The need to believe?

[*Deidre*]

I wish most people would choose to communicate like you - some have in the thread (thank you), but there's always those who think they're smarter/better/stronger/more mature because they never got hung up on spirituality. From the sounds of it, I'm not alone, even among atheists, who have conflicts from time to time. Maybe not the identical conflicts, but conflicts nonetheless. Thanks for your respect to the topic...and to me.  And I am basking , it's good to finally make sense of all of this, and to deal with it. I've done a lot of rug sweeping and that really didn't get me anywhere.

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I don't disagree with you, but the process of unraveling a mindset isn't always easy for everyone. That's the whole point of the thread, to share that all along, I have had a need to believe, out of fear, out of many things, but a need to believe in something that logically, has no factual basis. And that other people can relate to some of this, is helpful. And I'm not debating anyone, I'm admitting that I've allowed my emotions to override my logic. Seems like maybe you want to debate theism, but that's not the point of the thread.

Many of us here used to believe, including me. You are having residual emotions based on prior sales pitches. What you are feeling is no different trying to let go of Santa. No different then when I was growing up as a pre teen and teen pining after girls. it is natural to buy the script before you have the ability to question the script, but the reality is humans begin life mostly adapting the superstitions of their parents. No different than me facing the fact as a pre teen and teen having to face that the cheerleader will not automatically like you because you find her attractive.

If you admit you have allowed your emotions to rule you you are 99% there. The last step is to accept that it is STILL ok to have emotions, just don't chalk them up to Superman vs Lex Luther. Just like I at one time would have equated mere smile to a desire on her part to like me in return.

It is certainly ok to have emotions, as long as you don't let your brains fall out.

Thank you for this. You've ''adjusted'' to living without faith - what was your transition like from faith to living a life without it? When I left Christianity about five years ago, and then eventually identified as an atheist, I hadn't been ''tested'' until my grandmother died, and it wasn't right away. So, the ''transition'' for lack of a better word, wasn't hard at first. It only became hard when I realized that there was no escape route, and that I had to embrace the pain of my grandmother's death. Faith and religion, they can serve as comfortable escape routes. So, just wondering.

I wish most people would choose to communicate like you - some have in the thread (thank you), but there's always those who think they're smarter/better/stronger/more mature because they never got hung up on spirituality. From the sounds of it, I'm not alone, even among atheists, who have conflicts from time to time. Maybe not the identical conflicts, but conflicts nonetheless. Thanks for your respect to the topic...and to me.  And I am basking , it's good to finally make sense of all of this, and to deal with it. I've done a lot of rug sweeping and that really didn't get me anywhere.

Nope -- you're not alone and you'r not an idiot or a weakling. You're just figuring it out as you go, like all of us.

Many atheists who aren't deconverts can't relate to this ... I've heard many frankly admit it. It's understandable. But they don't have to disrespect deconverts either. In fact, I have often referred to my journey our of faith as prying ideas out of my head with a crowbar, over many years. It's hard work. It should be respected.

Now, after a couple of decades, my former beliefs seem just as silly to me, but I try not to forget where I came from, or the price I paid for the journey.

Thank you mordant! You're been such a great help, you don't even know.