RE: Life is meaningless for Christians?
October 13, 2017 at 11:45 am
(This post was last modified: October 13, 2017 at 11:46 am by henryp.)
(October 13, 2017 at 11:26 am)Jehanne Wrote:(October 13, 2017 at 11:13 am)wallym Wrote: If doing something in preparation for the afterlife pushes the button to release the 'meaning' juice physiologically, how is that different than your physical reaction to whatever you find meaningful. You both experience the same thing.
Nothing is actually meaningful. It's just some chemicals being released (or whatever the physiological details are). The actions themselves carry no importance. Only the body's reaction to them. Whether you're not eating mean on Friday, or giving money to some homeless guy, if it triggers the reaction, it triggers the reaction. The action itself, and any rationalization is irrelevant in regards to experiencing 'meaning'.
The Matrix guy nails it. The guy knows he's not eating steak. He knows the world isn't real. But it's not about the reality of the world, it's about the physiological experience.
Religion can be abusive; that's what makes it so harmful. I used to suffer night terrors about dying and going to eternal Hell, beginning around age 12, which were not even alleviated until long after I had become an atheist and had publicly renounced my Christian faith around age 14. In my case, I think my childhood church was guilty of mental and emotional abuse of a child, me.
Sure. Personally, I think being able to replace the 'meaning' religion gives you with a new pretend 'meaning' with less negative side effects, if you can pull it off, is probably the way to go. But it's tricky business. It's harder to use non-religious 'meaning' as a crutch, I think. From observation, I think christian brainwashing really starts paying off when you hit your 30's. From 3 to the early 20's, it's not so great.
