• NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    But the belief in religion like Christianity comes with an afterlife. If you truly believe that there is a heaven and hell, torture is not going to make you drop those beliefs. On the flip side, if being gay was a choice, all you’re choosing is strife and being gay.

    I think it’s a perfectly fine argument.

    • blackstampede@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      I doubt that a potential future reward is going to allow a person to hold up under torture in the now. I think some Christians probably refuse to recant under torture because their sense of self is rooted in their religion, rather than because they expect a reward. Of course, paradise is part of those religious beliefs, so it’s hard to tell.

      • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I think it’s less of a reward, more of a fear. How can I turn my back on god and risk eternal damnation? That’s a powerful thing right there. But true, it is also a massive part of some people’s identity.

        • blackstampede@sh.itjust.works
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          3 months ago

          When I deconverted, I found it to be really hard to get past the fear. The thing that finally did it for me was the idea that a truly benevolent God wouldn’t have an issue with inquiry, and a malevolent God wasn’t one I wanted to follow. Fear is definitely a factor that keeps people in the church.