Can't decide between christianity and atheism?

Question

i'm christian right now, and people at church say that heaven exists, but my gut and brain tell me that heaven and hell is just an idea, not real places. however if they are wrong, they have nothing to lose, but if i'm wrong i'm screwed. then again, i can't just pretend to believe something that my logic says otherwise. help?

Answer 1

Well, if you can't refute Pascal's Wager, I would stick with Christianity. You simply do not have the mental acumen to be an atheist.
*Cheers*

Answer 2

I am a Mormon, and we have a different view of Heaven and Hell. After the Judgement and Ressurection, we believe that there are three different places we can go. All kingdoms of glory. But some greater than others. The first is the Celetial Kingdom. This is the place where God lives, and also Jesus Christ. Only there can we be truly happy. We can live and be with our families forever. It is the greatest of the kingdoms. To enter it we must repent dayley and always strive to keep all of Gods commandments. The second is the Terrestrial Kingdom. This is a place where good people will go, but they may not have repented of everything. Or did not like keeping all of the commandments. It is still a kingdom of glory, but we will not be as happy as we could have been. We also will not be able to be with God. And the last is a place for the evil people of the world. It is called the telestial kingdom. There we will still be in a kingdom, but not nearly as good as the other two.
Now, this proves that God is loving. He does love us all. We have to make our own desisions, and there will be consiquences. But he isnt going to put us in a litteral Hell. I think the Hell will be our guilt. We will have known what we could have done, and we did not do it. That is what the Hell will be. God did not give us that hell. We brought it upon ourselves.
Now, I feel that this is a very reall thing. I know with everything that Is going on today, the things people say and the things society wants us to believe it is hard to keep faith. But I know there is a loveing Heavenly Father. He has a plan for us.

Answer 3

What matters is not whether you believe in God or you are an atheist, it is rather the good deeds you do right here and right now, this is what gives people real spiritual experience and a connection to our ultimate cause. Being a christian, muslim or an atheist is just a vehicle through which, depending on our cultural backgrounds, do those good deeds and we feel comfortable with. They are sort of channels for our good deeds. If you strongly believe (your religion for instance) that the sun is God, that is not the point, the point is how your strong conviction in the sun being God help you become a better person amongst the sons of man otherwise your belief is not anymore in vain than he who believes in Jehovah or Jesus and this belief/conviction does not transform him at all! Remember when Jesus tried to portray what would happen in the judgement day: Before his throne, those on his right hand side and those on the left: The ones on the right hand side inherited heaven not because of their belief but rather because, according to Jesus himself, they visited the seek, they helped the poor, they clothed the naked and at each time they did so, they did it to Jesus himself.

As long as the intention behind these deeds is truly genuine, coming from deep down you in the presence of your higher self (not doing it, as most people do in order to get praise from men), Be as atheist as you want, my friend, you will sit with angels in heaven and rule for eternity!

Morality does not arise from religion, it arises from man himself and that is what will guarantee your place in the heavenly abode. Do you think our forefathers did not know that killing, stealing or sleeping with someone else's wife was bad before Moses was given the 10 commandments? Or do you think that an old african man in a remote village who has never read the bible or any "Holy" book does not know that killing his fellow man is evil? Even though he kills, deep down himself he will feel disgusted.

My advise is: Go with whatever belief (atheism, theism, paganism etc) that makes your mind and soul at ease so that you could give yourself time to act, not just believe.for confusion and doubts will not bring you any spiritual progress.

Shalom!

Answer 4

Don't go by your gut. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it? That's in the Bible but I can't remember where. I seriously doubt that you are a Christian now like you say. You wouldn't even be considering atheism if you were. Have you ever invited Christ into your life or read the New Testament? I think you should consider this carefully and pray for wisdom before making a decision. I'll pray for you.

Answer 5

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Satan is working overtime on your mind. You should be able to discern that if you are truly a Christian. Remember, we believe without knowing for sure. That is faith. Don't loose your faith and become a non believer. I doubt at times too but there is no way I would become an atheist because heaven and hell don't make sense. They just don't make sense but I choose - CHOOSE - to believe that they exist. You will meet God one day and I hope to see you in heaven, my friend.

Answer 6

Lots of Christians believe heaven and hell are just other states of being, rather than geographical locations.

Answer 7

Before you decide, make a promise to yourself that you will start at the Book of John chapter 1 in the New Testament and read all the way to the end, Revelation chapter 22. Do not make this decision until you finish reading it all.

Answer 8

i think of your completely outstanding to be "searching for." God does not pick us to worship Him "only reason." He needs an honest worship from a coronary heart that is sought Him out. I, too, had the comparable innovations for fairly a whilst. I wasn't optimistic no rely if God existed or no longer and likewise appeared into different religions. I additionally became raised in a Christian family individuals. in spite of the undeniable fact that, i've got have been given to declare that Christianity is likewise fairly logical; i think of it makes a ton of sense to believe that the international around us, with all its attractiveness and intricacies, became made by way of a desirable author; and that our good judgment, our minds, the affection we teach one yet another and the remarkable machines that are our bodies are no longer only the effect of evolution, which began whilst an unliving element grew to alter into living, which exceeded off nicely after no longer something evidently grew to alter into something. Logically that makes much less sense to me; scientifically, theories proceed to conform to describe those doubtless unscientific recommendations. I implore you to maintain praying to God; only like job, Moses, Abraham and others got here to Him with doubts, insecurities and questions, God needs you to be honest with Him. Its stated that we've a God-shaped hollow in our hearts; we sense incomplete without Him and we are made that way by way of Him so as that we will seek for Him. i think of you're experiencing this outstanding now - something deep interior you tells you that He exists, yet you are able to no longer yet settle for it totally. Please enable me understand in case you have any particular questions; i might truly pick that may assist you in this technique as suited i will. Take care!

Answer 9

A lot of religions promise an Eternal torment if you do not follow their guidelines, this would seem more likely to be just a threat to maintain followers rather than express the likelihood of an all loving god that would allow someone to go to Hell, that is similar to allowing my 18 month old child to pull a pan of boiling water over her head but for an eternity, I warned her but heck she just did not listen.. It is evil, and quite sadistic.. just the thought of it makes me sick.

Continue to think outside of the box, the world needs more rationalists.

Answer 10

Here's what I like to do when someone says "how can you not believe in god?" I go outside, look up at the sky and say "come on, god, hit me with your best shot." I wait a few seconds. No lightning bolt, no hailstone, not even a bird dropping. Case closed. I'd be an easy target, too.