I think too much

Lately I've been thinking a lot about religion and I'm pretty confused.

This post is not meant to offend anyone and even though I may speak lightly and maybe even humorously about this issue, I do take it extremely seriously and just find this tone the easiest for me to communicate with. If you are deeply committed to a religion, I admire that and mean no disrespect.
Any thoughts, opinions or statements are welcomed.

I asked this question to my husband earlier and while he tried his best to offer an answer, I still want to know-
Did Jesus know he was the son of God?
Because if he did, why is it considered the greatest sacrifice that he gave his life for me?
If he knew that he was God's kid, didn't he kind of expect a life less ordinary? I mean, he couldn't have expected to hang out and raise a family. Did he feel pain?
I absolutely do not mean to belittle Jesus Christ. I just want to know more about him. I want to understand.
The times that I start to really think about my spirituality, I think maybe I shouldn't. Maybe religion isn't meant to be analyzed so much, and dissected under my spiritual microscope. Maybe it's just something you should feel.
I like logic and reasons but I do understand the concept of faith. It's just hard for me to give my life to any particular religion without having some sort of factual support.
I've talked to sceptics about this and heard them say, "Why should I beleive that God has a plan for me, just to feel better about the bad stuff that happens?" I see their point. But if not feeling the crushing pain of despair is the only benefit to subscribing to the theory that God has a plan, that's kind of ok......isn't it?
Is religion really about blind faith?
Is it okay to find certain aspects of different religions appealing but also find fault with them as well?
Is it okay to like Jesus more than Christianity?
Am I going to Hell for writing all this?

Comments

[priscilla]

sounds amazing. but how do you feel? you are no less. you are no better.

i do think it is unfortunate that economy is mixed with faith.

[laura rogers]

You Wrote:
Did Jesus know he was the son of God?
Because if he did, why is it considered the greatest sacrifice that he gave his life for me?
If he knew that he was God's kid, didn't he kind of expect a life less ordinary? I mean, he couldn't have expected to hang out and raise a family. Did he feel pain?

Jesus was fully aware that he was God's son. It is considered a sacrifice because, like all humans, Jesus had free will and he chose to die. One of the last prayers Jesus offered was asking God to "take this cup (suffering) from me, yet not my will but yours be done." The Bible indicates that he felt horrible pain. He was the same as every other human physically, that's the point. He faced all the same temptations, he had all the same thoughts, but he did not sin. It is incomprehensible, I know. (It's just like trying to understand eternity. It's impossible because we cannot imagine something that didn't have a beginning or an end) If he had sinned, he wouldn't have been a sufficient sacrifice. All sacrifices up to that point (mostly animals) that were offered to God had to be without defect. You had to offer your best or it was half-hearted or giving out of duty or habit. It's the same principle as tithing. You have to give the FIRST 10% of what you make. Which means unfortunately, that you have to tithe based on your gross income. If you don't that means you are paying the government before you give God what is his. So, Jesus had to be a perfect sacrifice, which would have meant nothing if he had sinned or if he was made to die.

Bible college makes a comeback... Did this make sense?

[Emily Sullivan]

Atheist Manifesto by Michel Onfray. If you appreciate logic this book is great for a more critical and historical understanding of religion. It focuses on the roots and the spread of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.