Ex-Christians: Was God making you his slave or simply protecting you from that which you do not know?
Is freedom defined as "doing what you want, when you want to"?
Are "Do what feels good" and "If it feels good, it's right" good morals to live by?
2007-02-19 10:10:16 · 10 answers · asked by Doug 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This question seems to imply that non-Christians must lead immoral lives. That's quite an arrogant assumption.
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Eh...no... There are plenty of Christians with immoral lives. There are also many non-believers with moral lives. That's not my point.
2007-02-19 10:20:56 · update #1
I also take issue with Christianity's intolerance for others. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Nope - that's not often what's practiced. I know this first hand, too.
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Me too. :-)
2007-02-19 10:26:06 · update #2
I have never believed in your deity even when as a child forced to go to that white building with it's steeple and pews and worshipers. It is tantamount to abuse to tell people that they have no choice, that some unproved entity is in control of their destiny and that if they don't concede to that they will burn in Hell.
I live by treat others as you yourself would like to be treated. Show respect and you will receive it in return. I live by man's law that structure our society. I would match my morals to yours any day.
2007-02-19 10:17:37 · answer #1 · answered by genaddt 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. I do find the "Christian" God (at least the Abrahamic view of God) to be a bit arrogant, controling, and more like a king who needs servants and worshipers. If God is just being "overprotective", well, that's another form of control, now isn't it? Even a human parent knows when they've crossed that line.
2. Freedom means different things to different people. To me, it means being able to view God from my own point of view in my own way. Being allowed to believe what I want to believe without being burnt at the stake for it. I know what you're trying to imply here. That we non-believers want to sin, sin, sin! But I'll have you know that I am happily married, monogomous, I respect life, I love others, I don't drink, and I am a very responsible adult. Yes, I do some things because I like to do them, but it's usually something like having an extra piece of chocolate, or making love to my husband. Are those immoral things? Christianity does not hold all the stock in moral goodness. Sorry. I have some moral issues with the tenants of Christianity, including how women are allegedly inferior to men and men get to rule the household. Sorry, but if some men did that, their households would fall apart. Trust me.
I also take issue with Christianity's intolerance for others. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Nope - that's not often what's practiced. I know this first hand, too.
Also note that if more than one person thought you were implying that non-believers just wanted to sin, chances are there was a communication error.
2007-02-19 18:24:06 · answer #2 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Spiritual freedom is to accept God' s will and to live by it, not because you fear God but because you love Him/Her. However, not a single human being should be expected to really comply with a so-called Divine Will taught and even enforced by self-appointed messengers of God, reality of which cannot be proven. Many people are eager to tell somebody that they know what God wills, and what God likes and what God dislikes. The thing is, it is only in one's heart where God's Will can be found. When a person continuously acts from the heart (not emotionally, but from the Heart as a Spiritual Center of Love) is spiritually free and will do what he wants when he wants to, will do what feels good, being at all times doing God's will.
2007-02-19 18:40:57 · answer #3 · answered by Mysticalman68 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those aren't morals at all. But, if it feels good IN THE LONG run, that's a reasonable ethos for happiness. I would say happiness is about a lot more than pleasure though.
Spiritual freedom is not only being free from delusions, but also is a state of mind where you aren't bound by your own prejudices.
Hitler claimed to be a Christian. Gandhi was a Hindu. Who do you think was spiritually free?
2007-02-19 18:14:53 · answer #4 · answered by Contemplative Monkey 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This question seems to imply that non-Christians must lead immoral lives. That's quite an arrogant assumption.
The answer to your question,, in my case, is none of the above. I found I could no longer follow a belief system that condemned so many good people to torture and damnation. It didn't make sense to me then, and it doesn't now. That's why I left religion. I didn't leave God.
2007-02-19 18:18:44 · answer #5 · answered by milomax 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
my god has nothing to do with christianity. (i'm jewish) i was not a slave to christanity, nor was i protected by it. it was simply not the right religion/belief system for me.
religious freedom is choosing your own moral system, and finding a way to express that faith or lack thereof without persecusion from people who think they know more about your spirituality than you do.
those morals are only right if you get pleasure from being kind and helpful to the universe and it's creatures.
2007-02-19 18:25:02 · answer #6 · answered by mommynow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spiritual Freedom is loving yourself, and believing in yourself. It also has to do with what you project into the Universe. It has nothing to do with Religion
2007-02-19 18:13:35 · answer #7 · answered by surfinnorcal77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doing what you want is OK if You is big enough.
And I don't mean in size
2007-02-19 18:13:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Love of yourself & others
2007-02-19 18:17:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
born again ppl dont leave cuz they KNOW THE VALUE OF ETERNAL LIFE...
freedom is eating pork, going to church on sunday etc
2007-02-19 18:16:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋