Since I gave up religion, as well as other harmful vices, my life has been much calmer. Seeking to treat others with kindness and respect not for hope of any reward nor fear of punishment, but just because it's the right thing to do has been very liberating. I find myself having much less resentment in the way I act toward people, because when I'm kind to them, I am kind for their sake and mine, not because of any outside influence. Many have said that I'm hell-bound for this type of lifestyle, but I don't see why. Good luck with your soul searching, as this is a path each of us ultimately walks alone -- but sometimes with friendly voices along the way.

Good luck with your soul searching, as this is a path each of us ultimately walks alone -- but sometimes with friendly voices along the way.

You sound like a wonderful person.  Thanks for the kind words.

Don't you guys think there might be spiritual laws as well as physical laws? Like gravity. If you throw something in the air, it doesn't stop at the top, pause, and think, "it's kinda nice up here, maybe this time I should linger a bit." Heh. It falls, because gravity is a stronger law. Karma. If you give, it WILL come back to you. That's a law. Sin. If you have even a smudge of it, God..in his perfection... will not look at you. I don't think it's like he stops and thinks, "oooh, who am I sending to Hell today? Timmy didn't do enough good things today! Zap!" Don't you guys think God is on your side?

I was surprised to see this one resurrected (no pun intended).  It was good timing though since this is a very religiously reflective time.  I went to a Christmas program at a nondenomiational church with neighbor friends recently.  I really enjoyed the program and the people involved.  The pastor was very well spoken but when it came to the part where he tried to explain the relationship with Jesus, I had the same old reaction.  I celebrate the birth of Jesus because I appreciate him as a very important teacher who is responsible for the morality in the society I enjoy.  I still don't know in my heart that he is my saviour and the whole dying for our sins thing makes no more sense than ever.

The pastor said that he was certain that those of us in the audience who hadn't accepted the gift of Christ had an emptiness we are always trying to fill with that next job, next house, next whatever.  Well, I can very honestly say I don't have that emptiness.  I don't feel compelled to "find Jesus".  I am a very happy, fulfilled person surrounded by love.  I am still not dismissing anything, I just don't feel like there is anything missing.  I believe in God, I just don't have a belief in perfection or a grasp of eternity.  I do have a desire to continue learning as long as I am conscious.

think it is silly to not believe Jesus existed. There is plenty of evidence that he did. However, you are arrogant if you think you can prove to anyone that he is the son of God. You are also arrogant if you think you can prove to anyone that he isn't the son of God. This subject is all about faith. The bible doesn't prove anything to anyone who doesn't first accept that it is the word of God. It is nothing more than an old book of stories that reflect the time otherwise.

Bravo!!

I just wanted to say that because you weren't baptised, don't belong to a church, & lived with your fiance ARE NOT reasons you would go to hell. I am a non-denominational Christian and the TRUE reason for going to hell is if a person stands before God on his/her judgement day and rejects Him. There is NOT anything you can "do" or "not do" that "earns" your way into heaven. Whether or not you go to heaven depends on whether or not you whole heartedly believe that God sent His only Son to earth to save all of us who sin. And for all of those "christians" who tell you are going to hell for these nominal reasons-- you need to reply that they need to get their noses back in the Bible... because they should know better. EVERYONE on this earth is a sinner- no matter what church they belong to. God instructs us to hate the SIN and NOT the SINNER. (Hence the "let the person without sin cast the first stone"- nobody is without sin)

I would add though that your last sentence "So I go on living, learning and being thankful in the ways that fit me" is a little sketchy to me. If everyone did things in the way they "saw fit" then this world would be... well, exactly what the world is today-- a chaotic mess!! That's why God gave us the Bible. It works. It has an answer for everything in it. You just have to open your heart and mind and read it!! I would reccommend the book "Letters From A Skeptic" by Dr. Gregory Boyd for you... if you're not quite ready to tackle the Bible. It talks about all of the questions most non-believers have. It's really, really good and could start as a precursor for the difference between heaven and hell for you!

Please know that I was not always a believer. What you wrote in your discussion sounds EXACTLY like me 4 years ago. I went to a catholic school my entire life and ran as far away from God as possible. I was saved 4 years ago and my life literally changed in so many ways that I can't barely fathom how it happened!!! If you would ever like to ask me anything please feel free!!