Never said I was a total unbeliever - on a fundamental level I still think the teachings of Christianity regarding loving your neighbor, taking care of the less fortunate, loving your parents, etc. are all kosher. It would take me ages to explain it - but in a nutshell - I do not believe that a god who loves us as a father loves his son would allow us to go to a place of ever lasting torment after we die. I believe in punishment - but the punishment should fit the crime - no crime is worth suffering over for eternity! Also, if god is truly omnipotent - then he knows the past, present, and future of your life - if you are classified as a non-believer then in essence he allowed you to be born only to be destined for failure. There is no way you can believe in an omnipotent god and free-will - they just don't jive. You can say whatever you want, but for the most part you are Christian because of your parents and the fact that you were born in America. If you were adopted at birth and raised in Iraq you would be a Muslim. I cannot comprehend how a force of "good" would seemingly allow so many people to be led to their destruction. The Bible states that narrow is the path which leads to salvation - wide is the path with leads to destruction. Why would he create us just so that he could send the majority of us to a hell? That just doesn't make sense to me.
Throwing my 2 cents into the mix here -- take it with a grain of salt -- this is only from a Christian point of view -- I know its late:
As far as I can tell by reading the Bible- - -God doesn't send people to Hell or Heaven. People make that choice on their own.
This life is a tale of two families -- the family of God and the family of Satan ( aka the Devil ).
The family of God has their eternal 'headquarters' in a place called Heaven.
The family of Satan has their eternal 'headquarters' in a place called Hell.
If you choose to follow God ( Jesus ) - after you die you will spend eternity with the family of God --
in their eternal residence - in Heaven. you stay with 'family.'
If you choose to not follow God ( JESUS ) - you will spend eternity with the family of Satan -
in their eternal residence - in Hell. you stay with 'family.'
Many people say they dont want to go to hell- -- but they do not enjoy spending time with Jesus Christ or
with the family of God ( Christians ).
Here's the rub -- if you don't enjoy spending time with Jesus and the family of God now - - guess what --
if you were to die and go to heaven -- at some point in your heavenly stay ( could take awhile ) --
you would no longer enjoy being with the family of God anymore in Heaven.
You would probably be sad or not as happy as you should.
Just think about that for a few moments and let it sink in.... and also know there is no sadness in heaven.
I also agree with Chopsticks -- The Church oftentimes mixes law with grace and that doesnt work.
Also the Church mostly preaches and teaches law and condemnation-- INSTEAD of the unbelievably freeing GRACE of GOD.
It's all this law stuff that chases people away - do this - dont do this -- act like this -- dont act like this etc.
If people only learned of the true grace ( unmerited and undeserved and free favor ) of God --
they would fall in love with him and never turn back.
When we fix our eyes on Jesus and behold the beauty of our eternal King - -- it changes everything.