2007-03-13 16:19:07 · 25 answers · asked by baby boo 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, I don't believe there is a physical place called Hell that's filled with fire and brimstone. I believe Hell is the state of being removed from God's loving presence. My reasons for believing in God are my own, but I do NOT believe because of some implied threat.
2007-03-13 16:22:33 · answer #1 · answered by They call me ... Trixie. 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Religion is different from a person's personal spiritual experience, and as it's phrased your question confounds the two (no offense meant, truly). A choice to be a member of a religion, and all the social as well as moral and ethical issues that this entails, ought to require a personal spiritual examination and choice but I think that perhaps it does not always. For some it is social, sometimes political, sometimes it's just the need for reassurance that human existence doesn't suck entirely or eternally. And I think that is not a bad motivation, even if it does produce some not pleasant social side effects.
2007-03-13 16:24:56 · answer #2 · answered by perseph1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No the basic motivation behind religion is not a choice to love God or burn eternally in hell. The underlying motivation behind religion is to control people i.e. the status quo. It is used to keep people in boxes and defined prejudices. Now spirituality on the other hand is a much more powerful indicator of feeling whole and peace with yourself and your surroundings and with the Almighty himself. The "truth" lies within us not without. And religion exists to make us believe we are not capable of recognizing "truth." Truth is universal, fair, and within us all.
2007-03-13 16:28:00 · answer #3 · answered by ortiz15800 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, the basic motivation behind religion is to form a personal relationship with Divinity, my Divinity doesn't send people to Hell for not being able to agree on everything about it... I leave that to the poor people who can't grasp the concept of a Deity that can accept people who don't agree with the 'mainstream' concept of what God is.
All religions stress a personal relationship with Divinity. Not all of them are focused on the burning in hell stuff.
2007-03-13 16:26:45 · answer #4 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that the basic motovation behind religion is the need to believe that something happens when we die. most people find the thought of just "disappearing," or just ceasing to exist, when we die to much to bear. and we would also like to believe that there is a higher power we can turn to when we need help. some say that our world [everything around us], ourselves included, is just two great to have appeared "poof" out of nowhere. and yes, many people are only religious because of a fear of being sent to hell. i know that thought scares me. but being religious for the sole reason of fearing hell is not a very good reason, is it? and God knows if that is why we are religious. it would be better if everyone who was religious was that way out of love for God. but don't get me wrong, many people are.
i hope i helped.
2007-03-13 16:29:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably depends on the person. I tried to believe in religions before. My motivation was the desire for someone to know the answers and the assurance that there was some kind of rhyme or reason in the world. And that there was a reason for the bad things that have happened in my life.
However, I think that if one decides to be religious, they have to decide to see the world through whatever lenses they decide to see the world through, and if it doesn't make sense, then you must ignore it and convince yourself you are not smart enough to question "god" or the creators of your religion.
I am not good at that blind-faith thing. And there doesn't seem to be many selling points when it comes to blind faith. Therefore, I am not religious. If I find a believable religion, I think I would practice it, but I am not holding my breath.
2007-03-13 16:20:58 · answer #6 · answered by the guru 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My faith is all about serving God and not myself. Strange concept, huh? Hell is not what they teach about in art 101. No earthly bodies falling into a lake of fire. A spirit/mind tortured by thoughts of regret at not being in the presence of God.
2007-03-13 16:26:30 · answer #7 · answered by moonrose777 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The basic motivation behind religion is to deal with death. Nobody likes it but it's a fact of life. I for one choose not to wuss out. Yay me.
2007-03-13 16:21:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hell=Grave
2007-03-13 16:21:02 · answer #9 · answered by Royal Racer Hell=Grave © 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
religion doesn`t mean Christianity, some religions don`t even believe in the existence of a hell.
2007-03-13 16:21:24 · answer #10 · answered by Sir Alex 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋