Almost 50 years ago I was sitting in the auditorium of a religious boarding school. My assigned seat was next to the most talented musician at the school. She played violin, piano & clarinet.. sang beautifully, perfect pitch.
There was a visiting preacher who was there for a week preaching to us every day. On this particular day he began to describe the tortures of Hell... crackling, burning fat and flesh... screaming sinners...
The young lady sitting next to me broke down in tears. She had been burned in an accident a few years earlier. He managed to tap into her pain & fear, without mercy.
It was at that moment two things came over me... I wanted to put my arms around her and hug her, but if I did we would both be punished. Then I thought, "if this is what religion is about I want no part of it."
2007-12-16 16:58:26 · 10 answers · asked by edzerne 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I wasn't asking for commentary on my experience...
I was asking for your experience.
2007-12-16 17:08:23 · update #1
The trial and imprisonment of the priest who had been a close friend of my husband's family ,and had married my husband and I.
He was imprisoned for multiple counts of pedophilia. It then turns out that he'd been jailed years before for raping a 9 year old girl. Yet the church (they did know about it) let him run a youth group and take children away for camps.
It poisoned me completely against that institution. I'm really cynical now and tend to think that they are all potential pedophiles. I understand that this assumption is incorrect and unfair, but that's how poisoned I am.
2007-12-16 18:04:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had attended the same church regularly for 3 years, without as much as a if you need anything just call. I had pneumonia and was so broke, I couldn't even afford a christmas present for my kids, so I prayed to god for help. a few minutes later, there was a knock at my door. it was the 8 year old kid from down the street asking me to call the cops before his dad killed his mom. he then took my broom and went back to his own house to try to defend his mom. As I waited for the cops to come, I realized there was nobody to help us but ourselves. and there was no god who cared what we did.
2007-12-16 17:14:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
because of my background i have involved myself with Atheists.
i find the "real" Atheist as overly analytical boorish arrogant snobs.
Most "Atheists" however are, i find, atheist because they feel compelled to be, by the people they work with, and have absolved themselves of anything Religious.
this is an Epiphany to me in that they continue to look yet refuse to see that which is right in front of their nose.
while the displayed behavior strengthens my faith daily, it also saddens me.
Thank You.
Marry Christmas.
2007-12-16 17:30:24 · answer #3 · answered by jojo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, once I was listening to a sermon, and the pastor was saying if someone prayed to God to be healed, and it didn't happen, it was because they didn't pray good enough or something. This was just a few months after my mom had died (of course tons of people prayed for her constantly).
You'd think they could think about those of us listening, but I think they just want to hear themselves speak.
2007-12-16 17:02:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The reason why I do not have a religion is not because I hate God nor is it because I don't believe in God. It is because I believe that God is a loving God that I refuse to believe that God is capable of such evil (think of the Old Testament). That is why I believe only what I want to believe.
2007-12-16 17:05:44 · answer #5 · answered by Screwdriver 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As a Christian I tend to spend very little time with the subject of Hell. But if you are going to judge all of the Bible and Christendom on one incident driven by a cruel man, then I guess you've made your choice. What does it have to do with Jesus who gives eternal life to those who are able to respond to Him by trusting Him?
2007-12-16 17:04:53 · answer #6 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think religion is more of a coping mechanism for the weak minded.
The thing you are talking about are just things that occur in life, and really may or may not have anything at all to do with religion.
2007-12-16 17:03:02 · answer #7 · answered by Small Victories 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
And the moral of your story is you would not separate a loving God from a jerky preacher because you have no clue who God is.
2007-12-16 17:07:23 · answer #8 · answered by Ruth 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's very unfortunate that souless men continuously drive people away from religion.
2007-12-16 17:04:09 · answer #9 · answered by 5th Watcher 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I hate that kind of preaching.
2007-12-16 17:04:52 · answer #10 · answered by Gypsy Priest 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋