Huh?
I asked two basic questions:
Q: Do you believe in GodThat stumped me. How can someone not believe in God but cannot prove that something the person does not believe in does not exist? Hence: You cannot prove a negative. With that logic, then would it not be safe then to believe so that I would NOT go to Hell?
A: No
Q: Do you believe God does not exist
A: I don't know
I sat down and thought about it for awhile and pondered. I thought deeply and realized that maybe there is or there is NOT a God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Lets say for argument sake, there is a God. Would I then have to worship this God so that I would not be sent to the Lake of Fire where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth: Matthew 13:42? Maybe. But where then is the choice; to Believe in God and to worship him on my own accord?
Which is why atheists who are atheist must answer the two questions: Do you believe in God and Does God exist? Getting back then to what if God does exist, I remember reading the fiction story Left Behind by Rev. Tim LaHaye. it is a well-written book where non-believers were not part of the rapture as believers disappeared into the heavens to meet Jesus.
Planes were crashing, cars were colliding, trains were wrecking but apparently, there were no death...OK? Those left behind were on their own, unable to die:
Revelation 9:6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
Zombies? Maybe. But those who believed and fought against Satan's minion, like the Beast...who BTW was from Europe, were given a second chance. The protagonist of the story fought well and was rewarded in Heaven...yea, the good guys won.
Fine. Say that it's all true. Yet those who still did not believe, but did not wear the mark of the Beast on their forehead or right hands went to Hell. This is the general consensus within many of the Christian belief. Even if you do not receive the Mark of the Beast, you're still going to Hell for not believing.
There then lies the conflict. If you believe because you do not want to go to Hell, as the book and the Bible portends, then where is the love? I was taught to fear God and then and only then will God love me. This reminds me of Stockholm Syndrome. Is this vengeance for allowing the Romans to hang Jesus on the cross? Because Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, why must Christians make a sacrifice to be incorporated into his world?
This is where I have my conflict and why I am an atheist. I became an atheist because, not from the illogical statements and writings of the Bible or the lack of common sense most believers believe in, but the fact that if I do believe, it's out of fear and not love.
(Addendum 8/3/2015)Yet more than just that, I am adding an addendum because after much introspection on why I am an atheist; plays a major role in my life. During WWII, Japanese and Japanese Americans (JJA) were placed into 10 different concentration camps, because, the U.S. could not know who they can trust. If you were a German or Italian American, you were fine. Being Japanese, well, our slanted eyes may have been the reason...I don't know.
Still, this was probably why I became an atheist. I became an atheist because, Christians were racists. My father and his parents were living in California. When the war broke out, they had to leave because from the Pacific to 200 miles inland, the west coast became an militarized zone. If you can move inland past 200 miles, you can leave. My father went up to Idaho with his parents. During his years of living in Idaho as an eight-year-old, my father used to get his ass kicked. White Christians used to call him Jap or Little Tojo. This went on for years and after crying to his father on several occasions, my grandfather suggested that he become a Christian, go to church and maybe the white kids will leave him alone.
As time went on, the Japanese Americans received reparations and an apology from Reagan. A former minister of mine wrote a letter to the denomination headquarters, explain what he experienced in one of 10 concentration camps. The next month's edition had a response by members who wrote that they thought the camp was justifiable, because they did not know if they can trust the Japanese. I then responded and demanded an apology, because Psalms 23 vs. 4 reads:
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.No one apologized, except for the editor and from that time on, I became an atheist because Christianity is a racist belief. My father because a protestant because of the community and I became one because my father was one. I realized that becoming a Christian was based on the violence of racism and I wanted no part. God may not be a racist if there is a God, but I want no part of any organization if I need to believe in a being that has racists. I mean, the KKK is a Christian organization and they're belief is based on white supremacy and hate. If Christianity is based upon xenophobia, is it any difference than me wanting to join the KKK? Then i want no part of God and that is why I became an atheist and became a Unitarian Universalist. (Addendum 8/3/2015)
My Church, Throop Unitarian Universalist has a banner reading Standing on the Side of Love. The idea extols love and peace and justice. There is no fear or guilt, but the promotion of all things that is good. We are not judged for not believing or in some cases believing, but are shown love and we are also encouraged to share the love to others. We are not a God-fearing organization but a collective seeking the truth.
Yet according to the Bible, we're on our way to Hell. Do I want to go to Hell if Hell does exist? Not really. Yet why must I succumb to fear and love the alleged creator of this and every universe out there, just because he is a jealous God? It makes no sense whatsoever.
Why must I believe out of fear so that I can have this golden ticket to get in this place where according to the Bible is a square:
Revelation 21:16All it is is a big cage. Supposedly, it's the greatest place to be in. Yet in order to get in, I have to have a phobia of God, take him into my heart and be elated...but again the elation is based on fear...
When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.
You see the conflict?
This sort of reminds me of Patty Hearst. When she was captured, by the SLA (Symbionese Liberation Army), she was tortured and raped multiple times and was eventually turned. Many believed she suffered from Stockholm Syndrome. Did she turn because she enjoyed the power and fame or she was a weak person? No, it was more of a survival technique. Even battered spouses do the same and to remain alive, they submit.
I see believing in God sort of the same way. The Bible is full of dos and don't and by not submitting to God and loving him; would lead you straight to Hell. Many of the Christians who do love God have this fear of Going to Hell and that they would rather live in a box, than burn.
So to answer the questions: Do I believe in God? No. Do I believe God exists? I don't know. But if God does exist, why must I become a victim of fear and love someone I do not? If I could speak to God, I would say, "With all due respect, I cannot truly love you if my love for you is conditional. How can I truly love you and follow you and become your sheep if my love is based upon fear of rotting in Hell? I would rather Stand on the Side of Love than to submit to my fears and live in eternity with you.
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