Are you a religious person for fear of going to hell or because you think your religion has a good moral code?

Question

I am kinda disapointed to know that most Christians are religious for fear of going to hell. I simply don't think that's what Jesus intended us to do. I think He wants us to practice love in our hearts at first place.

Answer 1

I am spiritual because I am driven to be. If there is nothing more than what we have here on Earth, then life has no real purpose for me.

We should, as human beings, love others innately, although it takes much practice to do so unconditionally. I believe hate is learned, and not the natural state that humans are born into.

Superstar, you are so very wrong. I don't believe in a hell of the kind the Bible speaks of (interpretation comes in here), so there is no way I am Christian because I fear hell.

Answer 2

Some may think I am religious, but my Love and faith in God is my first concern. Through the years, I started out as a Catholic Christian, perhaps in between went to many different types of Christian churches, and still do, but consider God- Jesus Christ to be my religion. I am very spiritual, so basically I am like a cross breathe, not sure where I fit, but know what I want and seek, and to where I am going always moving forward to the Lord and seek the spiritual aspect of it.
So basically I have changed due to new findings, experiences, and knowledge.
For me to survive the things I have all my life and to have the Love for God and wanting to do his will and help others is just amazing. My spirit always new that He God was there by my side, God lead and guided me to where I am, because I was eventually open enough to allow him in my life.

Answer 3

I dont consider myself religious, neither do any Christians. I dont even think of going to hell or worry about going there. I came to Jesus when I couldnt handle life my own way and trying other ways to deal with it and nothing was working and I gave God all my burdens and He made things change, my desires changed,,, I dont desire the things I used to and I believe in Gods word. I am for Jesus because He loves me and changes lives not because I am afraid of hell. I was arrogant not knowing I was headed to hell....there is a hell, its real... if you feel convicted because you know youre on the wrong direction headed to hell, do something about it and change and go the right way. Its not hard, its the right thing to do. Im not ashamed because I want to do what is right , following Him and loving Jesus. believing in Him has changed my outlook on life and now I have hope and am new in Him. I started over, you can too. Jesus saves. Jesus said that the most important commandement is to love the Lord God with all your mind, heart, soul and strength and the second is love your neighbor as yourself.....Jesus said many things and gave many lessons, you will learn a lot just reading what He said....He knows a lot about love. :)

Answer 4

John said that "perfect loves casts out all fear" which is where God wants us to be. Where we obey not because we fear hellfire but becasue we love our fellow man and God so much the very idea of sin is abhorrent to us. The reason that we talk about punishment is two-fold.

1. It is an eternal principle that justice will have those that sin and that they will be punished. Ignoring the truth does not keep it from being truth.

2. Just like a small child learns not to touch a hot stove for fear that it will burn them, so we start down the path to pure love by being willing to obey out of fear. It is part of the process and when we are more animal than man we need a better reason than becasue you should, try it on a toddler, they won't understand. And in most cases people start out as spiritual toddlers.

Answer 5

Jesus was more than Love much much more. "Works without faith is dead being alone." Love is just a piece to the perfect master plan. Hell is a very real part to. If good moral code is why you are saved the what happens when you break it or get tired or it or the code has changed to many variables.So I guess if I had to choose between the two not say either really but hell over moral code any day.

Answer 6

Judaism doesn't have a Hell, in the sense of someplace were sinners are sent to be punished/tortured forever. So, we do what we do out of love and respect for G-d and His Torah. The Torah is, 1st and foremost, a system of moral discipline. We think the Torah was created by G-d to be the fundamental foundation of the Universe. As long as we learn, love and obey it, we think that we are following G-d's choice for us. Humans do come with an instruction manual and that manual is the Torah.

Answer 7

Who said that's why most Christians are religious? On what are you basing your assumption? Neither of the reasons you give are valid for me. I am a Christian because I choose to believe it's true.

I'd rather believe and be wrong, than not believe and be wrong.

TO: Jo'Dan-

You must not know very many Christians if you think that most of them never doubt. Most, if not all of us, go through times of doubting and questioning, but we make a choice to believe in Jesus.

Actually, most Christians I know were not raised in the church. Many people become Christians as adults.

Answer 8

Good question. Since trying life both ways, with God at the helm and with me at the helm -- I actually like me a whole lot more when God's running things.

There are many instances and areas of my life that are undeniably better because of my relationship with God.

The notion of heaven or hell avoidance is just the cherry on top.

Be blessed.

Answer 9

"I am a humanist. I try my best to be a good person and do the right thing and don't expect any reward for it." - Kurt Vonnegut.
You'd think that a 'true, fair and just' God would judge humanity by the content of their actions and by their morals. Not make sure they believed in him first.
There are very few Christians who have ever doubted their own religion. Without once doubting you cannot truly believe in anything.
Most Christians are brainwashed into Christianity since they are born, and then are afraid to doubt because they don't want to go to Hell.

Answer 10

I am not Christian. However I am religious. It gives me a since of peace. It reinforces my moral code. It is my community, my tribe. If you can't find peace in God in this life, what do you think is to come?