What does your religion or faith give you…

[Anonymous]

…that nothing else does, or can?

Or coming at a similar idea from a slightly different angle: when you imagine life without religion/faith, what does it look like, and how do you feel?

I guess the question could be applied to atheism, too, if atheism gives something that nothing else does or can.

Just kind of seeking, I guess, and this question feels essential to even know what it is I’m seeking.

[Anonymous]

Realness

[Anonymous]

Hope

[Anonymous]

Sixth sense, I can feel a deep spiritual connection during hiking in wooded areas without trying.
It’s not my religion or faith but using intuition.
This helps me live my life as a surfer, to harness the energy and to flow in the right direction without fighting the tide.

[Anonymous]

Discipline to be a good person, comfort in vulnerable times but mostly guilt of not meeting the standards and fear of God's wrath.

[Anonymous]

Peace in chaos.

[Anonymous]

It gives me hope and inner peace. It makes me a better person. I have more compassion for people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It gives me hope and inner peace. It makes me a better person. I have more compassion for people.

How does religion do that for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Discipline to be a good person, comfort in vulnerable times but mostly guilt of not meeting the standards and fear of God's wrath.

Are you saying that if you're not good, you're afraid God will smite you, and that's why you're religious - to keep God from hurting you?

[Anonymous]

Hope and it keeps me from despair. In a dire situation, what's the worst that happens? I die? Well, that would be OK in the end.

Plus, I've seen so many times where prayers were answered!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It gives me hope and inner peace. It makes me a better person. I have more compassion for people.

How do you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hope and it keeps me from despair. In a dire situation, what's the worst that happens? I die? Well, that would be OK in the end.

Plus, I've seen so many times where prayers were answered!

Have you ever seen times where prayers were not answered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sixth sense, I can feel a deep spiritual connection during hiking in wooded areas without trying.
It’s not my religion or faith but using intuition.
This helps me live my life as a surfer, to harness the energy and to flow in the right direction without fighting the tide.

Are you saying that it's not religion itself, but intuition that helps you live your life?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:…that nothing else does, or can?

Or coming at a similar idea from a slightly different angle: when you imagine life without religion/faith, what does it look like, and how do you feel?

I guess the question could be applied to atheism, too, if atheism gives something that nothing else does or can.

Just kind of seeking, I guess, and this question feels essential to even know what it is I’m seeking.

Regarding atheism, it provides awareness that the supernatural is not real and it allows for focusing on enjoying the one life that we're so lucky to have,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realness

OP. Thank you for this answer. That's a really interesting word. I am trying to understand, so if you're willing to answer: what about your faith makes things feel more real? Is it a sense of deeper truth in a world where so much feels manufactured or performative? Is it a deeper grounding in the real experience you are having, whatever that is? Is it a sense that you are somehow more real, more concrete as a result of your faith? What would be less real without your faith?

Again, thank you. No pressure to answer, but I am curious.