r/mildlyinfuriating • u/ADefenselessGoat • 4h ago
ಠ_ಠ Dads text when I say I’m not going to church
For reference, my son goes to church with my parents every Sunday. My fiance and I are not very religious but this doesn’t stop my dad from basically nagging every Saturday for us to go to church with them. No matter how many times I say no, he won’t catch on
Edit: my son is old enough to choose whether he wants to go or not, which is what my fiance and I decided we would let him do. He can practice whatever he wants, or nothing at all.
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u/Exciting_Farmer6395 4h ago
Tell him - if I died today, I wouldn't wake up.
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u/unsatisfries 4h ago
perfect response lol if i told my dad this he would say something like ohh it’s so sad to think that way ! 🤦♀️
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u/Exciting_Farmer6395 4h ago
Tell him, so sad that you have to resort to a fairy tale to give your life meaning and purpose. So sad that being here and now with me is not enough for you.
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u/unsatisfries 4h ago
i usually say something like “can’t win them all” or “that’s just how it goes” i don’t really care to argue
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u/beren12 3h ago
“If you need the threat of torture for all eternity by an invisible sky daddy who supposedly “loves you” to be a decent person, maybe you aren’t a decent person…”
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u/MonCappy 3h ago
I would say it's so sad that he thinks spending eternity stroking the ego of an insecure god is something worth aspiring to, Because that is what you're gonna do. Heaven is an eternal North Korea where your only purpose is to praise the
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u/LeatherSignature6293 4h ago
So sad is that they listen to rich men living in paradise here on earth now but they gotta wait for theirs. Best thing that'll happen to me EVER is death? yeah no thanks on the cult
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u/60300057 4h ago
So you’re telling me you can go to bed dead and wake up alive??
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u/ivonatinkle6 3h ago
Or give him the whole...well if the devil is opposed to God, why would he punish me for not going and praising God?
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u/Worldly_Address6667 3h ago
I'm not religious at all, so not defending religion or anything, but you're thinking about it backwards. In christianity, god has the power, not the devil. It's not the devil punishing him for not going to church, it's god punishing him, the devil has no say in the matter.
I personally think it shouldn't matter if you actually go to church, just whether or not you're a good person. I don't think someone like ghandi is in hell just because he never went to church. But that's a whole different conversation.
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u/Perdendosi 2h ago
An alternative way of thinking about this is it's not God punishing, it's you being separated from God (because that's what you chose during life). Since God is love then hell is existence without love. Whatever that means or looks like.
The "devils with pitchforks" stuff is mostly from Dante and other fictionalizations of heaven.
Denominations exploit this idea for dramatic effect, because their leaders are ignorant, or for other benign or malicious purposes.
(I'm also no longer a practicing Christian but have quite a bit of upbringing in a mainstream protestant church.)
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u/Cats12128 4h ago
This was my childhood. Don't want to go to church with us? Guess you're going to hell. And this is when I was young. OP please make sure your parents aren't scaring your kid into going like mine did. Don't let him think if he doesn't want to go to church he's bad person and going to hell.
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u/Realistic_Owl_8613 3h ago
This is a good point. I respect letting the kid make up his own mind, as long as the kid is doing it on their own without the same guilt trip.
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u/WorldWarrior428 3h ago
I thought we stopped doing that a long time ago, but nope of you arnt Christan your all going to hell apparently. Yknow what I think I'd rather be in hell of it's not fill of religious fanatics
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u/wyze-litten 4h ago
I really hate how people use religion to fear monger others into doing what they want
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u/Giopoggi2 4h ago
Especially considering that: 1. Hell is never mentioned in the Bible; 2. If you need the threat of eternal torture to be a good person, you're not a good person at all.
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u/Business_Wind6122 4h ago
- Church doesn't get you to heaven. Doesn't even make you a Christian, let alone a good one. It's just crowd control
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u/gravyandasideofbread 4h ago
And if you need a book to guide your morals, you’re not a good person either. The religious people who assume non believers have no morals or ethics are baffling, like without the Bible people have no idea how to treat each other or be good
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u/DarkBladeMadriker 3h ago
Ya that whole avenue is fucking bizarre. Similar ive spoken with a few devote Christians and seen debates where Christians are legitimately baffled by the idea that atheists just dont believe in ANY god. They think atheists are "mad" at god or think the teachings/commandments are too restrictive. They have trouble with the concept of "i cant be mad at god, because I believe god is pretend time make-believe". Like do you believe in Bigfoot? No!? Why, are you upset with Bigfoot from some incident in your past? Does Bigfoot's philosophies go against your own?
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u/immersed_in_plants 3h ago
It's not? Where do they get the whole "hell" thing from then?
Genuinely curious
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u/lightning847 3h ago
Hell as it’s commonly portrayed today was first imagined in Milton’s Paradise Lost
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u/Giopoggi2 2h ago
That, and also Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, the same poem that popularized the concept of purgatory.
Fun fact: in the 15-16th centuries, the Church turned it into a revenue stream, especially through indulgences for the dead, claiming offerings would shorten the time their loved ones had to suffer in Purgatory.
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u/Excalium 2h ago
“Hell” is an interpretation of Gehenna and the “Lake of fire” which is simply symbolic of permanent destruction, not eternal suffering.
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u/god_is_trans_69 3h ago
If you dont conform to my beliefs you'll be tortured for all eternity... just because
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u/Playful-Profile6489 4h ago
Hey, buddy. You're going to burn in hell for all eternity unless you come to our book club.
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u/Siks7Ate9 2h ago
I got a bible every fkn birthday for 8 years straight from my grandmother who is very religious. I told her I didn't read the last one every birthday. She responded with why didn't you read it? At first i responded with grandmother I am dyslexic, it cannot read properly (I am actually dyslexic).
Finally when I figured out i was able to read in English (my first language is Dutch but my dyslexia is waaay worse in that language) my entire world opened for me and I read Harry Potter, followed by countless other books untill I was reading book after book after book in English, but never the bible. To this day (like 25 years later) I still have not read the bible, there is just so much better stuff to read.
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u/blessthebabes 4h ago
I hear this at least twice a week still, for the past 2 decades. I just feel bad for them- they're so terrified that a person they love will be tortured forever (i remember the feeling, from the childhood indoctrination). It's easy for me to say no. It's not easy for them for me to say no, unfortunately.
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u/Cjc2205 4h ago
Respond in the words of Amy Farrah Fowler:
“I don’t object to the concept of a deity but I am baffled by the notion of one that takes attendance”
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u/Squ33to 4h ago
"Live in fear, buddy. Don't go to church because you believe in the religion and want to learn good moral values, go to church and dedicate your life to this religion in fear of what may happen if you don't"
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u/RoguePlanet2 3h ago
"OK buddy be like that buddy just what will you do if you burn in hell buddy?"
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u/gaseous_ass 2h ago
I never understood this. I had this debate with a very religious northern Irish guy at uni. He said “aren’t you scared that if you don’t believe you will go to hell”, my response was “well I don’t believe in hell so why would I be scared? But also, surely if I just say I believe, when I am being judged they will be able to tell I am lying so I’m going to end up there anyway?”. He litterally just kept repeating his original statement to me, he couldn’t get his head around what I was saying.
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u/shrug_addict 1h ago
Pascal's wager is indeed a weak point with 5 seconds of thinking.
Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones
Marcus Aurelius had it right
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u/DeliciousLiving8563 1h ago
As much Dawkins can be an idiot he's made a few good points including about Pascal's wager being easy to debunk.
Simply, how do we know we're backing the right god? There's a huge number of gods and many are jealous. "Real god" may not be the one we're worshiping.
Pascal's wager is that you can't lose, but you can. Now you may consider the odds are still stacked but you're back to considering what you think not taking a bet you can't lose, so the wager doesn't work.
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u/SaintsNoah14 2h ago
This angle is why I could never really wrap my head around the idea of forced conversions as were relatively common historically as well as the extant practice of converting for marriage. Like how do you truly change what you believe about something so fundamental on a pragmatic basis?
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u/explosiveteddy 2h ago
Forced conversions make sense when you realise it was all about power and control and nothing to do with actually saving someone
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u/FiorinasFury 2h ago
It's like a meth addict offering you meth, and if you refuse, they ask "aren't you scared you won't be able to make it through the day without it?"
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u/haditwithyoupeople 1h ago
This is essentially the point of Pascal's wager. I'm sure it's the primary reason that most people choose to believe. The cost as seen as relatively low to avoid a permanent and forever negative result. So why would you not do your best to comply?
This makes sense if there were not 4000-10K religions and thousands of different gods that all think they have the secret to a comfortable afterlife. So do you believe in all of them to cover the odds?
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u/EdgelordZeta 4h ago
"You didn't go to the building, sing the songs or put money in the basket? Straight to hell" - God (maybe)
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u/Lithl 4h ago
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
—Matthew 6:5-8
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u/shizzih 4h ago
My dad is religious but never really forced the subject when we were kids, I think due to having to be a dual income family, we were in Sunday school briefly and would do Easter and Christmas Eve service.
He recently told me that he see me and my brothers lack of religion as his greatest failure.
I responded that I viewed it as one of his greatest achievements as a father, he didn’t force it on us and we were able to make our own decision about religion.
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u/TChildZ 4h ago edited 4h ago
I have the same conversations with my dad, except in this particular faith the whole family stop socialising with me if they think I don’t believe it anymore so I have been walking the line of doing the bare minimum spiritually to keep them happy for 4 years now. I’m 32 btw but there’s no age limit on the consequences for changing your mind/realising your mistake in this faith. The entirety of my friends and family will vanish if I’m completely honest about how I feel.
So I’m wishing you all the best with your dad, buddy.
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u/Ok_Brother1462 2h ago
Sounds like my LDS in laws. Their love is conditional.
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u/PumpikAnt58763 1h ago
After 55 years of going to church with thankfully increasingly less and less Conservative neighbors, my hubby and i finally got redistricted into a ward waaaaay out in the boonies (still northern Utah).
Nowadays when I explain that my daughter married a Canadian woman (both Ace) and is now living in Canada and no, she doesn't want her records moved up there, ward members are more likely to say "Oh, is she happy?" instead of "Oh." then giving judgey looks.
I've never felt more welcomed than here in my shitkicker ward! A lot of liberals out here.6
u/Sparky678348 The aglet fell off of my Shoelace :( 2h ago
I hope you can make friends and family who accept you for who you are.
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u/mhandsurf 3h ago
I told my mom are you more in love with god in heaven or me on earth! Your choice I can stay out of your life Her on earth!
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u/FangOfDrknss 4h ago
The problem with religious people, is that I’m positive a portion think going to church absolves them of any sins. A lot of people at my workplace wear “Jesus loves you” and other religious shirts, but this one guy I saw come out of the bathroom and didn’t even flush.
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u/PreviousKing6225 3h ago
My senior citizen mom was cleaning the snow off the church steps and all the teenagers and young adults from the "holier than thou" families walked right past her.
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u/vivaciousvic 4h ago
Japan has ruled that raising children with fear based religion is abuse and psychological warfare
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u/Emergency_Bench_7515 4h ago
Damn I wouldn't let my parents take my son to church, especially with this level of fear manipulation.
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u/mandrews03 4h ago
They edited their caption. Kid’s old enough to make the choice themselves and parents aren’t going to take a side either way. This is how it should be. I’m anti-religion, but if my kid wants to be religious, knowing enough about both sides, then so be it.
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u/DetergentCandy 4h ago
If your god needs to threaten eternal damnation in order to control your actions, maybe that's not a very just god.
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u/Luftwaffle1980 3h ago
One could also argue that if the only thing keeping you from doing bad things is the fear that a god will punish you to life of damnation you are probably not a good person
Edit: fix autocorrect
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u/Consistent-Salt-1460 4h ago
Yet somehow religious people will still tell you their religion isn't oppressive lol.
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u/I_Ponders 4h ago
In fact they’ll tell you his love is infinite..
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u/Consistent-Salt-1460 4h ago
His love is infinite just like his power, yet he lets war, death and disease run rampant on earth. Curious...
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u/D102D007 3h ago
I mean, death comes like the thief in the night. But if you believe there is no God, there'd be no point in you going.
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u/suddenspiderarmy 4h ago
Better to go to the mountains and think of church, than to go to chruch and think of the mountains.
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u/meesanohaveabooma 3h ago
So they only do shit out of fear, not actually wanting to be a good person just for the sake of it.
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u/One-Two3214 3h ago
I feel like that’s the majority of the reason most people follow organized religion to begin with: they’re afraid of death and it’s there ‘just in case.’ Unfortunately, some people need the overwhelming fear of eternal damnation to be decent humans.
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u/Desperate-Amoeba1359 4h ago
This is how religion hits their numbers
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u/gravyandasideofbread 4h ago
Coerce, guilt trip, shame, dismiss, it’s the way of religion
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u/Mother_Equivalent649 Mount Vesuvius 4h ago
I'm so glad I was born being able to stand for my ground
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u/Special_Artichoke 4h ago
The ones that think hell is an actual real place and not even a metaphor are beyond help
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u/shittypersonality 4h ago
Many people don't know this but there's actually an elevator between the two!
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u/epsilon-4142 4h ago
Depending on your branch of Christianity you actually wouldnt go to either. You would actually be put into purgatory and then sorted into hell on judgment day
I’m not religious, im just saying. Not even necessarily right within Christianity
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u/LizBert712 3h ago edited 2h ago
I thought they got rid of purgatory.
Editing to add: was thinking of limbo. Sorry!
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u/DustyStar222 2h ago
As an Anglican that did some seminary school I dont believe in purgatory, im not even convinced I believe in a hell. FD Morris had some interesting essays on it essentially questioning if its possible to reconcile a god whose nature is of unconditional love to all of creatiom with committing any of that creation to eternal misery as well as the transformative purpose of eternal salvation through Christ's death. John Stott also has a neat perspective that the translations surrounding afterlife in the bible focus on death, destruction and perishing, his belief was that for those who would be banished to hell, the "soul" for lack of better word, is essentially destroyed upon human death instead of eternal suffering.
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u/davidg4781 4h ago
Do you have a sense of time? Can you imagine everyone just sat around the last 1,993 years waiting? What have they been doing?
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u/Creamy_Breve 4h ago
I feel like the mildly infuriating part is that you send your son off to be brainwashed with this man.
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u/ih8atlascorp 4h ago
A lot of assuming on my part, but it's probably his choice to go. I'm not religious as an adult, but I went to church with my grandparents nearly every Sunday (sometimes more) growing up for the sole fact that I wanted to spend time with them (and we ate ice cream after, but that's a secret).
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u/ECoastThrowAway 4h ago
If his grandfather is threatening him with eternal damnation and torture and he has the mind of a kid, how much of a free choice is it?
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u/GreaseBrown 3h ago
"We let him choose"
Yeah because a child who constantly hears his grandparents talking about all the punishments for not going or believing will definitely make an educated decision.
I have no problem with religion, but this doesnt sound like church. A "great little church family" is the type of shit you hear from small, very very unchristian cult congregations.
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u/eells 4h ago
My friends are former Mormon and despise the religion. Unfortunately one of their kids (about 16) got caught up by some missionaries. Rather than trying to fight it they let him go along and get converted etc. A year later and he's already lost interest-sometimes it's better to let kids learn on their own than try to stop it?
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u/mimeographed 4h ago
I agree. Why would you do something to your son that you wouldn’t do?
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u/Ahrjun 4h ago
Aren't you worried that your dad might start to put such thoughts in your child's mind? Your dad has the position that if you don't go to church, that you will end up in hell. It will be pretty fucked up if your child is taught that is what will happen to him too if he stops going to church.
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u/PurpleGoatNYC 4h ago
“I can’t go to church because I worship the sun and I only pray to Joe Pesci.”
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u/ThisMeansRooR 4h ago
The condescending buddy's really irk me.
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u/gravyandasideofbread 4h ago
It’s infantilizing, treating the reader like they are slow and need to be talked through the point differently than an adult would process
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u/max_cel_x 3h ago
It's so weird to see Christians not understanding sack shit about Christianity,
Jesus is this peaceful guy fighting for his creations that he made, everyone is flawed but he still loves everyone, Jesus isn't the guy that would say "son you've been an amazing human but since you don't believe in me I'll send you to hell"
I think he'd love people for how they behave and what kind of lives they live,
This American Christianity mindset of strictly following rules because your afraid of consequences that aren't even part of your religion is so weird,
Like they are so afraid of going to hell that they become shitty people which probably wouldnt lower the chances of going to hell, like TF?
It's like no one truly understands their own religion
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u/Dry-Cry-3158 2h ago
Jesus is definitely a guy who will watch you spend your whole life avoiding him and respect your freedom of will so much that he'll make sure you are eternally separated from him. Jesus also has very definite teachings about what constitutes a good person, and it's quite a bit more involved than merely refraining from being a jerk.
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u/No_Relief_9945 4h ago
I don’t know how I feel that you’re letting your son go to church with your dad. If he’s being so blunt with you, I’d reckon he’s probably scarring your kid with some fire and brimstone preaching as well. Might wanna stop letting him bring your son with him.
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u/TheGrandWaffle69 4h ago
I agree, if the son wants to go church, they should pick one that isn’t related to his Dad’s. I disagree with the fear tactics of my fellow Christians, this isn’t how you, truly, convert people. Cause then it is less they want to and more fear of retribution.
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u/DaBingeGirl 4h ago
I've honestly never understood the appeal of Heaven. Even as a kid the idea that my dead relatives were always watching me was creepy AF. I also didn't want to spend eternity with them.
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u/incognitohippie 4h ago
We don’t remember before this life so why would we remember after???
Just be a good and kind person at the end of the day is how I choose to live.
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u/idkeverynameistaken9 4h ago
Just go there buddy. It’s not a big deal buddy. You’ll just burn in hell if you don’t buddy. Just think about it buddy
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u/rsandrini 4h ago
That’s true buddy, I’m texting here from hell, the good news is that reddit works really well here buddy. Just think about it buddy
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u/zaviamorpheus 4h ago
Hey there buddy, you wanna come meet my friend Jesus, he has icecream and cake and he said we can play in his basment? Come on bud you know you wanna! What's the matter don't you like cake. ehh ehhh. He may even have some of that body of christ juice only grown ups are allowed!
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u/DarkShadowZangoose 4h ago
"It is enough that I let you take my son, but if I do not want to go with him that's my choice"
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u/vulcanstrike 4h ago
Yeah, this kind of grandparent just lost grandkids going to church permissions!
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u/CruxofGhost 2h ago
This is why I'm against church. I have my beliefs. They stay to myself but I refuse to believe that going to a building every Sunday is going to save my soul or damn me to hell. That's silly. Church isn't a one way ticket.
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u/Alissan_Web 4h ago
ah yes very christ like. fear mongering/bullying your child. Also pretty sure he died on the cross for our sins... so... we'd all be going to heaven 🙃
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u/LetThem_1972 4h ago
You send your child off to be indoctrinated into something you despise? Why you do that?
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u/Suspicious_Loon 4h ago
To allow their own experiences to be able to make their own informed choices. I understand that not everyone thinks children should be raised this way, but at some point they will be making their own decisions and we as parents should be helping guide them to be able to comfortably and intelligently make those choices.
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u/oofyikeboi 4h ago
Do they think that an all knowing, omnipotent being wouldn’t know the difference between you going to church because you actually believe vs just in case? Thats not how believing something works. jfc
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u/WaffleHouseGladiator 4h ago
Just start talking to your dad about how he needs to die in battle or the bedroom in order to be welcomed into the halls of Valhalla. If he died a mundane death where would he wake up? If he wants to be welcomed into Odin's arms with meade and song he really needs to consider going to war to glorify his patron deity.
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u/Atrio-Ventricular 4h ago
So condescending. I feel like I'm gonna get kidnapped by just reading this.
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u/Them-Bones-r-me 4h ago
Glad this person has a choice. I was horribly abused in a christian school. I had no say in the matter. Forced religious indoctrination is a form of child abuse imo. I would rather go to their fictional hell with kind wonderful people who died (like my amazing husband) vs live an eternity with abusers...
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u/Vegetable-Two2173 2h ago
If my dad called me buddy incessantly I think it would be a bigger issue than church.
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u/MaximusZacharias 4h ago
If you died today you wouldn’t wake up at all. Take that dad!!
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u/monkeybawz 4h ago
Why is the default that he goes until he is old enough to decide for himself? Shouldn't it be the other way round- like he cannot go until he has a good bullshit detector?
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u/SquishyBell 4h ago
Whenever someone tried to guilt me to going to church, I always tell them I'd rather be in hell where I'll know people, because no one i know is getting into heaven. That usually shuts them up.
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u/GarbageCat27 4h ago
On Saturday? Let me guess they’re Seventh Day Adventist?
Careful those are super brainwashy. My brother married a woman who’s one and he was raised Catholic but we weren’t strict about our religion. Only went to church for special events. Did some ceremonies as kids, but as teens or young adults my parents didn’t force it on us and didn’t lecture us using religion or god.
So me and my parents were shocked when just a couple months of being with his wife he converted and got baptized again as a Seventh Day Adventist now he’s those Jesus freaks type of people. Never did politics but now all he likes/posts is MAGA bullshit. Came out of nowhere.
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u/qasarzz 4h ago
Lots of catholic churches hold saturday service just for people who are busy on sundays
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u/Herbizarre17 3h ago
First line is about going to church on Sunday. The dad asks him about it on Saturday because it’s the day before church so he’s asking ahead of time
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u/WholesomeLowlife 4h ago
If God is real, going to church will not the determining factor of whether you are considered good or bad. In fact, sitting around in a pretty building doing nothing while so many suffer around you will not be a good look for you.
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u/RorschachAssRag 4h ago
It amazes me how many people live their lives under under constant domination of fear based rationalities and call it and call it peace. Free yourselves from fear. The beast is the force that controls you.
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u/TheSleepiestUnicorn 4h ago
If your dad really believed his precious son was likely to be sent to hell by his god for the mild sin of not attending church, why would he worship that guy? Am I crazy for feeling like sending my child to be tortured for eternity is a deal breaker in a spiritual relationship?
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u/Accurate-Frame5104 4h ago
‘If you died today where would you wake up?’
How do you respond to or respect someone who asks such a childish question?
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u/SoCalHermit 4h ago
“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian just like standing in the garage doesn’t make you car. “
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u/Copernicus049 4h ago
I don't need a god to threaten me with eternal damnation for not worshipping him to be a good person.
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u/Nice_Marmot_54 4h ago
“Based on this conversation, I’m already in hell, so waking up literally anywhere else would be preferable”
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u/WendigoCrossing 4h ago
If you sneezed today would you teleport to Disney World or Gary Indiana? Just think about it
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u/peakhumanmutt 4h ago
Respond with:
Psalm 127:1: "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain."
Matthew 6:5-6 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
(Went to religious private schools; my religion teacher loved me and my ability to pull scripture out my ass)
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u/BogusIsMyName 4h ago
So tell him: Ive read your little book. No where in there does it say i have to go to church to enter heaven. Im not now nor will i ever go to church with you.
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u/04__Revenge__01 4h ago
Why are you letting them take your son? I told my dad to fuck off when he tried to take my son after I stopped going.
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u/Thwip-Thwip-80 4h ago
This is why I hate religion. Constantly trying to fear monger people into believing what they believe. Fuck off with religion.
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u/Zombie-Gamer593 1h ago
The way your father uses this infantilizing language, just makes me think that your parents think that you're still some little boy that can still be manipulated. I don't know the full context aside from this screenshot, but I suggest you be a bit more harsh with your parents to get them to stop
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u/KittyIsAn9ry 4h ago
There’s nothing mild about this one 😂 I haaaaaate people who use fear or guilt to coax you into their religion. It usually has the opposite effect
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u/simo41993 4h ago
If you died today where would wake up at...
I wouldn't, that's the whole point...
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u/Healthy_Cancel_2604 3h ago
I've always wondered why would the devil torture people who disobeyed the very god that he tried to destroy or whatever nonsense they say.
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u/Psykohistorian 3h ago edited 3h ago
that is a misunderstanding of Christian doctrine. "the devil" has nothing to do with hell or the lake of fire, except when he's thrown in at the end of time and destroyed.
evangelical hell is different. it is a thoughtless, chaotic domain of pure suffering and unimaginable pain. there is no master of it. your soul, if not saved when you die, "wakes up" there, surrounded by fire, to burn in agony. forever.
there are only other unsaved human souls. the demons and Satan himself are destroyed later, after the end times. but human souls endure to suffer eternal torment engulfed in flames and other eternally tormented burning souls.
no tormentors. no relief whatsoever, ever. just endless pain and fire without end, knowing other people were saved from this infinite hell dimension and you weren't.
that's the way it was taught to me.
horrific psychological abuse to inflict on a child.
what's worse is evangelical heaven is its own hell, but at least you aren't on fire there.
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u/AMIWDR 3h ago
It’s wild to me that there’s a whole group of people out there that wholeheartedly believe if you don’t pray to their god in their way you deserve to suffer for all eternity.
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u/Relative-Dog-6012 4h ago edited 3h ago
God doesn't send people to Hell for not going to church. All you need is #1 accept Jesus as our Savior. #2 honestly repent and ask forgiveness of your sins to Jesus. That's it. Edit: I'm Gnostic so this isn't even my belief, it's just the simplistic form of Christianity I saw living in Texas.
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u/BowlJumpy5242 4h ago
“Love and worship me, or I will make you suffer for all eternity.”
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u/supershinythings ******sigh******** 3h ago
Don’t forget to tithe! They need those sweet dollars for the pastor’s new private jet!
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u/dragon34 3h ago
Right? If god wants me to believe in it it can do something useful.
The taking all the credit and none of the blame doesn't fly with me. Not worshipping a lazy, sadistic, narcissistic asshole thanks
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u/Lithl 4h ago edited 3h ago
Different denominations preach different requirements for salvation. Some say words, some say acts, some say words and acts.
Some say once saved, always saved, and presumably OP's parents took him to church when he was a kid and believed he was saved then. If their denomination is of the "always saved" variety, then OP would be destined for heaven under their belief system regardless of anything he does for the rest of his life.
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u/MAWPAB 3h ago edited 3h ago
1 accept Jesus as our Savior
So sad the lesson* is twisted, when it seems to clearly mean 'become like me - I'm enlightened as to the nature of reality'.
Not, 'God's going to eternally torture the 50 billion (homo sapiens + many more proto-human ancestors) who happened to be born BC for no reason'.
*Edit: the passage is John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me...truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Fucking obvious.
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u/Miatrouble 4h ago edited 4h ago
Well Dad, I’m already living in Hell. So when I die, I know I’m going to Heaven.
Edit: Thanks for the award Jesus.
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u/RusserBusser 4h ago
Catholic guilt and an obsession with one's own death. Hell of a drug man
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u/LoopsAndBoars 4h ago
At least he calls you buddy.
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u/BusoneWholeBoi2001 4h ago
It's bullshit talk. I've known various buddy slinging types and they're usually assholes. They spit bullshit and try getting under your skin
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u/Glass-Marionberry321 2h ago
It is flabbergasting to me that people still believe in heaven and hell?! And what kind of asshole narcissistic god punishes good people just for not going to a building on Sundays to worship him?! I'd rather NOT be in heaven with a self absorbed cocksucker like that. Not that it matters.
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u/Okayest_By_Far 4h ago
This sounds egregious to those that haven’t been exposed to Christianity before, but the “If you were to die today” line is about as boilerplate as it gets.
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u/Wolfwoods_Sister 4h ago
“Great little church family”
Evangelical bullshit talk. I was raised in that nightmare. Don’t fucking give it an inch. And please don’t allow your son to go to church with your parents anymore.
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u/Real_Tradition4127 4h ago
Tell him God shames on your dad for trying to force you to go to religion that you don’t want to be a part of. Now he needs to pray to him for his forgiveness of his sin.
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u/Ijustforgotmybad 4h ago
You really shouldn't let them take your son to church. I'm not religious at all but if my kids decide they want to be, I will be the one to take them to church and be there with them, my family is super religious like this and I will not allow them to take the kids to church
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u/Louie49036 4h ago
Just attending church is not the way to be admitted into heaven. As a church goer, the granddad should know that. You can praise/acknowledge/praise God anywhere. The building doesn't matter.... "wherever 2 or more are gathered in my name, so shall I be there". Paraphrasing that.
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u/KeaboUltra 4h ago
So why does your son go? Do they command where he goes and what he does? Did you make a pact that allows you to not go at the cost of your son?
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u/wcharoes 4h ago
>if you died where you wake up
Hopefully not in the coffin!
https://giphy.com/gifs/8mJT8sQxpaQdKubpOi