I was a church member for years, might still be as I never gave it up, not sure how it works.
They don't bar people.
No religion for me, I'm agnostic not atheist though.
I was brought up in a religious family, but opposite to koolpc, my parents suffering after a lifetime of believing makes me more inclined to be atheist.
The questions I cannot avoid are
1 Why are so many innocent kids born with such life affecting illnesses if they have done no wrong. But those that have done wrong can be free of illness and diseases. (see q2)
2 Apparantly you can live a very bad life, as long as you repent on your deathbed.
3 Which religion, and which god, there are so many to choose from.
4 Why are so many religious people uncaring regarding others, the total opposite to the teachings.
You can live a good life without religion, if you want to.
1. Despite common belief, after Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden, God gave humans free rain to manage the world and live their lives. Good and bad don't come from God. Sometimes, it is believed, Saints (ancestors in certain religions) intervene to solve situations on earth. Besides, good won't exist without bad.
2. Not true, again, wrong belief coming from movies and ignorant people.
3. Religions are man made. Most times you won't choose your religion, you'd be born in a certain environment where they profess your religion and you'd go along with it. Bottom line of all religions is: be good, don't do bad. So anyone will do.
Of course there are extremists and manipulators who twist the religion teachings to make people do bad things or make money for themselves. They're not religious people and they will go to hell.
4. They're not religious. They use religion to gain something for themselves. They're fraudsters.
I feel that I do not need religion to be able to run and structure my life. I know what being a good person means and I know right from wrong. I don't need a book or another person to tell me that.
That's correct. And if there's a God and heaven in the afterlife, this God will judge you regardless of whether you have been to a building to worship him.
I mentioned this in a coffee morning at a church and got a scathing look from one lady, who had asked if I go to church.
There are bigoted extremists in every religion.
I dislike that the Church made itself to be superior to its subjects: "If you don't do as we say, and come to church regularly, you will go to hell!" and made poor people feel obliged to contribute towards the upkeep of the church.
Even the position of the church was very often designed so that it looked down on the people.
The church is a State, with political targets and methods. To be a good Christian you don't need the church. Said this, I've met priests and nuns who dedicated their life to others, so naturally people were drawn to them.
Yet some religious figures felt it was (and still feel it is) acceptable to do wrong in the name of God and escape hell, so do they truly believe in the concept?
See above
Stephen Fry touched on a point in an interview where he mentioned a disease that affects childrens' eyesight. He argued that if there truly was a God, he would not allow that to happen.
See above
