(March 2, 2024 at 7:13 pm)Jillybean Wrote: Hi all. I deconverted years ago from a strict Catholic background and spent a considerable amount of time researching the history of Catholic Church atrocities around the world. As you can imagine, I made endless horrifying discoveries including the actions of the Church in my own country (Canada) - where in the past few years the bodies of thousands of indigenous children were found in unmarked graves at former Catholic residential schools.
I consider myself to be possibly an agnostic theist--however most religious people would consider me to be an atheist because I disbelieve in the existence of the Abrahamic God, but I do hold out hope for some kind of higher consciousness in the world, even if that only consists of the "thousand unseen helping hands" of Joseph Campbell - basically humans acting together for good. I was an agnostic atheist until a religious/spiritual experience a few years ago shook my disbelief and I experienced the perception of a seemingly benevolent presence that radiated humour and love and delight. It certainly could have been my imagination (I'm skeptical myself) but was very powerful. And no- there were no mind-altering events or substances involved, lol. And no - I don't consider that presence to in any way resemble conventional depictions of a God.
So why join an atheist forum? I find that in other forums, any criticism of religion gets shut down whereas religious people and even extremists are allowed a voice. I am opposed to most organized religions, pseudoscience, and especially to fundamentalism/zealotry and its influence on government and the law. I am horrified by recent events worldwide, especially the bans on legal abortion in the USA (which I see as motivated only by religion, as the science is clear that fetuses have no capacity for human-like thought until the development of the cerebral cortex at 5-6 months). Religious erosion of women's rights and the persecution of minority groups is happening around the world. Humanity seems to be going backwards these days.... Anyway, would appreciate a friendly hello from anyone who cares to respond in a kind and civilized way.
Welcome. Be sure to barbecue kittens, record the NFL without their permission and rip the tags off your mattress. Hookers to your left, booze to your right and theists in the basement.
Stephen Hawking, "A God is not required."
I don't see any need to insert any type of consciousness in as a gap answer. I am fine knowing this is it and we are simply a blip in a universe that isn't cause by a cognition, it is merely a natural cycle as to which we are a temporary blip riding in it.
But other than that. Enjoy your stay.
