Sense of Purpose and Security Without Religion?

[Naama]

Is this your profession or profession-to-be?

Hopefully!

 

[Revoltingest]

Hopefully!

There's something to focus upon.
Woo hoo!
You have your place in the world.
And you get to change your mind if ever desired.

 

[LukeS]

I really like the effort you put into this, I really do.....but why do you think that I believe that?

No idea am a poor psychologist. My guess is either you re being *****y or you want to send me photographs.

 

[LuisDantas]

@Naama , I know that it can be difficult to feel secure without the agreement of the people around us and the certainity that has been taught us, even if it does not make much logical sense in our own heads.

It can be done, though, and you will be far better off for that.

Here is hoping that you learn to overcome your fears. You deserve to.

 

[LukeS]

Or... wait, its just a polite way of expressing disbelief.

 

[Mock Turtle]

No idea am a poor psychologist. My guess is either you re being *****y or you want to send me photographs.

Are you currently self-diagnosing anything?

 

[Mock Turtle]

I suspect that it requires courage, an open mind, and the willingness to accept doubt in many areas, to do without religion. (That's me , folks! ) The main thing that sustains me is the concept of freedom and the ability to ascribe meaning, to our lives and to others, such that overall what it gives to humanity is more hope than any religion might provide, simply because the answers they appear to have usually just shut down any or all possibilities for our futures - the end time, H and H, etc, - all based in speculation as far as I'm concerned. So for me, the endless possibilities for future human life - hopefully for the better and for all life - would be better off without all religions. I have no problem with a consensus view on morality coming to fruition, for example, because essentially we are at such a state if we discard the various interfering religious dogmas. A sense of purpose thus envisioned would be necessarily personal but is this so difficult to achieve and would it necessarily lead to anarchy?

To add to this, I don't know if religion actually gives a better sense of security or purpose than anything else. I think that many of our problems arise from too much thinking, which was certainly what happened in my case. Long since past and this is just an automaton writing this. What kind of purpose does religion actually give many? After all, there is an abundance of different religions so as to make many purposes seem the right choice - or perhaps the default - no religion.

My life meandered with no apparent purpose other than in the direct moment - doing that which I had set as a target - and invariably I did gain from whatever I have achieved (refers to journal here for evidence, your honour). I tried to just be the best that I could in my life (often failed) and to appreciate all those who I luckily made as friends. My security partly came from my friends, with trouble brewing when I lost many, but mainly it came from an inherent self-belief in myself and my abilities. The former I suspect came from a very loving and capable mother. What could religion have ever given me - a sense of purpose to do what exactly?

I do know one thing - I can recognise those contributing to the overall wealth of humanity from the others - whatever they tend to believe.

 

[shunyadragon]

....thinking there is makes me feel better.....

The goal is not to feel better with the comfort of the belief that there is nor is not a purpose of life and the nature of our existence, because the bottom line is that is is simply the way that IT is.

 

[LukeS]

Are you currently self-diagnosing anything?

No sorry tho, I oughnt be rude.

 

[LukeS]

I just see it that we are free to create our own purpose. Understand who you are, what makes you happy and pursue that.

I like helping people. I like enjoying life with friends and family. So that pretty much makes up my purpose in life. Help folks, keep friends and family happy.

Sounds like "happiness" is the purpose then?

 

[LukeS]

Never mind. Peace.

 

[syo]

Is there a way to have a sense of purpose and security without religion?

religion is all about purpose and security. we gotta ask atheists, agnostics and irreligious, what they have for purpose and security, if they have any.

 

[Mock Turtle]

religion is all about purpose and security. we gotta ask atheists, agnostics and irreligious, what they have for purpose and security, if they have any.

For me (as basically an agnostic), security comes from an inner self-belief and doesn't rely on external things or overall beliefs. It comes from an open approach to life and acceptance of much (almost wrote mush there ), and basically it is down to having a strong personality that can survive the many problems strewn in our paths. If we overcome many then we usually become more secure. As to purpose, this is a little more tricky. I can't see any overall purpose other than living the best life one can, and often we are just driven in some directions over others. That I seemingly had no purpose (long-term that is) might explain a lot but unfortunate circumstances in my youth tend to explain this better - as in trying to recover myself back to the person I should have been before being diverted. I'm not sure a sense of purpose really helps much anyway, particularly when it might just be in error. Having a belief that is actually wrong for example.

 

[Skwim]

religion is all about purpose and security. we gotta ask atheists, agnostics and irreligious, what they have for purpose and security, if they have any.

My guess is that the vast majority have no need for the "purpose and security" that's fulfilled by religious faith. I certainly don't.

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