"Everyone is Created in God's Image"

@dru will wait.

How would one get life 'right'? If there is eternal punishment and eternal bliss, then how would one receive those rewards/punishments? Would your would be reborn over and over again in Hell just because you where *that* close to 'getting it right', but you were murdered or something? To me it would seem unreasonable, because in your next life you wouldn't be able to live the same way you previously did.

@ Unicorn Jesus
But you can still choose to do the right things or not. You get it right by being a good person. And you aren't 'this close' to being a good person. You either are or you aren't. There is moderation, but people are generally good or bad.

Like I said, my god isn't petty.

@ dru will wait.
But didn't you also say that you'd be a different person, since you'd have different parents and different experiences, making you act and turn out in a certain way? It would drastically change the way you turn ot and how you act, so your right from wrong would be different from anyone else's.

@ Unicorn Jesus
But you would still be a good person or a bad person. That's what matters, not that you relive your life the same every time. Though, maybe they do go to alternate timelines ...

I don't know. I can't even pretend to claim I know everything about the universe. But I understand the general gist of how I believe it works. If anyone has really really specific details about stuff like this, I'd say they're probably full of it.

No one knows that much about the universe really... we can't claim we know what it holds.

@ dru will wait.
Yeah I know, but I was asking from your point of view and what you think.

Sorry if it seemed like I was being rude by pointing out flaws in your beliefs, I'm just ignorant.

@ Unicorn Jesus
I don't really think such ... concrete things. I think that's where people run into trouble. Or at least, I do. The problem with such concrete thoughts in religion is that they can't be proven so if you find new evidence, you question so much.

I believe in a very basic idea because I really just have ... no way to know. I think I understand basically what happens, but ... just the magnitude of it I know I can't even comprehend.

And when I don't think about it, it all makes sense. But trying to articulate it... it's difficult.

@ dru will wait.
That last line is part of the reason why I am an atheist (of sorts). Its much easier than trying to contemplate the meaning of life, or trying to find the answer to a thousand questions that probably weren't meant to be answered.

We have to way to know for sure why we're here, or what happens after death and before life.

When you believe in something basic, you later find flaws within your beliefs, and you look for something else to believe in.

I believe that there is no way to know if there is a true God, or if there is a reason to why we're here. I don't deny the existence of a higher power, but nor do I accept it.

This could go hand-in-hand with agnostic belief, but I'm going to stick with atheism, sort of.

There is no way to know, we don't know, no one does know. I think it's as simple as that.

@ Unicorn Jesus
I think that when I believe in something basic, I later fill in the holes of my belief and my faith evolves to encompass my new beliefs.

When I believed very specific things, any questions or holes could not be filled or evolved.

So I view that quite different. I think basic is better. It leaves more room for wondering, interpretation, and evolution.

I think personal spirituality/faith should always be evolving.

@ dru will wait.
I understand, but I also believe that if you dont make your basic belief evolve and you stick to it, then you're going to have issues. But I have no issues with what you believe, you have the free will to and I'm all for that.

I just like my belief better since its easier and I'm so young, but I can be sure it will change.

@ Unicorn Jesus
My basic belief is constantly evolving. It's very important to me. I'm not sure why so much at this moment more than anyone. It's not even about the God thing. It's more about understanding the nature of the universe, I guess.

@ Unicorn Jesus
@ dru will wait.

I think you'll need to move this discussion to another thread now, perhaps the Creating Your Own Religion thread.

@ dru will wait.
Do you want to continue our discussion? I'm pretty sure that we're done discussing, unless you want to talk about anything else.

dru will wait.:

People who say God hates are wrong regardless. God doesn't hate. God is love. God loves everyone.

Strongly agree.

phat amy.:

I am wondering the same thing.

Me too.

dru will wait.:

@ Alex; periphery.
I disagree. Maybe just by the way you worded it. It's like if a parent sets up rules for their child and they break them so they get grounded. It's not the parent's fault for making the rules, but the child's fault for not obeying them.

(Since I don't believe God 'sends people to Hell', obviously I have a different perspective in general, but I don't think punishing someone for not following pre-determined rules is the fault of the rule-creator. If it was, like I said, your parents would be the ones at fault for grounding you for breaking curfew, even though you knew you had to be home at 11.)

Strongly agree. ;)

If God created everyone in his image and he loves everyone; then how come his people hate everything I am? I listen to Marilyn Manson and I dress different and all that; and it was members from my church that are treating me like shit. When I went to Religious Ed classes at our parish; I was totally exempt from everything. I'd raise my hand in class, the teacher would SEE that I raised my hand but she would purposefully ignore me. Everyone there I thought was my friends couldn't be bothered with me, and everyone else just gave me dirty looks. If God loves me, then why does everyone representing him treat me like a piece of shit? Someone please reply; I've had these questions for years now and I just fucking want to know. Please.

@ Miss Vampire Is Dead
People are not God. People who act like that aren't acting the way they should, in a Christ-like manner. They're hypocritical and God doesn't approve of it.

@ dru will wait.
I understand this. I do; and I try to push it out of my head but it's just there with everything I do and all of my interests. Like as an example; religious are against the music of Marilyn Manson because they find it offensive, well, people like me that have questions and serious problems in life need something like that to keep them holding onto life. I try to explain that to some religious people; that I just need an outlet and it's still all; " you're going to Hell". And it hurts a lot; like I know I've made mistakes and stuff but it just seems so pointless. God loves everyone but then he hates people like me. It's just... it makes me so upset! >.<

Something ive been wondering is why would God punish humans is he was love and forgiveness?

@ phat amy.
The same reason you punish a child you love when they break the rules -- to teach them a lesson they learn from so they don't do it again. Loving parents don't let their children run amok without checks and balances because it's not a good way to parent.

Now, I don't believe in the eternal hellfires of damnation, but of rebirth and learning through new lives so I do believe God gives second chances. (And third and fourth . . .)