I don't believe in God. It's not that I despise my life or anything in it. I'm actually quite satisfied with the love and relationships that I've cultivated.
I suppose I'm tired of being looked at like I'm missing something, because I know that I'm not.
I was a Christian for the first 2/3rds of my life, mostly because I wasn't given much of a choice. I spent that time being as faithful as I could to the cause, but I just never felt like it was right. As I got older in the church, I became more and more depressed. I thought that I was missing out on some clue or link that would explain everything I was being taught. From an objective point of view, the stories in the Bible are nonsense.
Perhaps I'm just not as good at lying to myself as the rest of you are. I honestly don't think I'm evil or have problems with "Demons". I love, care and work to help those around me. I don't try to pull people away from God, if they feel that religion works for them. I just try to be reasonable.
2007-12-12 07:00:58 · 32 answers · asked by Cosmodot 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My challenge to you Christians is to point out the error in my ways.
What's wrong with using judgement and rationale based in personal accountibility?
It seems more righteous to me to do things for others because I care about them, then to help people because I'm expecting a reward from it.
Define morality without using the Bible.
Can you?
2007-12-12 07:06:07 · update #1
We're all lost. You're just better at hiding the fact from yourself.
When else through History has Christianity been righteous, much less right?
It wasn't when they claimed the Earth was flat, or that it resides in the center of the solar system, as well as the universe. That's how gravity is supposed to work, because everything is pulled towards the center of the universe, for some odd reason.
I suppose that my point is this. Your religion has been wrong about almost everything that has been proven since. Not only were they wrong, but they often persecuted and tortured to death, those who had actually done the work and research to "discover" truth, rather than making it up.
What makes you all so convinced that you're right and that your philosophy is perfect? Wishing doesn't make it so, but it seems to suffice for those unwilling, unable or just plain afraid to think.
2007-12-12 07:13:56 · update #2
My definition of evil is found in the delusion of righteousness.
When people stop questioning their own actions, because they're supposedly inherintly righteous, evil shows its face.
I believe that true evil is found in ignorance.
Those who harbor ignorance are those already convinced that their right... Think about it.
2007-12-12 07:15:59 · update #3
evil ? who's evil ? We all are to some degree . It's the extent we take it too that defines us . You're not evil , evil is an opinion and every idiot has one .
2007-12-12 07:08:03 · answer #1 · answered by Suicide642 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is there a real question in there or is this just a setup for a rant?
The short answer is found in Colossians 2:8 ESV "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
While there's nothing wrong with reason and critical thinking, you've taken it to the extreme and "reasoned" your way right out of your faith. But the more I read, I have to wonder if you ever had a real conversion experience. Sure, you were involved in church, but I don't think you ever had an encounter with Christ through repentance. It also doesn't seem like you've really studied the Bible that much or really understand Christian theology because you'd know that many of your asserts are inaccurate representations of Christianity. Heck, for all I really know, you've never attended church and your just an unbeliever spouting off all the usual anti-Christian arguments I've run into time and time again on the Internet.
Anyway, a person's relationship to Christ isn't based on how good they live their life, but upon realizing they've broken God's laws and are helpless to do anything about it. That the core of their being is corrupted by sin and that only by God's grace and mercy can they be reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus. If you want to be on good terms with God, he's made a way for that to happen through the cross of Christ. Otherwise, you're separated from God and lost.
As far as your issues with Christianity, though they are problems, they're mostly the result of a perversion of the faith and are ideas not taught in the Bible (i.e. flat earth). Sounds like you've been hanging out a lot at atheistic and agnostic websites. You choice, but you could spend just as much time at Christian sites and get some answers.
2007-12-12 08:27:14 · answer #2 · answered by rabban625 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think...that since you are happy and have come to this decision through your own experiences, that it's your choice. Even if someone believes you will "go to hell" for your decision, I think they need to leave you to it.
I feel the same way sometimes. I don't attend church...haven't for most of my life, although I was rasied in a very Christian family. I tried to go when I was an adult, but found it so wanting, I couldn't make it work. People would always assume that I was missing out on church...that I wasn't Christian, even. I guess maybe now I'm not Christian in that sense. I can't see one denomination out there that I can live with.
I don't feel like I am missing out on anything. I can do the right thing without a church. People did the right thing for a long time before there was Christianity....
2007-12-12 07:21:02 · answer #3 · answered by Night Owl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I sympathise. I was not brought up as a christian but chose it at the age of about 14 - going forward at a meeting, Accepting-Jesus-As-My-Saviour, the whole bit. Gradually the more education I got the more the whole thing seemed ridiculous, and Jesus went the way of Santa Claus and the tooth-fairy. I have since read a great deal about Buddhism and Wicca but I just cannot accept religions any more, they are like mental prisons. Anyone who accepts a religion does so ON HIS OWN AUTHORITY. YOU sanction the Bible, the Koran, the Sutras as the infallible word of the Deity, and nobody else can make you do that. Where was I... yeah. Your last paragraph suggests to me you are as good and ethical a person as anyone who professes a religion,and better than many. End of rant.
2007-12-12 07:15:52 · answer #4 · answered by vilgessuola 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. Please don't say "Perhaps I'm just not as good at lying to myself as the rest of you are" because not all of us are lying. True, many just attend Church because they're expected to, but many of us get real enjoyment out of loving the Lord.
2. No, I don't think you're evil. People can't help what they believe, and some wacko christian shoving leaflets down your throat is just going to push you away from Christianity more. You can't help not believing, just like I can't help believing. I didn't ask to, I just do.
3. Morality cannot be defined for everyone and everything with or without the use of religion. A catholic will tell me it's immoral to have sex before marriage or to not get my child christened. I will say "it says nothing whatsoever on these two matters in the Bible and I think YOU'RE immoral for being brainwashed by organised religion." Morality is different based on each of our beliefs.
2007-12-12 07:12:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It does sound to me like you are still searching... almost sounds like you're not sure there's not a God or else I don't think you'd be asking. I could suggest that if it was just the church that turned you away, there are inumerable ways to have a "God" in your life, you do not have to Christian (one) or maybe you just have not found the right Christian church with a set of beliefs you can connect to.
Anyway, as long as your happy and do not have a void in yourself... but I don't think you're evil. There is a book called, "Person of the lie" that talks about evil people. The beginning chapter is interesting...
2007-12-12 07:09:53 · answer #6 · answered by JK 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you're not evil. I know a few people who, like yourself, had religion forced on them from the time they were born, and some of them have rejected it as they got older, so your experience is far from unique.
Whether you believe this or not, God is aware of what you were subjected to, and to how it affected you in later life. He doesn't force people to serve him, as your parents evidently tried to do, and he won't see you as evil for leaving him. He will hope that you return, of course, but it is, as ever, your choice.
2007-12-12 07:15:36 · answer #7 · answered by Trevor S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I doubt you are evil, just rebellious.
Why else would you be on the Religion & Spirituality section of Yahoo Answers asking Christians, am I evil?
2007-12-12 07:06:43 · answer #8 · answered by scholar_wood 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It is about a life saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Not weekly church attendance, or being "moral". You may have felt like you were faking it for the first 2/3's of your life, but it is never too late to experience the real thing.
2007-12-12 07:10:29 · answer #9 · answered by The GMC 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I like to think that there is a God, though I agree alot with what you are saying. Just so we're clear, I don't believe in the devil, demons, and things of that nature.
I stopped going to church a long time ago, and I am perfectly happy with where I am spiritually.
I think that, if it turns out that there is in fact a God, you sound like you are living a good life, and I don't see why you would be punished for using your God given right to free-will.
2007-12-12 07:06:20 · answer #10 · answered by **[Witty_Name]** 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
You are not evil and in some way, you still believe in god because you still care and love (Lord says: Love thy neighbor like oneself) and help those around you. I cannot believe you don't believe in him, when you had him in your life at one point.
Religion and Relation are two different things. A relationship is more important than religion. You had a religion and no relation. You were religious and felt it was not right because you did not have a relationship with god.
God bless you, he has and will continue to bless you.
2007-12-12 07:10:17 · answer #11 · answered by Rosie 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋