(February 5, 2016 at 1:03 am)Evie Wrote: Tempted to create a parody thread "I'm a theist. So why can't I bring myself to believe in that religious horseshit?".

By Mother Teresa.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...aanatheist

Quote:I call, I cling, I want ... and there is no One to answer ... no One on Whom I can cling ... no, No One. Alone ... Where is my Faith ... even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness ... My God ... how painful is this unknown pain ... I have no Faith ... I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart ... & make me suffer untold agony. So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them ... because of the blasphemy ... If there be God ... please forgive me ... When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. I am told God loves me ... and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul.

(February 5, 2016 at 9:39 am)Excited Penguin Wrote: I liked the article. I can relate to the author. I understand what she says. She's perfectly rational about it. She appears to be an atheist and doesn't mischaracterize atheism as some here have hinted that she does.

Yes, I felt the author's story echoes that of many forum members, and that she did a good job of explaining both atheism as well as the reasons for her conversion.

It seems to me that the idea that our brains are pre-wired for God-consciousness serves both theists and atheists alike.

The atheist will hear this and say, "See! Man did create god because our brains have some quirk that causes us to do this."

The theist will say, "See! God has placed this receptivity within us so that it is easier for us to seek Him."

And since both sides can claim victory, nothing has changed. The battle continues as before.

(February 5, 2016 at 12:21 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(February 5, 2016 at 1:03 am)Evie Wrote: Tempted to create a parody thread "I'm a theist. So why can't I bring myself to believe in that religious horseshit?".

By Mother Teresa.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...aanatheist

Quote:I call, I cling, I want ... and there is no One to answer ... no One on Whom I can cling ... no, No One. Alone ... Where is my Faith ... even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness ... My God ... how painful is this unknown pain ... I have no Faith ... I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart ... & make me suffer untold agony. So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them ... because of the blasphemy ... If there be God ... please forgive me ... When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. I am told God loves me ... and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul.

Thanks for sharing that. Mother Teresa experienced a long period of spiritual dryness which many of the greatest saints endured. It is commonly referred to as the "dark night of the soul", and you can learn more about it in the writings of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.

Here is a brief description: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Night_of_the_Soul

(February 4, 2016 at 10:10 pm)athrock Wrote: Turns out it's pretty hard to believe in nothing when your psyche is wired for faith.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/postevery...age%2Fcard

After reading the article, my questions are:

Why on God's green earth is the human brain wired for faith when our development is the result of purely evolutionary processes with no supreme being involved at all?

Is it possible that God gave us brains that are pre-wired for receptivity to His existence to make it easier for us to believe in Him?

I find it interesting as hell that that is indeed the way it went down.  Can't very well understand humans without accounting for god belief.  But no one should find in that any more reason to believe in the biblical god than they do a totem animal.

(February 4, 2016 at 11:50 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Humans have the ability to imagine. Explains why people see faces in places and things where there is no face. Unfortunately, someone back in time imagined a god(s) and it stuck. Then, eventually, it became a bane to humanity.

As to why the author can't shake god I can only guess. Based on what she said in the article my guess is that she finds it comforting (though she admits irrational) on some level. If that gets her through her day(s) that's OK. For me, I'm not buying it.

Bully for you.

Still, I wonder how many atheists here privately share her experience of the presence of the God-who-does-not-exist in their daily lives.

More than will admit it publicly, I'm sure.

(February 4, 2016 at 11:54 pm)Nestor Wrote:

(February 4, 2016 at 10:10 pm)athrock Wrote: Turns out it's pretty hard to believe in nothing when your psyche is wired for faith.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/postevery...age%2Fcard

After reading the article, my questions are:

Why on God's green earth is the human brain wired for faith when our development is the result of purely evolutionary processes with no supreme being involved at all?

Is it possible that God gave us brains that are pre-wired for receptivity to His existence to make it easier for us to believe in Him?

Atheism is a step away from monotheism.
Monotheism is a step away from henotheism.
Henotheism is a step away from polytheism.
Polytheism is a step away from anthropomorphism.
Anthropomorphism is a step away from animism.
Animism is a step away from teleologism.
Teleologism is a step away from intentionality.

And guess what?

Human beings are intentional. Moreover, they're animate and teleological, and.... (wait for it)... the steps I've outlined can be traced throughout their history as progress they have made in storytelling!

Mystery solved!

Is atheism really only one step away from monotheism?

I would have thought that was two steps: atheism > theism > monotheism.

Even three if you place deism before theism.

Just thinking out loud...not quarreling with you.

(February 5, 2016 at 12:56 pm)athrock Wrote:

(February 4, 2016 at 11:50 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Humans have the ability to imagine. Explains why people see faces in places and things where there is no face. Unfortunately, someone back in time imagined a god(s) and it stuck. Then, eventually, it became a bane to humanity.

As to why the author can't shake god I can only guess. Based on what she said in the article my guess is that she finds it comforting (though she admits irrational) on some level. If that gets her through her day(s) that's OK. For me, I'm not buying it.

Bully for you.

Still, I wonder how many atheists here privately share her experience of the presence of the God-who-does-not-exist in their daily lives.

More than will admit it publicly, I'm sure.

Project much?

(February 5, 2016 at 12:56 pm)athrock Wrote:

(February 4, 2016 at 11:50 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Humans have the ability to imagine. Explains why people see faces in places and things where there is no face. Unfortunately, someone back in time imagined a god(s) and it stuck. Then, eventually, it became a bane to humanity.

As to why the author can't shake god I can only guess. Based on what she said in the article my guess is that she finds it comforting (though she admits irrational) on some level. If that gets her through her day(s) that's OK. For me, I'm not buying it.

Bully for you.

Still, I wonder how many atheists here privately share her experience of the presence of the God-who-does-not-exist in their daily lives.

More than will admit it publicly, I'm sure.

So, you're wondering how many atheists here aren't atheists?

(February 5, 2016 at 12:22 am)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote:

(February 4, 2016 at 11:40 pm)scoobysnack Wrote: This information does not come from science, or religion or commonly held belief systems. They are the conclusions from studying hundreds of people that have claimed to have died and come back with a message, whether you want to believe it or not. Really doesn't matter what you believe at least to me. Your disbelief is not enough to change years of research. Humanity as a whole is not meant to know the ultimate truth, since we are still in the physical. This is info from where we came from, not where we are.

And have you researched hundreds of NDE claims from countries/regions that are not predominantly christian?

I haven't. Have you? 

If so, what can you tell us about them?

(February 5, 2016 at 1:03 am)Evie Wrote: Tempted to create a parody thread "I'm a theist. So why can't I bring myself to believe in that religious horseshit?".

That would be redundant. This forum already exists for people who are or were in that position.