Has anyone here lost their religion or faith after years of believing in something?

[Thinkzalot]

Do you find yourself at peace because the burden has been lifted or still worried about what may be waiting in the afterlife if there is one? Because many religions use scare tactics and psychology ie. Heaven if your good and hell if you're bad etc.. Do you feel guilty? Or have you happily turned your back and can honestly say you don't ever think you may be making the wrong choice?

[micmak]

So the majority don't believe in heaven, hell or purgatory. i was brought up as a catholic and neither do I. I believe we live all three here on earth. What do I know.

[tiggerblue10]

There have been many wars fought in the name of religion and religious hatred still continues in many parts of the world. For what?

[Marijn]

Thinkzalot, are you worried about having given up your religion?

[askyourgran]

It is the fanatics who make religion something to be angry and divisive about it.

[tanny22]

tony ted i love you to bits but sometimes to talk a load of sh1te have a glenfiddech from me and calm down

[tanny22]

ok tony mate glenmorangie for you, and highland park for me,,i dont beleive in life after death, i dont have a religion, i wouldnt do you a bad turn,, and i would rather have a drink with you and a blether and be your friend, ,talk about miss norwa,y and days gone bye,, i think we are about same age ,dean martin perry como bobby darin and ella fitzgerald,

[vivandorron]

notafish....I am like you,although I had the privilege of being privately educated in the Bible College of Wales, I cannot accept any form of religion. In school I rejected what was being taught but still felt perhaps I was wrong. Consequently I went searching for a faith and ultimately became a Unitarian and served for six years as a member of its local Church's committee. However, I then began to ask myself questions, such as "If there is an all loving God, why does he/she put people through so much distress and pain."

So much evil is done in the name of religion; I honestly believe we would be better off without it. I also question whether those who profess to believe really do. It's not a bad job being an Archbishop and living in a palace with all its trappings whilst others have to wallow in poverty.

Ron

Ron

[mibn2cweus]

(fao tonyted, Naomi's away on 'holiday'. I am not in touch with her and don't know when she'll be back . . . soon I hope.)

[jaydah]

It came back briefly when the Pope visited, only because he prayed the latin mass I was brought up with. I can't get into the clap-happy ceremony of today. Dont know the modern prayers and hymns are unknown to me. I haven't deserted my faith but they've kicked me out as being 'past sell by date'.

[Marijn]

Hello Ron, I went to a Catholic primary school and a Catholic convent secondary school, I went to church every Sunday. I rejected it about ten years ago and find it very difficult sometimes. I wish I could know I was doing the right thing. All through Catholic upbringing you are told if you reject it you will suffer eternally. It's very hard for people who have not been indoctrinated from the day they were born, to understand how hard it is to shake it off. And I am the same moral person with the same moral values as when I went to church. But I feel freer now, (but worried in case I'm wrong).

[vivandorron]

Prynhawn da (good afternoon) notafish,....I feel sure that,if, as we are led to believe 'God is all loving and there is life beyond the grave', we will enter into the eternal kingdom,because of our sincerity of non-belief and our attitudes towards other folk

If there is a Heaven, I feel sure that we will meet-up there; along with lots of other ABers.

Ron

[quizbag]

How good to read a reasoned and sensible discussion on religious belief. Too often these days as soon as the topic of faith or belief come up it is attacked and insulted by those of no faith. We are all entitled to our own beliefs or none and should feel free to discuss them openly with others. So, well done everybody. Docspock your claim to reincarnation fascinates me. How did you find out?

[Davethedog]

As I have said before Aberfan finished me and god. I was 11 and I can't belive now that if there was a diety of any kind it can't of happened.

There have been many things since that have made me believe it but Aberfan did it for me. If thats part of "the big plan" count me out.

[Marijn]

Thank you Ron. If there is a God I hope he is ever-loving and forgiving, but that is not the main impression I got. I was taught to fear. I was taught that I must never think for myself or question. I hope you are right and thank you for you kind words

[naomi24]

I didn't 'lose' my faith - I investigated its origins and abandoned it voluntarily.

Tony, notafish says:

//I was taught to fear. I was taught that I must never think for myself or question. //

Does any rational person really need to ask why atheists argue against religion? And you condemn them? Think about it.

[sandyRoe]

I don't try to proselytise any more. It's enough that I pray for all the non believers. They may yet come to salvation through the grace of Our Lord, Jesus.