I am convinced that most people have a leverl of happiness or depressiong that is their 'baseline' and though that can easily be disrupted, over time they go back to their baseline. If they're usually a little depressed, after something makes them happy they'll get back to their usual level of depression. If they're usually on the happy side, they'll get back to it after taking a blow that makes them sad for a while.
I've been depressed, but am fortunate that I've never had to stay depressed. As a rule, I don't experience life as an 'existential nightmare'. I take pleasure in the little things. That's no credit to me, I didn't earn my disposition, but I wonder if those depressed ex-atheists are happy in the long term now that they're theists.
Also, the phenomenon of people thinking they used to be atheists when they weren't or even just claiming to have been atheists when they weren't is real. You can usually suss the less sophisticated ones out in conversation on a case by case basis when they have no idea what an atheist really is or why they were one beyond 'I just wanted to sin'.
I've been depressed, but am fortunate that I've never had to stay depressed. As a rule, I don't experience life as an 'existential nightmare'. I take pleasure in the little things. That's no credit to me, I didn't earn my disposition, but I wonder if those depressed ex-atheists are happy in the long term now that they're theists.
Also, the phenomenon of people thinking they used to be atheists when they weren't or even just claiming to have been atheists when they weren't is real. You can usually suss the less sophisticated ones out in conversation on a case by case basis when they have no idea what an atheist really is or why they were one beyond 'I just wanted to sin'.
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
