Ok for those of you who either believe in a certain religion or don't believe in anything.....have you ever thought "What if I die and I do stand before God and I didn't believe in him?" or those who do believe in him, do you ever wonder "What if I die and there is no God or Heaven?"

I'll be honest and have thought about it before. I myself am Pagan and I also believe in reincarnation, but I have thought "What if there is really a Heaven and I can't get in because I didn't believe?"

Just curious to what yall thought.

Why do people *need* to feel like they will continue to live in some way?
I never understood that, actually. (My father's a minister so my whole family's Christian)

I believe that when I'm gone I'm gone - once you're dead you're DEAD. Live life carefully and love every minute of it.

Why do people *need* to feel like they will continue to live in some way?
I never understood that, actually. (My father's a minister so my whole family's Christian)

I believe that when I'm gone I'm gone - once you're dead you're DEAD. Live life carefully and love every minute of it.

Do you follow a certain religion? Just curious.

I went through a very unsure, yet "enlightening" period a couple of years ago. I knew that I wasn't Christian, but not knowing where I would end up when I died was absolutely devastating to me.

I remember having a conversation with my husband, who's pretty much atheist, and telling him that I just could not imagine it all being over, in an instant, and just ceasing to exist.

He asked me, "Why? Why is that upsetting. You didn't always exist, you know."

And for some reason, it just helped put it in a better perspective for me. He's right. I didn't exist for millions and millions of years, and I don't remember it being so bad. :)

I don't know where I stand now, to tell you the truth. I know when I think about it too much, I have a panic attack. So I don't.

I have thought about it on both sides of the coin, actually. While I was religious I thought, 'well if I die and there is no god I won't know the difference anyway, I just hope I am not wasting my life focusing on this religion if it amounts for nothing'.

Now that I am Atheist I have thought about where I might stand if there is a god. I am a compassionate, generous, kind person. I do everything I can to help other human beings become better people. I do everything I can to learn and grow into a better person myself. If there is a god then they will see me for who I am, and I have nothing to worry about. :)

I have thought about it on both sides of the coin, actually. While I was religious I thought, 'well if I die and there is no god I won't know the difference anyway, I just hope I am not wasting my life focusing on this religion if it amounts for nothing'.

Now that I am Atheist I have thought about where I might stand if there is a god. I am a compassionate, generous, kind person. I do everything I can to help other human beings become better people. I do everything I can to learn and grow into a better person myself. If there is a god then they will see me for who I am, and I have nothing to worry about. :)


Yes, that too. I'd like to think I'm a kind, generous, sincere person because I believe in good, I believe in humanity, and that it's innate in me, not because I'm bound by a book to do so.

It's very empowering actually. Humanism.

At the end of the day I have my faith. I dont question that. People question the Bible and will keep asking me "but how did this happen" or "how do you know it is not all maded up". It always come back to faith. And everyone has faith, right?

And everyone has faith, right?

No. Not really.

I have thought about it on both sides of the coin, actually. While I was religious I thought, 'well if I die and there is no god I won't know the difference anyway, I just hope I am not wasting my life focusing on this religion if it amounts for nothing'.

Now that I am Atheist I have thought about where I might stand if there is a god. I am a compassionate, generous, kind person. I do everything I can to help other human beings become better people. I do everything I can to learn and grow into a better person myself. If there is a god then they will see me for who I am, and I have nothing to worry about. :)

Nicely written. I totally agree. :)

And everyone has faith, right?

I would say everyone has faith in something(I have faith in my husband, my family, and my friends), but not everyone has faith in some sort of higher power. I definitely do not.

Yes, that too. I'd like to think I'm a kind, generous, sincere person because I believe in good, I believe in humanity, and that it's innate in me, not because I'm bound by a book to do so.

It's very empowering actually. Humanism.

Yep, I am definitely a humanist. :tu I have never felt more fulfilled, worthwhile, and empowered in my life as I have since I have developed a humanist philosophy.

I tried the humanist thing and I let myself down with it. I have come to the understanding that humans are not good at the core. We are selfish, cruel beings who want everything for ourselves. Babies are a good look at human nature: we want satisfaction and we want it now, no matter how we inconvience others. So I choose to believe that there is God, I have faith in Him and I believe that when I die I will go to Heaven and live forever. No one really has the correct answer, just beliefs in what will be. The only way to find out for sure is to die.

I don't really believe in the standard Christian conception of God. I do believe in God, but it's difficult to explain. Anyone who has read John Shelby Spong will understand.

In any case, I believe when our bodies die, our spirits/souls transfer into another realm, whatever you want to call it... not sure if it's heaven or what... but I believe in past lives, and that no energy is created or destroyed, only able to change forms.

When I cease to exist in this life, my essence will go back to whatever it was doing before... until my next life phase.

You know, I have a VERY religious friend and I had this discussion with her. I told her some questions I have and she replied with 'it is all in faith'. I was asking her about Heaven. I said now how do you know there really is a Heaven, you're going there, that is really nice and you'll see your loved ones again. She was telling me that is when the person's faith comes into play.

So basically, that is what I have been working on. While I do like to believe I will go to Heaven , there is one, and I will see my loved ones again, I sometimes have my doubts (you know those times where you think God couldn't possibly allow something like this, etc.).

I have thought well what if there is no God when I die (like there is something else or even nothing) and the only thing I can up with is I hope to heck I'm given a pass or I'm up a creek if there is something else and if there is nothing then I guess it really doesn't much matter.

The thought that there isn't a God sometimes scares me. But I still believe and am working on keeping up my faith and am teaching my kids about God. If they want to believe in something else down the road fine but I believe in God so that is what I am teaching. If nothing else it is making me feel better about some things while I am here.

No. Not really.

so you have no faith in anything? Faith in that God is real or faith that God is not real?

Ok for those of you who either believe in a certain religion or don't believe in anything.....have you ever thought "What if I die and I do stand before God and I didn't believe in him?" or those who do believe in him, do you ever wonder "What if I die and there is no God or Heaven?"

I'm a Christian and I believe there is a God. Did I go through a period that that I wondered...yes. I would be a weak person if I didn't. I would rather believe in something then nothing.

Also, people have 'gods' all over the place. Money, things, animals, science, themselves, anything that gives them importants or something that is more important that human life. Those are 'gods' in my eyes.

I tried the humanist thing and I let myself down with it. I have come to the understanding that humans are not good at the core. We are selfish, cruel beings who want everything for ourselves. Babies are a good look at human nature: we want satisfaction and we want it now, no matter how we inconvience others. So I choose to believe that there is God, I have faith in Him and I believe that when I die I will go to Heaven and live forever. No one really has the correct answer, just beliefs in what will be. The only way to find out for sure is to die.

It's great that you have found something that works for you. I think that is the point. :tu

I'm a Christian and I believe there is a God. Did I go through a period that that I wondered...yes. I would be a weak person if I didn't. I would rather believe in something then nothing.

Also, people have 'gods' all over the place. Money, things, animals, science, themselves, anything that gives them importants or something that is more important that human life. Those are 'gods' in my eyes.

That's a good point. I define "God" in my own way as well. God, to me, is everything. The universe and everything in it. Most monotheistic religions define God as the all knowing, all being, alpha and omega. So, to me that means that the universe itself with everything in it is God. I don't personally believe that God is a conscious being sitting up in heaven looking down on us and watching us, I think of God as more of a name for all life and matter in existence.

so you have no faith in anything? Faith in that God is real or faith that God is not real?

:yes Cocoa, I would guess that you have faith in something, whether that is yourself, others, or just hope for a better future and a faith that we can get there. I think everyone has faith in something, religion aside. At least, I hope so. I can't imagine a life without any faith, ever.

I tried the humanist thing and I let myself down with it. I have come to the understanding that humans are not good at the core. We are selfish, cruel beings who want everything for ourselves. Babies are a good look at human nature: we want satisfaction and we want it now, no matter how we inconvience others. So I choose to believe that there is God, I have faith in Him and I believe that when I die I will go to Heaven and live forever. No one really has the correct answer, just beliefs in what will be. The only way to find out for sure is to die.

:agree

I do have faith in God. The God of the protestant Bible. I believe that He is good and wants good for us. I believe that the Bible is His word to us, and that includes a faith that when I die, I will go to Heaven. I'm quite sure in that belief.

If on the off chance that there wasn't really a God, and no Heaven, well... I haven't lost anything. Belief and faith have brought me a wonderful group of friends, great sense of community, a purpose in life, a foundation in right and wrong, and a myriad of other positive things. If hypothetically God did not exist, I'd be pretty satisfied that I lived the best life I could.

If, however, I denied God's existence and turned out to be wrong... yikes. I'd rather not think about it too much.

I went through a very unsure, yet "enlightening" period a couple of years ago. I knew that I wasn't Christian, but not knowing where I would end up when I died was absolutely devastating to me.

I remember having a conversation with my husband, who's pretty much atheist, and telling him that I just could not imagine it all being over, in an instant, and just ceasing to exist.

He asked me, "Why? Why is that upsetting. You didn't always exist, you know."

And for some reason, it just helped put it in a better perspective for me. He's right. I didn't exist for millions and millions of years, and I don't remember it being so bad. :)

I don't know where I stand now, to tell you the truth. I know when I think about it too much, I have a panic attack. So I don't.

That's a really good way of thinking about it. :thinking

I'm agnostic, so I really won't be surprised either way. If there is a God, I'll think "Okay, so there's a God." And if there's nothing, well I won't think anything, but it won't be surprising. Because honestly, I really don't know one way or the other.

im a born again Chirstian and I know that i will go to heaven when i die. However, there ahve been times when ive questioned that. i think its normal to question what you believe. But, like as some of you have said, its all about Faith. And someone else said she would rather believe in something than nothing. I kinda look at it this way....its a win/win situation either way. If i die and go to Heaven then i win, and if i die and...nothing, well then i still lived a life worth something, believeing something, happy and content.

I am an Agnostic border line Athiest so I believe when we die we die. We don't "go" anywhere but where ever your family puts your body. If it turns out otherwise, well, I will be dead and won't really be able to tell anyone now will I?

Ok for those of you who either believe in a certain religion or don't believe in anything.....have you ever thought "What if I die and I do stand before God and I didn't believe in him?" or those who do believe in him, do you ever wonder "What if I die and there is no God or Heaven?"

I'll be honest and have thought about it before. I myself am Pagan and I also believe in reincarnation, but I have thought "What if there is really a Heaven and I can't get in because I didn't believe?"

Just curious to what yall thought.

Personally, I believe in God. I do NOT, however, believe in a God who would not let some people into Heaven just because they didn't believe in Him in life. I believe there is progression and learning after this life.

I also believe that God is the ultimate scientist, but that takes a WHOLE lot more explaining than you probably want to read.

Call me :screwy

I am Christian and I know when I take my last breath Heaven will be my home. As a result of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for my sins, I will live forever!!!! This invitation is all of mankind...............Its your choice? Choose wisely!
For God so loved the world; that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16(L)

The only thing that scares me is never being able to see my family again. That's really all I worry about... whether we'll be in the same place or reunited or whatever. I just can't stand the thought of life ending when we die with no chance to continue knowing and being with the people who we've loved the most in our life. It hurts deeply to think that I may never see my husband or children again :( but thats really the only thing I wonder about.

Yes I've thought about it from both sides and in the end I tell myself that as long as I'm being a decent human being I don't have anything to worry about.

Personally, I believe in God. I do NOT, however, believe in a God who would not let some people into Heaven just because they didn't believe in Him in life. I believe there is progression and learning after this life.

I also believe that God is the ultimate scientist, but that takes a WHOLE lot more explaining than you probably want to read.

Call me :screwy

I totally get you. :)

i have so many skeptical things that play in my head. Im catholic and my parents arent religious but they brought me to CCD and that thing so i learned some stuff but I do believe in God but I also have many doubts bc the bible has so much depth. One thing a friend said to me which made complete sense was "if Adam and Eve were the first humans where did other races&etnicities come from?" and i was just like :wow :dunno

i would love to hear different perspectives on that bc I do wanna have complete faith in my religon but its skeptical

im a born again Chirstian and I know that i will go to heaven when i die. However, there ahve been times when ive questioned that. i think its normal to question what you believe. But, like as some of you have said, its all about Faith. And someone else said she would rather believe in something than nothing. I kinda look at it this way....its a win/win situation either way. If i die and go to Heaven then i win, and if i die and...nothing, well then i still lived a life worth something, believeing something, happy and content.

yes!very well said.
i agree completely.

I have thought about it on both sides of the coin, actually. While I was religious I thought, 'well if I die and there is no god I won't know the difference anyway, I just hope I am not wasting my life focusing on this religion if it amounts for nothing'.

Now that I am Atheist I have thought about where I might stand if there is a god. I am a compassionate, generous, kind person. I do everything I can to help other human beings become better people. I do everything I can to learn and grow into a better person myself. If there is a god then they will see me for who I am, and I have nothing to worry about. :)

:yes

I have thought about it on both sides of the coin, actually. While I was religious I thought, 'well if I die and there is no god I won't know the difference anyway, I just hope I am not wasting my life focusing on this religion if it amounts for nothing'.

Now that I am Atheist I have thought about where I might stand if there is a god. I am a compassionate, generous, kind person. I do everything I can to help other human beings become better people. I do everything I can to learn and grow into a better person myself. If there is a god then they will see me for who I am, and I have nothing to worry about. :)

:yes
I personally believe that if there is a god(dess) or body of god(desse)s, they are not the cruel sort where you have to follow a certain guide line to a T.

I believe that because I do my best every day to be the best person I can towards myself and others, I have nothing to worry about. Any being above us would see that for what it is.
I believe in the possibility of anything, I am willing to embrace anything, I am just not willing to do so until THEY tell me.

I'm not worried about what happens to me when I die.

Oh goodness...I've gone back and forth in my head many a times about this sort of topic. Here's the conclusion I always come to. Whether or not we believe in God, we won't really "find out" until we die. If there is anything after death, we'll know it then. And if this God that we are all "supposed" to believe in exists and is all-forgiving and all-loving of his children, then if we've done good on Earth, we're all going to heaven regardless of what we believe or what religion we do or don't follow.

Sometimes people get so wrapped up in the fact that "Islam cannot exist because Muhammed was not a messenger" or "Jesus is not the son of God" that we forget to understand that we are only human beings. Who are we to say what is right and wrong when, if God really does exist, he will be the one with the final say in that?

I didn't read all of the replies but here's what I've always figured...

If I die, and there is a God, then I win the heaven lottery.

And if there isn't....well, it's not like I *lost* anything...ya know?

It's extremely disturbing for me to think about, and unfortunately, it's on my mind ALL the time.

I woke up this morning, from such a deep sleep that I remember thinking "Wow that's how it was like before I was born". I don't remember anything from before then, and I didn't remember anything while I was asleep (didn't even wake up for like 1 second during), so I imagine that's how it will be when I am dead.

This whole thought process makes my heart race, and I seriously could have a panic attack. It's happened before.

If there is a god- I just hope that he judges us by what was in our hearts, and not what was in our minds. I know, that I can't get my mind wrapped around the idea of there being a god at all. I can't imagine that sort of entity. It's all very .....mind boggling. And I have tried to believe, many, many times.. but I can't. So I hope, that if he exists on the other side, that he will judge us by how pure our soul is, and not by what went through our HUMAN minds. He created us to be human afterall right?

If it's purely by what we believed in- then alot of people are going to hell, no matter how good they were.

yes i have thought that a lot. i figure at that point i will just have no choice in the matter lol

Why do people *need* to feel like they will continue to live in some way?
I never understood that, actually. (My father's a minister so my whole family's Christian)

I believe that when I'm gone I'm gone - once you're dead you're DEAD. Live life carefully and love every minute of it.

That's how my husband and I feel.

If I am sent to hell for not beleiving in Jesus, then I would walk with my head held high, knowing that I made the most informed choices that I could. Primarilly because I can not believe that any god could be both loving and all powerful, and let hell exist.

This is my own personal opinion here, and is not meant to try to change anybody else's opinions. I am only writing this in order to help people understand where I'm coming from, and I encourage everybody to find their own personal truths.

My logic goes as follows: If a god is all powerful, then he has control over hell as well, and certainly has control over anything not in hell. This means that, under the Abrahamic traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and the Muslim religion), God/Allah has control over who goes to hell and who doesn't, and has a conscious choice for each soul. If any god is all loving, then he would do his best to keep each soul from suffering... and isn't the definition of hell a place of suffering?

The alternative to going to hell, for those who don't "qualify" for heaven, would be re-incarnation. I see it as, if you fail a class in college, you can take it again until you pass. Of course, you have to wait until the next semester, or until the class is available again, but there will be a chance, especially if the class (lessons learned in life) are pre-requisites for further growth (going to heaven).

And, if there is no god, and life is an "accident" of chemistry, then none of this would matter... Death would be the same as not being born, physically, and hell isn't an issue... What matters, in this case, is that we can live with ourselves today, knowing that we have done the best with the information we have.

I personally believe (again, my own opinion, and is not meant to influence anyone else's opinion) that a religion with both hell and an all-powerful god is a religion based on a retributive and cruel god, not a loving one. (Of course, if we look at how many people the Abrahamic god has killed throughout the Bible, compared to how many Satan has killed, we see what Christianity is founded upon, and moving even further back, to the pre-judaic polytheistic roots of the Abrahamic religions, we realize that Jehova was a relatively minor god who specialized in war, just as Mars and Aries in Greek and Roman mythology... Hell fits very well into this history. For the record, Jehova killed (or instructed the Isrealites to kill) over 2,000,000... Satan killed 4. Don't believe me? Just open the Bible to page one of Genesis, grab a calculator, and start reading until the last page of Revelations.)

So, if I'm denied from heaven for my beliefs and lack of beliefs, then I'll hold my head high, knowing that I did the best I could, given the information that I have... and if there is no heaven or hell, well, I'm holding my head high today.

I want to add real quick... I see a religion and the people in the religion as separate. Just because I believe that hell makes the doctrine of Christianity "bad" (for lack of a better word... bad, as in spoiled food, not bad as in evil), does not mean that I believe that people who identify themselves as Christian are just as bad. Everybody has free will, are subjected to different sources of information, and each person is responsible for their own actions regardless of what religion they identify themselves with. A person can call themselves Christian, but ignore the judgemental aspects of having a place of suffering sanctioned by their god.

If I am sent to hell for not beleiving in Jesus, then I would walk with my head held high, knowing that I made the most informed choices that I could. Primarilly because I can not believe that any god could be both loving and all powerful, and let hell exist.

I completely agree. I don't believe in the typical Christian version of Hell, AT ALL.

so you have no faith in anything? Faith in that God is real or faith that God is not real?

I'm not an atheist. I don't think.

But ....

How can you have faith in an ideal or being that doesn't exist to begin with.

I don't think that "belief" and "faith" are the same thing. At all.

I don't believe in God. But here is my rationale about hell:

If there is a God he probably doesn't care that much about us. He is so big and powerful and whatnot, he probably cares about us as much as we care about an ant. Ants could be praying to us all day long. Do we hear? No. Do we care? Not really. God does not answer our prayers or provide Christians (nor any religion) any more protection than any other religion.

If there is indeed a God who loves us like we are his children because he created us, then we have to completely deny the existence of hell. Because I love my child unconditionally. Nothing my child did would ever make me want to cause great suffering to her, put her up for adoption, or never see her again. She simply CAN'T do anything THAT bad. So.. if there is a hell then that means I love my child more than God loves me. That doesn't seem probable. If we are God's children then there is no hell.

My final rationale is that I don't have a high opinion of religious people. I have met many religious people who use their religion as a kind of "shield" for not feeling bad about the jerkish things they do. I'm sorry, I was raised Catholic and this whole "repent" stuff doesn't work for me. I know more religious hypocrites than people who actually practice Christianity. If you can act like a jerk and just say "sorry" to God and clock some hours in church and that erases it... then sorry I don't want to go to heaven anyway and spend eternity with a bunch of jerks.

Oh, bonus thing: babies who are not baptized go to hell. WHATEVER. If a newborn baby is going to hell then NONE OF US HAS A CHANCE.

Bonus thing #2: death row inmates are technically going to heaven since they all repent and find Jesus after they get busted. I bet they truly accept Christ into their hearts and everything. Just another winner thats going to NOT be in hell with me :D

basically my theory is
(i'm Lutheran btw)
i believe there is a God and there is a heaven
if theres not...i wont know the difference
but i believe there is:D

I got a quetion for yall. In the Bible, it says that God forgives all sins, right? And that they are all equal, then why is it that if you murder someone, or commit suicide, you go to hell?

Do you follow a certain religion? Just curious.

sorry - I forgot all about this thread.

No, not anymore. Use to be Christian but I always had problems believing in a lot of Biblical things so I believe in God (Not defined by any religion, though), and try to be respectful and not kill people. :D

This is a really interesting question :). I grew up Presbyterian and part of being a Christian is finding faith and it is not always easy. But over time I think I have found that I have faith that what I believe is true but that is not to say that I haven't struggled with it. Great question!

I'm Pagan, so I don't believe in a God exactly, but I feel like there is something out there.Without going into it too personally, I've had a couple of experiences that leave no doubt in my mind that there is some sort of Divine.

That said, I believe in reincarnation. I think after you die, you go to a nice, beautiful, peaceful place (Some Pagans call it 'Summerland' but that's a bit frou-frou to me) where you can rest and reflect on your life. Then , when you're ready, you can choose to be reincarnated into another life.

I called myself an atheist for a long time, but it all came down to the fact that I had to believe in something. I couldn't stand wondering if my husband died before me, would I ever see him again? Or would that be it--poof--all gone?

Eh when I die I'll find out what happens and go from there. :shrug

I'm prepared. I choose no religion, but that doesn't mean I don't believe in something.

If I'm asked at the gates why I didn't commit myself to one religion, I will present my case bravely even if my voice shakes. I will say that He made me and He made all of the other people in the world. I will say that He knows how hard it is to be a human and to have to make the right decision and know for sure that's the one. I will say that He knows there are evil forces everywhere and that I was only a human, I did what I could to be the best human I could be.

I'm pretty sure if there are pearly gates and all that jazz, that God already knows what's in our hearts and He already knows where we stand.

I also believe that no matter your religion, if you're praying to a higher being or beings, you're all talking to the same Entity/entities by different names.

I got a quetion for yall. In the Bible, it says that God forgives all sins, right? And that they are all equal, then why is it that if you murder someone, or commit suicide, you go to hell?

How do you know 100% you do for those and not for lying? How do you know 100% that you aren't given some sort of judged trial in purgatory?

There's no way to know, and so I don't trouble myself with it. I know I am a sinner, by definition, but I also know I'm not a horrible human being and that I have a good place in this universe. I'm right with the Man. Or Men/Women/Entities/Beings whatever.

I'm prepared. I choose no religion, but that doesn't mean I don't believe in something.

If I'm asked at the gates why I didn't commit myself to one religion, I will present my case bravely even if my voice shakes. I will say that He made me and He made all of the other people in the world. I will say that He knows how hard it is to be a human and to have to make the right decision and know for sure that's the one. I will say that He knows there are evil forces everywhere and that I was only a human, I did what I could to be the best human I could be.

I'm pretty sure if there are pearly gates and all that jazz, that God already knows what's in our hearts and He already knows where we stand.

I also believe that no matter your religion, if you're praying to a higher being or beings, you're all talking to the same Entity/entities by different names.

Beautifully written! :thumbsup

Beautifully written! :thumbsup

Thanks :blush

If I die and my God isn't the God I stand before, I'll still be happy with my choice, because for the time that I was on this earth I was happy. Either way I'd be dead so :dunno :giggle.
If I die and there is no God or heaven lol then I'd be dead.
There is nothing more I can do.

I don't believe in God. But here is my rationale about hell:

If there is a God he probably doesn't care that much about us. He is so big and powerful and whatnot, he probably cares about us as much as we care about an ant. Ants could be praying to us all day long. Do we hear? No. Do we care? Not really. God does not answer our prayers or provide Christians (nor any religion) any more protection than any other religion.

If there is indeed a God who loves us like we are his children because he created us, then we have to completely deny the existence of hell. Because I love my child unconditionally. Nothing my child did would ever make me want to cause great suffering to her, put her up for adoption, or never see her again. She simply CAN'T do anything THAT bad. So.. if there is a hell then that means I love my child more than God loves me. That doesn't seem probable. If we are God's children then there is no hell.

My final rationale is that I don't have a high opinion of religious people. I have met many religious people who use their religion as a kind of "shield" for not feeling bad about the jerkish things they do. I'm sorry, I was raised Catholic and this whole "repent" stuff doesn't work for me. I know more religious hypocrites than people who actually practice Christianity. If you can act like a jerk and just say "sorry" to God and clock some hours in church and that erases it... then sorry I don't want to go to heaven anyway and spend eternity with a bunch of jerks.

Oh, bonus thing: babies who are not baptized go to hell. WHATEVER. If a newborn baby is going to hell then NONE OF US HAS A CHANCE.

Bonus thing #2: death row inmates are technically going to heaven since they all repent and find Jesus after they get busted. I bet they truly accept Christ into their hearts and everything. Just another winner thats going to NOT be in hell with me :D

I'm with you on so much of this, I'm SO glad my religion doesn't teach these things because I wouldn't be able to believe it either.

I don't believe there is a Hell of endless suffering because I believe in a loving God. I believe that to repent, one must confess, make restitution to those they have harmed, ask for forgiveness and then forever forsake the sin they committed. I believe that men will be punished for their OWN sins, and that babies and children who die before they can truly understand their actions are granted a one-way trip to Heaven. I DO NOT believe that one can simply "accept Jesus into their hearts" and be saved. I believe it takes much more than that, and a true change of heart is manifested in man by his works as well as his acceptance of Christ.

I'm grateful my religion teaches these things, or I would, as you are, be unable to be religious. At all.

Ok for those of you who either believe in a certain religion or don't believe in anything.....have you ever thought "What if I die and I do stand before God and I didn't believe in him?" or those who do believe in him, do you ever wonder "What if I die and there is no God or Heaven?"

I'll be honest and have thought about it before. I myself am Pagan and I also believe in reincarnation, but I have thought "What if there is really a Heaven and I can't get in because I didn't believe?"

Just curious to what yall thought.

Nope never have.

I'm agnostic but used to be Christian.......I think about your original question all the time!

I grew up in a Baptist church that has pretty much told me that if I don't accept Jesus NOW as my personal savior (while alive in human form) that I will pretty much pay for that choice NOT to do so.

I was also taught that thinking of God/Jesus as only 'loving' and on MY terms was idolatry.......which is against the bible. Saying things like "well a loving God wouldn't send people to hell"...ya know, that sort of thinking.

I think about my choice carefully everyday because for me there is simply no other choice..........if I don't believe NOW I'm hell bound and that is something that I just cannot seem to think differently on, no matter how hard I may try:sadeyes

Yet, I'm agnostic. Not a nice way to live my life after having grown up in a hell, fire a damnation Baptist church all of my life:shock