(September 11, 2014 at 4:44 pm)sswhateverlove Wrote: So, it's been implied to me on numerous threads that unless I introduce myself I will continue to be insulted, regardless of the fact that all I'm trying to do is having a respectful, honest conversation about things that I've been finding when exploring many different sciences.
Doesn't seem to be a great way to have a community, but whatever... I understand, from a psychological perspective, that it's extremely easy to be an asshole to other people when you have nothing but a screen to interact with.
With no further delay, I am an agnostic 32 yo female (most people keep referring to me as a "he"...why is that?). I have a MA in Psychology and I'm a licensed clinician. I have been studying "consciousness" in it's many aspects for over 10 years. I am fascinated by psychoneuroimmunology (referring to such things as placebo effect and miracle-type healings), hypnosis, and psychiatric and behavioral genetics. I specialize in working with addicts and trauma victims and, in particular, I'm currently interested in how "spiritual experience" (including psychedelic experiences with ayahuasca and ibogaine) have resulted in statistically high recovery rates for people with these issues.
To go further, I was raised by Christian fundamentalists and realized at a young age that I didn't buy any of the doctrine that was being fed to me. At that point, I engaged in comparative religious study, exploring what other belief systems had to say about the nature of reality, conscious experience, etc. Although I found some of it interesting, there was nothing that answered my questions. In grad school I was lucky enough to be in a program that allowed me to design my own curriculum (with guidance of mentors) and I focused on trying to understand consciousness from a scientific perspective. I explored many fields of study through this process including neuropsychology, psychoneuroimmunology, energy psychology, psychiatric and behavioral genetics (focusing in epigenetics), quantum physics, astrophysics, vibrational medicine, basically anything I could possibly explore that would give me a better understanding of consciousness that didn't involve "god" and "the soul". I finished grad school 3 years ago, but I never stopped my explorations as it seems that every day something new is revealed that conflicts with something that was was "known" to science prior and often it is mind-blowing stuff.
I currently label myself agnostic (although I generally hate labels), but I do so to acknowledge that, as a result of my studies, I'm not sure what opinion to form regarding the nature of reality, whether there is intelligence to it's design, and whether there is an influencing intelligence. A lot of what I've explored leads to me think there is a possibility, but I have no intention of claiming I am aware of all the variables or the "truth".
I have come here to discuss the things I've been exploring and the thoughts that have resulted from my explorations with others who I assume to have more confidence in their own perspective than I do (atheism- "no god"- right?). I'm interested in getting feedback that is convincing enough to sway my own perspective, but I understand that I may not be realistic in assuming this could happen.
I wish I could say it's nice to meet all of you, but honestly, I don't think there has been a single responder to anything I posted that was even the slightest bit respectful. Everyone immediately jumped to attacking my intelligence, making accusations that I was trolling, shaming me for, they claim, misunderstanding and making claims about atheist perspective (straw man), and making me feel generally unwelcome.
Well thanks, you've been less than helpful. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that.
Making assumptions about 'atheists' is not the way to go, it will get people's backs-up. Outside of the rejection of a belief in deities, there are no other assumptions you can or even should make about atheists.
You don't demand respect, you earn it.
MM
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions" - Leonardo da Vinci
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
