diana

It IS possible to adhere to a belief system and still have an open mind with the ability to probe and question.

I don't think anyone said it wasn't possible to adhere to a belief system and still have an open mind.

We're discussing the fears that are prevalent in Xnty, in particular, and have postulated whence they come.

While I agree with Michael that fear of being wrong is involved--if only because this seems to be a human frailty in general--I argue that Xns are commanded to fear God. And what are you fearing when you fear God, if not the threat of hell? (Indeed...in my "limited" understanding of Xnty--just ask another Xn--I know the Bible commands you to fear Him who has the power to destroy both body and soul in hell.)

Seems to me that you either fear God (i.e., hell) as you've been ordered to or you aren't a True Xn. Which is it?

How is it possible to both fear hell and remain genuinely open to the possibility that it's all hogwash?

d

Mad Kally

No fear there!

braces_for_impact

To my mind, and I used to be a former christain myself, theism in many forms seems to provide happiness because it's a road map on how you should live your life. It "answers" fundamental questions, and tough issues, and allows it's follower to expend less time and thought wondering what to do when life gets hard.

It's classic advertising strategy. Before somebody will buy your product, you have to convince them it's needed or wanted. Christianity, and many other religions, does both. It convinces the would be follower that it's needed. How? Well see humanity, all humanity, without exception is wicked, selfish and cannot make good decisions despite their best intentions. But see, these people and this book and god can show you how to live a good, moral life. Have a problem? Ask God! Or the preacher! Or fellow church members! Lots of support for you. You need it because you are incapable of making good, moral decisions on your own. Now, why do you want this religion? I'll tell ya. Do you want to die? Of course not! Well, guess what? A by-product of being a good person the way we tell you, allows you to live forever, and in eternal bliss to boot! See how easy it is? There's no shades of gray in this. It's either black or white, there are no exceptions. How many atheists have been talking to theists and noticed this black and white mentality? I know I have.

Many theists say they're happy. That they have no fear of hell. This may be true. But why is it true? Because they believe they are forgiven, that they have been born again. That either through works or faith or both (depending on dogma) their place in eternal bliss is assured. What they fail to see, IMHO, is that this very system that alleviates their fears is the one that established those fears in the first place! They offer you the problem, and the solution in one easy to understand package! That's something that's hard to give up! And don't forget if something doesn't make sense, that's taken care of as well. How? Because you're "only" human! You're not god! You see, not only are you wicked and perverse, but you are stupid! How can you expect to understand the ways of god?

How many times have atheists been asked: You believe this is all there is? You don't believe in an afterlife? How can you go on? Where is your hope? It takes courage to know that sometimes lousy things just happen, for no particular reason. Is that senseless? Yes. Does that suck? Sometimes it sucks big time, but it's reality. You lives your life and you takes your chances. That's the cold hard truth. This is the only life we have. We can either try to make the best of our short time here, or we can always fix our gaze towards heaven, trying to make sense of it all, knowing the answers will never come.