Alright, I have browsed some of the things in this "religion" forum, and see that if you are an atheist or agnostic, people will either say that you are going to hell, that they pity you, or that you are just confused.
I happen to think that though, saying someone will go to hell for different beliefs is obviously offensive, I think that pity is much more insulting.
I am not religious, but I am a good person. I am not going to hell for not believing in a god. I don't need pity, because my attitude is good, and my faith is not non-existent. Just placed in a different form of thinking. I'm not lost or confused, I'm very certain in what I believe.
And, of course, I would not enforce a stereotype that all people of faith are close-minded and happy to get on a ten foot tall moral horse to look down at you from, but the people that say things like that, I don't understand why someone would deserve those comments unless they were an awful person.
Now, I don't want a war.
Your thoughts?
2007-10-18 05:16:23 · 28 answers · asked by A.R.K. 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That's what I thought. But, I don't get it, your God has said nor wrote anything. Only the desciples of Jesus wrote the bible. So, if there is a God, no one can really know what he wants, or what he thinks, they only have the words of people that hung around with Jesus.
It's nice to know that I could be a good, happy, charitable person, and still go to a hell that might exist over a serial killer that gets to pal around with angels. This really doesn't make sense to me. But, I wouldn't hold anything against anyone who believed it. It could very well BE true, I'm not one to say it isn't.
Lucky S, the reason I go on about it was because I wanted to see if the people who said things like that really believed it. And I had the curiosity to know why. And thank you, you take care, too. :)
2007-10-18 05:39:01 · update #1
Common Sense, Channer, the girl with the crazy name, PlastikPunk, Problem, Richard, and Mommyof1, thank you. You were all very nice in giving your answers, and this is a genuine question, not a firestarter. :)
Brian, why would I say the sky is purple if I think it's red. And isn't the sky without color itself, only a reflection of the water. Then obviously, I see it's blue. What if I was colorblind. Okay, I'll quit. I just don't really do analogies, as I think different things are different. Not always succesfully comparable. It doesn't matter, I need to quit. :P
2007-10-18 05:39:13 · update #2
I AM JACK'S WASTED LIFE
That was a great statement! Thank you SOOO much. I've been so foolish in handling this. You give some good advice, friend, and a well needed perspective. I can see why you're a top contributer.
And I think I should apologize to Brian for picking on his analogy. It was an interesting analogy that I shouldn't have been so quick to hatchet.
Thank you again! :D
You've really made me calm down and feel so much better about all of it. :)
2007-10-18 05:46:43 · update #3
Just want to say before I pick a best answer, that my perspective has been smacked back into shape to the former "Leave it be" attitude thanks to Jack's wasted life. Not that it's not okay to be offended, I have just thought this over and it does seem silly for me to take it this seriously. It still doesn't seem too fair, and I do beg to differ with those that are convinced that I am going to hell or lost, but, I have decided that I can easily accept their beliefs, as I'd have liked them to do for me. Besides, we are all individuals. If we were meant to be the same person, we'd all just be one big brain with a bunch of loose limbs.
So, thank you to everyone who took the time to answer, and to the people that gave me a star. :) Even the one that said she'd pray for me. In the case that there is a God, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a good word put in for me. :P I'll pray to my whatever for you! That way, if one of us is right, we both get to go to a happy wherever. :D
2007-10-18 08:04:14 · update #4
-If people believe the Bible is true, and the Bible says that people without Jesus go to hell, they have to believe that, even if they don't want to or think it is offensive. Your war is not with the people on y/a, it's with their scriptures.
-If people believe that someone may go to hell (and the Bible also says that we can't know, only God knows if a person's heart is right, and it's about the heart), and they DON'T feel compassion for them, that would make them unloving monsters. Because indifference is worse than hate, and inaction allows evil to flourish, NOT telling you about God, from a Christian's point of view is like killing you. They just want to show you love, even if the effect is offensive to you. They don't need to do it to be accepted into heaven or anything, and there is a huge social risk to it. It's also hard for people to put what is at the core of their hearts out there for an atheist to stomp on. What would you do if you believed that people needed Jesus? Look at it from their point of view.
Consider this for a moment. I see your point, but where do your aversions come from? You don't like to be told that you are going to hell, meaning you don't like to be told that you are wrong by someone who thinks they are right. Very human response. You don't like people to pity you, where does that come from? I think this might be a pride issue on your part. We all respond to things like this the same way, because we all have a certain degree of pride. If you lose some of it, quit caring what Christians think of you, and accept them despite their beliefs about you, this will cease to offend you. You can't affect what they believe, it's scriptural, but your response to it only proves some of their points. I think that if you had no pride, you would laugh this off, and probably even listen to them to understand them more. It's not about you, it's about the teachings of their faith. Don't take it personally.
2007-10-18 05:26:49 · answer #1 · answered by Mrs. Eric Cartman 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
That's a good question Wonder. Some days I can't think of anything great or awesome to say. Like today, I can't think of anything. Someone actually called one of my answers lame the other day. *Cries* At least I answered. *Cries again * Now, I'm sad. Why don't we get together and go to McDonald's and wallow in our self pity together? I could handle feeling sorry for myself better with a strawberry milkshake.
2016-05-23 08:42:43 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I believe in America and the freedom to believe as you wish and hold the faith u choose or not choose. I don't understand why people always have to make comments acting as if their beliefs are the right ones or better for others. I say my faith is the best choice for me and I believe in God, but you will never here me say someone is less of a human being for believeing diff. We all have to make our own choices and choose our own faith and let no one judge others for their choices in faith is how i feel, but thats just me.
2007-10-18 05:46:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The risk or chance of going to hell has nothing to do with being a good or a bad person. The only way to not go to hell is to accept the Lord Jesus as your savior and believe in what He has done. You can be the sweetest, nicest, most giving person and still not get into heaven unless you know Jesus. Sorry if that offends or upsets you.
However, I do get just as upset with 'Christians' who make it their job to go around and go around and make those types of statements you mentioned.
I don't pity you, I just pray for you. But its not in my hands. I can't pass judgment on you.
2007-10-18 05:23:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Im kind of with you on that but I think the purpose of the Bible is to help us develop our own feelings so we can decide for ourself what is right. And personnally i think that there will be all kinds of people in Heaven because if you would be happier there i think that God would want you to be there. I dont believe in Hell but thats just my opinion but the people that wont go to Heaven probably are the people that would have hated it there.
2007-10-18 05:22:19 · answer #5 · answered by ♥ Koala ♥ 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I happen to think that though, saying someone will go to hell for different beliefs is obviously offensive, I think that pity is much more insulting.
What do I think? I think the truth is more than some can handle.
2007-10-18 05:43:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
So, if you saw someone who was addicted to alcohol and
had a chance to speak to them on their alcoholism, how would you treat the situation?
If they did not listen to you, you WOULD probably
pity them!
btw, I also support freedom of speech...
No more of this nonsense about "hate speech" when
it is not even "hate speech"!
What we say does not at all entail that anyone
is less of a person with less unalienable rights
as anyone else!
The afterlife has nothing to do with rights
of a person in THIS life - so there should
be no conflict and not complaints or
even offense. If someone does not
believe in an afterlife, why would anything
said about that be offensive?
2007-10-18 05:32:50 · answer #7 · answered by Nickel-for-your-thoughts 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ok. If it makes you happy. "Si te hace feliz".
I really don't like it when they say anyone will go to hell. To me it's like they think they can judge everyone - like you said -they try to look down upon people. Just in the fact that they are judging other people they are putting themselves in God's position and therefor they are making themselves actually look more like Satan than anything else - because Satan was the one that wanted God's power in the beginning, right?
2007-10-18 05:32:20 · answer #8 · answered by CHRISTINA 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Bible says;But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10; 33
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me John 14; 6
2007-10-18 05:36:23 · answer #9 · answered by J W 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Many people on this forum are in alliance with you. The bottom line is you are a good person and seek to live a good life. Pity you? Hardly. God knows what is in your heart and would not fault anyone who seeks goodness in daily life.
2007-10-18 05:26:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋