religion "nothing-but" a commentary on fear of death?

[© tweed]

used to think, was more a catalog of wonder on the universe, but why have wonder without fear?  Jesus had to visit death to beat it, then came back to show it could be done.  what would be our use for him without our fear?

[DC Al Fine]

used to think, was more a catalog of wonder on the universe, but why have wonder without fear?  Jesus had to visit death to beat it, then came back to show it could be done.  what would be our use for him without our fear?

Just once I'd like someone to have a basic understanding of a doctrine before posting on it...

But more to your point, Christians believe in an immortal soul. There isn't really a fear of death so much as there is a fear of hell.

[Yelnoc]

Pretty sure Tweed is just talking about religion in general.

Why do people to choose to believe?  Fear, yes, is certainly a component.  Fear of Hell maybe, but perhaps fear of judgement in a more broad sense.  Judgement by God, by community, by family.  A lot of religious people come from religious families and were raised in religious communities.  In those environments religion is the path of least resistance.

[Wiggle Your Yummy Moist Preggers Cake Ben Shapiro]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

[DC Al Fine]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

How so?

[The Mikado]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

[Joe Biden 2020]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Christianity, while it is NOT a religion, believes that death is not the end, rather the beginning.

[afleitch]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

For me (reflecting on what Mark Twain said I guess) I was nothing for billions of years before I was born and it didn't inconvenience me. It's egotistical to think I get to go on and on and on so death doesn't bother me. The manner of death does of course, because no one wants it to come too soon or to feel pain when it happens. The fact that my starborn atoms that coalesced to form me will dissipate after my death and hopefully form or nurture something else that is organic is strangely comforting.

[DemPGH]

Durkheim, "founder" of Sociology wrote a lot about this, and his ideas have been picked up a lot in social anthropology. There's more to religion than fear of death (although the thought of a peaceful afterlife comforts many), and I would argue that in the present there is a large social element to religion and faith. As in, it's a way to socialize but also offers some definition to a community.

[Franzl]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Christianity, while it is NOT a religion, believes that death is not the end, rather the beginning.

Christianity is not a religion? Come again?

[Joe Biden 2020]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Christianity, while it is NOT a religion, believes that death is not the end, rather the beginning.

Christianity is not a religion? Come again?

It is a relationship, not a religion.  Religion is man's attempt to reach God.  Christianity is God coming down in human form as a baby to save and rescue those who would simply believe on Him.  Therefore, it is a relationship.  God cares about every intricate detail of our selves, including knowing exactly how many hairs are on each and every one of our heads.  He knows the exact time we were born, and He knows the exact time we will die and everything in between.  Nothing is left to chance and nothing escapes without Him knowing it was going to happen.  This is why there is no such thing as chance or luck.  Everything is known by God.  God desires a relationship with His children, much as a Father to a son or daughter, except on a perfect scale.  He won't force Himself onto anyone, but lets them decide for themselves if they will believe.  He knows in advance those who will believe and not believe.

[© tweed]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Christianity, while it is NOT a religion, believes that death is not the end, rather the beginning.

Christianity is not a religion? Come again?

this trinket is a favorite little spewing of the born-again crowd.  they think they are being profound.

[Franzl]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Christianity, while it is NOT a religion, believes that death is not the end, rather the beginning.

Christianity is not a religion? Come again?

It is a relationship, not a religion.  Religion is man's attempt to reach God.  Christianity is God coming down in human form as a baby to save and rescue those who would simply believe on Him.  Therefore, it is a relationship.  God cares about every intricate detail of our selves, including knowing exactly how many hairs are on each and every one of our heads.  He knows the exact time we were born, and He knows the exact time we will die and everything in between.  Nothing is left to chance and nothing escapes without Him knowing it was going to happen.  This is why there is no such thing as chance or luck.  Everything is known by God.  God desires a relationship with His children, much as a Father to a son or daughter, except on a perfect scale.  He won't force Himself onto anyone, but lets them decide for themselves if they will believe.  He knows in advance those who will believe and not believe.

And these are not (contradictory) religious beliefs....because?

[Wiggle Your Yummy Moist Preggers Cake Ben Shapiro]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

[afleitch]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

It's to do with the destination of the soul; it doesn't get reborn, or dissipate or simply drift and wander. Christian theology gives power over a persons soul to a supreme being who either subjects it to eternal praise or eternal suffering. What is that but spiritual slavery?

[anvi]

Certainly not.  Religious traditions have a large number of other purposes than the varieties of ways they deal with death.  Religious traditions explain origins of both the natural order and people, they establish institutions and organize different societies and communities, they concern themselves with ethics, dress, food, rituals, life states, time cycles, medicines, practices of meditation and worship, and on and on.  Of course, this gamut of activities always comes with various goods and bads depending on which tradition one is dealing with.  But the idea that religion is only about death is manifestly false.  And even focusing on that one issue, different religious traditions have very different views about death and what, if anything, happens after it, so even a story about how religious traditions represent a single kind of preoccupation with death would also turn out not to be the case.

[Wiggle Your Yummy Moist Preggers Cake Ben Shapiro]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

It's to do with the destination of the soul; it doesn't get reborn, or dissipate or simply drift and wander. Christian theology gives power over a persons soul to a supreme being who either subjects it to eternal praise or eternal suffering. What is that but spiritual slavery?

Doesn't sound like slavery to me. No work involved.

[afleitch]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

It's to do with the destination of the soul; it doesn't get reborn, or dissipate or simply drift and wander. Christian theology gives power over a persons soul to a supreme being who either subjects it to eternal praise or eternal suffering. What is that but spiritual slavery?

Doesn't sound like slavery to me. No work involved.

Is it not ownership?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

It's to do with the destination of the soul; it doesn't get reborn, or dissipate or simply drift and wander. Christian theology gives power over a persons soul to a supreme being who either subjects it to eternal praise or eternal suffering. What is that but spiritual slavery?

While that is true for some Christian sects, it isn't true for all of them.  For example, one of the major tenets of Seventh-Day Adventism is that when the Bible talks about the everlasting punishment of sinners, it is not referring to everlasting punishing.  Rather, the punishment that will be applied to unrepentant sinners at the end of time will be irrevocable and thus not subject to any potential pardon or commutation of sentence.  The view of what happens once the sinners are dealt with during the end times, is that they will no longer have any existence whatsover, not that they'll be subjected to eternal punishing in Hell while the saved live merrily in heaven with God.  Once the last judgement is completed there will be no need for a place of punishment, for those to be punished will be gone.

(In case you're wondering why I seem to be getting knowledgeable about Seventh-Day Adventism, they have a local talk radio station here that while I don't fully agree with their theology is sometimes the most listenable thing on the radio when the local NPR station is talking about a subject I have no interest in.)

[Wiggle Your Yummy Moist Preggers Cake Ben Shapiro]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

It's to do with the destination of the soul; it doesn't get reborn, or dissipate or simply drift and wander. Christian theology gives power over a persons soul to a supreme being who either subjects it to eternal praise or eternal suffering. What is that but spiritual slavery?

Doesn't sound like slavery to me. No work involved.

Is it not ownership?

Not always.

[DC Al Fine]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

It's to do with the destination of the soul; it doesn't get reborn, or dissipate or simply drift and wander. Christian theology gives power over a persons soul to a supreme being who either subjects it to eternal praise or eternal suffering. What is that but spiritual slavery?

Doesn't sound like slavery to me. No work involved.

Is it not ownership?

Do you consider a jail sentence slavery?

[afleitch]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

It's to do with the destination of the soul; it doesn't get reborn, or dissipate or simply drift and wander. Christian theology gives power over a persons soul to a supreme being who either subjects it to eternal praise or eternal suffering. What is that but spiritual slavery?

Doesn't sound like slavery to me. No work involved.

Is it not ownership?

Do you consider a jail sentence slavery?

No. A jail sentence if finite either because a person is released or in some cases, a person dies. The fact that god own's your soul for ever and can do what on earth he want's with it for as long as he want's without any recourse is slavery.

[DC Al Fine]

No because looking at the Ancient Mythologies they viewed death as a natural thing where todays religions view death as evil.

The ghost of Achilles did say that it was better to be a slave and alive than a king and dead, which doesn't strike me as a very death-positive view.

Unfortunately, Christian theology to all intents and purposes subjects you to being a slave when you die.

How?

It's to do with the destination of the soul; it doesn't get reborn, or dissipate or simply drift and wander. Christian theology gives power over a persons soul to a supreme being who either subjects it to eternal praise or eternal suffering. What is that but spiritual slavery?

Doesn't sound like slavery to me. No work involved.

Is it not ownership?

Do you consider a jail sentence slavery?

No. A jail sentence if finite either because a person is released or in some cases, a person dies. The fact that god own's your soul for ever and can do what on earth he want's with it for as long as he want's without any recourse is slavery.

Assuming a standard heaven/hell paradigm, hell isn't slavery because it is more like a life sentence. Heaven on the other hand is the sort of place no one would ever want to leave. If I want to stay out of my own free will, it is not slavery.

[k-onmmunist]

but, and this is admittedly based out of my possibly faulty understanding of theology, isn't heaven supposed to be this place where you worship god and bask in his love and glory etc. forever? maybe this is just me, but being forced to do the same thing eternally with no possibility of death releasing me sounds like my idea of hell, and i doubt i'm alone.

[DC Al Fine]

but, and this is admittedly based out of my possibly faulty understanding of theology, isn't heaven supposed to be this place where you worship god and bask in his love and glory etc. forever? maybe this is just me, but being forced to do the same thing eternally with no possibility of death releasing me sounds like my idea of hell, and i doubt i'm alone.

More or less. Although, I think the sort of people who view worship ping God eternally as hell wind up in real hell anyways