jimwalton wrote:This is an excellent explanation as to why God doesn't make Himself more obvious to people. If God were right in everyone's face, then aren't we being manipulated and interfering with our free will?

This is something I often think about too. I hear many atheists and skeptics say 'why isnt there more proof?' or 'why doesnt God like come down every few years to show us all he is real?' Doing so would make the idea of free will and decision to follow him out of love pointless. We would all only follow for the sake of getting to heaven in the afterlife not because we see value in God or a relationship with him. I don't think it would truly change anyone.

> Is there any use for religion if I don't want to go anywhere after I die?

That choice may not be a possible one. If an afterlife is the truth, then it's not our choice not to have one. In that case it might be like you saying, "Well, I don't want to live in a 3-dimensional world." Um, that's not your call.

> I've also heard it being described as being so great that you wouldn't want to choose anything other then God when you see it. But is that really part of free will and choice then if I'm manipulated to love it so much?

This is an excellent explanation as to why God doesn't make Himself more obvious to people. If God were right in everyone's face, then aren't we being manipulated and interfering with our free will?

Is there any use for religion if I don't want to go anywhere after I die?

Even if there was a God when I die and he offered me great things I would rather choose to not exist after I die.

I've also heard it being described as being so great that you wouldn't want to choose anything other then God when you see it. But is that really part of free will and choice then if I'm manipulated to love it so much? I would rather it be I come up there and say "why did we suffer so much?" He explains it to me and I'd be like "ok, thank you, now you can let it be black forever."