Reading on a Facebook thread some comments by people who have changed religions (mostly from Christianity to other) from the way they were raised and they were discussing how their families were very condemning and basically told them they were going to Hell, and were taking their children (the grandkids) with them. Some were talking about the total cut-off from family depending on how religious the individuals were.

I have a hard time when gays and lesbians talk about being ostracized, but seeing this with religion also makes one think.

Would you tell your child or other family members they were going to Hell for not believing?

No way! In fact it's that attitude from my dad's side of the family that is in part why I don't talk to them these days. Ever since I had left Catholicism and my political views changed, I became judged like that. Lord only knows what they'd think if they knew I left religion outright now in favor of a different view of God.

Be curious to see the thread BTW, it public?

Have they been BAD?!?!



http://mingle2.com/topic/show/301781

The page is The Thinking Atheist, and there's daily discussions, on various sorts of things. They tend to weed out the trolls, but the open-minded religious groups are welcome, and then of course, atheists.

Hadn't caught the previous thread. The video is scary!

Technically though, purgatory was created to house those who didn't know Jesus, or were alive and died before Jesus even existed. Of course, I think purgatory got canceled within the past few years, so that may have changed...

Now it's called "American Idol."

I have been on both ends of this, in a manner of speaking. Both persecuted for "deviating" from the standard, man-made, doctrinal and traditional, cookie-cutter denominational beliefs and having children or friends who do not believe as I do.

Those who follow the Bible are even warned in many places NOT to make judgements ... and when the haters face G-d, he will NOT be pleased. The biggest problem I have with "fellow" Christians today is that the don't read or study their Bibles (where all of this is SUPPOSED to be coming from) and they just sit on their butts and let one preacher or another or a denomination tell them "what is". Then they go out and condemn others, "preach" the "word" and make the rest of us look like idiots and fanatics.

I would never EVER tell my child or someone who was a Christian but left their religion that they are going to Hell ... it is NOT my place to make that judgement. Only G-d knows what is in our hearts, only he knows when we are going to die.

I have more friends that are atheists, gay, lesbian, transgender, Muslim, Catholic, Jewish, etc. than I do "christians" ... and there's a reason for it.

Ignorance kills us all.

As far as I'm concerned any so-called God that would condemn people for not believing in him wouldn't be worth believing in.



Some people actually enjoy using religion to support ignorance and hatred toward other people in the name of God. It's an egotistical power trip that can be extremely addictive for some people. It seemed to work for the ancient Hebrews. It went to their heads so bad that they convinced themselves that they were God's favorite people. It can become quite an obsession and an extreme delusion.

The Bible is clear on the issue. I'm sure other religious books are as well. But, it's also clear that we are not to judge others, and it's certainly not our place to say if someone is going to heaven or hell.

Problem with that is, by default you make a judgment on the person if you subscribe to what the religious book says. So you can't judge and yet not judge if that makes sense. Cause if you say you don't know, than you can't believe the book knows at the same time.

@ Totage...the bible is only clear IF you believe in the bible.

Just because a parent believes a thing does not mean the child will also believe. Children get to make their own decisions. I think the youngsters have soooo much more going for them than the stuffy old people anyway. We could learn from them, if we allow ourselves to.

I grew up in a extremely religious environment. I was booted to the
curb at 15 for 'rebelling' and I never went back...I asked questions and that was not allowed. I have been told for 35 years I'm going to hell and also taking my sons with me because of my choices.

I don't worry about it now, don't believe in the biblical hell...
When I was younger it was terribly confusing.
I also have a lesbian sister who has been judged very harshly by our mother, who is convinced that she will be joining me in hell.

How anyone can say they love you and teach this message is a mystery to me. At the same time...I'm grateful because I have learned what NOT to do to my sons.

Same here with the Catholic background, among other things irrespective of religion.

Curious though lady, how would handle it or how have you if it's came up where your sons decided to be religious even with what you believed? That's something that came up with my kind of girlfriend before, about risking alienating my kids too if I got mad at them for being religious since I think it's wrong basically.

I wouldn't wanna push them away of course, but would rather they chose a healthier spiritual path too. What say you?

Hell is on earth now.

My point was that we are not to judge others, especially not on whether or not they will be going to heaven or hell. It's not our place.

At 27, 20 and 17 I have pretty much done my 'job' as far as raising my boys. Now I just want them to make choices that make them happy. I know that my mother has some regrets on how she handled things with me. I would never want to put that wedge between my boys and myself.
My oldest has explored different religions, he tends to lean more towards the eastern traditions, which makes me happy of course. In all honestly I would be somewhat disappointed if any of them were to buy into the giant lie of christianity....
yet I do love and respect them enough to stand back and let them
make their own decisions. I have always done this and only throw myself into their lives if they need me. They are independent freethinkers...and they are good people. I trust them to do what is best for them. It's not about me.

True enough, what did you teach them about spirituality and things growing up? For me, I want my kids to know that they should question anything they are told, even things I may tell them. To know that if it doesn't make sense, that they should ask why, and not just accept anything just because.

Its been a while since i have seen any of my family members. I can still understand that spiritual people can say religious people are afraid to go to hell but spiritual people have already been there. I guess it depends on which hell you are referring to.

2 Hell the concept of self redemption.

we will always come back.. gotta believe something is going to get better. The hell on Earth therory. i can see it.

sure feels like it sometimes. daily in and dail;y out. with hell the suicide of mother. pretty scary stuff.

we die we awake as death is like sleep.. No concept of time. when we awake we will feel like we just woke up.. just anouther day.

they ostrasize in a meaningful way but love and contentment have to be for thier loved one to understand the ways of thier families. a re4spects thing.. Show your Respects to your family.

where have we gone wrong. they set them free what groups i have seen practice Disfellowship.

its suppose to be a quick strongt dose of the real world to understand Family.

they get to zealful and a thats right zeal of attack where you are not to even eat with them is to want them to want to come back.. make it thier life.. what they want to do not what was given to them.

Hell is for Losers. most try to do whats right. your inner being is who you are.

that awareness is instinct to somehow just know. we all know the feeling yet all are different.

we just know. to judge someone makes you the executioner.. you have already in your heart reached a verdict. therefor for fair Justice to prevail the accusser muust withstand the assembliy of lies he must forcast as judge and jury.

therefor if malicously trying to casue harm through the measures of the law. Will if found guilty would serve the sentence whatever it might be he wished on his briother.

this si why you do not judge outside of your own.. a family ju8dges in love.. never rejecting thier love for infractions of rebellion.

the serves the human heart to become what you are meant to be.

whatever it is a lifesupport they believe in you. not in it for themselves but just doing whats right. do unto others as you would have them do unto uou


don't judge help.. Blessings of Shalom..Miles

it doesnt matter what religion you are or what you want to believe in

we will all end up on only two sides at the end.the choice is always

yours so chose wisely.