Religions are generally consequence-based (especially Christianity) with the biggest consequence being "live this kind of life, or spend eternity in HELL!!!!"
For this reason, I see religion as only being a necessity for those who are afraid to die.
Your thoughts?
2007-10-30 03:55:17 · 28 answers · asked by Mrs.10/18/08 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
X-Woman - I am not trying to be mean when I say this:
I would hate to live my life as if death is the beginning. You are HERE. NOW. Live the life that was given to you by the creator you believe in. Didn't God want people to experience all of the good things he put on the earth for them? Why would you waste that precious time waiting for the afterlife that you *believe* exists. If it doesn't, you've wasted a lot of precious time.
2007-10-30 04:09:17 · update #1
Just so you know, I would never give someone "thumbs down" for a religious beliefs answer. If you're an @ss, you may get one, though.
2007-10-30 04:24:31 · update #2
You know I have actually come to that conclusion as well. It seems that almost all religions explain in one way or another what happens after death. It would seem that fear of death is the reason most turn to religion. To find an explanation or some hope for what happens after. People will say that they turn to religion to learn how to live but it doesnt seem true. Life is given already, morals have nothing to do with religion, and there are plenty of devout religious folks who while on their death bed will say to themselves "damn I wish I would have done _____" so it doesnt seem as though any really tell us how to live. This, of course, is just my opinion. And I myself am a religious person so I am as much at fault for a fear of death as anyone else.
2007-10-30 04:03:53 · answer #1 · answered by Lorena 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As a Pagan, I know there is something more. Not really a heaven, per say, but another plane. Why are there so many people that believe in spirit contact. Why can some of us see or hear them? How is it that there are recorded energy anomilies in science and they can not be explained?
The archaic belief that there is a place in the sky (the prehistoric explaination of what causes things such as a sky God) that you will live on clouds and not need food or drink to survive and be able to lounge around and worship this God forever is just a little hard for me to believe. The afterlife described by many beliefs is a wonderful place where you are always happy and live in a beautiful garden is wonderful but that is where we percieve our ideal life on Earth rather than a collective soul journey. Many people worry that there is nothing after death, but I have to dicker, there is something more but what it is has not been proven.
2007-10-30 04:07:54 · answer #2 · answered by Karma of the Poodle 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not all Christians believe in hell. Sure the bible mentions "hell" but in the original Hebrew it is translated as "under ground". The end result is that those of us not going to heaven will simply die (sleep forever). This is especially true for 7th day Adventists. I am not one, but I would not serve a God "in love" that sends family members to everlasting torture.
So to answer your question: For those that do not fear an eternal hell fire, people believe in something greater because that is what is all around us. There are worlds infinitely small to the structure of an atom, to infinitely huge like the Galaxy's and the universe. This greatness can only arrive by something greater, not by accident.
2007-10-30 04:06:22 · answer #3 · answered by Fred Head 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Wicca, we accept death as a natural and necessary part of life. The goal in Wicca is to live a good life (including partaking of life's pleasures) so that one can face the end of that life with satisfaction.
As for what lies beyond this life... Wicca generally does not have a "Hell" concept. In fact, many Wiccans do not concern themselves terribly much with what comes "afterwards", beyond the belief that reincarnation is a possibility based on the observation that the universe runs in repeating cycles. As a Wiccan, I am perfectly content with the idea that this life may be all that I have.
2007-10-30 04:12:06 · answer #4 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
no. some use religion as a crutch, some of us use it as a vehicle for spiritual journey. For me, the journey, not a destination, is the key.
I truly am not afraid of death (but I admit I do not want a long, drawn out/painful death), and I do not care if there is or isn't an afterlife. If there is one and it is not consistent with all other natural cycles, I am not afraid to hold my head high and say I've done the best I could have.
2007-10-30 04:04:09 · answer #5 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I mean no offense, but it seems to me that most people who see religion as you do...don't truly "get" what religion is about. In fact, even some of worship (those who believe in the old school style of worship where if you don't do certain things you go to hell) don't truly understand what religion is supposed to be about. I'm not sure honestly why I feel the need to worship. All I know is that it gives me something, fills something inside my soul that I can't get anywhere else. And I used to hate organized religion, until I felt called to the church. What do I get from it? Peace, protection, God's light, being touched by Jesus in a way I wasn't before (and I have always believed in Jesus). Religion is so much more than all those rules. It's about love.
2007-10-30 04:05:07 · answer #6 · answered by I'm just me 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think so. When I tell people I don't believe in God, 50% of the time, the next thing that comes out of their mouths is, "So what do you think happens to us when we die -- NOTHING?"
My guess that is probably true, although that propsect doesn't terrify me as much as it once did. The people who fear death the most are the ones who have lived the least.
2007-10-30 04:38:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not afraid of death, here. I fear the way I might die (don't really want to be in pain or agony for a long period of time), but I don't fear being dead. I don't think that Ihave to be a certain way to get into heaven, I just have to believe in Jesus and His redemptive blood. If I am wrong, then I will be nothing but dead, not ever knowing that I was wrong. But if I am right, then I will spend eternitiy in the presence of God, worshiping Him forver. But either way, I don't fear death.
2007-10-30 04:02:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Try to think in opposite terms. What if we are all dead? I mean born into a state of death (but we call it life). Now knowing that we are really not alive, we fight to escape death through religion.
2007-10-30 04:06:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's not about religion for me--it's about a personal relationship with Jesus---when you choose to be a Christ follower you are not afraid of death. The Bible is clear about heaven and hell and I choose heaven. My heavenly Father carries me through all things---and until you've experienced His presence and love--you will never be able to understand.
When we stand before Him, our hearts will be judged-individually--not according to any religion.
2007-10-30 04:10:20 · answer #10 · answered by heavnbound 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋