I am going to hell and let's keep it at that.

LOL bravo to you! If I end up in hell for being true to my core being and for being a kind loving open minded person then so be it..I'd much rather be there than somewhere where the ppl are fake and confused and cant think for themselves

There is only one Rule to follow, and that is to love and treat everyone the way you want to be treated. when you do that, it doesn't matter if you don't agree, or if you like green and they like orange. you can agree to disagree and at the end of the day still love that person. If you want to follow any rules then this should be the only one to follow

That is such a great way of putting it, I hadn't quite put it that way before, but then I am spiritually eclectic, and so the rules that had been instilled in me when I was younger, don't all make sense. In fact like you I wouldn't lie, as a kid I did as my mother asked, she asked that I follow through until I made my confirmation [a catholic thing] then I was free to choose what I would do and what path I would follow for myself. I did not see this as lying to god, since I saw it as giving consideration for my mother. Since she in turn gave me the respect to allow me the freedom of my own choices after I reached that age, which was only 12, my belief values allowed me to follow up with the ritual so that I could honor her wishes. LOL though I did tell the church decon, I would not recite the apsotles creed line that says I believe in the holy catholic church, when by that time I did not believe in the church, since I was so young no one within the church took me or my questions seriously perhaps if they had I would not have walked away from it. Though for a few years I still followed some things within the catholic teachings until I was 22 when I made my final break. I have pieces from different spiritual teachings that work for me and I incorporate them within my life. I find that so far to date I have yet to encounter any particular religious group that can show me they are not political orgainizations hinding under the guise of religion. So it seems you have a good attitude, I figure I am open to learning from others, and accept that we can have different spiritual values, I just have a problem with those who use religion to promote hate.

I know many religious people that pretend to follow the rules....and have no right to say what they do! Because we are human there is no one that can live one hundred percent by any rules! So I will also be myself and not a hypocrite like so many I have encountered down life's roads.

Let me tell you one thing. Wether you are going to hell or not that is upto God himself to decide. These religious people donot control hell or heaven. These religious people want you to believe what they believe. And infact when you do believe what they want you to believe they become happy themselves, and say that God has become happy. I think you shouldn't give a damn about these religious people and follow what your heart says you to do.

lol well that's a perfectly good answer. I had never thought of that. I had a very long discussion with a Christian woman about a week ago. She was perfectly nice. We talked about her beliefs and my beliefs. Toward the end of it she started saying things like she was so sad that she would not see me in heaven and I told her I believe that we all go to the same place and that we would meet again. She said "well, we'll see who gets there". I was so shocked all I could do was laugh. We talked for few more minutes and we hugged before we parted. Such a nice conversation with such a slap in the middle. But what was I going to say? I had enjoyed our conversation and I knew she wasn't intentionally trying to be mean. I like your answer though. That is a very interesting way to handle it and I bet it shocks a few of those who you say it to. :)

I think this will sum it up for you on what will happen to me in the end!! Oh and Now The end is near And I face that final curtain So good-bye to strife This is the last dance of my life Lord of this I'm certain I've been a sinner. I've been a saint. Done both good and evil deeds. Oh, but in the end, I was good to my friends and that's good enough for me. Oh good Lord, they say all souls you forgive. Well if that's true then why does there need to be a hell? Hey, what's that sulfury smell? Now I can feel, the fire, creepin up my thigh. I'm goin to Hell, in a handbasket. It's a Bohemian Rhapsody. Oh, Galileo, mama mia, scaramouche, scaramouche. Oh, Beelzebub's got a devil put aside for me. I'm goin to Hell, in a handbasket. With my flesh they'll make a feast. I'm gonna be there in that number. That's 666 the number of the beast. I'm goin to Hell, in a handbasket. Well at least I'll have a view. Oh I will see the fire, through the rusty razor wire. Oh don't you worry, I saved a seat for You. I'm goin to Hell, in a handbasket. And I might like it that way. No this ain't no lie, I'd rather be Kentucky Fried Than live and kicking in Jersey any day I'm goin to Hell, in a handbasket. I'd pray if I had the guile. No this ain't no fib, I'd rather be a splatter on the Devil's bib. 'Cause on my knees repentent ain't my style. I'm goin to Hell, in a handbasket. Oh please don't pray for me. No I don't need to be saved, of the devil I ain't afraid. There ain't nothin he can do that ain't already been done to me. I'm goin to Hell, in a handbasket. And I'll have good company too. 'Cause If I was so bad, than there's no need to be sad. 'Cause everybody else will be there too (Including You). Oh, oh good Lord, I only ask you forgive The self righteous who decieve When your words they twist, We both know Hell don't exist, Except in the minds of the poor fools who believe

good luck with that...what most people think is hell is going to be a piece of cake, well, its going to be way worse than you imagine, but ultimately, its up to you.

I agree it is so frustrating,I have noticed a lot of religous people on here and that doesnt bother me but I do get peeved when I am told I am going to hell,or bless me,pray for me etc because I am not religous.Each to their own and although I have no idea what happens to us when we pass away I am sure its not hell.

I am completely with you. I just can't see how living a good life, being an honest, generally good person can land you in the fiery depths. I really just can't see that! I mean if there is a God, he/she will decide if you were a good person or a bad person and it will have nothing to do with whether or not you followed religious scripture! It will have to do with if you helped people, were kind to people.. that sort of thing. I had this friend once, who was raised Roman Catholic and he once told me to just "fake it" when it comes to believeing because then I wouldn't go to hell. Isn't that ridiculous?! I told him that if there was a God, he/she would know if I was "fake" believeing or not and that that was probably a bigger sin than any other sins I commit!

Just from what you have said someone said something that really pissed you off about your place in religion. Just remember stick and stones break bones but words can never hurt me.

People who condem other people to hell are ignorant,narrow minded,and in for a big surprise in the after life I believe.I can't wait till the judgement day so everyone can see what it's about.I think alot of people will be shocked,mainly the ones who think their way is the only way.

If religion can save then Jesus Christ shouldn't have come down to earth to suffer and die on the cross. Religion should have done that. All I know is you get save by confessing that you are a sinner and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior and He will get you to heaven. After that it's for you to decide what religion you'll be into or what things you want to do or things you want to believe in.

In some parts I agree with You. Do not follow rules imposed by men. Follow the rules of the Torah, Torah has not been written by men, but by God Himself.And He gave it to us for a reason.To help us understand how we can live a life that's worth living, and obtain not only what we need but a lot more from Him.

Well I am a Hindu and I genuinely like participating is such discussion coz it gives me such an insight into the beliefs of other religions which no amount of reading could have given me. we Hindus have a looooooooooog list of rites and rituals, dos and donts and similar such entrapments to ensure the onward journey to the north. All are accompanied by a paraphernalia of elaborate offerings to appease whoever is up there, but in reality (according to me, no offence to any Hindu here) all it does is fill the pockets of the priests. To me, there is no medium between my God and me. I am always is conversation, He knows all my sins and everytime I do something bad, I very conveniently put the blame on Him (like You only gave me such emotions, what’s my fault if I have done this?). its somewhat like the confessions of a Christian, sans the priest in between. AND I always ask for strength from HIM to tide over the times. So I am in complete peace and belief that wherever I go, He will be there to guide and receive me.

It always amazes me how some will condemn others to hell because they don't believe as them but they can't seem to understand why that is ineffective. If I told them that believing in Jesus would cause them to rot in a pit of fire would they suddenly change over to my faith? Changing one's faith due to the threat of punishment isn't an honest change. That is one made out of fear, not the love that Jesus taught. Changing out of fear is not really believing. It's pretending in order to placate those about you. If there is such a God then he would know this and not accept it anyways, so either way you'd go to hell. Add to that supposedly the Christian god is our father, what father would banish his children just because they did not agree with him? That is what hell is supposed to be, banishment from God; not a pit in the bowels of the earth. For myself usually when those tell me I am going to hell I just nod and state "I'll enjoy meeting you there". According to the bible we are judged by how we judge others and they judge me to go to hell they must be going as well.

LOL Heaven doesn't want me and Hell is afraid I will take over Like you, I would sooner be me and follow my own path, rather than be brow-beaten by others.

LOL, I agree. I do have to say something about one of the members that responded to your post. God did not write the bible, man did. Could you really see God sitting at a desk taking time our of his busy day just to write in a book. Like I said, the bible is not the word of God, the word of God is Jesus. No where in the bible dose it say that God picked up a pin and start writting. - Reverend James, FL. USA -

Since there are many religions/sect in the world who will be saved and go to heaven. If each of them thinks that their religion is right then the rest of the world is going to hell. Who really knows which one is right? As long as you do good and try to live your life in a way that you don't harm other people or yourself then you have as much chance to go to heaven than all the others.

hey, sarahruthbeth22. I like your last sentence. I find it funny. But that's true whenever felt hurt by those religious people. Well, I believe there is Heaven and Hell. I rather go to Heaven than Hell. Since I have the choice, I choose to follow Jesus. Sounds too religious, is it? I don't think so. Now, I'm still in the process to get close to God by follow His words. I still failed to follow 100% though, but I enjoy the process of learning and grow with God. I hope you will experience it one day too.