Discussion What do you feel about religion?

[tasmaka]

Ive been forced into church and its events since I was placed in a baptist academy, now a catholic school.

I have no interest or belief in god, only a fear.

The concept of "forgiving all" never sits right for me. Reason: In my classes Ive had numerous teachers who say that god would forgive american school shooters and repeat sexual offenders (specifically pedophiles) because "god forgives all"

And with the concept of forgiveness I struggle to understand why the only unforgiving act is the taking of your own life, not taking others, or crushing their souls, but only yourself. Being mentally ill isnt their problem, self degradation isnt their issue either, but to participate in self harm and even speak the words of suicide is.

Im not one to say its "my only way out", but Ive felt it and tried maybe 5 times now, and just with that, I know its real, and for some people its how it ends, so how can religious members be so critical for the one group of people whos severe struggle is from Themselves.

Allssoooo Recently I was on another forced retreat and suffered a lung collapse (I have severe asthma, the burning of smoke and scents hurt me in church), and I told the teacher I was with and she didnt care, her words "well, you need to be here for god, we can pray about it.."
Hey so thats not how it works lolll

But for me the more I think about how the church I've always been in functions and thinks, I find it feels very blue pilled, and delusional. Everyone in the room believes a man who exists in a spiritual plain will save us all if we worship him for all our years. And even though the world is a horrible place, its "not our problem" as we will live in the eternal kingdom with god himselves. Just now, I feel like it all is just peoples way to not think about the pain of being alive and processing their existence and how you really will die one day.

But thats me lol

Disclaimer: Im not intending to persuade or direct hate towards any religion and its practices, I support the right of religious freedom.

Whats your stance on religion and its connection to suicide, or in general?

 

[metfan647]

I have very little time for religion these days so it has zero connection to suicide, as far as I'm concerned.

I do wonder what if, but that's as far as it goes.

 

[YourLocalSadGirly]

I personally believe that religion is a tool of control and oppression and that 99% of people or more would be better off living secular lives. I don't think you have to believe in some sort of institutionalized religion to be spiritual. I believe in some sort of afterlife and I don't think that's inconsistent with believing that religion as a practice should be abolished. I have no problem with people following their own personal beliefs, but when they insist that others also follow those personal beliefs that's when I take issue. I'm against religious indoctrination in any form which includes introducing religion to children. I'm aware that my views on religion are harsh but they derive from my support of queer liberation and women's liberation so I think most should be able to see where I'm coming from.

I think that the reason that suicide is considered taboo in most religions (christianity included) is because religious leaders don't want people killing themselves. It's just like people who are unquestioningly pro-life, they believe that suicide is selfish and is never a reasonable course of action. In my opinion it doesn't really go any deeper than that. Again I believe religion is a tool of control and controlling people's autonomy by spiritually prohibiting suicide is another form of this. Obviously there are altruistic reasons to discourage suicide but claiming that those who kill themselves automatically go to hell is needlessly cruel. Also about the forgiving pedophiles part, it's because a disproportionate number of religious leaders are pedophiles. The catholic church has that reputation for a reason.

And lastly I am very sorry to hear that your medical emergency was dismissed like that. The people running the retreat should've been informed of your asthma beforehand to keep you safe. I hope you're doing ok now and that you aren't put in that situation again.

This is all just my opinion though and I'm willing to hear others out on what they think about these subjects. If you're reading this I hope your day is going well <3.

 

[Macedonian1987]

I have my own belief in God based on what I have read in a thousands of NDE reports in the last 10 years. God is love, God is not a cruel entity that sends people to burn for all eternity because people dont believe in him.

 

[MyPropellerWontSpin]

nothing much, maybe a little bit of disdain because people around me have weaponised it throughout my life. I have no respect for people who use religion to justify hatred and bigotry.

I have no interest or belief in god, only a fear.

I used to feel the same way, I would like to think I've gotten over the fear but some aspects of religious trauma just never quite go away.

Allssoooo Recently I was on another forced retreat and suffered a lung collapse (I have severe asthma, the burning of smoke and scents hurt me in church), and I told the teacher I was with and she didnt care, her words "well, you need to be here for god, we can pray about it.."

Really sorry you went through that, hope you're doing alright

And with the concept of forgiveness I struggle to understand why the only unforgiving act is the taking of your own life, not taking others, or crushing their souls, but only yourself. Being mentally ill isnt their problem, self degradation isnt their issue either, but to participate in self harm and even speak the words of suicide is.

The hierarchy of sins never made sense to me either, a sin that causes actual harm can be deemed forgivable whilst one that doesn't can be deserving of eternal damnation.

But for me the more I think about how the church I've always been in functions and thinks, I find it feels very blue pilled, and delusional. Everyone in the room believes a man who exists in a spiritual plain will save us all if we worship him for all our years. And even though the world is a horrible place, its "not our problem" as we will live in the eternal kingdom with god himselves. Just now, I feel like it all is just peoples way to not think about the pain of being alive and processing their existence and how you really will die one day.

I agree. I think religion is just another coping mechanism, a lot of people are horrified by the concept of nothingness once you die so to cope with that they believe in god and the afterlife. I know many might disagree with this but the afterlife sounds more horrific than nothingness, and I'm not just speaking of hell, but heaven as well, why anyone would want to be stuck in a perpetual haven is beyond me, living forever no matter where you are sounds abysmal to me.

 

[FuneralCry]

It's just completely fictional to me, I could never believe in such a thing as religion, to me existence is just a terrible, cruel mistake that just causes harm and suffering with no limit as to how much one can be tortured.

I could never see any point to any of this, I'll just always see existing as suffering all for the sake of it which is why non-existence is just all that's positive to me, all I want is to never exist ever again, I'll just always see the existence of life as the most terrible, devastating tragedy that only ever tortures existing beings and causes endless amounts of unnecessary suffering all for the sake of it.