(February 9, 2017 at 4:20 pm)ThortheMighty Wrote: Without religion..there is a real void that needs to be filled.
Not even saying religion is good but it fills a void. It provides a community, a purpose larger than yourself.
I don't agree with all the Catholic Church teaches, but I do enjoy mass at some level and the social event it provides.
What do you fill an absence of religion with? Atheism itself does not seem enough
This is a cool question, sir. Thanks for asking it.
For me at least, I don't see a non-religious way of thinking as an absence of anything: religion is not meaningful to me; it is not who I am. As a result, I fill my life with things that are meaningful to me. For example, a very meaningful thing for me to do is to master the art of being more peaceful and constructive when interacting with and engaging others, regardless of whether they are behaving constructively or non-constructively. IMO, this helps me avoid the reactive trap of becoming a product of another person's emotional thoughts and behavior choices and enables me to engage difference and conflict in a more objective, creative, helpful, and consistent manner.
With that said, from your op, it looks like community and having a purpose larger than oneself are important to you. Is this correct? Also, out of curiosity, would you be willing to share something that is meaningful to you and makes you unique? Thanks for your time and attention, sir. Live long and prosper.