Quote Originally Posted by angry nomad
I think religion can help people experience God sometimes, but more often than not confuses people, and gets in the way on their spiritual journey.

Your idea of the afterlife as a feeling which is the same feeling as before you were born does not fit well with mainstream Christianity's idea of the afterlife. That idea is more similar to Mormonism, Buddhism, or Hinduism.

I remember as a young child I constantly asked where I was before I was born. She would always tell me, "nowhere." I didn't accept that answer. I didn't like it, and it didn't make sense to me. I always felt like I was somewhere before I was born.

I believe the story of Jesus to be a parable, as a way to stand up against injustice, hypocrisy, and treat everyone equally. I disbelieve the Bible, not because it speaks of the fantastic as fact, but because Jesus said we would do greater things than he. I was a Xhristan for 25 years or so, even believed it, I really did. But, I have never witnessed a true miracle. If the God of the Bible were real, then all Christians could heal amputees. There would be no more sick people, because the Christians would walk around healing people. I wanted to heal people, I really did. Just so they would feel better. I would pray for sick people, and they would get better on their own, or die.

I actually prayed to God for my friend to be raised from the dead. He stayed dead. I never told anyone, because I thought I just needed more faith. What other reason could it be?

So, my point is, the Bible contradicts itself. Jesus said we would do greater things than he, and we are not walking around just doing miracles randomly, therefore Jesus lied, so the Bible isn't true.

But, that is all what I believe. If a certain religion gets you closer to God, more power to you. Yes, there were times at church where I felt close to God. But, you know the times when I have felt closest to God? They were not at church, they were not when I was praying, reading my Bible, nor listening to Christian music. The times I felt closest to God, was always in the rainforest. Alone. Also visiting the volcano in Hawai'i was a very intense spiritual experience.

I think we go somewhere when we die, and that is the same place we are before we are born. It is Nowhere, but Nowhere is Here, too.
Stole the words out of my mouth. The closest i have felt to god is not in church.. yet out in nature.. where the world is most beautiful.