...i was miserable? i always feared i was going to be punished with eternal burning and torture from demons. now that i educated myself and became an atheist, i havent been happier. i longer fear a "divine retribution". i feel better about my accomplishments, knowing i did them myself without the help of anyone.
2006-07-14 16:29:59 · 44 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
i was roman catholic for 15 years of my life. for the 3/4s of my life i was always scared, but i thought of god as a man who wore a velvet glove, if you will, on one hand and an iron fist on the other. it was the final 1/4 of my time as a christian that i asked questiones, and found no answers.
i credit my existance to my parents...no more details (i dont like to think about that, lol)
2006-07-14 16:47:33 · update #1
and i read the bible and talked to the priests (not alone...no way...not as a kid) in some local churches. for ech answer they gave me, it only opened more questions.
2006-07-14 16:51:57 · update #2
Christianity is a religion based on fear, i.e. "If you are bad you won't get to go to Heaven, in fact, you will burn for all eternity." That's why you were miserable. I was a heavily practicing Christian for twleve years and those were twelve years of misery.
Bible-thumpers don't celebrate their faith. They despair in it. I'm glad you pulled yourself out of your depression. :) And yes, YOU did it. Just YOU.
2006-07-14 16:36:42 · answer #1 · answered by Maria Isabel 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Because there were ppl like the 1st 3 answers that don't teach the compassion of Christ. A Christian should have no fear of anything because they have a divine Father. Did no one mention that however many times you mess up or fail, God doesn't disown you? Ever. I wonder what kind of education you mean that made you an atheist. I'm going into geology in college, which most people use againt time in the Bible, but everything I learn make me think more about how there has to be a God. Oh, and God doesn't do the any of your work/accomplishments, he just blesses you efforts.
2006-07-14 16:47:56 · answer #2 · answered by Teekish 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were miserable as a Christian then you were in the wrong church not being taught correctly or not being open to listen it sounds to me like you are easy for Satin to lurer in and so he got you. I went to church alot years ago and just started back to church and I have finally found a church that is so awesome and so wonderful that I can't get enough of it. Yeah some bad things has happened since we started going to church but that is tests you go through. But the good things that's happening is out laying any bad that that has ever happened. It's a great feeling being a child of God. Usually it's just lack of education. Poor teaching poor preaching. Eternity is so much more awesome to think about when it doesn't involve burning and torture. Which is what Hell will be.
2006-07-14 16:41:00 · answer #3 · answered by Guess Who 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what kind of Christian were you? I mean what denomination? I have never feared being punished with eternal burning torture from demons.
My life is actually better when I am in church. Being a Christian doesn't mean you have to stop living, it just means different things are important.
Are you sure you don't have something in the back of your mind that keeps telling you now, as an atheist, that you are wrong and maybe you feel a little guilty, especially since you have the background in religion?
I wouldn't give up on God, just find a different kind of church that won't judge you and everything you do. I will tell you, those people that call themselves Christian and all they do is scare you and judge you, aren't really Christian. It clearly states we are not to judge, especially when we do those things ourselves.
Don't give up on God, he hasn't given up on you.
2006-07-14 16:49:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is pretty simple. Lets just say you were trying to become a doctor. You would have to go to college and study and struggle financially and be deprived of sleep and time for yourself. It would be tough.
If you were to drop out of med school and take a middle income job it would seem that you were better off. You would not have to struggle or loose sleep and you would have much more time. But you will never become the doctor you wanted to be. You will never save a life, you will never have that 6 figure salary. The easy path is rarely the right path. The easy path is just that easy. You get what you pay for is a way to put it. You don't have the worry, but then you are only fooling yourself.
If you are frustrated with a religion don't give up on God. Maybe you just have the wrong religion. It took a long time for me to find my faith and find the best way for me to connect with God. For me it was Islam. God willing you will find faith again when you are ready.
2006-07-14 16:48:12 · answer #5 · answered by lovingmomhappykids 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm relieved that your self-esteem has healed now that you have rejected the faith of your forefathers.
What sort of "education" did you receive that can cause you to look around at this beautiful planet on which we live, nestled in this elegant universe that is so meticulously ordered, and believe that there there is nothing behind it? How can you look around at our world and see 3 billion people living at the subsistence level and have the nerve to pat yourself on the back for your accomplishments?
You are not the prime mover in your life. You are a tiny speck, a miniscule blob of cells in a universe that is so vast you can't fathom its limits. And you really think it's all about YOU?
My God is not a God of vengeance and retribution. My God does, however, have a knack for humbling the proud and exalting the lowly. I pray, my friend, that you open your eyes and your heart to the divine before he does it for you.
Silly child.
2006-07-14 17:06:57 · answer #6 · answered by jimbob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say that you were never a real christian/ A christian does not fear hell, he is saved from hell. A christian has power over demons and doesn't fear them..
Your dream will end the day the doctor says, (you have cancer that in incurable) then what will you do??
Our lives are so very fragile that it can all go bad in a minute, and if you don't have the help of God it can be very scary. If you were in the twin towers when the planes hit, what would you say. Me I would say THANK YOU JESUS, as I will be seeing you soon.. That's life, christians die like anyone else, but we are ready for it. I do not fear hell and I know that I have been saved from that. Life is not about you and your desires, but about God and his desires. He owns everything including us..
2006-07-14 16:37:57 · answer #7 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it just makes sense. If you believe that God is a vindictive tyrant, then that would be scary. I believe in God but not the Christian God. I feel happier too when I changed from believing in the Christian vision of God to what I feel is the truth.
You have found a higher truth than you had before (maybe even the ultimate truth, who knows) and so of course, you are happier. Congratulations!
2006-07-14 17:18:02 · answer #8 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What does it matter, why you were miserable..? Really, what does it matter...?
Are you saying that it SHOULD matter...?
Should it matter to GOD...? Why, if He doesn't exist...?
Should it matter to us human beings...? Why, if all we are is matter and energy...?
Everybody knows that matter and energy don't have any feelings.
What, specifically, were you afraid of...? Was it something that someone deliberately threatened you with, or an idea that you picked up by deduction...?
How did you educate yourself...?
Retribution implies wrongdoing. What were you doing that you knew was wrong?
Why shouldn't you feel good about your accomplishments...? Don't your parents also have a right to feel good about your accomplishments...? Don't your teachers have a right to feel good about your accomplishments...?
Are you proud of your children...? Do you feel good about their accomplishments...? Is that the exact same thing as taking credit away from them, for the accomplishments...?
You seem to be lashing out at Christians. Is that supposed to help them? Is that supposed to make them more miserable or less?
You still seem pretty miserable to me.
2006-07-14 17:04:27 · answer #9 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure you ever were a Christian? When you are born of the Spirit, a supernatural transformation occurs. It doesn't mean you won't have difficulty, but your outlook begins to change as you see things through God's eyes. It sounds like you encountered a lot of fear. I'm not sure which group you were with but condemnation based denominations can be pretty tough to deal with. I believe in the grace of God which leads us into relationship with Jesus not just a bunch of rules and fear-based works. Knowing Him is the ultimate, I would hate for you to miss out on that because of people.
2006-07-14 16:38:10 · answer #10 · answered by Michelle S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once one is truly of The Christian Faith there is no turning, or returning to anything else. Once of The Faith always of The Faith.
That you came from the RC says why you wer so fearful. Not being able to know for certain of Salvation is the biggest fear in the hearts of those of that cult.
Those of the true Christian Faith do not fear any "divine retribution"
For those of The Christian Faith Salvation is assured.
Feel as good as you want about your accomplishmensts,,, you did indeed probably do them yourself... What will they get you in eternity?
God is still waiting for you. You only have to come to Him in The Way He proscribed... no pope or priest involved... No man can decree you of The Christian Faith... Only God.
I share The Good News of Salvation , ASSURED on my website.
For all who truly want to know more about this Good News, All are invited to:
http://pages.zdnet.com/mikevanauken/mikesinterneroutreach
All honest seekers welcome
2006-07-14 17:01:39 · answer #11 · answered by IdahoMike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋