Doubt?

[DarkMaster24]

ChristineES; I was once a Protestant, but once I got older and subjected my faith to scrutiny, it no longer made sense to me, and it definatly didn't give me the answers to life's most perplexing questions. So once I started looking at why there is no god, I gave up my faith, and became an Atheist. Allthough, I've once mildly doubted my disbelief in god, for the mst part I've been strongly convinced there is no god. I just don't see a reason or need for such a being.

The reason why Theists become Atheists is that those former Theists have become unhappy with their faith, and thus they begin to scrutinize it, and when they concider the evidence, they find better answers in science, and lakc of religious belief.

I'm not saying you haven't done that, for I'm sure you have, but that's what I've wread, though I can't remember where and am unable to find my source.

 

[Inky]

I've had a couple very short moments. The first was the day after I stopped believing in God; I stubbed my toe badly and my first thought was that God was punishing me for being an atheist. I know that's contradictory, but I think you'll get what I mean. : ) Religion was a great comfort to me at certain times in my past, so there have been a few times when I felt like it would be nicer to believe again and I could do it without much effort. But it's never stuck.

 

[Sententia]

I think an eternal sense of doubt and questioning and driving skeptism motivates me... If anything I have fleeting moments of faith where I thought I knew something...

 

[Charity]

There are times when a man/woman of faith will go through periods of doubt. I think it is a normal thing for any person of faith to have some lapses into doubt. I am wondering if the same thing happens to atheists- Do they (you) go through brief periods of the opposite of doubt? Is there a time when you briefly, for a moment to up to a week believe that maybe there is a God? I would like to hear about it if you do, not for any reason except it would be interesting to read. :candle:

I think every believer goes through periods of doubt at some time or another. That's why walking by faith is difficult. If we knew all the answers then we wouldn't depend on God and use our faith.
Maybe even Jesus had doubt.....when on the cross He said "Father why has thy forsaken me?"........

 

[Sunstone]

There are times when a man/woman of faith will go through periods of doubt. I think it is a normal thing for any person of faith to have some lapses into doubt. I am wondering if the same thing happens to atheists- Do they (you) go through brief periods of the opposite of doubt? Is there a time when you briefly, for a moment to up to a week believe that maybe there is a God? I would like to hear about it if you do, not for any reason except it would be interesting to read. :candle:

I almost always think there's some small chance of deity. In other words, deity cannot be entirely ruled out so far as I can see.

 

[DarkMaster24]

The chance of a deity to me is so minut that I don't even worry about it. And it's virtually impossible that it's the Christian god. The Christian is left with the burden of not only providing evidance for god, but for their specific god. Which is impossible.

 

[Understand]

I was raised in a very religious household and for the longest time believed in a deity and even now when I talk with them about religion there are some doubts arising about my current views but as I look at my view now and the papers written on it. there has been nothing to really shake my views except old habits

 

[Smoke]

I am wondering if the same thing happens to atheists- Do they (you) go through brief periods of the opposite of doubt? Is there a time when you briefly, for a moment to up to a week believe that maybe there is a God? I would like to hear about it if you do, not for any reason except it would be interesting to read. :candle:

Not really, but I had a moment that gave me pause. When we went to Niagara Falls, I had been an atheist for less than a year. We were on the boat going toward the Canadian Falls, plunging into the mist and surrounded by the roar of the falls, and in an moment of awe and joy and wonder I caught myself saying, "Doxa soi, o theos emon, doxa soi!" ("Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee!")

I thought that was kind of freaky, because it just sort of slipped out, and then I had to think about whether I still believed in god or not. But I wasn't wondering about the existence of god so much as the state of my own mind. I came to the conclusion it was just a natural way for me to express what I was feeling, given my background.

I've made peace with my atheism plus Orthodox leanings now. I still say my prayers sometimes, not because I think anybody is listening, but because it pleases me to do so. I like the sound and rhythm of the Greek, and it's pleasantly nostalgic.

 

[Caladan]

There are times when a man/woman of faith will go through periods of doubt.

these periods are a great opportunity to reevaluate one's beliefs and see if they are helpful and self promoting.

I think it is a normal thing for any person of faith to have some lapses into doubt.

One should ask.. why is it normal? maybe because believing fantastic things to be reality is abnormal.

I am wondering if the same thing happens to atheists- Do they (you) go through brief periods of the opposite of doubt? Is there a time when you briefly, for a moment to up to a week believe that maybe there is a God? I would like to hear about it if you do, not for any reason except it would be interesting to read. :candle:

I always go back to square one. life is natural without a deity. ever since I was a kid, life without a God spelled natural, sane and free for me.
If there is a 'divine' force behind reality and the universe, my beliefs are of no importance, im sure that force is much more interested in my intellect and character.

 

[Caladan]

Well I have my doubts as to whether any Atheist falling from a plane at 20,000ft, would not say one little prayer before they are splatterd over the face of the earth. But that's only my opinion.

Im fairly sure I would say 'oh crap'.

 

[Alceste]

Im fairly sure I would say 'oh crap'.

I actually did jump out of a plane once (only 3000 feet). No religious contemplation entered my mind at all, let alone an urge to appeal to a deity I've never believed in. I was taught in the half-day preparatory course that when you jump, you're supposed to say "one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three one-thousand CHECK one thousand, CHECK CANOPY!" They went over it again and again and again and I was like "Come ON - that's so not hard to remember! I've got it, already!" Then when the moment came I jumped out of the plane and went "One one-thous... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Hoooooollllllllllyyyyyyyyy [eeeexxxxxpppllleeeetttiiiiiivvveee]... canopy!"

Nothing about god.

 

[Caladan]

I actually did jump out of a plane once (only 3000 feet). No religious contemplation entered my mind at all, let alone an urge to appeal to a deity I've never believed in. I was taught in the half-day preparatory course that when you jump, you're supposed to say "one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three one-thousand CHECK one thousand, CHECK CANOPY!" They went over it again and again and again and I was like "Come ON - that's so not hard to remember! I've got it, already!" Then when the moment came I jumped out of the plane and went "One one-thous... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Hoooooollllllllllyyyyyyyyy [eeeexxxxxpppllleeeetttiiiiiivvveee]... canopy!"

Nothing about god.

Haha classic.

 

[Beaudreaux]

There are times when a man/woman of faith will go through periods of doubt. I think it is a normal thing for any person of faith to have some lapses into doubt. I am wondering if the same thing happens to atheists- Do they (you) go through brief periods of the opposite of doubt? Is there a time when you briefly, for a moment to up to a week believe that maybe there is a God? I would like to hear about it if you do, not for any reason except it would be interesting to read. :candle:

Can't speak for everyone else, but I sometimes consider that I might be completely wrong, sure. What kind of worldview would I have if I never considered other possibilities? It would be rigid and unlistening. One of the first things I learned while studying philosophy is that if you're going to take the first step on this journey, you must lay your most preciously held beliefs on the chopping block and be ready to abandon them if you discover something that makes more sense/resonates with you. It is a difficult thing to do and I believe the vast majority of humanity will never get there. There are even people on RF who have NO intention of considering other possibilites. They appear to be here to teach the rest of us a lesson and dig their heels WAY in if their arguments fail.

Sorry for the rant. Anyway, yes, I sometimes have doubt about atheism, but it is emotional and fleeting.

 

[Beaudreaux]

I actually did jump out of a plane once (only 3000 feet). No religious contemplation entered my mind at all, let alone an urge to appeal to a deity I've never believed in. I was taught in the half-day preparatory course that when you jump, you're supposed to say "one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three one-thousand CHECK one thousand, CHECK CANOPY!" They went over it again and again and again and I was like "Come ON - that's so not hard to remember! I've got it, already!" Then when the moment came I jumped out of the plane and went "One one-thous... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Hoooooollllllllllyyyyyyyyy [eeeexxxxxpppllleeeetttiiiiiivvveee]... canopy!"

Nothing about god.

This is kind of off the subject, but does anyone know why jumpers scream "Geronimo" when they jump out of planes?

 

[Alceste]

There are times when a man/woman of faith will go through periods of doubt. I think it is a normal thing for any person of faith to have some lapses into doubt. I am wondering if the same thing happens to atheists- Do they (you) go through brief periods of the opposite of doubt? Is there a time when you briefly, for a moment to up to a week believe that maybe there is a God? I would like to hear about it if you do, not for any reason except it would be interesting to read. :candle:

For me, it's the opposite. I occasionally have periods of certainty, which (to an apophatic mystic) are essentially a "crisis of faith". The quote below sums up how these uncomfortable periods of certainty are usually resolved.

"One day my mind stuttered and then froze. And suddenly the reality it had created completely shattered. I no longer knew anything, but now everything made sense."
Carla Ansantina

 

[Willamena]

This is kind of off the subject, but does anyone know why jumpers scream "Geronimo" when they jump out of planes?

It's because people in the movies emulate real life. :yes:

 

[Scarlett Wampus]

Atheists can benefit from doubt. Theists can benefit from doubt. Agnostics can benefit from doubt. It won't hurt anything. The Tao is basically utterly open. For psychonauts it's the door. For apophatics too (as if there wasn't crossover).

Zen master Hakuin said that "At the bottom of great doubt lies great awakening. If you doubt fully, you will awaken fully". What would make him say this? Are you curious?

 

[Alceste]

Atheists can benefit from doubt. Theists can benefit from doubt. Agnostics can benefit from doubt. It won't hurt anything. The Tao is basically utterly open. For psychonauts it's the door. For apophatics too (as if there wasn't crossover).

Zen master Hakuin said that "At the bottom of great doubt lies great awakening. If you doubt fully, you will awaken fully". What would make him say this? Are you curious?

You're so cool.

* smooch *

 

[Scarlett Wampus]

You're so cool.

* smooch *

uh. :hearts:

 

[invisible chzbrgr]

It's a good question, thanks for posting.

I think a good way to live is with doubt a little bit here and there - not all the time, or else we'd be crippled into inaction. Positive certainty closes your mind to any new information.

I sometimes wonder how people can be so certain about faith, which by definition is a belief held without evidence. The religion meme is so powerful that it occasionally makes me think there is something wrong with me that I cannot have that certainty too.

I don't really ever think "what if there is a god?" unless it's shortly followed by "if there is, there's a whole darn lot of stuff that makes no sense, you make no sense, god, you must not exist."

But I was brought up with no strong belief system. My husband on the other hand, he was brought up baptist and occasionally he'll get "flashes" of things he learned from the bible, and momentarily have doubts about his path. These are the scary kinds of doubts, because if you've been brought up with the real possibility of hell, it's hard to shake that.