Christian theology -- Disturbing to you?

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_Sky said:
Guess this ends this thread

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If you don't want to post, that is your own personal choice, but your departure does not end this thread. Given your characterization of non-believers as "fools," I can't say that I am sad to see you desist in your posting on this thread.

Edwyn...your original post

"I grew up a Christian, and I find that I am very disturbed by the things that I learned in the Bible. I am quite anxious and paranoid about "committing sins" and provoking "God's punishment." The whole Biblical idea that God is not going to love or forgive non-Christians after they die is extremely distressing to my emotions.

I trace a lot of my emotional problems to the kind of doctrines that the Bible presents. Do any of you feel the same way?'

I don't want to put words in your mouth so you can correct me in the intend behind the words, but trying to understand your first post...may I ask a few questions...from what I understand you grew up Christian...Does that mean your parents dragged you to church or does that mean that you went to church (meaning Christian church in both references) and embraced its teachings ... what ever they might have been...

It sounds like at some point you have become disturbed about these teachings...what period of time are we talking...is this as a teenager, young adult, adult?

There is more to your original post...maybe this would be good time for me to pause and get some feedback from you...

Just so you know I'm more interested in trying to help you figure this out, so you can come to conclusions you decide on that may help with the emotional problems you elude too ...I'm not particularly well versed in the Bible so I won't really be much help there with regards to specific references and such...as I mentioned I didn't really start exploring all this until I was 29....

i'm jumping in here and reassuring Edwin that the forums belong to all of us.

remember this......i used to tell patients this when they would say something like "my mother called me a *****", i would ask them "if you mother called you a chair/book/rock, would it make you that?"......a look would come across their face as the realization hit them that name calling doesn't make you that.........

feel free to continue your thread. i'm ready to discuss this with you. you can PM me if you like. i have some similiar feelings about the bible. i have a "higher power".....she helps me through my life struggles. xoxoxo pat

Direction,

My parents are Christians and baptised me as an infant. I was always very interested in ideas and in doing what was right and proper. So, naturally, I threw myself into Christianity and pursued it with dedication and heart. I happily went to church weekly, I did daily Bible devotions, and I read a lot of religious books -- both theological books and devotional books. I went to Youth Group regularly, and went on several dozen short term mission trips and youth retreats.

Jesus was the most important thing to me -- I used to pray to Jesus as a friend and thought I had an intimate relationship with him. I was convinced that I was a sinner in need of salvation. I thought that I was subject to the punishment of hell unless I believed that Jesus died for me on the cross. I was always focused on living a very virtuous life -- rarely disobeying my parents and adults, avoiding drugs and alcohol, sex and raunchy media. My friends would have described me primarily as a Christian and a pious person.

When I went to college, I chose a Christian college. Three years after I went to college, I realized that I was extremely unhappy. I had become very introspective and fearful. Many of my fears centered around following what I thought were God's purposes for my life -- I was worried especially about the way I related to the opposite sex -- women. It seemed to me that these fears had something to do with my upbringing and my religious programming. I started to talk with my non-Christian friends and realized that they were not as neurotic as I had become. Then I started to scrutinize my Christian faith, and the religion started to look less and less like what I thought it was. I was particularly bothered by what the Bible says about God's wrath -- that he actually responds to human evil by taking vengeance upon the human or upon Christ as an atonement substitute. This idea had made me very frazzled.

The Bible says that God will punish with hell those who reject Christianity. This idea started to make me extremely unhappy and uncomfortable: "How could I worship a being as God who promised to do things that are immoral for humans to do?" I decided that since the Christian Yahweh does not love everybody forever, then he can't possibly be God! So, I slowly tried to leave the religion, but it has not been as easy to leave as I would like. I was deeply indoctrinated and the ideas of God's wrathful punishment for sin has not gone away as quickly as I like. The old fears linger. I wish I had never become a Christian in the first place and now I am trying to recover from the depression and anxiety that have been the legacies of my 25 years in the religion.

I understand how you came to this conclusion (Please know that I may understand how you came to this conclusion; however, I do come to a different conclusion)

Now there have been some posts indicating similar experiences as you and some posts indicating that they didn't have a similar experience.

I'm guessing it is a little different for everone...are you talking to your T regarding all of this?

Was your time of unhappiness solely related to your Christian beliefs or were there some other things happening to?

You mention introspective and fearful? Is this strickly regarding the Christian beliefs you held at the time or is this in general?

I am sad that Christianity was presented to you that way, as that isn't the way that I understand it, or the nature of God. I can see how that would lead to depression and anxiety. I'm not sure how to help you, but I hope that you are able to find peace and the answers that you seek.

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Direction said:
I understand how you came to this conclusion (Please know that I may understand how you came to this conclusion; however, I do come to a different conclusion)

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Thanks for understanding. Actually, I am hesitant to tell stories like this around Christians because I don't want them to become disappointed. I don't want to affect them negatively, and I don't want to say they are fools for what they believe. Maybe I should have just kept my feelings to myself. Keep it inside. I especially have a difficult time telling my parents about where I trace my sadness and anxiety. They thought they were giving me the best source of joy by teaching me Christianity. So many Christians just post because they want to make other people happier and help them because they have love. It makes me cry and makes me think that they really deserve a better Bible -- a Bible which teaches that when God punishes humans, he does so only to correct them.

I'm not seeing a T right now -- but will do so when I have more $$$.

my fear is burning in hell. please keep reading...it won't take but a minute.

God says the way to enter Heaven is to be born again. meaning accept Him as your Savior and ask to be forgiven for your sins. He does not punish by throwing anyone into Hell. That is just the result of not asking Him into your heart. Salvation is so simple and what I see happening here is over analizing the Word of Jesus Christ. Please don't be so afraid. God wants His children to be happy.

I'm glad you are planning on seeing a T when you get some money...I think you and T can sift through all this...I'm not 100% certain all that you are feeling right now can be completely explained by your shift in view of Christianity...Though I would say it is a significant event that has put you through the ringers...

Christianity can be a tough subject to tackle...some say its easy, some say is hard, some don't know.

Anyway I thought I would give this topic some more thought and sleep on it...