NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't believe in god, and I find that the bible is contradictory and I have my reasons for not believing simply because nothing has happened to make me a believer. And I question those of you who are believers to tell why you are. I understand if you become a believer because something happened to make you "see." But for people who just grew up in a household that held a certain belief, do you believe it as well, or do you just go along with it because you were raised that way? And it's pretty obvious there isn't proof that god doesn't exist, and there isn't proof that he does exist. So my question is, how do believers become believers? And also, if you say you are of a certain religion but you dont practice it at all, then you are not of that religion and you should stop falsely labeling yourself.

And it's pretty obvious there isn't proof that god doesn't exist, and there isn't proof that he does exist. So my question is, how do believers become believers.
Perhaps you could show us this 'proof'? Remember, Christianity isn't the only type of religion.

Perhaps you could show us this 'proof'? Remember, Christianity isn't the only type of religion.


Did I not just say there isn't proof

Did I not just say there isn't proof
NM I misread it.

No religion here, thanks.

I've always wondered if people will just develop religion if left to themselves.

yea, so really, I'm just curious why people who are religious are and why people who aren't religious aren't. What are the reasons? For me, I have to see things to believe, and I just don't think it's possible to believe that there is a god when he is supposedly very caring of mankind and yet so many unexplained horrible things happen. And god supposedly loves everyone unconditionally but then we see all these gay bashers and people saying homosexuality is a sin. Well then, it also says sex before marriage is wrong, yet look at all the people who do this and sleep around everyday? It's like the believers themselves arent really believers.

My Friend died in front of me in a horrific car incident when I was 9. I was brought up as a christian, I kinda stopped after that.

Also the fact that certan people havn't been struck by lightning... yet.

When I was praying, I realised I was talking to myself.

The Bible from what I remember, contradicts itself.

Just some minor reasons. The first one was enough for me to change forever.

There's nothing ostensibly wrong or bad about religion - but it ought to be a deeply personal relationship between the deity and the individual believer. Organised religion is, in my opinion, unable to provide that same clarity and depth of personal spiritual experience to the individual church-goer. At best it can provide the framework for an extended community of like-minded indiviuals, but at worst it can be a socially-divisive entity, driving wedges into an existing community, helping to create an 'us and them' sensibility.

If we abandon the churches and establish our own personal 'direct lines' to God (or Gods, Gaia, the Higher Self, the Human Gestalt, Creation, etc., or even to choose not to for whatever reason), we would be freed up to listening to and digesting the firmly-held beliefs of others, not just sifting through them for purposes of comparison, as happens more often than not. We could stand to gain from such dialogue between spiritual individuals, 'free agents' in the sense that we are not tied down by dogma, and are able to grow and change in our beliefs as we grow and change in life.

As far as I'm concerned, God, for me is the Flame, the Flame of Knowledge. the Flame is also the Gift of Knowledge and the giver of that Gift is the Spirit of Inquiry. Everything else is politics and interpretation.

The Gift - Fire, the Flame, Knowledge (could relate to - Judeo-Christian Apple? Golden Apples of Greek Myth?)

The Giver of the Gift - Spirit of Inquiry, bringer of light (Prometheus?)

It works for me, and it works between me and God, but everybody needs to work it out for themselves, be keen to listen to what others have to say, not talk over them.

What works for you?

I've always wondered if people will just develop religion if left to themselves.
They did.

....

As far as I'm concerned, God, for me is the Flame, the Flame of Knowledge. the Flame is also the Gift of Knowledge and the giver of that Gift is the Spirit of Inquiry. Everything else is politics and interpretation.

The Gift - Fire, the Flame, Knowledge (could relate to - Judeo-Christian Apple? Golden Apples of Greek Myth?)

The Giver of the Gift - Spirit of Inquiry, bringer of light (Prometheus?)

It works for me, and it works between me and God, but everybody needs to work it out for themselves, be keen to listen to what others have to say, not talk over them.

What works for you?
You should check out the theology of Sikhism. It has a very similar view of God.

Im not religious but I do have a religion and celebrate religion, without religion life just isnt as fun, if your Atheist life just seems colder, more empty, it takes some of the fun out of life, less holidays, I like the way the world used to be, what if Christmas break ended? Think of no Christmas, Easter, Hannukah, Passover, Tet, Ramadon, all those other holidays, its just more boring without them.

Plus I still like the morals of Jesus' teachings and everything, though I would never vote with religion.

They did.
Actually, I meant if a single person left to themself will develop it. Most religious people are religious because they were raised that way...others find religion from friends, or reading, or going to church or whatever.

I'm wondering, if you were to take a newborn child and place him with a community of total atheists, would that child conceivably come up with religion?

yea, so really, I'm just curious why people who are religious are and why people who aren't religious aren't. What are the reasons? For me, I have to see things to believe, and I just don't think it's possible to believe that there is a god when he is supposedly very caring of mankind and yet so many unexplained horrible things happen. And god supposedly loves everyone unconditionally but then we see all these gay bashers and people saying homosexuality is a sin. Well then, it also says sex before marriage is wrong, yet look at all the people who do this and sleep around everyday? It's like the believers themselves arent really believers.

I agree with you that religion should be very personal. I was raised Protestant Christian (Assembly of God for the most part), and I am still of the Christian faith, though I like to stay non-denominational, as each denomination seems to put their own twist into it to deem what is "right". I think one should question what they are taught, and why, and by whom - I know I did, and still do. I can't really explain my belief in/relationship with God - it is more of a feeling......

I would like to say, though, that I do believe God loves everyone and cares about us.... but he gave people free will. This means that they could make their own choices in life and face the consequences. I know there are many bad things that happen in the world to innocent people, and I couldn't even start explaining my beliefs in-depth here & now (as I am at work and really wouldn't want to type that much anyway). I also believe that people who bash others, condemn others in God's name are hypocritical. One who truly believes in the Christian faith, and the Bible, should know that all sins are equal in the eyes of God, and that God does not want us to judge one another (as that is his job) but love each other.......

I don't want to make it sound as if I think I am perfect (I can't stand "holier-than-thou types - see above about hypocrites) - I think no one is perfect, or can even come close, so all you can do is try your best to be a good person and work it out between you and God. Live and let live, I say.

Also, can someone give me specific references where the Bible contradicts itself? I am curious to the specific examples people think of when they say that.... Thanks :)

Why did I convert to Christianity? Because God (I believe) spoke into my heart and told me what I was hearing was true. Because I've seen too many prayers directly answered to be dismissed as coincidence. Because I see evidence of God's existance in the unending beauty and complexity of Creation. Because I see miracles happen every day as people are born and develop to become moral, conscious beings. Because I believe that God changed my life and my heart. Because I've seen some inspiring Christians who display God's love in everything that they do. Because I couldn't live without God's help.
Enough reasons yet?
My testimony is one of direct revelation: I walked into a meeting, uninterested, listened to the message out of courtesy, and suddenly found out that God wanted me to become a Christian. I describe it as not so much God knocking on the door and me answering as Jesus breaking it down with a hatchet, walking in and sitting himself down at the kitchen table, and my conversion to Chrisitianity as me giving up staring at the ceiling and saying hello.
I know of other people who just thought about it and decided that there must be a God: the universe is an incredibly beautiful place, and they decided that it could not have come about by chance.
The question of suffering is directly answered in the Bible: try Genesis 3. Man chooses to sin and allows evil to enter the world. Because God wants a relationship with man, he has given him free will: he doesn't want a puppet. It is therefore man's choice to sin and turn away from God: suffering is contray to God's plan, and the Bible tells about God's plan to combat it and restore his relationship with mankind, first through the nation of Israel and then through Jesus.

yea, so really, I'm just curious why people who are religious are and why people who aren't religious aren't. What are the reasons? For me, I have to see things to believe, and I just don't think it's possible to believe that there is a god when he is supposedly very caring of mankind and yet so many unexplained horrible things happen. And god supposedly loves everyone unconditionally but then we see all these gay bashers and people saying homosexuality is a sin. Well then, it also says sex before marriage is wrong, yet look at all the people who do this and sleep around everyday? It's like the believers themselves arent really believers.


hardcore atheist here, but I have and idea to what , an educated christian woul say. its actually derived from a piece by my favourite columnist of all time: Leonard Pitts Jr.
God gave us free will. he created us, apparently told us how to live, and intervened very rarely. thats the whole free will thing.
Now, when you say that , seeing all the wars, murders, the slavery and torture and massacre thats goes on, the child abuse, the child labour, the poverty and the violent deaths, you say that Its very hard for us to beleive in god...
Imagine how hard it is for god to beleive in us, His "greatest accomplishment", molded in his very Image.

I don't believe in god, and I find that the bible is contradictory

Really? I would like you (or anyone else for that matter) to find me a contradiction in the Bible.
As for me personally, I believe that if you look at the universe you will see evidence of God. I am a Christian because I have looked into many other religions and mine just "feels" right

God doesn't believe in Branding. If you find inspiration in books, that's wonderful. If singing hymns and saying prayers moves you, who am I to question? But I really don't think that God requires any middlemen to act as go-betweens. There is no need for organisation, or clergy for that matter. There is only God, or variations on the theme of God, and there is only you. I believe that relationship is universal. It's when people claim to interpret the 'Will of God' on behalf of others that it all comes tumbling down around us.

My Friend died in front of me in a horrific car incident when I was 9. I was brought up as a christian, I kinda stopped after that.

Also the fact that certan people havn't been struck by lightning... yet.

When I was praying, I realised I was talking to myself.

The Bible from what I remember, contradicts itself.

Just some minor reasons. The first one was enough for me to change forever.


i completely agree with your reasons

I have seen quite a few posts where people state that the Bible contradicts itself, and I know at least two of us have asked you to provide specific examples so we can see why you are of that opinion. We are offering to give you specific examples on why we believe in the Bible....why aren't you responding with the examples to support your opinion? Just wondering, because I really am curious to what examples people are thinking of when they say that.

They did.

See'ya Wills,... as they have banned Iakeokeo.

They apparently don't like my "confrontational" style here. :)

I won't be posting under ANY name any longer, as I refuse to give of myself to such obviously thick people as the "moderators" of these forums. I hope you found me interesting, as I found you and so many people here interesting, especially those who could get over their own "defensiveness" and see that we we're actually on the same side, despite my apparent "insulting behavior".

May you live well my friend.

May you all get what enjoyment you can from the censored leftist wasteland that are these forums.

Bye-bye now. :D

I have seen quite a few posts where people state that the Bible contradicts itself, and I know at least two of us have asked you to provide specific examples so we can see why you are of that opinion. We are offering to give you specific examples on why we believe in the Bible....why aren't you responding with the examples to support your opinion? Just wondering, because I really am curious to what examples people are thinking of when they say that.

There are some on the internet. I'll take a look for you.

Right, here's some:

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html

Pardon me, as i'm doing this by memory.
Doesn't it say that God welcomes all in heaven, though not men that dress up as women?

Thats quite a contradiction.

There are a lot in the bible, you just have to nit pick. Somone i knew at school did it for some project. Made the bible look bloody stupid.

Fair enough people have a religion, I wont pop at people for that. I totaly respect that. But personaly I can't see why people would like a religion.
I'm perfectly happy living my life the way it is, and I do loathe those who wish to impose their religion on others.

Would be nice to see why others want or like a religion though.

Really? I would like you (or anyone else for that matter) to find me a contradiction in the Bible.
As for me personally, I believe that if you look at the universe you will see evidence of God. I am a Christian because I have looked into many other religions and mine just "feels" right


well, i'm not going to list them all or go throguh everything thoroughly and i'm not going to tell you in which page and what version and who said it, but here's one point, there are many more, but let's just keep it simple and here it is: i mean, you already saw the homosexual example and the sex before marriage thing. So it says incest is wrong, yet that was the beginning of creation and of us, as we all know, god only created two people: adam and eve who had 2 sons. Now, you have 3 men and one woman, and now you have about 6 billion people, so I guess we're all incestuous if that's true. I mena, that's contradictory, come on, and then the we're all related thing, then why do we get married and have kids, that's incest and contradictory once again.

we have evidence from evolution and i find that much more convincing because there is proof. and some may argue that god put it there to test our faith, and say he did and we waver and believe in it, then he'd love us nevertheless because he says its unconditional, so no matter what i do or say even if i dont believe he should still love me for that. but then you hear people saying, oh you're going to hell becasue you dont believe. well, another contradiction right there.

Like I said, try http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html for some contradictions. If thats not enough for you, just google "bible contradictions", I'm sure you'll find plenty.

Personally, I don't like listening to what other people tell you to do in the Bible and other texts of any religion, and I also think that God is a load of crap. I just think you should listen to what you feel, and that you shouldn't be labled as a member of a religion. That's just my two cents.

God doesn't need worship, God wants companionship. So you don't have to wear out your knees on cold marble, folks. Just remember Cap'n Kirk when he asked the question, 'What does God need with a Starship?'

Why would God want you to sit in a drafty church and sing those awful songs over and over again every Sunday, watching as the congregation members nod off, one after the other? It's a bring-down, and a con job. God wants you to get some thrills, if only that God might enjoy himself vicariously.

Roller coaster...sermon. Roller coaster...sermon. God calls dibs on the first car. It's a no-brainer.

They did.


And about this, that people on their own start to believe in religion, could it not be because they just felt they needed something to believe in, something to explain why certain things happen because they could come up with no other reason. Like, for example, why plagues occured and stuff, would they just start believing and tell themselves there is a god and that it occured because those people were bad and that they survived because they are good and must continue to be good?

i'm not religious and i dont have a problem with people who are except when they impose their beliefs on others like someone said earlier. i just have an issue with people telling others that they will go to hell because they dont believe or that they have no morals because they're not religious, etc. and its also annoying when you have people saying they are religious but they cant tell you a single thing about that "religion" of theirs.

Right, here's some:

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html

Thank you very much for giving that link. I look forward to reading through it at home (can't now, because I'm still at work)! And I won't argue that the Bible may be (probably is) an imperfect work - look how many times it's been translated, and over how many years it was written! But like I said in my first post, I belive that one has to form their own relationship with God, and that people have no right to judge others on that relationship.

Just remember Cap'n Kirk when he asked the question, 'What does God need with a Starship?'

Of course, Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek was an atheist.

So it says incest is wrong, yet that was the beginning of creation and of us, as we all know, god only created two people: adam and eve who had 2 sons. Now, you have 3 men and one woman, and now you have about 6 billion people, so I guess we're all incestuous if that's true.
...then he'd love us nevertheless because he says its unconditional, so no matter what i do or say even if i dont believe he should still love me for that. but then you hear people saying, oh you're going to hell becasue you dont believe. well, another contradiction right there.
First off, it was three sons, but I suppose Cain did kill Abel. However, it never says that Adam and Eve had no more children than just Cain, Abel and Seth. The incest laws don't kick in until Leviticus, a long time after Adam and Eve and their offspring. Also, I believe that they only apply to having sexual relations with your parents and siblings, so having them with cousins billions of times removed is perfectly fine.
Secondly, God doesn't send people to Hell. People send themselves to Hell, and God tries to rescue them from the consequences of their own decisions. People are free to accept or decline God's offer of rescue.
Any more contradictions? I can think of a few more that could be raised, but I want to see if you come up with them.

First off, it was three sons, but I suppose Cain did kill Abel. However, it never says that Adam and Eve had no more children than just Cain, Abel and Seth. The incest laws don't kick in until Leviticus, a long time after Adam and Eve and their offspring. Also, I believe that they only apply to having sexual relations with your parents and siblings, so having them with cousins billions of times removed is perfectly fine.
Secondly, God doesn't send people to Hell. People send themselves to Hell, and God tries to rescue them from the consequences of their own decisions. People are free to accept or decline God's offer of rescue.
Any more contradictions? I can think of a few more that could be raised, but I want to see if you come up with them.

But surely since God created hell (because he created everything), its his fault that they are going there in the first place. If he had never invented "going to hell upon death", he would have no need to rescue anyone.

Of course, Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek was an atheist.

So? So what? That's his personal spiritual relationship with (or without) God, and has nothing to do with your personal relationship with God, or mine, or anyone else's, for that matter. Gene had nothing to do with Star Trek V, the film I'm quoting. Bill had everything to do with it, so if you're looking to make some sly innuendo, take aim at the right guy.

BTW, I was sure Gene was Jewish, am I wrong? I know Bill is.

So? So what? That's his personal spiritual relationship with (or without) God, and has nothing to do with your personal relationship with God, or mine, or anyone else's, for that matter. Gene had nothing to do with Star Trek V, the film I'm quoting. Bill had everything to do with it, so if you're looking to make some sly innuendo, take aim at the right guy.

BTW, I was sure Gene was Jewish, am I wrong? I know Bill is.

Actually I was making an off-topic comment, not a sly innuendo. I know Star Trek V was not of Roddenberry, that's why it makes reference to God. I was not very clear, for which I apologise.

I don't believe in god, and I find that the bible is contradictory and I have my reasons for not believing simply because nothing has happened to make me a believer. And I question those of you who are believers to tell why you are. I understand if you become a believer because something happened to make you "see." But for people who just grew up in a household that held a certain belief, do you believe it as well, or do you just go along with it because you were raised that way? And it's pretty obvious there isn't proof that god doesn't exist, and there isn't proof that he does exist. So my question is, how do believers become believers? And also, if you say you are of a certain religion but you dont practice it at all, then you are not of that religion and you should stop falsely labeling yourself.
according to numerous studies, between 90 and 97% of Americans who identify as religious belong to exactly the same religion as their parents. this indicates that the vast majority of believers are not honestly, objectively, and critically examining their faith or their religion, but are simply believing what they were told to believe when they were a child. personally, i don't think any such people should be allowed to vote; if they aren't going to give serious thought to a critical question like the nature or existence of God, then they certainly don't deserve to have a voice in any process that requires serious thought.

Actually I was making an off-topic comment, not a sly innuendo. I know Star Trek V was not of Roddenberry, that's why it makes reference to God. I was not very clear, for which I apologise.

Well, okay then. Sorry to over-react.

according to numerous studies, between 90 and 97% of Americans who identify as religious belong to exactly the same religion as their parents. this indicates that the vast majority of believers are not honestly, objectively, and critically examining their faith or their religion, but are simply believing what they were told to believe when they were a child. personally, i don't think any such people should be allowed to vote; if they aren't going to give serious thought to a critical question like the nature or existence of God, then they certainly don't deserve to have a voice in any process that requires serious thought.

While this would probably have beneficial effects to humanity if implemented, I think there would be too many problems in introducing such complications into voting.

I don't believe in god, and I find that the bible is contradictory and I have my reasons for not believing simply because nothing has happened to make me a believer. And I question those of you who are believers to tell why you are.

You've got two ideas mixed in here, namely:
Belief in god(s) -- how does this arise?
Bible -- does it make sense?

One has very little to do with the other. OK, maybe if you're a standard Christian, they relate, but that's hardly everybody in the world.

Let's deal with the second issue first. The Bible is a collection of myths, legends, supposed genealogy, poetry, and some rules and regs for both the priestly classes and ordinary folks. You're welcome to take it literally, but you diminish what it has to offer tremendously if you do that. If you understand it mostly on the level of myth and metaphor, you'll get much more out of it. Contradictions? Who cares? That's not the point of studying it, or any other sacred literature.

Second -- belief in god(s). I can't speak for others, only for myself. If you've had a taste of the Divine, it's like a spot of honey on the tongue when you've never otherwise tasted sweetness. My culture and upbringing has caused me to identify this experience as an experience of God, but if I was raised in a different one, I'd say it was satori, or an experience of the Tao, or Allah, or another deity's name. It doesn't really matter anyway, because it's the sort of thing that's beyond words, anyway, and as soon as you start to name it and intellectualize on it, that isn't it any more. And what does God care what name you assign it?

I am an athiest. I do not believe in religion. The reasons of it were...

1. I saw my own sister brutally murdered. I thought this was some test of faith and stuck to it.

2. My mother died of lung cancer. I still thought god was testing me.

3. Aunt and Grand mother died in a car wreck. Religion starting to slip...

4. My step mother went brutally insane and commited suicide. Now it left.

If there was a "god" he wouldn't just torture his servants. Surely he would bring happiness to them...

I see religion just explaining what we do not know. So many theories with actual proof would not just be denied because some one just believes in a little book that for all we know, could be an ancient fairy tale.

Oh yeah, and when you ar a child, you are taught it. When you are naive enough to follow whatever your parents say, thinking they are right.

You've got two ideas mixed in here, namely:
Belief in god(s) -- how does this arise?
Bible -- does it make sense?

One has very little to do with the other. OK, maybe if you're a standard Christian, they relate, but that's hardly everybody in the world.

Let's deal with the second issue first. The Bible is a collection of myths, legends, supposed genealogy, poetry, and some rules and regs for both the priestly classes and ordinary folks. You're welcome to take it literally, but you diminish what it has to offer tremendously if you do that. If you understand it mostly on the level of myth and metaphor, you'll get much more out of it. Contradictions? Who cares? That's not the point of studying it, or any other sacred literature.

that's why I say religion isnt that---I can't find a word for it, but thats why its not so strong. if they argue that the bible is a collection of stories that teach us morals i am perfectly fine with that, that's really good in fact. but to say it is the word of god and to live by that...there's the issue.

this is quite interesting because at first i was expecting to see more people who believed in god or a religion, but it's actually the other way. And truthfully this makes me happy. =) it's nice to know that people are thinking for themselves and questioning things and that people who do believe believe because something had happened to make them feel a connection with god. It's good to see that no one is believing blindly.

Born Jewish, but gave up my faith after i became suicidal in high school, and found that the only way that i was going to get out of it was not by praying, but doing something for myself. I was agnostic for quite some time, until i met my now best friend who has led me to Objectivism, which is simply a basis on which to think about and reflect your life on, much like a philosophy i suppose.

I've always wondered if people will just develop religion if left to themselves.

If not, then you know there's a God!
(If there isn't a God, then humanity started out "left to itself")

Why did I convert to Christianity? Because God (I believe) spoke into my heart and told me what I was hearing was true. Because I've seen too many prayers directly answered to be dismissed as coincidence. Because I see evidence of God's existance in the unending beauty and complexity of Creation. Because I see miracles happen every day as people are born and develop to become moral, conscious beings. Because I believe that God changed my life and my heart. Because I've seen some inspiring Christians who display God's love in everything that they do. Because I couldn't live without God's help.
Enough reasons yet?
My testimony is one of direct revelation: I walked into a meeting, uninterested, listened to the message out of courtesy, and suddenly found out that God wanted me to become a Christian. I describe it as not so much God knocking on the door and me answering as Jesus breaking it down with a hatchet, walking in and sitting himself down at the kitchen table, and my conversion to Chrisitianity as me giving up staring at the ceiling and saying hello.
I know of other people who just thought about it and decided that there must be a God: the universe is an incredibly beautiful place, and they decided that it could not have come about by chance.
The question of suffering is directly answered in the Bible: try Genesis 3. Man chooses to sin and allows evil to enter the world. Because God wants a relationship with man, he has given him free will: he doesn't want a puppet. It is therefore man's choice to sin and turn away from God: suffering is contray to God's plan, and the Bible tells about God's plan to combat it and restore his relationship with mankind, first through the nation of Israel and then through Jesus.


sounds to me like you just needed meaning for your life. thats why you were attracted to it like you were. doesnt actually mean "god spoke to you"

this is quite interesting because at first i was expecting to see more people who believed in god or a religion, but it's actually the other way. And truthfully this makes me happy. =) it's nice to know that people are thinking for themselves and questioning things and that people who do believe believe because something had happened to make them feel a connection with god. It's good to see that no one is believing blindly.

true, but keep in mind a lot of people are atheisitic or agnostic (like me) blindly or for the wrong reasons.

agnostic because I really just stopped giving a shit about religion and was tired of listening to the whining of atheists.

Like I said, try http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html for some contradictions. If thats not enough for you, just google "bible contradictions", I'm sure you'll find plenty.

The problem with the biblical contradictions is there's also pages like
http://www.ldolphin.org/contradict.html
that debunk a lot of them. I don't know, personally. A lot are very easily simple mistranslations, and a lot are simply taken out of context. As a whole, the book, if it was written by several dozen authors over thousands of years is pretty damn cohesive.

sounds to me like you just needed meaning for your life. thats why you were attracted to it like you were. doesnt actually mean "god spoke to you"
In any case, I was attracted to it. I believe that it's true, so I believe that God called me to it. I have seen quite a few prayers answered directly over the years. There have also been times when my faith has waned and I have encountered a strong religious experience (sudden, complete joy during prayer; breaking down sobbing during worship as an answer to prayer that God 'break my heart for the lost and the suffering') that has restored it, although religious experiences aren't always confined to those times.
"But surely since God created hell (because he created everything), its his fault that they are going there in the first place. If he had never invented "going to hell upon death", he would have no need to rescue anyone. "
Interpretations of Hell generally don't favour the fire and brimstone approah today. A very common interpretation is that it is simply separation from God. Heaven is being with God, and Hell is being apart from God. As it is sin that separates people from God, and people choose to sin, people send themselves to Hell. Hell is not created from God but the antithesis of Creation. Perhaps the "formless and desolate" Earth described in Genesis 1:1.

I can find meaning in my life without self-deceit. No thanks, religion.