So lately religion and the after life has been weighing heavily on my mind. I was raised Christian, went to an Episcopalian school most of my life, and attended church with my mom from time to time. Let's just say I am familiar with Jesus, I understand the story, I get the Bible. Wait, not so much get, but I know the story. I was never a die hard Christian, figured Jesus/God was around, but I never got struck with the 'holy spirit' or had any deep personal talks with the guy. Just something, I accepted, not necessarily practiced, but accepted. Then a few months ago I started thinking it's not fair we're constantly 'sinning' and having to pay this guy back because he died for us (even though I didn't ask him to) so now I must repent and beg for forgiveness when I could just go about my day. I'm born a sinner already, so what choice do I have? I don't know I'm kind of rambling about Jesus now, and getting a bit off topic. But you get the beef I started to have with Jesus. Next thing I know I'm researching all sorts of new religions from Hinduism, Rastafarian, Unitarian, etc. None them I really click with or believe. I just have so many questions about their gods/goddesses, who got to decide that and why, etc. Then this got me thinking about an afterlife, I knew I believed in that, so I must believe in SOME sort of higher being right? Then I started thinking wait, am I really believing that after I die some spirit or soul of mine is going to float out of my body and my cold dead unconscious body will live on somewhere for eternal bliss, or hell if I've done something wrong right? Yeah, there are people burning alive for all eternity underground around here. I felt like a fool for believing the whole heaven and hell thing my whole life, but it's just what I heard growing up (not in an excessive manner, my mama was no bible beater though let me tell you) and so I just accepted it without second guessing it really. Either way I'm still figuring it all out really, but I can say I'm leaning like 80% sure that there is no afterlife and when we die, we simply die and that is really it folks. As much as I want to believe life continues and we're reunited with loved ones when the end comes and all if fine and dandy, that just doesn't seem logical in the least bit. Now I'm certainly not trying to diss or belittle anyone who has a religious preference or believes in some sort of an afterlife, I think it was only natural for humans (the only species who is aware of their own inevitable death) to create some sort of happy ending story to tell people for reassurance, and religion has always been a great way to keep the masses down and under control. Now every time I see or hear about religion I just think: fraud, fake, and shake my head in disbelief over people believing it.
Just my thoughts, what are yours?
Just my thoughts, what are yours?
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Long day today though.
I went to bed at 3:30ish am. Woke up at 7am. Went to the gym until 9:45. Walked the 35 minutes to work and then worked until 9:30pm. No I'm just tired lol.
How was your day?
For me I was also raised by a very strict Christian family.
I have spent a lot of time reading about and talking to people about different religions.
I have my own cultural beliefs and spirituality.
As far as organized religion goes I hate the hypocrisy, bigotry, and bullshit carried out in the name of whatever god these people so chose to believe in.
the only organized religion I could ever consider being close to that which my culture teaches and believes is Buddhism.
Also in my research and opinion when broken down to there most basic forms and principles most all religions teach the same things.
So as people are different and interpret things differently how do we not know all religion is the same message from the same creator interpreted differently and changed by men?
If me you and three of our friends read the same book we may likely come to different opinions on who the characters where and what the artists mindset/meaning was.
Same as if we all analyze an abstract painting.
Just my thoughts
Buddhism (Zen, in particular) and its take on what happens after we die (though not generally the first time) might prove interesting for you.