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Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 7:56 pm
I've "converted" from Christianity for almost a year now, and the following observation kind of snuck up on me. I'm curious if anyone else has a similar experience they'd like to share.
With Christianity, there is a "father" type relationship, where you die and go to the Father for judgment and eternity. Having abandoned that belief system, it eventually occurred to me that there is no higher power or safety net, so we're quite literally on our own (alone). As we live an interact with each other, we leave impressions there, but it doesn't get noticed by any higher power. When I was in religion, I kind of banked on the fact that I was just along for the ride, tried to be as nice as possible, and felt that some sort of higher court would look at this transcript and I'd be cool for eternity.
This is kind of sobering to realize that this life is real, and that what I do now is simply part of humanity. In other words, the impact of my words and actions is measured by a minute influence on a small slice of humanity...and that's it.
Anyone else coming from religion feel similar thoughts on this subject of being alone?
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 8:00 pm
It is part of the transition.
One realizes that one can be good without god.
Religion teaches that one can only be good with a belief in god.
Once one has escaped that false mentality, it becomes apparent that goodness is not dependent upon a fictional concept.
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 8:07 pm
The moment I put God to bed for the last time was the moment I also realised how extraordinary this world and its people can be.
I stopped looking up and instead gazed in wonder around me.
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 8:07 pm
They understood the underlying techniques of brain washing long ago.
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 9:47 pm
My deconversion was 40 plus yrs ago. I seem to remember a feeling of freedom and release. Shaking off the fucked up thoughts/actions tied to the delusion.
Prior to your deconversion was life something less than "real"?
I don't understand "alone".
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 9:53 pm
One of the first things many people come to realise is that mortality makes this life all that more important.
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 11:16 pm
(July 10, 2016 at 7:56 pm)thool Wrote: I've "converted" from Christianity for almost a year now, and the following observation kind of snuck up on me. I'm curious if anyone else has a similar experience they'd like to share.
With Christianity, there is a "father" type relationship, where you die and go to the Father for judgment and eternity. Having abandoned that belief system, it eventually occurred to me that there is no higher power or safety net, so we're quite literally on our own (alone). As we live an interact with each other, we leave impressions there, but it doesn't get noticed by any higher power. When I was in religion, I kind of banked on the fact that I was just along for the ride, tried to be as nice as possible, and felt that some sort of higher court would look at this transcript and I'd be cool for eternity.
This is kind of sobering to realize that this life is real, and that what I do now is simply part of humanity. In other words, the impact of my words and actions is measured by a minute influence on a small slice of humanity...and that's it.
Anyone else coming from religion feel similar thoughts on this subject of being alone?
The great part about it all is that you aren't really alone. Nothing happens to you after you die. You just simply aren't, anymore. Loved ones will cherish memories of you, but you, yourself, don't have to worry about an eternal hell or always doing the right thing just to get to heaven.
You just simply cease to be, and for me, I'm rather calmed by that. I don't have to "look down" at my kids to wonder how they are doing or what they are doing or anything else.
Disclaimer: I am only responsible for what I say, not what you choose to understand.
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 11:19 pm
(July 10, 2016 at 7:56 pm)thool Wrote: I've "converted" from Christianity for almost a year now, and the following observation kind of snuck up on me. I'm curious if anyone else has a similar experience they'd like to share.
With Christianity, there is a "father" type relationship, where you die and go to the Father for judgment and eternity. Having abandoned that belief system, it eventually occurred to me that there is no higher power or safety net, so we're quite literally on our own (alone). As we live an interact with each other, we leave impressions there, but it doesn't get noticed by any higher power. When I was in religion, I kind of banked on the fact that I was just along for the ride, tried to be as nice as possible, and felt that some sort of higher court would look at this transcript and I'd be cool for eternity.
This is kind of sobering to realize that this life is real, and that what I do now is simply part of humanity. In other words, the impact of my words and actions is measured by a minute influence on a small slice of humanity...and that's it.
Anyone else coming from religion feel similar thoughts on this subject of being alone?
I view not having some higher power watching over me and monitoring my every move as freedom rather than being alone.
.
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 10, 2016 at 11:34 pm
Yeah, realizing that there's only one life, and that the responsibility for our words and actions are real and can't simply be waved away by telling some imaginary figure in our heads we're really sorry is sobering. And, as Tres Leches said, freeing.
I liken it to becoming an adult. Sky daddy isn't going to smooth things over when they go sideways or ground you when you do something he doesn't like. Because he doesn't exist, and never did. Welcome to life without a safety net. What are you going to do with it?
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RE: Observation after embracing atheism for a year
July 11, 2016 at 8:46 am
(July 10, 2016 at 9:47 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: My deconversion was 40 plus yrs ago. I seem to remember a feeling of freedom and release. Shaking off the fucked up thoughts/actions tied to the delusion.
Prior to your deconversion was life something less than "real"?
I don't understand "alone".
Oh life was not very real to me, because I had a spiritual warranty that skewed my perception of reality. Now that I am free, I can judge my words and actions based upon my own human gauge as opposed to some dreamed up stuff written thousands of years ago.
The word "alone" in my context simply means that I am not in the company of some higher power. Actually, now I am far from alone, because I am in the company of my fellow humans, and feel great allegiance to this experience.
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