week 5, Bertrand Russell

This piece on "Why I am not a Christian," was interesting to read.He used many passages from the bible to argue his claims and I didntfind him disrespectful in any way because he made me think for awhile. He does not believe in God or in immortality and questionswhether Christ was the best of the wisest of men? For example, hestates "There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ's moralcharacter, and that is that he believed in Hell. I do not myself feelthat any person who is really profoundly humane can believe ineverlasting punishment." I read this and it really made me think onthis issue. If Hell actually exists than does it mean that all thesecriminals who have committed a crime will be judged and taken to hellor will God forgive them? Is hell only for those who do not believein him or is it just a way to scare the believer?Bertrand Russell notes "that the idea that we should all be wicked ifwe did not hold to the Christian religion seems to me that the peoplewho have held to it have been for the most part extremely wicked." Iagree with him in the sense that some people claim to be truebelievers in God and attend mass on a regurlar basis and claim tolive a moral, honest and religious life, but yet talk behind peoplesbacks, or are living in sin. If that is the case than why would theyconsider themselves to Christian? Is it because they do live withGod's presence or is it because it such sounds nice for others tohear? I honestly do not understand why some people would considerthemselves Christians if it is only going to last for an hour once aweek. I've questioned this topic many times and yet to this date Ihave not arrived to a rational conclusion. No harm intended, but thereason why I question this is because I know many people who claimthat they are devoted to their religion and yet are committingadultery and still swear that they are faithful Christians and do notlive in sin....should this be blamed on religion or is it cause somepeople do not get the concept of what religion really means?