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Post by Vene on Apr 11, 2009 14:50:54 GMT -5
The fear lessens and passes in time. Especially if you learn more and more about the religion.
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nuitarihw
Junior Member
What's holding up is a mirror
Posts: 90
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Post by nuitarihw on Apr 11, 2009 14:56:57 GMT -5
I'm a fairly recent atheist coming from a borderline fundamentalist background. As a result, I'm plagued by a fear that I'm wrong. This is not uncommon. It's ok, I was never all that Christian (raised Byzantine Catholic, always was bothered by some of the teachings, it grew and was further agitated by my Brother finding different beliefs and further criticisms of religion, probably completely abandoned the faith by about 15, despite never being totally into it). I consider myself agnostic, and still sometimes get a small fear of what if I'm wrong. But then I just think to myself, what kind of perfect, just, loving god would give us such an incredible gift to reason, then punish us for using it to its full extent? If god is perfect it would understand far better then we ever could.
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Post by Old Viking on Apr 11, 2009 16:55:43 GMT -5
The purpose of life is to send me money. Hurry! It's not too late.
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Post by skyfire on Apr 11, 2009 18:01:39 GMT -5
When you were in driver's ed, did you simply have to do a few forms and take a written test or two to get your license? Or did you have to get behind the wheel for an extended period, learn how to operate at least one vehicle, and demonstrate for the proctor that you legitimately knew what you were doing? Answer that question, and you might have a few answers to your own. Problem with that is that you'd only be getting a lesson on earthly matters, not divine ones. With driving lessons, you get prepared for driving... how is being put on Earth to live for some time and then die prepare you for a divine existence? Again, different denominations within Christianity hold different things. For some denominations, being on Earth is just a stage in a person's total existence; death simply means going to be judged, and if a person is found worthy to get to Heaven they pick up right where they left off once there.
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Post by Bluefinger on Apr 11, 2009 18:43:10 GMT -5
Again, different denominations within Christianity hold different things. For some denominations, being on Earth is just a stage in a person's total existence; death simply means going to be judged, and if a person is found worthy to get to Heaven they pick up right where they left off once there. But the question is still unanswered: Why with the whole Earthly test for matters of Divine Existence? Why is the existence here on Earth necessary at all when a more relevant test would occur in the Divine realm? As an apt analogy would highlight, why take driving lessons and then a driving test just so you can get to fly?
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nuitarihw
Junior Member
What's holding up is a mirror
Posts: 90
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Post by nuitarihw on Apr 11, 2009 19:10:55 GMT -5
To sum it all up: "We're not humans put on Earth to have a divine experience; we're divine beings put on Earth to have a human experience." Depending upon which specific Christian denomination you look at, some hold that our purpose here on Earth is actually to be tested and tried - and in the process, grow - not simply to kiss God's butt. I'd suggest looking into individual denominations and see what their respective theologies have to say about the questions you've raised. I'd also suggest reading at least one alternate translation to the Bible translation you presently have, as that might give you a different perspective on things. Curious, god is all-knowing, why does he need to test us? Why do we need to grow? He could make us perfect if he wanted to, and if we were somehow flawed he should know without a test. We test other people in schools and for driving because we don't know if they are able to do it, and need to find out. I find the idea of an all-knowing god needing to find something out kind of...nonsensical?
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Post by dasfuchs on Apr 11, 2009 19:38:00 GMT -5
Again, different denominations within Christianity hold different things. For some denominations, being on Earth is just a stage in a person's total existence; death simply means going to be judged, and if a person is found worthy to get to Heaven they pick up right where they left off once there. But the question is still unanswered: Why with the whole Earthly test for matters of Divine Existence? Why is the existence here on Earth necessary at all when a more relevant test would occur in the Divine realm? As an apt analogy would highlight, why take driving lessons and then a driving test just so you can get to fly? Not to throw another wrench in there, but if god is perfect, and god created us all, why would we need an Earthly test if perfection can only create perfection, thus we should already be perfect in divinity?
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Post by Magnizeal on Apr 11, 2009 19:45:55 GMT -5
Lunalelle, I'm not completely sure how much help this will be for you... But when I was starting to question, I came across this site. I read just about everything on that site, and most things they linked to... and it made a lot of sense. However, once I decided they were right and there WAS no hell, my next question was "So... WHY believe in God?" Their main site... um, tentmakers? Not sure. Anyway, they try to answer that question, but... it just kind of fell flat, and then someone linked me here, and, well, I just kind of decided that it doesn't matter if there IS or IS NOT a god, since things play out exactly the same either way, from everything that can be measured. So, yeah. Anyway, I hope it helps.
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Post by skyfire on Apr 11, 2009 21:44:09 GMT -5
But the question is still unanswered: Why with the whole Earthly test for matters of Divine Existence? Why is the existence here on Earth necessary at all when a more relevant test would occur in the Divine realm? As an apt analogy would highlight, why take driving lessons and then a driving test just so you can get to fly? Look at it this way: If we were all divine 100% of the time, would we know things like hunger, sadness, illness, age, et cetra? Those are all things that a person needs a physical body in order to experience and understand.
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Post by antichrist on Apr 11, 2009 22:02:30 GMT -5
But the question is still unanswered: Why with the whole Earthly test for matters of Divine Existence? Why is the existence here on Earth necessary at all when a more relevant test would occur in the Divine realm? As an apt analogy would highlight, why take driving lessons and then a driving test just so you can get to fly? Look at it this way: If we were all divine 100% of the time, would we know things like hunger, sadness, illness, age, et cetra? Those are all things that a person needs a physical body in order to experience and understand. So we come here to suffer? Why? And why do some have to suffer more than others? What about children who die shortly after childbirth? What have they learned?
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Post by lunalelle on Apr 11, 2009 22:04:53 GMT -5
God is a suffering God without being corporeal. He didn't need to come to earth to suffer.
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Post by cagnazzo on Apr 11, 2009 22:40:40 GMT -5
I'm a fairly recent atheist coming from a borderline fundamentalist background. As a result, I'm plagued by a fear that I'm wrong. This is not uncommon. You're not alone, and the category is bigger than you think. I was never religious, but I, too, fear being wrong. Natural skepticism, of the strong variety, plays a large part in this. And results from it.
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Post by Vene on Apr 11, 2009 23:02:13 GMT -5
But the question is still unanswered: Why with the whole Earthly test for matters of Divine Existence? Why is the existence here on Earth necessary at all when a more relevant test would occur in the Divine realm? As an apt analogy would highlight, why take driving lessons and then a driving test just so you can get to fly? Look at it this way: If we were all divine 100% of the time, would we know things like hunger, sadness, illness, age, et cetra? Those are all things that a person needs a physical body in order to experience and understand. You do realize you're making your god out to be a complete asshole, right?
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Post by schizophonic on Apr 11, 2009 23:42:58 GMT -5
When you were in driver's ed, did you simply have to do a few forms and take a written test or two to get your license? Or did you have to get behind the wheel for an extended period, learn how to operate at least one vehicle, and demonstrate for the proctor that you legitimately knew what you were doing? Answer that question, and you might have a few answers to your own. Of course, you pass your driving test and gain license to drive. You don't then upgrade to a space ship.
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Post by ironbite on Apr 11, 2009 23:44:01 GMT -5
I'm a fairly recent atheist coming from a borderline fundamentalist background. As a result, I'm plagued by a fear that I'm wrong. This is not uncommon. Then you're doing it right.
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