I absolutely believe in hell and Satan. But I believe that hell is reserved for the truly evil. Simply being uncertain of God's existence is not evil, in fact, I would say that it's pretty human to have doubts. God isn't going to send you to the depths of hell for having doubts about his existence. If you are otherwise living a good and decent life - you will be o.k. At the same time, I don't believe that simply showing up to church every Sunday is enough to save your soul from hell if you are attending church just for appearances - to make yourself look good. What you do when no one else is looking is just as important. God knows what is in your heart.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

You mean, if there is YOUR god. Don't forget the many, many people who believe in god(s) who do not believe in hell(s).

That's correct. it's like having an imaginary friend - like some of the most intelligent and creative children invent when they are growing up. While not a statistically prevalent phenomenon, it's considered normal and fades with age. Adults with imaginary friends are very rare and are considered to be mentally disturbed.

This does not apply to belief in God, however, who while invisible, is not considered to be imaginary. This is because many people are taught to believe in God by respected adults, through numerous established religions, for instance Christianity. Though there are many varieties of Christianity, hell is a integral part of the basic Christian story. God himself sent his own son to hell for 3 days. If pp's god doesn't have hell, then she is not Christian and is inventing her own god, in the same manner that clever children invent imaginary friends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

You mean, if there is YOUR god. Don't forget the many, many people who believe in god(s) who do not believe in hell(s).

If they're Christian, though then they believe in hell, or they're not really Christian. They are just making up their ow religion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

You mean, if there is YOUR god. Don't forget the many, many people who believe in god(s) who do not believe in hell(s).

First,
I am sure, OP, that your mom is just fine. I am not in the believe that she hears me camp--but I do believe that SHE hears me (God).

Think about the qualities that your mom expressed: love. Love never stops. The love she had for you and the love you have for her is still there. Humor, energy, happiness, joy, kindness, generosity, beauty, etc. All of those are qualities given to us by God --and they are spiritual qualities. They continue.

Think about all the things you loved about your mom. I bet not one of them is material. And, when you want to ask her advice, just stop and think. I bet you know exactly what she would tell you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

I don't believe that. I do believe that Christians place a higher value on having a clean conscience and making amends while living and they are rewarded for their efforts. Atheists who are good and kind on earth are probably listening to God more than they realize and they too benefit from having a clear conscience. And then there are those who think they are getting away with things, that no one is seeing what they are doing....those folks sort of create their own hell filled with guilt, remorse, sadness.

Those are nice ideas, but they don't follow Christian teachings. God decides what happens to whom, after death, not humans. If all you have to do to get to heaven is be a good person, then what do you need organized religion for? Why build churches and hire ministers to preach? Why teach a lot of people to believe the same things about god and the afterlife?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

Nope. People choose to not go to heaven.

that's right -- god tells people what will happen if you don't believe in him and then if you use your free will, given by god, not to believe, then you've made a de facto choice. It's amazing the number of good people here on earth who make that choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

I don't believe that. I do believe that Christians place a higher value on having a clean conscience and making amends while living and they are rewarded for their efforts. Atheists who are good and kind on earth are probably listening to God more than they realize and they too benefit from having a clear conscience. And then there are those who think they are getting away with things, that no one is seeing what they are doing....those folks sort of create their own hell filled with guilt, remorse, sadness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

I believe there is life after death but save for the ones John saw who were part of the first resurrection it won't be until the 2nd resurrection that those who have died will come back to life and the second death has no power over them. I also believe there is death after death. After all, at judgement it says, the lake of fire is the second death.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

Nope. People choose to not go to heaven.

Anonymous wrote:Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Lot of atheists are good people, but if there is a god, they are in hell after they die and not in the "nothingness" they think happens to everyone, because hell where god sends people who don't believe in him, no matter how good they were in life.

Anonymous wrote:Notice how the people who claim to be religious sound the wackiest on this subject --

for example -- Jewish blood helps; Jesus is the only chance for a positive outcome.

Really??did you see this post?

"~not a religious person and I don't think there is a god up there organizing our lives and deaths for us. I do think there is some kind of universal consciousness that we join when we die."

I suppose that sounds perfectly rational to you (no offense to the poster). Spirituality and faith are not rational to the human mind and to humanists in general. Stop trying to use a very tenuous argument to attack "people who claim to be religious".
Signed
A bible believing Christian

Being an atheist robbed your mom of the spirtual comfort and peace that is there for all of us during good times and bad. But her being an atheist did not make God any less real for those of us who believe in Him. And we know that God loves all of us, your mom included. She was a good and well loved person while she was living - I'm sure she's o.k. now Op. And I'll bet she can hear you when you talk to her (much to her delighted surprise) Keep talking to your mom, Op.

Talk to her...she's probably waiting to hear from you.


And make sure you open yourself up to hear from her.

I pretty much believe that when it's over it's over. Yet when I visit the cemetery or feel alone I readily talk to my grandmother.

Just because your mother didn't believe, doesn't mean that you don't still have a connection with her and that talking to her is useless. You will always be her daughter. She would want you to do whatever it is that gives you strength and makes you happy.