination; thus, my waning faith. But, all I've shared is what was programed into my head from a child. So, it's hard to let go of the idea of unforgivness and eternal punishment.
Lintu said:Hey supermod! Same to you, always great to see a familiar face! Well, I still like Judaism. I like the community, I like the belief system (regardless of how I feel about God). But my husband still always wants to do Christmas with his family even if we don't celebrate it together, and I don't want to raise our future kids in multiple religions. I'd prefer to do one but let them know (once they're old enough) that they can go in their own direction with our blessing. I just think kids need consistency. Also, we're really wanting to move back to TX, which means I couldn't just get away with not telling my mom or grandmother!
It was funny, I went home for a visit this one time and my mom started asking me all these questions about Judaism. I thought for sure someone had told her! But then it just turned out she had been having a discussion with a friend. She's come to the understanding that no one religion is necessarily the right one, but still believes too much in the role of Jesus to accept that any other religion is better than hers. That's fine--that's her right--but I wish she'd understand why other people don't believe in it or dislike it.