RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
January 20, 2015 at 4:04 pm
(January 18, 2015 at 2:49 am)tantric Wrote: I was looking over the wikipedia page on neurotheology and religious ecstasy and it occurred to me to ask if any other atheists have had such experiences and how they feel about them. There was a point in my life when I sought out such things and did find them. The simplest was through ecstatic dance, where you go to the club and cut a rug until you're covered with sweat and feeling glorious. Though I did this with MDMA a few times, normally I just ate healthy and kept clean (no alcohol, especially, or anything else mind altering) and went with a circle of friends. The feeling that comes on after you're past exhaustion and getting a second wind, the glorious floating, the energy, the love, I used to live for that. I never considered it supernatural, but it was undeniably religious and, I think, psychologically healthy. It helped me move past being an alienated, selfish teenager and learn compassion. While I have no illusions about it - it was a way of getting high, really, but it was still profound. I tried many other ways, including DMT and salvia, but for me, rhythmic dance was the best.
Anyone else ever had such an experience, or something similar - visions, near death, overwhelming awe, etc? Was it a positive? Can you be a rational, scientific atheist and still have a meaningful religious experience?
(this message brought to you by Late Nite disco at the 40 Watt, Athens GA)
I took about 4.5 grams of mushrooms one time, thought I saw the face of god himself. Turns out it wasn't god, it was just a hallucination, but damn the mind can do some crazy things with the right chemicals.
