I'm going to hell I guess? , page 2

Originally posted by charles1952
reply to post by sliznut

Dear sliznut,

Thanks for your brief explanation. I'd like to ask another question if you don't mind. What do you do about Jesus? Did he exist? A good teacher only? A teacher and prophet? Were His words recorded more or less accurately? Was he a figment of someone's imagination? A part of God that had become separated?

How do you see it? (And no, I'm not looking for an argument or offering one, just trying to understand.)

With respect,
Charles1952

I'm torn on this. My logical mind says this is a story. It clearly copied pagan stories before it. The traditional side says there is something wrong with that and believe the Bible etc. In my heart of hearts I don't think it matters at all. I think relationships with God have been way over-complicated. To the point that I didn't really care at all until recently. I have 3 kids. I don't want to lead them into any BS. I've had a very strange relationship if you want to call it that with "God".

I grew up with a Vietnam vet, Marine...by volunteer, at 17. Something is obviously off here already. Most people were dodging draft. He got in over his head and realized he had no way out. My mom was from a religious family but my dad was not. Even her fam was hit or miss on going to church. When I was little my grandma wanted to take me to church and my dad flipped. He said no way was I going to a church. He later explained that he didn't trust them and had seen too many evils inside them on top of the war. I dunno.

I still believed in God. Around 20 yrs my Grandpa (dad's dad) died. I was there. He practically raised me as my dad was pretty much a 12 year old in an adult body and an alcoholic to boot. He called me to the hospital. I was 19 actually. I watched him die and watched a look of total terror overtake him. I flipped. I was out on the balcony chainsmoking and swearing to God that he was pure BS/Evil/I hated him and must die/etc. My band had a show that night and I immediately downed every bottle of anything and everything in sight, among other things, and did our show while I was mourning in the background.

I went down that route awhile. My band did decent. Actually got offered a couple nationwide tours but we had other issues going on. I eventually straightened myself up, got married, had kids, bought the house, etc. They made me really wanna sort this all out. My wife is religious and grew up that way but had a totally different rough childhood. Bad marriage/mom and dad fought/divorced/the normal story unfortunately anymore. The balance time is now as far as I'm concerned. But I don't really know how to approach it.

In reality the tax breaks on churches are a sham as I have witnessed personally. Some of them are ex drug addicts running a "church" out of their houses. Religion has been lost. The reason I think my feeling makes more sense is because it goes from the heart. Not from what someone is telling me. Not from a profit church, not from anything else. People sell fear and religion is the best market.