(July 8, 2017 at 3:00 pm)*Deidre* Wrote:(July 8, 2017 at 2:29 pm)Succubus Wrote: Deidre, I'm confused. If atheism is a natural conclusion then presumably for you to arrive at your present position you must be using a more potent natural conclusion. What happened?
Well, when I look back over the past five years of going from belief to disbelief to belief (leaving out a lot of details of course) I would say that emotionally, I wasn't "comfortable" as an atheist and that struggle between my mind and emotions started when my grandmother became ill a few years ago and then passed away. Maybe the main delineating line between belief and lack of belief comes in the form of wanting (or needing) to believe vs. being comfortable with the idea that no god exists. My mind and heart never "agreed" when I was an atheist. :/
I actually understand that struggle quite well. Particularly if a person has been raised in a belief system - the idea of breaking from that system is emotionally painful, even without threats of hell and the disappointment and fury of family. Combine that with grief (I'm sorry for your loss) and oh boy, do you EVER want to know that your loved one is in a wonderful place, and that you will be reunited one day. (Actually a piece of me still longs for that fantasy. I have so many people that have passed away that I would love to see again.) You will walk your path - in your time. You have already challenged your belief multiple times, and for many of us, it's part of the process. It was for me. Best wishes.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
