why do I sense this makes me a bad person?

Bella111 & filletofspam - I’m new at this so I don’t know if I’m allowed to post to more than one person; feel free to correct me if I’m doing something wrong.

NO, Bella, not going to church or not belonging to any denomination does not make you bad at all. It’s in your heart that counts. I know many people who wouldn’t think of missing church and yet are mean or nasty or whatever the rest of the time. So just attending services doesn’t hold all that much weight with me, although I do think worship services, if one’s heart is in the right place, are very good.

fiiletofspam - I too was “brainwashed”; we were taught as children that even doubting or questioning God was a serious sin; hogwash! Guilt and fear are two great control tactics - ignore them! It is NOT wrong to question, to delve, to search…why take someone else’s word for everything? God gave us brains; I expect He wants us to use them. Certain leaders simply want control. These leaders are not necessarily correct about everything; they are often in error, but sometimes THEIR leaders won’t let them think for themselves. I’m not a docile sheep; I’m a human being who happens to think learning is a wonderful thing. So, I fully agree with what you’ve posted.

Bella, I forgot something – it seems that whenever I pray for something, the opposite (something bad) happens. I know of another person who claims the same thing. Sometimes I’m too afraid to pray because of that, but I do suspect I’m being superstitious - knock on wood!

Your beliefs or disbeliefs are your own, and if anyone has a problem with it tell them to sod off. Your not a bad person. What makes people bad people when it comes to religion are those types of people who try to push religion or non-religion on other people. Example: If a mormon person believes one thing and tells a catholic person theyre wrong, that makes that person a bad person (the mormon) If someone doesn’t believe in god, and makes fun of someone who does, I consider that person a bad person. Your not a bad person for not believing. I believe in god, I am starting to think the only reason I believe in him is that there’s hope out there somewhere, which sounds sorta like why your guilty. You want to believe but you don’t because whenever you pray nothing good comes from it.

It’s best to look at it like this. If you do decide to believe in god, remember…God (if he’s real) Is not santa claus. You can’t pray to god and say “I want a mountain bike” or “please let me get a car” and expect for your “wishes to come true” . He’s basically there for people to talk to when they have no one else, in my personal opinion. I guess I believe in god, but I do not pray. The only time I catch myself praying is if I, or a loved one is sick. I pray for their safety, it makes me feel safer. That doesn’t mean that if he does exist, he’s up there making a potion to fix them, or snapping his fingers to cure every sick relative of mine, no. It is more of a sense of comfort to me, is why I do it.

It’s completely your choice whether you pray/believe or not. Don’t let anyone ever tell you your wrong, bad, going to hell for it, because as far as I look at it, for them judging you, they have a bigger chance of going to hell :P hehe.

I’m sorry to hear things are going bad in your life, but remember, god or not- Things will always look up. It may take a day, a week, a year, but there will always be a day in your life where you look at yourself and say “wow, today things are looking a lot better than the last” If it hasn’t happened yet, it will :) I don’t consider that the work of god, I consider that sheer luck, and more of a personal miracle. I always tend to “thank god” though, just in case he might be there watching over me, because if he is, I have to have someone to thank for it ,= )

I grew up thinking that Christians had a monopoly on truth and goodness.

This was the way most adults talked, kids that were more religious were considered especially good kids. We were all challenged to be more faithful and religious.

I felt like I was being bad when I started questioning as well. It was years of conditioning that made me feel like something was wrong with me because I doubted God. Brain washing involve removing individuals sense of self and convincing that them that their worth comes from their association with the brain washers.

Many people have recovered from Christian indoctrination. For most the road was bumpy but it is possible. There is nothing bad about trying to seek truth.

You’re not a bad person for not believing. Know this tho, sometimes things have to get worse before they get better. Times of trouble are preparing you for times of triumph. Keep your head high, things will change like they always have.

This pretty much sums up my feelings in the power pf prayer and God’s involvement in my life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk6ILZAaAMI

not at all!!! why would you think that would make you a bad person? You should trust what you believe…and it seems to me that you just dont believe in god…or, maybe you dont believe in the “god” that you think of when you think of “god” maybe you should explore some more religions.

You are not bad because you have doubts. If anyone tells you that they are falling out of line. It may be that you still have some soul searching to do. If you have any questions about where to look for answers then you can pm me.

Metaphysical beliefs are not what determine whether you are good or bad. Actions are responsible for that.

But hey, plenty of people don’t believe in god (such as myself), so you’re not alone.

I dont belive in a made up thing and I dont feel bad so you shouldnt either