How Did You Replace God?

[Buttercup]

It is even further shortened when a French accent is applied to it. The word then becomes, "Bmp" as in "I have a bmp on my 'ead." (Peter Seller's fan's will hopefully understand, lol.)

What I don't get is that you can enter one smiley as a response and that's not too short. Maybe the system is just scared of four letter words.

 

[yossarian22]

Hmm, good question. I never really believed in god to begin with as my parents were not very religious people.
I do note that a very high number of atheists I know have simply replaced their previous religion with an almost fanatical environmentalism though.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

Since leaving Christianity totally within the last year I've been asked several times what secular belief system replaced my belief in God. I have no answers other than to say.....I'm searching but haven't gathered up enough information to form a definitive opinion yet.

If you were once a theist and left behind your belief in a Supreme Being, what replaced God? Please be as specific as possible.

Yea...what Willamena said...Just Be.....

and use your "Common Sense"

 

[Dirty Penguin]

Chocolate?

hmmmmm....chocolate...:drool:

 

[Smoke]

Certainly not in all cases. You over-generalize. If by "deluded Self" you mean a person who identifies their thoughts and actions as those of God, then surely I would agree with you, but it is for this very reason we are taught that We are not God, no?

Whether it's your Self, your holy book, your prophet, or your leader, the practical difference is negligible.

 

[Moey]

Faith in a god is something you either have or don't. I don't see that there is a need to replace it with something.

 

[k445h]

it is very intresting,
i can prove to you that god does exist,

if i put a machine infront of you, (atheist) and i ask you, who made this machine, what would be your reply,

some may say, the creator, some may say the producer, what ever you say it will be somewhat similar,

now how can it be possible that the earth and all other glaxies humankind i mean evrything was created just like that, surly is has a creator, the Only one, Allah (swt)

now some may say that who created God,

if i ask you, my Freind JOHN gave birth to a child, guess if it was a girl or a boy? can You guess?

you would say JOHN is a man, he can not give birth to a child, it is basiccaly an illogical question,

so therefore the question " who created God" is illogical

today science has proved that what qur'an has said 1400 years ago, science has proved that 80% right, and the rest 20 % science has not advance to a level that it can prove it wrong or right,

but if you have any questions please feel free to ask you can also email me your questions,
my email is; [email protected]

Allah (swt) says in qur'an every human bieng is resposible for his own deeds, so therefore we should do research on the religion we follow ask questions to big scholars,
and in islam there is nothing illogical,

 

[Moey]

I think you missed the point of the thread...

 

[Yerda]

I do note that a very high number of atheists I know have simply replaced their previous religion with an almost fanatical environmentalism though.

Really? I haven't noticed this.

 

[Yerda]

If you were once a theist and left behind your belief in a Supreme Being, what replaced God? Please be as specific as possible.

What is it that you think needs replacing, Buttercup? Definitions of emotive and ethical words? Purpose?

 

[eudaimonia]

I do note that a very high number of atheists I know have simply replaced their previous religion with an almost fanatical environmentalism though.

I have noticed this sort of thing. Environmentalism is a growing religion, of sorts.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Buttercup]

What is it that you think needs replacing, Buttercup? Definitions of emotive and ethical words? Purpose?

Read the thread to find your answer.

 

[Yerda]

Read the thread to find your answer.

OK.

Regarding this type of issue:

I'm not sure there is a "need" to replace God...it's more a natural process to replace your theist beliefs with something else. Your mind doesn't go blank where it once held thoughts of God, you come to other conclusions (or fluxing theories) concerning the origins of life, your place here on earth, an afterlife, (or not) evolution, etc. And, I don't think one necessarily has "an ending" to this new found belief system. When natural universal discoveries emerge or your spiritual needs change, so does your belief system....to a minute degree. Obviously this varies from person to person.

I'm not sure I could offer you much in the way of advice. I was really young when I believed in God, so I don't really remember.

I find that many things about my views often change and that from time to time reading certain things shows me the gaping holes pervasive in my concepts and beliefs. The uncertainty is somewhat reasurring because it keeps me guessing and stops me from making the complete transfromation (I say complete, because the partial transformation is undeniable) into an obnoxious, self-assured eejit.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

When you accept divine authority, you don't really have divine authority, just a deluded Self with an exaggerated sense of its own authority.

I agree. :yes:




Peace,
Mystic

 

[Buttercup]

OK.
I find that many things about my views often change and that from time to time reading certain things shows me the gaping holes pervasive in my concepts and beliefs. The uncertainty is somewhat reasurring because it keeps me guessing and stops me from making the complete transfromation (I say complete, because the partial transformation is undeniable) into an obnoxious, self-assured eejit.

These thoughts you express are exactly what I'm finding exciting and refreshing...you have no idea! When you've been a "trapped theist" for soooo long, all this newfound intellectual freedom is really something to look forward to. Before, I was stuck in theological dogma/doctrine. If a discovery, thought process or choice came before me that did not jive with my stagnant theistic beliefs, I chucked it without much further thought. This is why I often confess my embarrassment at taking too long to "see the light" and leave Christianity behind.

Thanks for your insights, Scott. You did help.

 

[Yerda]

These thoughts you express are exactly what I'm finding exciting and refreshing...you have no idea! When you've been a "trapped theist" for soooo long, all this newfound intellectual freedom is really something to look forward to. Before, I was stuck in theological dogma/doctrine. If a discovery, thought process or choice came before me that did not jive with my stagnant theistic beliefs, I chucked it without much further thought. This is why I often confess my embarrassment at taking too long to "see the light" and leave Christianity behind.

Thanks for your insights, Scott. You did help.

No bother. I'm very glad I could help, and I wish you well with wherever this intellectual freedom takes you.

 

[McBell]

If you were once a theist and left behind your belief in a Supreme Being, what replaced God? Please be as specific as possible.

I gave up Christianity, not theology.
So technically, I cannot answer your question...

 

[robtex]

Rhonda how is your husband taking this? Also, I am assuming you no longer go to church---have you looked into non-religious community service or social groups? Also, and if you aren't sure that is fine, but out of my curiosity, are you an agnostic at this point or an atheist?

If you are a non-theist and you have a interest in humanity, than I guess on a surface level, you take the stock you once put in God and re-invest it in the humanities stock. The things you pawned off to God to "fix" are now humanities issues and your personal issues. The things you prayed for to be "fixed" you now explore for avenues to fix.

The ideas accepted as metaphysical truths can now be question and qualified in non-metaphysical terms or reject on non-metaphysical terms.

If you kept a diary for God, it is now a diary for yourself. In short, take all the stock you once put in God, out of the God stock and re-deposit it into the humanism or humanity stock. You will certainly get a better return on your investment, and you will see that quickly irregardless of what you are pulling out of one pool and dump into another.

 

[autonomous1one1]

Greetings Buttercup. A great thread and so many posters taking what I would call brave steps in life. It seems that many of you have become free of 'encumbrances' and are ready to move into new things (imo). My own path was not so brave in 'sharp discards' but went through similar phases that many here seem to be going through.

I was born into a Christian family and faith with a Grandfather who was a Methodist minister. This kept me an active church participant (Sunday, choir, youth groups, Sunday school, activities for others, you name it) through high school. Thereafter, my course drifted away not because of any conscious decision but because of energy demands of college and graduate school.

In my 20's I woke up as an agnostic without specific beliefs - a free bird like many of you. There was a strong drive for understanding much as Stephen expressed and I too read intensively - read, contemplate, and meditate. Understanding how statements like - the Kingdom of God is within you (Jesus), those who know themselves know their Lord (Mohammad), subject and object merge to one (Plotinus), and the being realizes identity with the Source of all being (a description of Enlightenment) and many more including writings from Meister Eckhart, the Over-Soul of Emerson, and Spinoza - could be made by humans was the quest. A breakthrough experience of Oneness came at 28 and offered understanding from a new state of being with a whole new ecstatic perspective on life and God at the center. There is more after that but that is the most important key to where I am at now.

The experience of Oneness does not come with words but I believe that the writings of Paul Tillich are consistent with what I experienced and give me words sometimes.

 

[Buttercup]

Rhonda how is your husband taking this?

When I first started talking to Rick about my growing disbelief in God, it made him nervous and we actually fought over the subject a couple of times. He isn't very spiritually minded or inclined to discuss such subjects so the idea of me giving God the edge of my boot, shook him up I think. After discussing the subject further we finally got to the bottom of his anger/hostility and realized his reaction was part insecurity wondering if I was going to change (and perhaps chuck him too) and I think he wondered if I expected him to follow suit. Now that some time has passed, he's fine with my beliefs as he sees not much has changed between us.

Also, I am assuming you no longer go to church---have you looked into non-religious community service or social groups?

I'm not interested in attending any type of church service at this point....the thought sounds incredibly boring. Of course you may know this because I've mentioned it before...my youngest son who graduates from high school this next spring wants to be a youth pastor. haha! I'm helping him decide which Christian university to go to.

Also, and if you aren't sure that is fine, but out of my curiosity, are you an agnostic at this point or an atheist?

Definitely agnostic. I still have my eyes wide open for evidence of God.

If you are a non-theist and you have a interest in humanity, than I guess on a surface level, you take the stock you once put in God and re-invest it in the humanities stock. The things you pawned off to God to "fix" are now humanities issues and your personal issues. The things you prayed for to be "fixed" you now explore for avenues to fix.

I'm not sure how other former theists handle this situation and I'd like to hear about their experiences.....I often have a profound sense of gratitude for my life and how fortunate I am. I feel a need to express to "something" my thankfulness. Consequently, out of habit, I still thank God. Not sure if that will ever change....

If you kept a diary for God, it is now a diary for yourself. In short, take all the stock you once put in God, out of the God stock and re-deposit it into the humanism or humanity stock. You will certainly get a better return on your investment, and you will see that quickly irregardless of what you are pulling out of one pool and dump into another.

This is all very true. And, if there ends up being a God in the end, I'm sure "He" would agree with your comments.

Thanks for your input, Rob.