I've determined that I'm just not a religious person (church, atheist, quote)
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The following are religious mindsets that I can't identify with.
(1) Belief that life in this world is a miserable existence laden with sin; subsequent hope to depart from the world and see it destroyed.
I've never understood that. Personally, I enjoy life. If I didn't, I would off myself. Life has challenges, but I enjoy overcoming them, enjoy figuring out the ways to have a happy existence. Which brings me point (2).
(2) Belief that there's some void in my heart that is keeping me from being content.
Not at all. I'm able to find contentness through:
Exercising my realized talents
Socializing with friends
Expanding my knowledge base
Setting goals and vigorously pursuing them
(3) Fear of death.
I've never understood this. For me, the idea of my consciousness eventually shutting off is not scary.
(4) Desire to have a special purpose on earth.
Again, this is something I don't understand. I like the idea that I'm not part of some divine plan. I'm just here and I don't feel any urge to discover a "why." Whether it was the universe itself or some mind behind the universe that put me here, it gave me impulses to follow. It feels natural to follow my impulses. So that's what I do.
(5) Feeling that I need to be relieved of a burden of guilt.
I'm incapable of feeling guilt in the religious sense because I don't believe there's some divine rulemaker who is offended by my actions. I feel a sort of personal guilt, but that's more accurately termed a regret of having done something that wasn't ultimately conducive to my happiness. For instance, when I binge-eat ice cream, I feel guilty afterwards, which is nothing more than a feeling that I wish I hadn't eaten so many calories. It's the same thing when I feel guilty about doing something to someone. I feel I wish I hadn't done that because now the person has a bad impression of me and I've violated some sort of social contract. Since I know these are just natural, evolutionary feelings, I don't dwell on them; I quickly drop them and get on with life. I've never understood why people feel the need to go to church and confess their sins and be assured that they've been forgiven. It's just weird to me.
Last edited by DeathGreetsMeWarm; 01-22-2014 at 01:22 AM..
Count your blessings. I spent a couple of decades prying such notions out of my head with a crowbar. If I could have subscribed to all 5 of your principles out the chute I would have been that much further ahead in life. As it is, I agree with them all now, at least.
I think that (4) is a particularly revealing line item in the evangelical zeitgeist. For the fundamentalist, "it's all about me" and how special I am, how much god loves me, the epic plan by which he saved me, and the "wonderful plan" he has for my life. Me, mine, my, I. I was so accustomed to thinking of myself and my life in such grandiose terms that it was a tremendous letdown to discover that I in fact had no special "in" with the Master of the Universe. The good news is, I don't NEED any such thing. I don't need to be in a starring role in a cosmic passion play about god's special plans for me, myself and I. In fact it's quite a relief NOT to be having to live up to such twaddle (or to reconcile the ways in which my life did NOT line up with such notions). Life is pretty interesting in its own right. It is what it is.
I never understood why people that openly say they are not religious.....then go and post on religious message boards. I certainly don't mean to suggest you CAN'T or don't have a right to do so...but I don't understand WHY you'd want to.
My only conclusion is that you have an inner desire for us to answer your questions and try to convince you. Is that it?
Atheists are a slim minority in the United States. Assuming that is where the OP is from it is quite possible that the OP would simply like to voice their opinion and discuss those views with like-minded people. And Vizio, I didn't see that the OP asked any questions that they want to be answered….
I'm sorry someone put these ridiculous things in your head.
I'm sorry it happened to mordant, also.
Sigh, religions teach not only nonsense, but harmful things.
I never understood why people that openly say they are not religious.....then go and post on religious message boards. I certainly don't mean to suggest you CAN'T or don't have a right to do so...but I don't understand WHY you'd want to.
My only conclusion is that you have an inner desire for us to answer your questions and try to convince you. Is that it?
Here's an idea! Let him answer before you reach your conclusion. Unless you've turned psychic in which case you could supplement your income and do quite well with socking something away for your old age. (Two words: municipal bonds.)
Though I think you ask question after question, while avoiding giving answers, because you aren't convinced you're on the right track. So maybe you're on to something.
Last edited by DewDropInn; 01-23-2014 at 07:43 PM..
Re a comment above.
I am not religious AT ALL...not even about brushing my teeth.
But, I am spiritual, as in I am spirit, I am soul. ( I don't have a soul.)
So that would be why I personally post here, not that anyone asked.
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