Reply to Question for atheists: What governs how you live your life?

Forum Index » Religion

Reply to "Question for atheists: What governs how you live your life?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Do you feel every person who has claimed to have a life after death/near death experience or to have seen a spirit is not telling the truth? I do mean this as a serious question. I wonder about this especially when a loved one dies. I think many of us hold on to religion because we don't want to be separated from those we love most.[/quote]

I understand this fear, having lost some of my most important loved ones. But personally, it compels me to make the most of this life with those loved ones, because I believe this is all there is. This is where it counts. This is where it matters. Once it's done, it's done. There are no do-overs.

Yes, I believe those who have seen "spirits" or had a "near death experience" are either not being truthful, or are misunderstanding the chemistry of their own brains. There are studies that report a massive hormone surge as the brain dies - it's like the body's natural shutdown mechanism, to make death more bearable and pain-free. The surge of things like serotonin makes the mind do strange things, even see strange things, but it's all within our own minds. It's amazing how people's "near death experiences" reports are all conditioned to their own culture and belief system - but it make sense, because they exist only insofar as their own brain hormones condition their [/quote]

Thank you for your answer. I feel like you do many days. Other days I can not let go of a belief in a God or higher power because of the sadness I feel thinking that this may be it. It is a daily struggle some days. I am envious of people who can walk away from religion or 
who fully believe.[/quote]

So right after I posted my thoughts on my struggle with religion I got in the car and turned on the radio. What song do you think started playing? 
Imagine- by John Lennon- first time I really "heard" the words
A sign from the universe?[/quote][/quote]

Beautiful song.

Truthfully as an atheist, I don't really care what others believe in their personal heart of hearts - just that they understand that their personal religion is not the burden of everyone else. You do what you want, and let others be.

I was raised in a moderately religious household - practicing, but not conservative. I didn't admit that I didn't believe in any of it, until I took some comparative religion courses in college. It was a process - from Specific Religion, to overall Deist, and then atheist. The Deism phase didn't last long, because I couldn't figure out which god to believe in - there are so many different characteristics across history - which ones are the right ones? I eventually surrendered to the fact that is just didn't make any sense to me.

That isn't to say that I understand the purpose religion has filled in a lot of people - it's kind of like a security blanket (I still have my childhood security blanket FYI). It can comfort you and make you feel safe. It can be scary to let go, but you figure out that you can survive just fine without that security blanket. I find comfort in my own control over my life. I feel safe knowing I'm in the driver's seat. I may not always know where I'm going, but there's a lot of beauty on the way. And bumps and wrong turns too, but it's ok. I'll find my way.

I'm not an atheist because I'm angry or bitter - the religious upbringing was not traumatic, and was fairly tolerant. I'm an atheist because logically, rationally, religion (which religion?) and god (which god?) just don't make any sense to me. When I finally admitted those things to myself, I felt so free. I felt open, confident, and in charge of myself. I really felt an overwhelming sense of peace.

I also know what kind of person I am - I'm kind, charitable, incredibly giving. I'm patient and tolerant, and I don't take this life for granted. When I die I may just be plant food, but it really doesn't bother me. We've all gotta go sometime, and new little people will be born as the cycle repeats. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics