As a fellow Texan, and a former Christian, I'm going to be perhaps brutally honest with you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiritualquest  I do believe there is an afterlife. I do believe there is the existence of forces of good and evil. |
Where did these beliefs come from, if not from your Christian upbringing? What evidence do you have for your beliefs in an afterlife (does it have pearly gates and streets paved with gold?), or in forces of good and evil (does evil have horns and a pointed tail?)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiritualquest I believe that the bible has alot of contradiction and don't understand how this book which was written by human beings and translated from other languages can be completely accurate. |
That's a really great start. You've come to question your traditional beliefs, at least those you find inconvenient, because they don't make sense to you. Now it's time to question your traditional beliefs that are convenient and comfortable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiritualquest I do believe that some spirits linger earthbound for some reason. |
And you believe this because . . . you've come into contact with an earthbound spirit, or know someone you trust who claims to have had such a contact? What's the last movie you saw?
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiritualquest I do believe that somehow people pay in the long run somewhere for their wrong doings and evilness. I think it comes back on you in terms of misfortune sometimes. |
My personal experience has led me to a somewhat different view of the wages of good and evil. Seems to me that a lot of folks I consider evil are still doing pretty well, at least in a temporal, materialistic sense. Sure, I'd like to believe they're going to be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone eternally, but then I'd have to believe that good guys like me will look down on them from our mansions in the city four-square. Neither makes much sense to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiritualquest I do not believe that any man on the face of this earth has the right or the knowledge to tell me who god is, what he wants me to do, how he wants me to live and that I will go to hell if I do not comply. I do not understand a god that punishes people for not believing the christian way especially if they were raised from childhood with different beliefs. And I don't understand a god that forces us to love him out of fear. I am fed up with judgement which is freely given out by "christians". They seem to believe they have the right to foresee or send you to hell. They are convinced they have ALL the answers and even fight amongst themselves because of different denominations. |
You're absolutely right. Such a relgion is impossible to accept because of its contradictions, primary among which is its depiction of a loving God who wants all of his children to live with him in eternal heavenly bliss but who has pre-ordained the majority of them to burn in hell (read Matthew 7:13-14).
Quote:
Originally Posted by spiritualquest Beyond the facts I believe in forces of good and evil and an afterlife of some sort, I do not know what else I do believe. Part of me has the fear that god will strike me into hell for having thoughts about this and thinking on my own. |
I similarly believe in forces of good and evil, but only within the context of natural human tendencies, i.e. might makes right and the rich get richer. I refuse to believe that there's any such thing as inherent evil, i.e. original sin. I believe all humans are born completely innocent, blank slates, and that some will be born into situations where people who don't care about other people will write on their slates, while others who are born into different situations will have people who do care about other people writing on theirs. But at some point, likely in early adulthood, and regardless of who's been writing on their slates, people are capable of looking around and developing their own concept of good an evil and truth, and they therefore become responsible for their own actions.
I think you've made a good start, and I applaud your courage in stepping out on what your religion has characterized as forbidden ground, i.e. questioning your beliefs. You've chosen to take that step, and I hope that I and other contributors can help you to find your way from here.