How I feel about my atheism and why I'd encourage religion

[Esquilax]

So, if I understand the OP correctly, the guy wishes he has superpowers, and the fact that he doesn't is super depressing?

Well, on the former part, welcome to the club: I sure do think life would be more fun if I could go around breaking reality too. But I can't. There's nothing saddening or shameful about using what abilities you have to do something meaningful, rather than wasting time wishing for shit that'll never come.

If this thing you've got going on actually means anything to you then you should start studying science and reality in order to find decent workarounds to extend the human lifespan, maybe even transhuman stuff if you want to start pulling superpowers. What you absolutely shouldn't do is waffle on about how wonderful religion must be, with its comforting delusions of getting special powers once you die; while science is out getting things done, religion just stalls you with promises of more once you're in a place where you can't come back and tell everyone what bullshit they all were.

Every last advancement ever made in human culture has been the product of one person, or a group of people, seeing a concept-shaped hole in reality, and deciding to fill it themselves by hook or by crook. Not a single one of those advances has ever been made by guys moping around on internet forums saying "gee, it'd be really great if this thing existed. I wish I was gullible enough to be tricked into thinking it will after I die!"

[archangle]

I'm an atheist and even though I'm well aware of the fact that there is no afterlife and that we have to make the best of the life we have, this is how I feel anyway. Even though I'm an atheist, I truly wish I wasn't. I'd rather be the dumbest person on Earth who believes in a God and afterlife than be a smart young man who is logical and doesn't believe. My personality is someone who embraces and is inspired by mystical god-like things (the world of Zelda since it has mystical god-like things, as well as anime such as Bleach, Inuyasha, etc.). I view this world of anime as god-like and superior since it has these concepts of an afterlife and many other awesome superior god-like concepts (which is far superior to this inferior reality).

All diseases, illnesses, the fact that there's no God/no afterlife and that when we die, that's it (even having to "make the best" of the life that we have despite our struggles), these are all inferior concepts of life that are deeply loathed by me. Their only existence serves to hold you back from achieving absolution and perfection and becoming a god (metaphorically speaking). All of life's struggles are pointless and inferior and they, too, serve this exact same purpose. We as human beings are more than worthy of a life in which we are gods, are immortal, have no problems, etc. (a world that is more like that of an anime).

But despite the fact that I cannot have god-like powers of immortality and such, there is one thing in which I can be a superior god. And that would be through my perceptions and attitude. Therefore, since life itself cannot give me these powers, I have chosen to take it upon myself and give myself these "powers" (metaphorically speaking) in the form of a personality which is superior to all things inferior in this world. It is a higher perception of that of an awesome god-like anime applied to my life here (an attitude and perception from a superior reality--not a perception and attitude that this inferior life wishes to make me adhere to its pointless struggles and inferior concepts). I now feel like that of an awesome god-like anime character who is able to embrace all god-like personalities of many anime characters who is superior to these hated inferior concepts of life and that these things no longer dictate what perception and attitude that this inferior life wants me to have. Even though I as a person physically live in an inferior life, my personality on the other hand, lives a superior god-like life in my own head. I have, therefore, given myself a personality that defies all these inferior concepts of life.

So as you can see, my atheism severely clashes with my personality. I realize that logic is the truth and the logical truth would be that since life has no meaning, the fact that we die and go nowhere is neither inferior nor superior. However, despite my sense of logic, who I am as a person says otherwise. Metaphorically speaking, I have the personality of a superior god-like immortal being. But there's only one problem which is that I am living in a life that is the opposite of that (a life that is not perfect, is full of struggles, am not immortal, etc.). If life itself were a person, I would say to it: "GIVE ME MY POWERS BACK!!! I AM A GOD WHOSE PERSONALITY MATCHES AND THRIVES IN THE AWESOME SUPERNATURAL IMMORTAL WORLD OF ANIME, ONLY TO BE BORN INTO THIS INFERIOR WORLD THAT DOES NOT MATCH MY PERSONALITY AND HAS TAKEN THESE GOD-LIKE IMMORTAL POWERS AWAY FROM ME!!!" (again, this is all metaphorically speaking and is an exaggeration of how I feel). So as you can see, I utterly detest atheism despite the fact that I am an atheist and it is utterly inferior to my personality. No, I will not change who I am as a person because the personality I have is the most awesome personality. I will not allow this inferior life to dictate a personality that binds me and adheres to life's struggles and its concept that I am not immortal, etc. This life apparently wants me to change and dictate a personality to me that adheres to its inferior concepts (which would be a personality that no longer has any god-like perceptions in terms of living life like abandoning my god-like perceptions and accepting the fact that I will not live forever. Although I already know this is true, my personality will not be dictated (changed) by it).

Despite the fact that I am an atheist, I would support and uphold religion in order to give people the sense of comfort and superiority that they deserve and not what this inferior life wants. The moral views on religion (such as homosexuality being a sin), these are things I would be against as they are irrational and false and only serve to bring chaos into this world. But as for just the religion itself (there being a God and an afterlife), that itself I would encourage in people. But if you are thinking that knowing the truth (atheism) is somehow better than believing in religion because you think that it is more mature and such and that because of this, people NEED to hear and believe in the truth, then this would be wrong. Positive outlook on life through atheism is neither less or better than positive outlook on life through religion.

Therefore, if someone has a struggle with depression and believing in a religion makes them feel better, then you should never tell this person the truth of atheism. In depression, it is much harder (nearly impossible) to achieve a positive outlook on life through atheism. A depressed person is nearly (if not completely) dependent on the perception that religion offers (hope, comfort, as well as a sense of superiority since depressed people also have a sense of self-loathing and being inferior). So if you tell them the truth of atheism and they believe that, you would have given this person a pointless struggle of even more depression. And even if at the end of this struggle they do manage to achieve a positive perception through atheism, the truth is that this struggle was completely unnecessary because, as I said again, they would have achieved a new perception that is neither inferior nor superior to their previous perception of religion and it would of, therefore, been completely better off if they would have kept their belief in religion.

Or you could have a person like me in which religious belief would be ultimate perfection for my personality (if I believed in religion, this would be the best outlook on life I could ever achieve). Therefore, encouraging religion in these types of people would be needed. But, of course, if they are an atheist to the point where nothing can convince them otherwise, I would instead encourage this "god-like superior-driven attitude" of mine in others in need (providing that the positive outlook on life through atheism does not work for these people. I, of course, being one of these people). Because these types of people deserve this perception (they need to be encouraged that they are the ones who are superior and that their problems are inferior and not the other way around). That it's false that life's problems somehow dictate our lives and dictate what personality we should have.

Me having this attitude may sound negative, but it's not (it makes me feel even more superior and powerful). Saying things to myself such as "If life cannot give me the status of a god which would be absolution, perfection, and immortality, then this life is worthless and inferior to me. I'm the one who is superior and this life is nothing more than a worthless pawn to me (just a means of getting the enjoyment I want). When I die, I can just dispose of this worthless abomination." By being harsh and viewing my problems as inferior (in this case, life being full of problems and no God), this gives me a feeling of more empowerment and superiority. Also, when I am referring to life, I just mean these inferior concepts of life I've been explaining (I do not mean any people or innocent living things).

Na, you don't seem to think your better. you have so much more clarity logic and reason than the believers. Atheist want a army chaplain, we have/want a symbol, we gather to self claim the truth we have. Our base faith statement "no-god" unites us. Next, kill a few of those that don't think like you... in your name. You'll be a much better religion than anything else on this planet ape..

[Silver]

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Finally, I'm going to add something here that will help you understand my perspective. Imagine a fictional character who lives in a fantasy world in which there is an afterlife and this character has all the god-like powers of immortality and such and can overcome any problem in his/her life at his/her own will. Now from there imagine that this character be brought into this world and now lives a life in which there is no God, no afterlife, he/she is no longer immortal, and he/she now has to deal with problems just like the rest of us. I bet you can imagine how this character would feel. This character would obviously view these aspects of life as inferior to him/her. I've embraced fantasy so much it's as though I'm already a fictional character who is obviously already aware of these aspects of life. In other words, I have given myself this "god-like fantasy" perception from my empowerment from the world of fantasy and I am viewing the world and its concepts through that perception (which is the very reason why I am viewing these atheist concepts of life as inferior). Therefore, I already have the perception of a fantasy character who has immortality, god-like powers and such which is the reason why I feel that these atheist concepts of life are inferior to me.

---

You just cray-cray.

Forget to take your meds?

[Mozart Link]

I have chronic depression and I feel that since this is the only life of enjoyment you have and pleasure is the very reason we live, depression is what takes away this only life of enjoyment you have. Since this is the only life of enjoyment you have, I feel that this life should be fully enjoyed (perfect) in the sense of there being no depression to hold any of your pleasure back. Of course, you could ignore any problems in your life (even a problem in this case that takes away your very reason of living) and choose to focus on the bit of pleasure and other things you already have in this life.

But take, for example, someone who has severe chronic depression that lasts their entire life and they can't hardly enjoy anything, just for this person to know that there is an afterlife in which they can experience full joy for all eternity would be of severe benefit and would severely benefit me in my case because not only would they experience full joy for all eternity, but this would also make up for everything that they lost in this life. The last thing that such a person would ever want to hear would be "make the best of this life" when they hardly even have this ability at all. Even that ability itself has been almost completely taken away by depression as well.

[Silver]

But take, for example, someone who has severe chronic depression that lasts their entire life and they can't hardly enjoy anything, just for this person to know that there is an afterlife in which they can experience full joy for all eternity would be of severe benefit and would severely benefit me in my case because not only would they experience full joy for all eternity, but this would also make up for everything that they lost in this life. The last thing that such a person would ever want to hear would be "make the best of this life" when they hardly even have this ability at all. Even that ability itself has been almost completely taken away by depression as well.

Forsaking reality for a delusional lie in order to combat depression is hardly a worthy virtue.

There is medication for depression. No god required.

[archangle]

I have chronic depression and I feel that since this is the only life of enjoyment you have and pleasure is the very reason we live, depression is what takes away this only life of enjoyment you have. Since this is the only life of enjoyment you have, I feel that this life should be fully enjoyed (perfect) in the sense of there being no depression to hold any of your pleasure back. Of course, you could ignore any problems in your life (even a problem in this case that takes away your very reason of living) and choose to focus on the bit of pleasure and other things you already have in this life.

But take, for example, someone who has severe chronic depression that lasts their entire life and they can't hardly enjoy anything, just for this person to know that there is an afterlife in which they can experience full joy for all eternity would be of severe benefit and would severely benefit me in my case because not only would they experience full joy for all eternity, but this would also make up for everything that they lost in this life. The last thing that such a person would ever want to hear would be "make the best of this life" when they hardly even have this ability at all. Even that ability itself has been almost completely taken away by depression as well.

things are improving. We know now that a broken brain s like a broken muscle. Soon we will be able to readjust or even completely fix.

evolution solves every possible solution. over joy or deep sadness are on the "curve". The first step is self honesty. you seem to have that.

[Mudhammam]

Therefore, if someone has a struggle with depression and believing in a religion makes them feel better, then you should never tell this person the truth of atheism.

What condescending nonsense. So instead, we should encourage the depressed person to continue suppressing their intellectual faculties despite the fact that their imaginary friend "GOD" has failed to see them through the depression? At some point we should be honest with them, ya know since we usually appreciate others who are honest with us, and say, "Look, maybe God isn't working to heal your depression because God isn't real. But once you own up to the facts of reality, including why you're depressed, then maybe you can find the real root of your issues and deal with them."

[archangle]

Therefore, if someone has a struggle with depression and believing in a religion makes them feel better, then you should never tell this person the truth of atheism.

What condescending nonsense. So instead, we should encourage the depressed person to continue suppressing their intellectual faculties despite the fact that their imaginary friend "GOD" has failed to see them through the depression? At some point we should be honest with them, ya know since we usually appreciate others who are honest with us, and say, "Look, maybe God isn't working to heal your depression because God isn't real. But once you own up to the facts of reality, including why you're depressed, then maybe you can find the real root of your issues and deal with them."

what truth? yours. sad. Its why I wont join the atheist religion. atheist pastors like you. Anf Crap like this. You dont really give a flying fuk about the person.

if a person has a broken leg you cast it you stupid fuk, until they can walk on their own.

[Mudhammam]

Therefore, if someone has a struggle with depression and believing in a religion makes them feel better, then you should never tell this person the truth of atheism.

What condescending nonsense. So instead, we should encourage the depressed person to continue suppressing their intellectual faculties despite the fact that their imaginary friend "GOD" has failed to see them through the depression? At some point we should be honest with them, ya know since we usually appreciate others who are honest with us, and say, "Look, maybe God isn't working to heal your depression because God isn't real. But once you own up to the facts of reality, including why you're depressed, then maybe you can find the real root of your issues and deal with them."

what truth? yours. sad. Its why I wont join the atheist religion. atheist pastors like you. Anf Crap like this. You dont really give a flying fuk about the person.

if a person has a broken leg you cast it you stupid fuk, until they can walk on their own.

Oh, I see, you're one of those morons who thinks truth is equivalent to personal preference.

Hey, if the sick at least feel like they're being healed by magical crystals, or the sweet blood of Jesus, who's to tell them that there's actual therapy and medicine available?

[Cato]

if a person has a broken leg you cast it you stupid fuk, until they can walk on their own.

This thread (and your cast in this case) is missing the fact that religions aren't all wishful thinking about a glorious afterlife and has conveniently left out the penchant for religions to give you a set of rules to live by under the threat of violence in this life or the next. Hardly a cure for depression.