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Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
#1
Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
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)
My book, a setting for fantasy role playing games based on Bantu mythology: Ubantu
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#2
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
Once...but it turned out to be simple diarrhea.
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#3
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
No, most athiests do not have religious experience; they are athiests for a reason.
Athiesm-lack of belief in a god or gods.
Gone
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#4
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
It seems that experience and reason could be at odds.
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#5
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
My entire religious experience stems from how absolutely and hilariously absurd everything is... like much of it was written sheerly for ironic wit, or to entertain. How often nearly impossible things perfectly come together in my life.

Like it's all a Dream... just like my own unceasing dreams. I make of it many complicated overlapping and conflicting feelings.

(January 18, 2015 at 3:27 am)reiemdis Wrote: It seems that experience and reason could be at odds.

But what's even more likely is that they gave their husbands the slip and are currently enjoying a lovely lunch date together at the salad bar.
Please give me a home where cloud buffalo roam
Where the dear and the strangers can play
Where sometimes is heard a discouraging word
But the skies are not stormy all day
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#6
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
Depends if you like your spouse?
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#7
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
When I was a kid and I took my First Communion I swear I could feel some presence behind it. Weird that it only happened that time when I was surrounded by my relatives.

Now I think it was just autosuggestion. I mean, we're talking about cracker Jesus...
"Every luxury has a deep price. Every indulgence, a cosmic cost. Each fiber of pleasure you experience causes equivalent pain somewhere else. This is the first law of emodynamics [sic]. Joy can be neither created nor destroyed. The balance of happiness is constant.

Fact: Every time you eat a bite of cake, someone gets horsewhipped.

Facter: Every time two people kiss, an orphanage collapses.

Factest: Every time a baby is born, an innocent animal is severely mocked for its physical appearance. Don't be a pleasure hog. Your every smile is a dagger. Happiness is murder.

Vote "yes" on Proposition 1321. Think of some kids. Some kids."
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#8
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
I have religious experiences twice a week at least. They come to me soon after going to sleep, after eating too much cheese.
Quote:To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
- Lau Tzu

Join me on atheistforums Slack Cool Shades (pester tibs via pm if you need invite) Tongue

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#9
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
Yes. Back when I was a theist.
The truth is absolute. Life forms are specks of specks (...) of specks of dust in the universe.
Why settle for normal, when you can be so much more? Why settle for something, when you can have everything?

[Image: LB_Header_Idea_A.jpg]
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#10
RE: Atheists: have you ever had a religious experience and what did you make of it?
I am not sure what a religious experience is? I have been a atheist my whole life.
Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. - Carl Sagan
Professional Watcher of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report!
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