After that i began to question the bible. I asked in bible class whay that happened and i was told that god didnt need anyone to support him and that’s why he killed the child??? It sounds insane.

I’m listening to http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/304/heretics and it’s helpful…

I know what thay taught me got into my head and will probably take time to de-convert.

Thanks for exchristian.net i’ll definitely check it out…

many thanks
JK

They’ve spent a long time drumming the fear of hell into you, it may take a long time and a lot of clear thinking to get beyond it.

I’ll try to give you a little help.

The Christians claim that theirs is a loving god. What sort of loving god would create beings with built-in flaws, knowing that they would mess up, and then condemn most of them to eternal torture for being exactly the way he made them? Is this what a benevolent god would do? How about all the people on earth who never had an opportunity to hear the “right message” because of where or when they were born? Would a loving god torture them for that?

Isn’t it more llikely that this whole idea of “hell” was created by men, as a way of controlling other people, and maintaining power over them?

I recommend reading more of the articles on this blog, and also over on exchristian.net.

Recently, my brother-in-law told my husband that he had nightmares about him burning in hell. My husband replied “If I was taking a medicine that was giving me nightmares, I’d stop taking it. Just sayin’ ” I recommend staying away from ALL churches at least until you get over this fear, because they will not do anything to improve matters. (Actually I recommend staying away from all churches forever, but you might not be ready for that yet.)

Thanks for replying. I suppose I’ve always been searching for something more…but maybe that”s just the human condition? I’ve gone to buddhist retreats, did lots of meditation and my last venture was the christian church where i did bible studies, went to worship nights etc.

I’ll admith the ‘experience of religion’ made me feel better for a time but when i sat down to think about what i was believeing in and the contradictions in the bible and in christianns themselves – i had doubts.

Most of these people would call to me and say that the lord had spoke to them, the holy spirit urged me to tell you this, or god put it in my heart to tell you this….???

Lots of them got revelations from god that they were to set up new churches and that they were going to be pastors of a church for 1,000s of people.

Speaking in tongues i found disturbing to be honest. And also the way some would flick pages of the bible like a deck of cards and read whatever page it opened on – whatever was on the page was a message from god(their belief not mine)…

I could write for an hour about the experiences i had.

I know it’s possible to live a good life without pentecostal churches, but I am obsesssing a bit about hell and punishment for my wrongs. I come from a life of drug addiction – I’m clean 15 years now – but i do have regrets about my life….

Hope all is well in your world ….

I’m not sure how often this site is updated, these days, but feel free to read the archived posts. You may find them very helpful.

I am not a psychiatrist, but a church that hounds you with threats of hell is a more likely cause for your nightmares than Satan. I hope you are able to get past this fear. Let me know if there’s anything particular you’re getting stuck on.

Ever since i’m plagued with anxiety over hell and fiery lakes. I wake in the night barely able to catch my breath and have panic attacks.

This isn’t good for my mental health as i’ve suffered from depression. The christians told me that i was under demonic attack and spiritually oppressed and satan wanted to cut me off from the church and take me to hell. The church hounded me with text messsages for 7 weeks after i left….saying i was out in the wilderness and was backsliding…

I really need to lose this fear of hell and eternal damnation…

Thanks all i’m enjoying reading