Original post by Emilia1320No, life believing in god can also be tormentive. Often while not tormentive life believing in god can be restrictive.
I was born to Christian family, and raised as one. Even at school Christianity was taught as truth to Christian students. I always questioned everything since age of 8 thou and by the age of 12 religion was behind me for good.
What happened before that? I was school bullied and my parents hurt me physically several times.
What I tought with brain of 8 year old? That god hates me to punished me like this, and while I avoided sinning I always tought god is punishing me and not pleased and I will end up in hell. It was tormentive time, to never feel alright, and always be afraid, when not peers or parents then imaginary cruel man.
At the age of 10 I heard about big bang, got interested and did a lot of reading on basic concepts of science and later, atheism. I didnt understand it all, but I understood enough to realize there was an alternative.
While I was still bullied and my parents were fighting and yelling it was whole lot easier to think that I am not responsible for their actions. (Ie. Its not gods plan to punish me). Since then my life has turned greatly better. So yes, believing is a loss in many cases. And what comes to hell... There is no evidence of it, so I feel pretty safe to take the change. Plus, I'd always choose raw truth over false comfort.