Christianity, Atheist, Agnostic. Confused! Help?

Question

I've been Atheist for about a year or so, but before it I was a Christian. The Atheist thing just isnt clicking for me, It makes me feel cold hearted and worthless. I guess you could call me Agnostic now, I think theres something out there but Im not sure who or what it is. I mean I try to understand the whole god and jesus concept but all the questions I ask are never properly answered. Its just confusing.

I mean if theres a so call "heaven" then where is it?? If you go above the clouds it takes you to space. And the so call "hell"? Well if you go below the ground then you get molten rock, and stuff. Its just confusing for me. And at the churches I went to they told me not to question things, and god, but I want some darn answers!

Another thing is when you die doesnt your body just go 6 feet below the ground, and thats it your dead. I mean whats up with the whole spirit leaving the body thing? I mean theres no actualy "heaven" or "hell" so what happens to the "soul"??

Answer 1

About christianity, you're quite right. I only wish more christians would start actually looking for answers rather than just trusting what they believe and never examining it at all.

As for atheism, I'm an atheist, but it doesn't make me feel cold-hearted or worthless. I think most people could find all the comfort they need in living life fully and morally. But then, if you DO believe in a higher power, well, I guess that prevents you from being an atheist, doesn't it? You wouldn't be an agnostic either, agnostics are people who haven't made a decision on the subject. You're some kind of theist, definitely, but you just don't belong to any organized religious group and I'm not sure exactly what you should call yourself.

Answer 2

What, are you like 12 years old or something?

If Atheism makes you feel cold hearted and worthless, then you are obviously the type of person who needs to follow a religion. Atheists do not need a God to feel worthwhile, nor to feel compassion towards their fellow man. This is something that should SIMPLY be done!

As for your questions, I cannot imagine that they havent been answered properly. Even I, being an Atheist, can tell you that Christians beleive that God is outside of time and space, and therefore so is his realm - it is not below our feet or above our heads, but in a different realm. Why? Because this is a place where you cant see and prove his non existence...

please read www.skepticsannotatedbible.com for more info.

Answer 3

You’re asking the right questions, just keep asking. You don’t have to have all the answers right now – no one ever has all the answers. I think you might have made the decision to become an atheist too soon for you. It sounds like maybe it’s something you tried because it sounded good at the time without having solid underlying reasons. I personally didn’t set out to become an atheist, it’s just what happened after I realized there was no evidence that there was any sort of god or soul, heaven or hell and I could no longer believe in those things. I still consider myself a happy, fulfilled, compassionate person whose eyes are wide with wonder at our amazing universe. You might want to do some reading about the natural world in your search for answers. You may find that you don’t really have to jump to the conclusion that there has been supernatural involvement. Or you may not. In any case, keep questioning. And good luck.

Answer 4

Isn't it interesting how enculturation can overwhelm rational thought. You ask very good questions, which would not be a problem unless you were trained (as many of us were) to believe the rational answers weren't true.

Consider you were asking the question about a bumble bee. Would a bumble bee heaven or hell be different than a human one? Would a bumble bee have a soul or spirit?

It is perfectly reasonable to think that a humans and bumble bees are both successes in evolution, but that neither has any greater existence than we have on the planet. Your confusion possibly arises from the old teachings that humans (and you personally) have a special relationship with God. Personally, I find that both arrogant and unnecessary for me to feel at peace.

Answer 5

okay, I'm going to be totally honest with you. I'm not going to try to convert you and you should never let another person do that to you. I can assure you that you won't find the answers to your questions here on Yahoo Answers. The important thing is that you are questioning your faith. I'm sure there is a religion (or lack of religion) or whatever out there for you. You just need to find what you are comfortable with. So just google religions or something or go on wikipedia and start checking out different religions. Christianity isn't the only religion that believes in a God. Just explore a little bit and I hope you find what you're looking for.

Answer 6

God bless you for your questions.

Yes, when you die, your body goes 6 feet under and decomposes. But we're talking about the soul. The soul is spirit. It is not anything of this material world. It comes from God, Who gave us our soul and is the source of all life. So then, if our soul is of God, and God is spirit, and spirit is not of this realm, then where is God?

Heaven.

So then, this is where the soul goes after the body has died. The big question is what happens to your soul when you die?

Heaven and Hell are realms of the spirit, not of this physical universe. When a person acknowledges God and puts their faith in Him, they are acknowleding that He is the source of all life, and that if they follow His teachings and commandments, He will give them a place in Heaven with Him. However, if they choose to reject Him and not follow Him, then they condemn themselves to Hell, which is the realm of the spirit that is cut off from God.

You see, we are all created of the spirit. Our time on earth is temporary. The question isn't whether or not we will have eternal life (we will have eternal life whether we want it or not BECAUSE of the spirit), but where will we spend eternity?

So, as far as Christianity, if I had to explain Jesus' mission in one sentence, it would be this: His mission was to die for us for the forgiveness of sins, and then to be resurrected from the dead. His mission was to defeat death!

He did not come down here to live a good life and give us some good advice and then wish us the best. He came to ensure our eternal salvation. This is why people are so devoted to Him. We all want immortality, and perfect peace and perfect love! And we recognize that those things can't be achieved in this physical life.

I've never been an atheist, but reading your comments helps me to understand it better. I see your questions as a voice, a call from Jesus, wanting you to come back home. He's tired of seeing you tired and alone and feeling cold hearted and worthless. He wants to give you His peace. Listen to that.

Do this: pray to Him. Tell Him everything you can think of, even the things you feel you can't tell anyone else. Ask Him to help you. He's ready and waiting.

Hope this helps.

God bless.

Answer 7

The "soul" is simply the electric synapses of your brain, once they cease to operate, you will no longer exist.

Being agnostic is fine, but you can fine meaning in this world without a God. Making someone smile, and feel good, is reward in and of itself. Being a good person is meaning, learning new things and experiencing all life has to offer is meaning.

You are correct, there are many nonsensical things connected with religion. Don't waste your life trying to figure them out, instead spend your life enjoying.

Also, keep in mind that the promise of eternity is maybe something that isn't all its cracked to be. I mean, can you imagine doing anything for eternity? That is literally billions and billions and billions of years (and that is just the start). No, eternity anywhere is a bad promise.

As far as that promise, read this funny little story about religious promises, it cracks me up!

http://www.jhuger.com/kisshank.php

Good luck in your search for truth and enjoyment of life. Just remember you don't have to believe in an invisible man in the sky to have both.

Answer 8

Thats fine, good for you in searching. No one has all the answers to this life but just being agnostic isn't good enough. Continue to search, dont discriminate religions, find one that suits you. No religion has all the answers to this life but searching helps us get closer. Atheism is faith in nothing and there is a reason it left you cold. Continue to search and more answers will come. God is silent and chooses to be this way. It wants you to learn on your own, make your own decisions, and have faith. No God is going to strike a bolt of lightning and tell you...Hey its me GOD! Its harder than that and the answers will all be given to you after death, no matter if there is heaven or hell, whatever, no one truly knows but there is more than meets the eye, and I for one know there is a God.

Answer 9

You can believe in God without belonging to an organized religion. It actually feels really good not to have off of the condemning rules and beliefs that go with Christianity.

Another advantage of not being religious is that you can look at all religions objectively, instead of having the attitude that "my religion is better."

And to ease your fears, the concept of hell as a place of "fire, brimstone, and torture" was invented by the Catholic church to scare people into being "faithful."

Answer 10

You're obviously unhappy with your atheism/agnosticism. One thing is certain: you're not going to get the answers to your questions by staying away from the church and things Christian. Go to a church where you are free to probe and question and read around the subject. Ask somebody to recommend books explaining the Christian faith and see if there's an Alpha course which you could join, where you would meet other people like you. Jesus said: "Seek and you will find." That's a promise!