Posted by Dinah on October 6, 2006, at 8:51:21
In reply to Re: Life is a gray area » Phillipa, posted by Michael83 on October 6, 2006, at 0:43:48
When something seems glaringly self evident to me, but not to others, my therapist reminds me to think of all the possible reasons why. As opposed to thinking "everybody had decided not to see".
He reminds me that an event is an event, and different people can interpret the same data differently, based on their individual backgrounds.
I was raised with religion, but not the sort where I was tought to fear eternal d*mnation. So being in mortal fear of eternal d*mnation isn't really on my radar. In fact, the religion I was most closely associated with didn't really believe in that sort of h*ll at all.
Other people might not have been raised with any sort of belief in h*ll at all, so it might not occur to them to be afraid of something they don't believe in, on any level.
So, given that your idea of an afterlife for those who don't believe is eternal d*mnation, and given that while you can't believe, you also aren't positive that you are correct in not believing, your fear is understandable.
But it does occur to me that that sort of fear must be terribly uncomfortable to live with. It reminds me, almost, of the scrupulosity that goes with my OCD. You might find talking to a therapist who is comfortable talking about spiritual matters useful in this. I think it *is* possible to gain alternate interpretations of this dilemma (as clearly many of us have alternate interpretations) that might help you be less frightened.
I really would like to see you gain some peace in this matter.
poster:Dinah
thread:687540
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20061005/msgs/692350.html