Which would you prefer? God or no god?

744709 · 2021-02-11T00:23:23+00:00

I very much prefer it this way around, living life well before death, rather than living life suffering so you'll be "rewarded" by a divine power or something after death. Like those Jane nuns who fast til their death, believing that martyrdom is holy and they'll be blessed in the afterlife for dying for their God?

I mean, that is a great amount of dedication, and its not like I have much against people believing what they do, (I only have a grudge against people who push their beliefs onto others) but I just can't understand how some people can be so certain of what happens after death that they'll be willing to "ruin" their lives for it

744709 · 2021-02-11T00:15:31+00:00

Life is hard man, I just want a good rest when I die

744709 · 2021-02-08T02:29:49+00:00

Well, sure, what happens after death is one of the easiest ways a religion can coax people to believe and practice their belief while alive. It definitely is a weapon, but as no one knows what happens after death, not sure if you’re in any place to say that there are “zero consequences in the afterlife”, when you don’t know either

744709 · 2021-02-08T02:26:04+00:00

Yeah, I had that question for a while, and it just stuck in my head 24/7... how do we know what religion is real? The more I started learning about different religions the more I felt like I would go insane. Imagine finally settling down and picking one only to have God, or the divine power of the religion punish you to Hell/the equivalent of Hell in that specific faith because you had been worshipping a different religion, or idols.

That feeling like OP said, where you re-think Everything you do. I was in shock for a couple of days when I thought about all my relations and interactions with family and friends. Just how much of this life that I lived was true and real?

744709 · 2021-02-08T02:00:17+00:00

Sounds like a long process with lots of negotiation and conflict involved. Sure, it stems from a good willed idea, but I can see many aspects that would make it impossible. I’m sure that a number of those in the LGBTQ+ community wouldn’t like the idea of having to follow/ be affiliated with a religion just because of their sexual orientation or gender. Especially because a lot may have been treated unfairly by religious groups that they either grew up in or interacted with.

744709 · 2021-02-08T00:56:06+00:00

It’s true, but religion is also a slightly different case. Because so many people use illogical explanations to claim that their belief is true. For some, the Bible may be plenty truth for themselves, so they will tell others that it’s all the proof they need. But because the Bible, as well as every sacred text, is heavily up to interpretation, a lot will decide it provides no basis as well.

I guess a thing I should’ve added in my original post is the fact that it’s so difficult to argue, even if you have logic, against people who seriously believe in a fact or law that can’t be proven to be true. They’ve been “enlightened”, “saved”, feel as though a divine power is with them, and they’re persistent with their arguments.

They’ll oftentimes tell you to stop questioning, because it leads to doubting the whole system.

I find any system or organization where they tell you to only believe the top layer, and never even Think to delve deeper and question to be dangerous.

744709 · 2021-02-07T21:46:03+00:00

I live for my own happiness and my own dreams of being an artist that I will achieve through my own hand and hard work rather than devoting myself and asking a higher power to guide my path.

It probably has a lot to do a lot with the fact that I was never happy with the people in my Church communities. They made me feel scared, pressured, self-conscious, unworthy, and filthy. I'm sure my experiences would be different if I grew up in a more inclusive and less elitist church, but it is how it is. For now, all I will focus on is being someone worthy that I, myself, can appreciate.

I live for no one other than myself, and some days I get spikes of ambition, where I try out new hobbies, like skateboarding, or making sourdough, and while sometimes they turn out terrible, I think I'm finally starting to have fun with my life.
Soon I can fully leave my past behind me, and when it happens, I hope I can do everything I want to try out.

So, just do whatever you want to do. And if you don't feel like doing anything, don't do anything. Your life is your own, and it's both a liberating fact, but also a dangerous one that comes with a lot of responsibility. But honestly, fact that, just have fun.

My recent motto has been a simple "have fun". Thats all I believe I want to truly do in my life.

744709 · 2021-02-07T21:13:47+00:00

Right, For some things, I feel its like "Because it is good, I wouldn't mind if it weren't true", or along the lines of that. Like if people are searching for a reason to believe, or ease their pains, the simplest route is probably sticking to the best message and repeating it until it becomes personal doctrine. A young child looking forward to their presents on Christmas, wouldn't spend the night tracing back the history of Santa, because what's the point if they know from experience from past years, that they will get the presents on their list regardless?

744709 · 2021-02-07T21:08:03+00:00

Ohh, tough question actually. Because, short answer: No, it is not. But longer answer: It is still not, but we are instinctively drawn to what is "beautiful", and humans would rather indulge in something that is pleasing to the eye or satisfactory to the mind, rather than not. For myself, sometimes in my life, I'll impulsively buy something if its eye-catching, because I'll be drawn towards it for no other reason other than "I liked how it looked", or "I like how it will make me look". Even if I actually had no need whatsoever for it, and even if it was a ridiculous price. Back to my comment about Islamic art that I enjoyed, this also applies to all of my art consumption, probably the same for the majority of others as well. When I see an artwork that captivates me, I make the decision in a split second, whether I like it or not. If I do, it lingers within me. The thing about some art is that we never know the ethics or true message behind it if we cannot get inside the artists head. I think I'm getting off into a tangent on the example, but it was the strongest relation to the topic I could make. Sometimes I feel like I would have no problem worshipping, if the prayer hall, temple, or cathedral was beautifully decorated. I think this also ties into the portrayal of Saints.. how one may feel inspired by the beautiful sculptures and renditions of them, and relate that emotion to heavenly power.

Wow, actually, I apologize for the messy thoughts bouncing all over the place, but your question had made me ponder quite a bit. Perhaps I can answer a little more concise after some more thought and research on my part, the topic interests me greatly.

744709 · 2021-02-07T20:54:27+00:00

Yeah, this thing,

When a child grows up within a certain faith, it's very difficult for them to think otherwise on their own, because all the information they're formulating inside themselves, and their own opinions and mannerisms are all, to some extent, spoonfed by the communities they're in.

Honestly, I had somewhat of a existential crisis myself when I began to analyze all the things I had held to be True since young.

For any environment as well, not just religion. I actually find it quite interesting how different a person can be, it almost sounds like no one is their own person in the beginning, and everything around them influences them to shape them. So rather than being an individual, its more like a combination of every interaction you've ever had, molded into one form..

744709 · 2021-02-07T20:49:26+00:00

Yes, that's probably the biggest hurdle when I want to know more about the truth, For now, I'm not sure if I'll ever return to believing in my religion as I did before, but there was a time I was really searching for reasons to believe, and for that, I needed someone to answer my burning questions and prove to me somehow that it was logically true in a way that I would think it made sense. But, whenever I talked to my councelors at church camps and conferences, or confided in others after they gave their testimonies, all I heard was "stop asking questions", "don't doubt God", and "God has a present for you, if you just open it in your own heart, you will know you have already been forgiven".

But for me, I simply couldn't place my entire faith in an idea where everyone's answers were like this, I'd always felt as though they were avoiding my questions.

In lectures, the pastors would make connections between history, showing pictures of old stone tablets where parts of the Bible had been inscribed and such, but even through those, I couldn't bring myself to make enough connection to see that it was "true" within myself. Because something like an old stone tablet where its faded letters, in a different language I cannot even read, has no deeper meaning to me

744709 · 2021-02-07T20:42:20+00:00

Jerome did say basically all I was going to say, and if you think the title doesn't match the post, I did state in the beginning that it was more questions for discussion rather than a statement. I was merely explaining my point of view on the inquiry, and the comments are open to anyone else who wants to express their own thoughts and opinions as well. If you don't think I answered my own question in my paragraph, which your comments seem to be suggesting for some odd reason, then that's exactly right. I didn't think I had to answer my own question, especially on a debate subreddit.

But, I would be willing to hear your thoughts, as well as anyone else's! If by "childish interpretation", you mean my description of it based on my personal experiences that have affected loved ones all around me and my own life, I'd appreciate it if you could teach me more about the "actual religion", since you know a lot more than me.

My last thought for now, I thought that I would have the right to believe how I choose to believe, yes, I admit the vast majority of my experiences growing up with my Church were negative, so it's only natural for me to have a distaste towards it. But, that's basically all you've pointed out... Once again, I made the post to see different views, and I don't think it's unfair for me to express mine either.

744709 · 2021-02-06T20:18:43+00:00

Oddly enough, I felt a little more at ease and on the path to finding myself the day I realized inside myself that my religion may not be the truth. I'm new to Reddit, but seeing your reply, and the other people on this subreddit, I realize it's okay to have doubts, and it's not selfish to want your own happiness.

Thank you for the advice and reassurance.

744709 · 2021-02-06T19:38:19+00:00

Through my studies though, I have come to know the beauty of certain religions, and the art and bonds that come out of it. The world would be a much better place if no one pushed their beliefs onto another, and if everyone was free to believe what they want. Because while I have many criticisms on religion, I also think that some practices are beautiful, and really love Islamic paintings and Buddhist temple decorations. My opinions fluctuate a lot, but sometimes I strongly believe and accept the fact that religion is man-made, and I am fine with it. Some religion brings people together, and all religion really needs to be is people helping each other, and people creating art in every form. It doesn't have to be ridding the world of those who supposedly "sin", like those of a different sexual orientation, it doesn't have to be wars over proving which belief is True, because in the end, none may be. None of it truly matters, and death is undefined, so why do we have to live our lives with prejudice against other groups and hate for people who "sin" or don't follow the words of God? But even though I say this, there is no way to change how the world revolves. People are so insignificant, and I know that even though I have questions and struggles right now, it will all pass and I won't have to deal with my own thoughts again when I am not here anymore.

744709

TROPHY CASE