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An open question to Christians (and other religious people)

So. Taking what I understood from when I was younger, I basically felt like I wasn't supposed to feel any emotion at all unless it was good and any problems I had would be fixed if I prayed. (Yes, I'm an Atheist now) So my question is three-fold. Why do you continue to put your faith in a deity which has shown no sign of existing aside from what you are told to believe? Why do you follow a doctrine which teaches you that no matter how bad a person was in life, if they were religious they can still go to heaven (Example, lets say a woman doesn't like kids and murders 20 children, all she has to do is go and say 'I regret this' in a church and BANG, she can go to heaven regardless of anything she did in life) But a person who isn't religious at all will get cast down into 'hell' even if they did nothing but spend their life helping others? Last but not least, if you have been religious your entire life and you suffer from depression, have you ever considered the possibility that it could BE the religion contributing to your depression? Like I said, this is an open question, I'm open to hearing what you have to say, but if you get insulting, I'll just ignore whatever argument you have.

Written by Matt Category: Anxiety 6 years ago

anxiety #depression anxiety and depression ,

Asked 6 years ago

Matt

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It's my opinion that religion doesn't make it worse. But that's just for me. I'm married to an atheist and I am a Christian. So I know how an atheist could feel like religion doesn't help but hinders. For me religion is a comfort. I prefer to believe there is someone looking out for me. It just makes me feel a little better. I do get frustrated when I pray my heart out and I'm not magically cured of my panic attacks. But even though not all my prayers Seem to get an answer I still like the comfort of believing in a higher power.

Answered 6 years ago

BrandyQ

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Whether something is insulting or not is pretty objective. With that said, here goes. I'm Christian. I have children and I have never discouraged them from feeling negative emotions. I also don't tell them that God is some fairy godmother who is going to wave a magic wand in the air everytime they pray and give them everything they want or think they need. That's not having a relationship with God, that's having a genie in your pocket. You said that I believe in a deity that has shown no signs of existing beside what I have been told to believe. No one told me to believe in God. My father was an atheist and my mother never taught me more than "Now I lay me down to sleep". Apparently you were told to believe something when you were a child but not all Christians start out that way. Christianity wasn't forced on me or even taught to me as a child. I also don't blindly believe every word that comes out of every preacher or priests mouth. If it doesn't follow the Bible then I disregard it and refuse to sit under any minister that I do not believe has the annoying of God. I believe the Bible is the word of God. There is a sign that he exists. The sun rises and sets everyday. I believe that He created the world and so the whole world is proof of his existence to me. No matter how dog we deep there is always something smaller (smaller than the atom, and now smaller than quarks). We still can't see to the edge of the universe. Every person that has ever lived has been individual and special with their own unique contribution in those around me. You will probably just laugh at the "supernatural" things that I site as proof. And maybe you should, or at least discount them because how could they mean anything to anyone but me. Still I will say that I know God is real because I can feel it when I pray. I don't know who is going to heaven or to hell. That is up to God alone. I do believe that you have to believe in God to go and be with him. I do not believe that the mercy God gives us is an excuse for bad behavior. Someone who killed 20 children might have been possessed, or severely mentally ill, or they just might like killing people (though I think that you would have a tough time arguing that someone like Hitler wasn't pretty insane). I don't have to make that decision though because only God knows the truth and the inner workings of a persons heart. I trust him completely to make that decision. Just because you ask for forgiveness doesn't mean you are sorry (and I personally don't believe going into a church has anything to do with it). I believe that you have to repent as well. And then I do believe that God forgives. My understanding is that someone who really believes in God.... That loves what He loves wouldn't go and kill a bunch of innocent children. If your heart is inline with His you wouldn't do that. You can believe in the Bible and not have a relationship with God. You can go to church on Sunday and not have a relationship with God. It's not for me to judge these people but God knows. My job is to do the best that I can do and try to encourage others to do the same. Why would religion contribute to depression? Is there some kind of statistic that states that people of faith are more prone to depression? I ask this because every study I have ever seen on the topic says the exact opposite. There is a reason that AA uses principles of faith, and that the program has been successful in helpings tens of thousands of people. God has given me peace about things that I wouldn't have been able to come to on my own. God has helped me build relationships with people that I didn't think we're possible. He gives me courage. He gives me hope. He keeps me striving to be a better person everyday and to handle my anxiety with all the grace that I can muster.

Answered 6 years ago

Narya

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Believing in a deity is faith, not religion. Some religions do not believe, through good works you can atone for your sins. The God I believe in, allows me to go through bad and good, and change, for the better. What religion casts people into hell for not believing? If a good person dies, are they not allowed the promise of paradise? I don't believe so. That's been my opinion though, I'm not your stereotypical Christian. In the Bible many Religious figures suffered from depression, I have witnessed most "Christians" are not the all smiling suit wearing televangelists people associate with Christianity. Most I have learned from have been drug abusers, killers, and thieves.

Answered 6 years ago

TwiggyT21

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An open question to Christians (and other religious people)

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