Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?

[Exian]

I get a particularly "connected" feeling when I click with a musician during some free form jams. Other than that: No. I have felt extremely embarrassed and awkward in situations where I was expected to feel spiritual or religious, and people around me were acting like weird fools. It's a bit like a hypnotist. I would never volunteer in front of an audience to be hypnotized because I would be horribly embarrassed for the guy when it doesn't work. I do get a lot from meditation; however.

Here's a long ass story illustrating my stubbornness towards the effects of religious experience.

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My girlfriend and I had an argument one morning, and while we were arguing we made our way to the car. We hadn't discussed going anywhere, but we just kind of got in the car. When we got to the end of the driveway, I asked her where we were headed. She shrugged. I looked left- clear skies. I looked right- gloomy clouds and rain. I said "Lets just go where it isn't raining."

And so, at every stop sign we came to, we used that same method as our compass. We went where the rain wasn't. Eventually we ended up in some plaza we've never been to in a town we've never heard of. She said "Now what?" I looked across the lot and saw a store that specialized in making signs- called Signs. She and I are both the artsy type, so I suggested that place.

When we walked in to the little shop, we could see some fairly large printing machine and banners being used as wallpaper. Behind the counter was a short curly headed man with a warm smile. He seemed confused by the two kids that just walked in, but he was happy to explain his operation when we told him we we're just some curious artists.

We explained to him that we got there by driving away from the rain, and had no real plans. He suddenly got really excited and told us about how that morning he asked god what he wants him to do. God told him "Talk to my children." He asked "how?" To which god replied "You will know." (Dead serious, this guy said this). At the time I was Christian and my lady wasn't, so I was cool with this happening. The Signs guy zeroed in on my lady, asking questions about her childhood. We revealed she had a rough childhood and bipolar depression. He got real intense with her and she suddenly became very "spiritual" and broke down in tears. Meanwhile, me, the Christian, felt very awkward and I just wanted to leave. The guy was clearly looney or into some strange shit- that's the vibe I was getting. But my Christian self wouldn't let me disagree with him. I just kept lying to myself.

So to recap- we fought, went where the sun was shining, ended up at a place in some town called Signs, and got preached at. I thought it was a sign that I should get more religious at the time, but, even as a Christian, I ultimately chalked it up to coincidence. She and I are both atheists now. Instead of god, she takes medication for her condition, and has been good for four years.

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