I have an honest question for theists.

[Mystic]

Well you guys tell me. How did life change for you, when you stopped believing in God?

[Minimalist]

It didn't.

Massive anti-climax.

[Voltair]

Well... first and foremost a lot of guilt tendencies died a much deserved and painful death.

On top of that I feel at peace with a lot of humanity because I don't believe anyone is going to scorch etc. I am now also okay with just living life and experiencing things. I have not shaken all morality off either. In some ways a lot of how I live now would be the same/better than a dedicated Christian would. I am still an idealist about certain things and I doubt that will ever change.

I also still care a lot about other people. I also feel a lot more in tune with nature. I have not become a hippy but I don't go out of my way to end creatures lives even insects. Before I just know I wasn't as gentle towards other life. Despite not looking forward to what I suspect is oblivion my life has improved in many ways.

Unfortunately, based on location etc, I also feel like a leper in some ways. I really do thing for the society I am in etc things would be easier if I could just believe again. However this is not possible so here I am ^_^.

[fr0d0]

Well although this would be impossible, I guess the loving inspiring core is what would be removed. How can you be drawn to a positive force if that force were not there? My ethics should be the same, but uninspired and driven by reason alone. Much like being an atheist I guess.

Really!?

Behaving ethically is not inspiration enough?

I think it's kind of sad that you have to believe your ethics have to come from a deity in order to feel inspired.

It's enough for you, so why wouldn't it be the same for me??

I'm not saying either / or. I'm saying it's better to be in love and act in response to that than without it.

---

I know you would lovva

Point is: love beats logic

Isn't it some sort of 'pseudo-fact' that acting out of emotion can be dangerous?

Love can make you do silly things sure. Emotion =/= love though. Emotion includes hate.

[Ace Otana]

I know you would lovva

Point is: love beats logic

Emotions can and do cloud judgement, also it can mislead. It's good to have high feelings for each other, personally if there is any hope for mankind to live in peace with itself is to accept and care for each other, less than a common thing in societies at the moment I'm afraid.

When it comes to reality and finding out what's true and what's not, emotions are completely useless.

[CliveStaples]

When it comes to reality and finding out what's true and what's not, emotions are completely useless.

I tend to agree with this, but I feel like it overlooks the positive contributions that emotions have made in the history of human progress. Many scientists are impelled toward research and discovery because of the wonder and excitement they feel toward the universe (or some facet of it). Certainly many mathematicians are motivated by a sense of beauty in mathematics.

Now, maybe these 'aesthetic' interests don't qualify as 'emotions', but that's a pretty thin hair to split, I think.

[fr0d0]

When it comes to reality and finding out what's true and what's not, emotions are completely useless.

Well I'm not suggesting we substitute love for scientific enquiry.

[Ace Otana]

When it comes to reality and finding out what's true and what's not, emotions are completely useless.

I tend to agree with this, but I feel like it overlooks the positive contributions that emotions have made in the history of human progress. Many scientists are impelled toward research and discovery because of the wonder and excitement they feel toward the universe (or some facet of it). Certainly many mathematicians are motivated by a sense of beauty in mathematics.

Now, maybe these 'aesthetic' interests don't qualify as 'emotions', but that's a pretty thin hair to split, I think.

I'd chance to say that emotion/interest drives you to certain subjects that lead you to want to study and learn as much about as possible. I have an interest in particles, I'm curious as to how they function and the effects they have. Like virtual particles (one of my favs), they literally pop in and out of existence at random, self created and self destroyed in an instant, something to do with quantum mechanics, another law of nature.

But yeah, emotions can lead you in a certain direction but doesn't play any role in the fact finding process.

[fr0d0]

that's a pretty thin hair to split, I think.

Kudos

[Ace Otana]

Well I'm not suggesting we substitute love for scientific enquiry.

Already know pretty much how the emotion that is 'love' works.
Not sure how love (an emotion) can tell from what's true and false.
When it comes to finding out what's true, you need to put aside emotion and test and measure the data.