But should it be?

You have to ask yourself, who benefits from such ideas about God and the afterlife? You don't have to look very far to find an answer. All these ideas that this book is the word, and God says this or God demands that, that's all man trying to control the masses. Those who perpuate these ideas, are the ones who benefit by holding the power. Once one has power over another, they can make them do or believe almost anything they want them to. And whether it be religion or politics, time and again this has been shown to be true.

You're free to believe that, but I have no use for such ideas anymore. I see the world very different now, could never go back nor do I want to.

This is true, but on earth no consequence lasts forever generally speaking. How can you learn anything if it did? Part of the whole human experience is learning from our mistakes. The Biblical story really doesn't allow for that.

Sure it does. You have an entire life time to learn. You have an entire life time to learn from your mistakes.

many people benefit from the ideas , in terms of living the life represented and encouraged by those ideas

the men who wrote the books, they died long ago, so they are obviously not benefitting

the men who keep the books in circulation, I imagine , are struggling joes and working people who dont have anymore benefit than those selling science books or history books successfully


men in general, dont benefit unless they are able to manipulate the words to their benefit

just as women can do if they so choose...

Religion can no be used to control the masses in the first place, less that religion was forced upon the mass. Take Christianity for example, this particular religion can not be used to control the mass especially on a forced level. Christianity is there for people to accept Jesus Christ as lord and saviour. If someone doesn't put merit to the belief in the first place, what fear would their be for non belief? People are going to believe what they wish, religion does not and can not control any mass.

But the point is after a certain time you can't, at which point God is just being evil for the sake of it. There's nothing to learn so what the hell is the point?

You CLEARLY underestimate the power of these beliefs and of those who sell the populace on them. They have and do control many people whether they know it or not.

That's what I mean though, IT'S A MANIPULATION TOOL. It's not some divine word, that's just something man made up to make you believe it, and it's obviously worked.

I look at it like this, they have setup a system that is almost ingenious. They tell people that this is what God wants you to know and believe, God desires you do this and not that, and believe this and not something else. If you do this so you are told, you will go to Heaven, and if you don't, you will at the least die, at the worst burn forever.

This achieves two things:

1. Gives you a comfort in the afterlife of knowing where you'll be going if you do as you're told.

2. Keeps you from questioning if what you are told is accurate through the fear of what will happen to you if you do.

It's the perfect plan to keep people in line and get them to accept anything you want them to. Promise them eternity if they do as you say, and take it away if you don't.

any book can be used to manipulate the easily manipulated

conspiracy books can make people too paranoid to organize for fear they cant trust anyone

science books can lead people to believe that they are on equal level with any other animal

,,,,Im grateful I am not easily manipulated and have come to my decisions based on my INNER sense of what 'makes sense'

They have to believe it first. And there is absolutely no way to "force" someone into believing something.

You still have no idea. How many kids out there do you really think believe what the religion of their parents is of their own accord? If I had to guess, not a lot. Peer pressure is just as prevalent from adults as it is from teens like it or not. And peer pressure heavily occurs with religion.

I don't think you really have but so be it.

Those teens grow up though. They have their entire life to make a decision to believe or not.

And it their believe is out of peer pressure, there truly is no belief. Only a lying appearance, they would then be lying to please their parents. Their belief would more or less be in vein.... that's not belief my friend, that is merely a hiding place.

You would have to believe before 1 could happen. You could never be forced into believing something, or even manipulated into believing. You would have to put forth the believe before there was any form of possible fear.

2 Not true. Seek and ye will find. If you just believe because your parents did and or other important person to you, you would not be seeking now would you be? You would just be going along because someone else believes. This again would be in vein and not truly sought or felt.

1. That's kinda the whole point, if they can get you to believe and accept what you are being told, you won't question it or them. Hence their power is not threatened. These people are not stupid, they are very calculating in their methods of control.

2. No it may not be genuine, but it also means they aren't really questioning what they are being told either.

This conversation isn't going to go very far. You're stuck in your delusions and can't see the truth in things. People don't believe things just cause they were told that as a child or you would have adults running around chasing leprechauns, believing in the tooth fairy, making a list for Santa, ect. People make a CHOICE cause they CHOOSE to. Because the holy spirit has comforted them in their choice. No this doesn't happen in the belief where they just believe cause they were told as a child, thus we have alot of atheists people in the world and or they choose a different belief because it better "suits" them. A Christian is a Christian because they have put forth the first step and the Holy Spirit has reveal itself to them, cause the sought to find the truth. They weren't settling for the "easiest" belief or a belief that just suits them. They sought after the truth and found it. A CHRISTIAN seeks the holy spirit head strong, seeks the holy spirit diligently. If the one doesn't seek our father who art in heaven with full intentions on finding him, they won't find him.

Love the accusing there at the beginning, finally the truth comes out about you right there. Wanna try and call that "discussing"?

As for the rest, can you speak for everyone? Not everyone "chooses" this as much as it's forced upon them. I would know, cause it was forced onto me. I just had enough sense and strength to snap out of it after a while. But not everyone is able to do that. You have no idea of the experiences of such people, and to claim you do is extremely arrogant.

I buy that so far as children are concerned, once we are adults though, we experience the world beyond our family and choices are much more 'clear cut' choices. Just like some people will grow up in homes with domestic abuse and as children think that is normal and right, but when they GROW AND EXPERIENCE life, they have the option to choose if thats the 'normal' they wish for themself.


likewise with religion, perhaps as children most of what we believe and think are out of our control, but as we grow and experience life into adulthood,, our actions and words and beliefs become our choice.

IF you 'got out' of it, that was your choice. But it is likewise other adults choice to 'stay in' it.