Atheism

[PoetPhilosopher]

I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, but these past couple of years, I've slightly changed and improved on some of my ideas, I feel. And tried to become more a critical thinker. These past couple of days, I've been playing a lot of this video game which I find a little relaxing, and while I've played, I've been thinking hard about life. And it made me realize that I want to try life without magic thinking - no gods, no magic, no spirit world, and probably no aliens since I feel there either isn't evidence for them, or the evidence doesn't hold up.

I realize I have embraced religious thinking a lot these past two or three weeks, so it may come as a surprise that today, I was trying to try thinking without any of the 'magical thinking' (and so far, it has been going well for me), but I think my greater push towards religion and magical thinking was just that - it was a push-back to a more logical form of thinking getting under my skin, and it was my response to being afraid of something a bit "new". But now, I've gotten over that fear.

So I realize if I do eventually identify with atheism, if this way of thinking does work out for me..... that I feel it's not going to be easy, because it involves scrutinizing evidence, fact-finding, and really putting in the work and effort (in my opinion), so to speak. But I feel I'm getting closer and closer to being ready for such a thing, should I pursue it.

 

[fantome profane]

I wish you luck on your journey wherever it leads.







(This is not to be interpreted as an endorsement of any superstitious belief that wishing someone luck has any effect. )

 

[John53]

I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, but these past couple of years, I've slightly changed and improved on some of my ideas, I feel. And tried to become more a critical thinker. These past couple of days, I've been playing a lot of this video game which I find a little relaxing, and while I've played, I've been thinking hard about life. And it made me realize that I want to try life without magic thinking - no gods, no magic, no spirit world, and probably no aliens since I feel there either isn't evidence for them, or the evidence doesn't hold up.

I realize I have embraced religious thinking a lot these past two or three weeks, so it may come as a surprise that today, I was trying to try thinking without any of the 'magical thinking' (and so far, it has been going well for me), but I think my greater push towards religion and magical thinking was just that - it was a push-back to a more logical form of thinking getting under my skin, and it was my response to being afraid of something a bit "new". But now, I've gotten over that fear.

So I realize if I do eventually identify with atheism, if this way of thinking does work out for me..... that I feel it's not going to be easy, because it involves scrutinizing evidence, fact-finding, and really putting in the work and effort (in my opinion), so to speak. But I feel I'm getting closer and closer to being ready for such a thing, should I pursue it.

Just be you. I don't care what beliefs someone has unless they try to force me to believe what they believe with threats of eternal punishment if I don't. You're certainly not guilty of doing that.

 

[Subduction Zone]

You are welcome to become an atheist and you are welcomed to leave if that is the case. There are no laws on "apostasy" here.

 

[ChristineM]

should I pursue it.

The choice is yours.

I think you will find it very difficult to find any evidence for atheism, that's the whole point, lack of evidence for god(s).

 

[George-ananda]

Just want to say the spiritual/super-natural can be logical too just in a grander understanding of the universe.

 

[Orbit]

If you were Christian, I'd like to suggest Bart Ehrman (secular Bible scholar), whose books really put things in perspective for me (that the Bible is not infallable, inerrant).

 

[Twilight Hue]

I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, but these past couple of years, I've slightly changed and improved on some of my ideas, I feel. And tried to become more a critical thinker. These past couple of days, I've been playing a lot of this video game which I find a little relaxing, and while I've played, I've been thinking hard about life. And it made me realize that I want to try life without magic thinking - no gods, no magic, no spirit world, and probably no aliens since I feel there either isn't evidence for them, or the evidence doesn't hold up.

I realize I have embraced religious thinking a lot these past two or three weeks, so it may come as a surprise that today, I was trying to try thinking without any of the 'magical thinking' (and so far, it has been going well for me), but I think my greater push towards religion and magical thinking was just that - it was a push-back to a more logical form of thinking getting under my skin, and it was my response to being afraid of something a bit "new". But now, I've gotten over that fear.

So I realize if I do eventually identify with atheism, if this way of thinking does work out for me..... that I feel it's not going to be easy, because it involves scrutinizing evidence, fact-finding, and really putting in the work and effort (in my opinion), so to speak. But I feel I'm getting closer and closer to being ready for such a thing, should I pursue it.

I regard atheism as the time at the start of life before any type of theism was pitched by someone later on.

For me, I see atheism as being 'home' as one without gods, which is a very natural disposition.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, but these past couple of years, I've slightly changed and improved on some of my ideas, I feel. And tried to become more a critical thinker. These past couple of days, I've been playing a lot of this video game which I find a little relaxing, and while I've played, I've been thinking hard about life. And it made me realize that I want to try life without magic thinking - no gods, no magic, no spirit world, and probably no aliens since I feel there either isn't evidence for them, or the evidence doesn't hold up.

I realize I have embraced religious thinking a lot these past two or three weeks, so it may come as a surprise that today, I was trying to try thinking without any of the 'magical thinking' (and so far, it has been going well for me), but I think my greater push towards religion and magical thinking was just that - it was a push-back to a more logical form of thinking getting under my skin, and it was my response to being afraid of something a bit "new". But now, I've gotten over that fear.

So I realize if I do eventually identify with atheism, if this way of thinking does work out for me..... that I feel it's not going to be easy, because it involves scrutinizing evidence, fact-finding, and really putting in the work and effort (in my opinion), so to speak. But I feel I'm getting closer and closer to being ready for such a thing, should I pursue it.

Critical thinking and religion aren't always mutually exclusive.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Critical thinking and religion aren't always mutually exclusive.

I'd say it depends. If I recall, early Christians may have in come cases, tried to adopt both.

But some practices, like Wicca, I find it difficult to incorporate both.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Just want to say the spiritual/super-natural can be logical too just in a grander understanding of the universe.

I think it could be too, but I think that I owe it to myself to apply a bit more scrutiny to things like ghosts, gods, etc in the name of intellectual honesty and critical thinking. I think there are weird, unlikely occurences which happen in the world sometimes, that might not be explained easily at all, but I think more things may have simple, easy explanations while we're looking at the most unlikely, too often. And possibly missing a few simple explanations in the process.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Just be you. I don't care what beliefs someone has unless they try to force me to believe what they believe with threats of eternal punishment if I don't. You're certainly not guilty of doing that.

Saying 'just be you' is a kind thing to say, but to me, implies a position of comfort and good times in which I can go back to a simpler time, and act that way.

But for me, I consider it more like, I'm in the process of building myself and my character.

I appreciate the kind words, though.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Saying 'just be you' is a kind thing to say, but to me, implies a position of comfort and good times in which I can go back to a simpler time, and act that way.

But for me, I consider it more like, I'm in the process of building myself and my character.

I appreciate the kind words, though.

One must learn who they want to be before they can be themselves, and learning who you want to be is a journey of its own.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I'd say it depends. If I recall, early Christians may have in come cases, tried to adopt both.

But some practices, like Wicca, I find it difficult to incorporate both.

I remember you dabbling in Hinduism. Do some research on Vedanta. Not implying it's for you, but I think you'll find evidence of my claim there. The philosophy is based upon critical thinking.

 

[John53]

Saying 'just be you' is a kind thing to say, but to me, implies a position of comfort and good times in which I can go back to a simpler time, and act that way.

But for me, I consider it more like, I'm in the process of building myself and my character.

I appreciate the kind words, though.

It can be whatever you want

 

[Rival]

If you were Christian, I'd like to suggest Bart Ehrman (secular Bible scholar), whose books really put things in perspective for me (that the Bible is not infallable, inerrant).

Not all Christians believe that about the Bible anyway. I've not come across much of that and I'm a Theology student. My Catholic boyfriend owns an Ehrman book.

 

[George-ananda]

I think it could be too, but I think that I owe it to myself to apply a bit more scrutiny to things like ghosts, gods, etc in the name of intellectual honesty and critical thinking. I think there are weird, unlikely occurences which happen in the world sometimes, that might not be explained easily at all, but I think more things may have simple, easy explanations while we're looking at the most unlikely, too often. And possibly missing a few simple explanations in the process.

I agree with your approach. I have applied it myself and came away believing many of the things in the Vedic (Hindu) and Theosophical wisdom traditions.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I agree with your approach. I have applied it myself and came away believing many of the things in the Vedic (Hindu) and Theosophical wisdom traditions.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Critical thinking may offer a useful toolkit to help you navigate your journey through life. But without intuition, imagination or inspiration, you may make progress along the ground, but you are unlikely ever to fly.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Critical thinking may offer a useful toolkit to help you navigate your journey through life. But without intuition, imagination or inspiration, you may make progress along the ground, but you are unlikely ever to fly.

Perhaps a good thing - erm, Icarus.