Discussion Anyone used to have a bad fear of going to hell after they die?

[Bartzabel666]

I used to. Not so much any more though. I've pretty much always been Atheist or at the very least Agnostic but I definitely used to be afraid of going to hell after I die and used to be like super obsessed w/ tryna' figure out how all this stupid shit got here in order to calm my fears. Reading lots of Atheist literature like "The God Delusion" and "God Is Not Great" + some evolution stuff and also looking into all the various contradictions and absurdities in the Bible certainly helped I must say. My parents are I guess sorta religious but not fundie by any means (pretty moderate) and never beat the fear of hell into my head but regardless I still used to be afraid. However, while nothing can be said for certain, at this point I think it's pretty safe to say the likelihood of YHWH burning me in hell after I OD on SN is roughly the same likelihood as the FSM (Flying Spaghetti Monster) boiling me in bubbling hot pasta for all eternity so I ain't too scared lol. Anyone else have similar experiences?

 

[AtMostOkay]

Yes. Having been raised in a violent, religious cult, not only did I fear Hell, but the imminent Rapture. Hitchens helped me too, in many ways. Peace, friend xoxo

 

[Worndown]

Hell is the tool of religious bullies. Do what I say or you will go to hell...
Some are already in hell.

 

[Euthanza]

I was religious 17 years ago on my first attempt, it didn't stop me tho. What I had in mind is that because I had gathered valium in my hand that means God knows and he's forgiving my sins that I wanted to CTB, thus valium was being my fate.
Also, I saw many people killed each other in the name of god, I was not hurting anyone but myself, so I concluded that I deserved forgiveness despite suicide being forbidden.

Contradictory much but that's how blind faith works, just close your ears and eyes, make believe that god is always on your side the way you want to interpret him. I think all religions operate pretty much the same pattern, but there are so many divergent branches of teaching; it's all on you to cherrypick who and what to believe.

 

[Bartzabel666]

Hell is the tool of religious bullies. Do what I say or you will go to hell...
Some are already in hell.

"Hell is the tool of religious bullies." Indeed it most certainly is. It's merely a tool they use to maintain control over other people. Very toxic and abusive. "Some are already in hell." We as a species far too often make our own hell by dividing ourselves over religion, politics, and all sorts of meaningless tripe. Not saying we should all just "Hold hands sing kumbaya" but we also take shit way more seriously then we should and it just increases our suffering, and the suffering of those around us, while we're here. In a godless universe where all paths lead to nowhere I see no reason to take all of this oh so seriously. They call it the "Game of Life" for a reason - It's a game. Thanks for playing.

 

[Rational man]

Humankind makes hell or heaven on Earth. There is no judgement day nor bearded bastard waiting for me. The whole idea is absurd. But i can say there is a god; the cosmic god that created life and the universe. I perceive god as pure energy. We live and then die. We are recycled by nature when we die and are remains reconnect with the soil. So no fears as death is guaranteed for everyone.

 

[Zerengin96]

Hell/heaven are fairy tales made by people who try to controll the behaviour of others. Sweet nothingness awaits you

 

[Flying Away]

I cannot fear a myth. Hell is a man made concept. After death there is nothing

 

[toasterbath]

religion justifies like a kid dying of cancer and they say oh they are at peace now with jesus. but if someone tormented with life experiences, physical, or mental illness anything else deemed as "invisible" and they want to die and be at peace then they are the monster? make it make sense

 

[Ashu]

I abandoned my birth religion of Christianity when I was fourteen, yet despite being an atheist I have a deep terror of death, unlike atheist friends of mine, and I think this must be an irrational residue of my Christian upbringing.

 

[LastFlowers]

No.

As I'm sure others have said, I am already in hell.
Could it be worse?
Yea..because things can always become worse no matter how bad they seem in the present.
However, I don't believe in any such afterlife, no heaven, hell, or secondary in-between.
Ending up in some fiery pit of the devil is not a concern of mine.
And if ever there was such a place, I would simply fight to end the suffering once again.
I don't welcome fear as a fair reason to accept and continue on in misery.

I abandoned my birth religion of Christianity when I was fourteen, yet despite being an atheist I have a deep terror of death, unlike atheist friends of mine, and I think this must be an irrational residue of my Christian upbringing.

Perhaps you fear death because you know it's the end, no second chances, no paradise waiting for you.

Nothing irrational about feeling the terror of being snuffed out, even as an atheist or suicidal individual.

I just personally can't let it stop me from continuing on in my plans to ctb, we are all going to die anyhow.
I'm certainly not happy with the hand I have been dealt, and I can't say I will ever know so much as peace, but I'm done, I'm out of options.
I'm actually more concerned about the dying process than death itself.