My Loss of faith has caused severe depression

[Foxaèr]

What one man considers righteous as per his moral code may well be abhorrent to another.

That is no different than religion. What a Muslim considers righteous is most likely abhorrent to a Christian and vice versa. One major difference, however, is that atheists do not commit crimes in the name of a deity.

I never understood how one could be unhappy or psychotic without a religious guiding hand.

[Kayenneh]

Hello Aran and welcome to AF!

Firstly I'd like to repeat what Rhythm said, if you feel depressed, seek out some professional help. You should not carry your burdens alone.
Secondly I'd like to point out that you don't have to feel disconnected from the world and humanity just because you're an atheist, because you aren't. Eventually we are all alone in our bodies, but just because you don't believe in a god as glue that holds the world together, doesn't mean that nothing else does. Just because you're atheist doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the company of others or be part of a group, even a religious one at that. The beauty of life is that it's yours and you alone can make it have worth. Just remember, you only live once, so make the most of it while you still can.
The world can sure be a shitty place at times, but rather than focusing on the negative, look to all the good things you have and make the most of the cards you've been dealt.

[Angrboda]

Yes, follow Rhythm.

For better or worse, I think this "staring into the abyss" phenomena is something that a lot of people who've recently lost their faith go through. And, I think, though I have no numbers, that most people successfully resolve it over the course of time. I think part of it is simply a grief reaction: you've lost something that gave your life meaning; you'll likely grieve just as if you lost a son, or a close friend. Part of it, too, I think likely has to do with the philosophical questions and the conventional answers to them. The philosophy, depending on the person, might help them find their way through to a successful resolution; other people, the questions and answers might well help to keep them stuck in depression and grieving. What each person finds satisfying answers to the philosophical questions differ for everyone, so I'm not going to suggest my views. I will simply suggest that, for better or worse, this is a phase that many people go through after losing their faith. It's not going to go away by itself: you'll still have to grapple with the issues personally. But for most people, it resolves itself over time, though not without considerable discomfort and anxiety in the process. I suggest simply accepting it as normal, and, also realizing that what you are feeling now is likely not permanent, and will improve with time.

I guess that's the best I have to offer. I lost my faith very early and don't remember what I felt, and am now deeply religious. I remember discovering Sartre in high school, and I think a lot of existentialists go through a similar phase, but I didn't find Sartre's vision at all bleak; I'm not sure that's true of everyone. How well the philosophical/pragmatic answers solve the existential questions differ from person to person, and so will be very individual.

As noted, I think much of it is a grief reaction, and things which help in resolving grief are likely to be effective. (From staying active and social, to seeking out support, whether in the form of support groups, or in new, social hobbies. [And there's nothing wrong with remaining active in your previous religious traditions and community; though some may not agree with me.] I'm sure there's more information on how to work through grief on the web, as well as plenty of misinformation. [I'd stick to medical sites first])

Best of luck.

[Whateverist]

The dilemma for me is that the morals we create have no intrinsic value, as money has no intrinsic value. There is no moral code set in stone. What one man considers righteous as per his moral code may well be abhorrent to another.

Wasn't that true even when you believed? Don't you Christians assume the Mormons or Catholics or JW's et al are going to hell while your lot will get all the best spots in heaven? There is no universal agreement on morally even among Christians. The wonder is that there is loads of agreement over almost everything else but what sends you to heaven or hell. Now that you don't believe in that crap, you can now enjoy the great bulk of humanity in condemning gratuitous harm, robbery and the rest. You can hold your head knowing you're with the rest of us rather than looking down your nose from the high horse of objective know-everything morality.

[FallentoReason]

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I was born into a largely irreligious household. My younger brother, father and grandfather were staunch atheists, my grandmother veered towards deism. Only my mother expressed the slightest modicum of faith in a God.

At the age of 12, I embraced the Sikh religion. At the time I didn't understand the reason for my radical transition from agnostic to born-again believer, and in my childish ignorance I attributed it to the will of a divine being, who injected new-found faith into my life. I don't know why exactly I became a Sikh. All I know is that it made me feel truly happy.

I lived in contentment as a Sikh for four years. But I never actually pondered over the philosophy to which I subscribed. I simply accepted it. When I turned 16 however, I became inquisitive. I had questions. I turned to the priests at my temple to satiate my curiosity. Their responses were utterly pathetic, full of empty rhetoric, unsatisfying. And so I began to delve through the scriptures in search of answers. As I analysed their contents, I was confronted with an ever growing number of doubts. It became increasingly difficult to justify and believe in the tenets of my scripture. I was at breaking point. The lack of answers and my swelling doubts plunged my mind into chaos. I prayed so hard, I begged all powerful God to dispel doubt from my mind. I struggled in this way for a year.

I chanced upon a book in a bookshop one day, A.C Grayling's God Argument. This book was the final nail in the coffin for my faith in Sikhism. It forced me to confront a harsh reality, that I had misinterpreted the sense of community and fellowship that I had derived from becoming a Sikh as having built a relationship with a deity. I was an atheist. I didn't want to be an atheist. I didn't want to lose my faith, the foundation of my existence. But I couldn't ignore the facts. I just couldn't believe in it.

I thought I would have more freedom as a result of my de-conversion. But one depression was traded for another. My Sikh faith had been my rock for four years. It had made me happy, instilled me with purpose. An optimism in humankind.

But now my world-view is dim and pessimistic. There is no objective morality in the atheist universe. There is no such thing as goodness. It has no inherent value. Human nature appears increasingly dark and selfish to me. Our lives have no meaning. Everything is chaos.

I am on the brink. Please help

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I think you ought to see a psychologist about this. If it's clinical depression, then that can be fixed by someone trained in that field who would give you Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which trains your mind to stop letting in negative thoughts. That's what I've gathered about depression from a girl I know who is doing her honours in psychology anyways..

My 2c on this topic (since I've been through deconversion just over a year ago) would be to find people who are like-minded. My worst mistake was keeping quiet about my change of beliefs and carrying on with my Christian friends as if I had everything under control. The environment I was exposing myself to (youth group, Bible study, worship band practice, church on a Sunday) was absolutely killing me until I finally decided to be true to myself: I let everyone know of my change of beliefs and consequently that gave me the much needed self-motivation to go out and meet people who reflect my values (and beliefs, but I really don't like talking face-to-face about deep stuff like I do on here, so I don't worry about that one too much).

Let us know how you're doing over the coming few weeks

[Aran]

Thank you all. I'll go ahead and see a specialist about my problems.

[LastPoet]

It is the best you can do, but you can participate on the forum anyhow, in any topics

[KichigaiNeko]

The dilemma for me is that the morals we create have no intrinsic value, as money has no intrinsic value. There is no moral code set in stone. What one man considers righteous as per his moral code may well be abhorrent to another.

so what do YOU think is a good way to live? What "morals" do YOU hold dear? Money is only a way of keeping score..WHAT do YOU value?

And don't skimp on seeing a specialist on the depression issues.. looking forward to hearing how you are going

[pocaracas]

Welcome depressed guy.

You sound a lot like the typical atheist as seen by the typical christian.... and never quite hitting the mark of what atheist is all about...

Anyway, in case you're the real deal, go with what others have said: seek professional help.
Don't seek such help on an online forum... Forum people are here just to troll and have an occasional thoughtful conversation. Although... truth be told... this forum is pretty vacant of trolls (here's to our fine mods!)

[Eric9001]

Hmm, ironically, I was actually going to suggest you read the A.C. Graylings "God Argument," because of its second part, humanism. Did you read the whole thing or just the against religion part? Your statement about human nature makes me think maybe you didn't read the second part :L. If so, I would read that

But I agree with the others in saying you should see a specialist.