For me, the idea that the little old Orthodox rabbis (and their wives) who were tortured to death by the Nazis are now being tortured eternally by God's agents (with the approval of Christ's worshippers) is the real obscenity.
Some years ago there was a similar series of Christian billboards along I-75 running through South Georgia. One in particular I remember had a rope with the words "Let go! I'll catch you!" I imagined the next one with Jesus slapping his forehead and saying "Oops!"
On a more serious note I used to buy into the idea that the fear of hell was needed to keep people from doing terrible things. Eventually I realized -- as you did -- that Christians were still doing terrible things despite believing in hell. I also met and got to know secular humanists and realized they were able to live ethical moral lives without the fear of eternal damnation.
Growing up in the Southern Baptist Church I did something very few Evangelicals did which was actually read the Bible all the way through from Genesis to Revelation. Most of it I didn't understand, but eventually I came to realize that the god described in its pages is sometimes psychopathic (ordering the extermination of the Canaanites or torturing Job and murdering his family to please Satan) or confused and forgetful (multiple and contradictory versions of the same story.) So it's understandable that Christians lie, cheat, steal, rape and murder while proclaiming their holiness. They are just being like god.
I did that too! But it’s not understandable. You’re giving them way too much credit. The vast majority have never read the Bible and would be really surprised, like I was, to learn what it is and where it came from.
(I grew up in an Alabama church as well, and my father has been a minister since I was 12.)
I have imaginary conversations regularly about the legitimacy of the Bible. Specifically, I want to ask where are the rest of the books? Where are the rest of the Jesus’ entourage’s stories? Also, why hasn’t there been any new stuff written all this time?
I am burning up to have these conversations in real life, and it’s killing me that these topics haven’t come up lol I just wanna get it off my chest! Then, I’ll be less likely to explode in front of my super nice, pious parents.
IDK -- Maybe that’s what open mic nights at the comedy club is for.
Thank you! I have the same problem. So many questions I imagine myself asking but don’t because it’s not worth it. If I could have open, honest, curious, constructive, data-based conversations with Evangelicals, I might still be one. But then they wouldn’t be Evangelicals.
For me, the idea that the little old Orthodox rabbis (and their wives) who were tortured to death by the Nazis are now being tortured eternally by God's agents (with the approval of Christ's worshippers) is the real obscenity.
It’s a pretty disgusting idea
Some years ago there was a similar series of Christian billboards along I-75 running through South Georgia. One in particular I remember had a rope with the words "Let go! I'll catch you!" I imagined the next one with Jesus slapping his forehead and saying "Oops!"
On a more serious note I used to buy into the idea that the fear of hell was needed to keep people from doing terrible things. Eventually I realized -- as you did -- that Christians were still doing terrible things despite believing in hell. I also met and got to know secular humanists and realized they were able to live ethical moral lives without the fear of eternal damnation.
For a group that isn’t supposed to lie, Evangelicals sure do misrepresent reality a whole lot.
Growing up in the Southern Baptist Church I did something very few Evangelicals did which was actually read the Bible all the way through from Genesis to Revelation. Most of it I didn't understand, but eventually I came to realize that the god described in its pages is sometimes psychopathic (ordering the extermination of the Canaanites or torturing Job and murdering his family to please Satan) or confused and forgetful (multiple and contradictory versions of the same story.) So it's understandable that Christians lie, cheat, steal, rape and murder while proclaiming their holiness. They are just being like god.
I did that too! But it’s not understandable. You’re giving them way too much credit. The vast majority have never read the Bible and would be really surprised, like I was, to learn what it is and where it came from.
Sadly you’re right about that. It’s funny that in a religion that emphasizes the authority of scripture very few members actually read that scripture.
The only way people can consistently buy that the Bible is the inerrant word of an omnipotent God who’s not a sadist is to not read it
“Jesus said go into all nations and preach the gospel. We’ve got heathens right here on I-95!”
😭😭😅
It me. I'm the heathen on I-95. :D
“Think you can cruise into heaven?...Not without Jesus!”
“Don’t ignore the signals to turn your life around”
“Exit your wicked ways before the rapture”
I had to. 😅😁 worth it!
They should hire you!
We are the grandchildren of the witches you failed to burn.
🧙♀️🧙♀️🧙♀️
This is such a good post! 
(I grew up in an Alabama church as well, and my father has been a minister since I was 12.)
I have imaginary conversations regularly about the legitimacy of the Bible. Specifically, I want to ask where are the rest of the books? Where are the rest of the Jesus’ entourage’s stories? Also, why hasn’t there been any new stuff written all this time?
I am burning up to have these conversations in real life, and it’s killing me that these topics haven’t come up lol I just wanna get it off my chest! Then, I’ll be less likely to explode in front of my super nice, pious parents.
IDK -- Maybe that’s what open mic nights at the comedy club is for.
Thank you! I have the same problem. So many questions I imagine myself asking but don’t because it’s not worth it. If I could have open, honest, curious, constructive, data-based conversations with Evangelicals, I might still be one. But then they wouldn’t be Evangelicals.
Ha Exactly and exactly!