My father used to tell me when I was a little girl having some doubts about the religion I was being told was true, that god would eventually explain to us why people who didn't believe or had never even heard about Jesus would be sent to hell.
My Dad's explanation was that all people belonging to other religions would get a chance post-death to see God and Jesus, and if any of those non-Christians "accepted" God and Jesus at that time, then they were granted heaven. Those who refused to bend the knee I suppose were damned. I wonder why God doesn't just show Himself here and now. It would prevent a lot of people from imperiling their souls and wasting their time with "false religion."
Being about 7 years old, I tried to accept that explanation. Looking back now, as an older adult. I think that perhaps the reason I asked to be Baptized ( dunked ) at age 8 is probably because I had hoped it would be a magical experience that would help me understand what it took to be close to the Lord. It took me to age 18 to abandon fundamentalist Christianity entirely, and it took several more years of thoughtful consideration regarding other religious ideologies before I realized there was no god.
I remember having doubts about religion when I was very young. I was raised Catholic, and I tended to see the nuns and priests as fools and phonies whom I must rebel against. My mother was violently paranoid believing the devil was possessing anybody who crossed her. I eventually told her I no longer wished to attend mass, and she freaked out telling me I was going to hell. I retorted that some of the worst people I know attended mass. I was referring to her, of course.
Anyway, I became an agnostic for a few years but started attending a Pentecostal church as a born-again Christian. I soon found that most of them were either phonies or fanatics or both. I discovered discrepancies and false prophecies in my Bible, and I eventually realized that Christian dogmas could not be true. Soon after I became an atheist which I have been to this day.
When I reached that moment of realization, it was almost like being "saved".
Saved from the fear and trepidation that religion often brings. Saved from wondering why there are so many religions, while wondering which if any of them are true.
I felt that way too. Madonna's song "Live to Tell" was a hit on the radio at that time, and I really loved how it reflected the way I felt about escaping religion. I wanted to "live to tell" everybody that there is no God and religion is a lie. My euphoria didn't last long when I realized that most people did not welcome my telling them about my discoveries. They became very angry denouncing me as an atheist, and it didn't seem to matter to them how much I was hurt by religion. Their comforting lies were to be believed at all costs including the costs I had paid.
If people need a religious belief to make them happy, to provide them with community or purpose, I don't judge them for that. I just despise religions that are used for hate and fear mongering.
What religion isn't used for hate and fear mongering?
There are some very positive things in the Christian mythology...
What little good there is in "Christian mythology" can be found anywhere, and you don't need to pay the high price you pay to church groups. As for mythology as literature, I prefer the tales of King Arthur and Merlin the magician to most of what you read in the Bible.
but sadly, there are too many Christians who use their beliefs as a weapon, as a way to judge and condemn others who don't share their beliefs. But, I digress.
Yes. Christian beliefs do tend to be a handy club to beat people with. I don't think it's a coincidence.
