My new religion: New Age Hedonism

[Transcended Dimensions]

(Note:  Psychologists divide emotions into a positive category and a negative category.  I am firmly convinced this division is true based upon my own personal experience.  The concept of inner light and inner darkness is all well too known in movies, anime, art, etc.  So, that is why emotions would have to come in two categories:  positive and negative.  The positive emotions would be our own inner light and our negative emotions would be our own inner darkness just as how we have positive thoughts and negative thoughts).

My positive emotions are like the inner light of god in my life.  Without them, then my life can only be empty regardless of what I were to think or believe otherwise.  The rest of humanity needs this inner light as well.  Otherwise, their lives and artistic endeavors would be empty, too.  Our negative emotions would be the inner darkness and a life of no emotions would just be a blank life.  Don't you hear depressed and miserable people claim their lives are a drag, not worth living, and devoid of any joy and beauty?  This is a common complaint that depressed patients report.

I think this claim reflects our need for the inner light.  When depressed people recover, they say it's as though they have crawled out of the darkest pit and regained the light back to them in their lives.  This is my own personal created religion which is a hedonistic religion.  I call my religion "New Age Hedonism."   Hedonism is the philosophy of maximizing pleasure (positive emotions) and minimizing pain (negative emotions).  Although, as I explain later on, I am undecided when it comes to the existence of god, the afterlife, and the paranormal.  If these phenomena do not exist, then my hedonistic religion would instead take on a secular form.

As for what type of environment or artistic landscape I would use to convey my worldview, it would not be the fear mongering images of unsaved sinners being thrown into the lake of fire which is often conveyed by religions such as fundamentalist Christianity.  My image would be a beautiful and tropical paradise.  This symbolizes being happy, wild, free, and not having to adhere your life to any such horrible religious doctrines.  It is looking forward to an afterlife of eternal bliss where you can finally be free of all depression, unhappiness, and misery.  The New Age spiritual beliefs adhere to the doctrine of an all loving god who does not condemn people to an eternal hell or expect others to serve their lives to him.  That is why I call my worldview/religion "New Age Hedonism."

[brewer]

Do you just travel from forum to forum hoping for acceptance?

[Foxaèr]

Do you just travel from forum to forum hoping for acceptance?

The OP's train of thought certainly doesn't seem to shift beyond a single concept.

I think I'm going to take the knee during this thread.

[brewer]

[edit]
I think I'm going to take the knee during this thread.

Shouldn't that be in her "quote" thread?

[Brian37]

(Note:  Psychologists divide emotions into a positive category and a negative category.  I am firmly convinced this division is true based upon my own personal experience.  The concept of inner light and inner darkness is all well too known in movies, anime, art, etc.  So, that is why emotions would have to come in two categories:  positive and negative.  The positive emotions would be our own inner light and our negative emotions would be our own inner darkness just as how we have positive thoughts and negative thoughts).

My positive emotions are like the inner light of god in my life.  Without them, then my life can only be empty regardless of what I were to think or believe otherwise.  The rest of humanity needs this inner light as well.  Otherwise, their lives and artistic endeavors would be empty, too.  Our negative emotions would be the inner darkness and a life of no emotions would just be a blank life.  Don't you hear depressed and miserable people claim their lives are a drag, not worth living, and devoid of any joy and beauty?  This is a common complaint that depressed patients report.

I think this claim reflects our need for the inner light.  When depressed people recover, they say it's as though they have crawled out of the darkest pit and regained the light back to them in their lives.  This is my own personal created religion which is a hedonistic religion.  I call my religion "New Age Hedonism."   Hedonism is the philosophy of maximizing pleasure (positive emotions) and minimizing pain (negative emotions).  Although, as I explain later on, I am undecided when it comes to the existence of god, the afterlife, and the paranormal.  If these phenomena do not exist, then my hedonistic religion would instead take on a secular form.

As for what type of environment or artistic landscape I would use to convey my worldview, it would not be the fear mongering images of unsaved sinners being thrown into the lake of fire which is often conveyed by religions such as fundamentalist Christianity.  My image would be a beautiful and tropical paradise.  This symbolizes being happy, wild, free, and not having to adhere your life to any such horrible religious doctrines.  It is looking forward to an afterlife of eternal bliss where you can finally be free of all depression, unhappiness, and misery.  The New Age spiritual beliefs adhere to the doctrine of an all loving god who does not condemn people to an eternal hell or expect others to serve their lives to him.  That is why I call my worldview/religion "New Age Hedonism."

Nobody needs an old religion, new age religion or to concoct a new religion. It is not brain surgery to say, "Try not to physically harm others, and help others when you can."

Sorry, but just because you rightfully reject old mythology does not mean you need this "new" club to label yourself. Human's ability to be cruel or compassionate is not in any form of woo, but in our species evolution as individuals.

[Minimalist]

My positive emotions are like the inner light of god in my life.

My positive emotions went down the shitter when the WLB was elected.

[Edwardo Piet]

So tell me, Transcended Dimensons, what's the difference between a 'real' emotion and a placebo? And how exactly are my emotions real unless they literally make me run with fear or laugh? I feel like 99% of emotions are only as real as you believe they are.

[Transcended Dimensions]

(Note:  Psychologists divide emotions into a positive category and a negative category.  I am firmly convinced this division is true based upon my own personal experience.  The concept of inner light and inner darkness is all well too known in movies, anime, art, etc.  So, that is why emotions would have to come in two categories:  positive and negative.  The positive emotions would be our own inner light and our negative emotions would be our own inner darkness just as how we have positive thoughts and negative thoughts).

My positive emotions are like the inner light of god in my life.  Without them, then my life can only be empty regardless of what I were to think or believe otherwise.  The rest of humanity needs this inner light as well.  Otherwise, their lives and artistic endeavors would be empty, too.  Our negative emotions would be the inner darkness and a life of no emotions would just be a blank life.  Don't you hear depressed and miserable people claim their lives are a drag, not worth living, and devoid of any joy and beauty?  This is a common complaint that depressed patients report.

I think this claim reflects our need for the inner light.  When depressed people recover, they say it's as though they have crawled out of the darkest pit and regained the light back to them in their lives.  This is my own personal created religion which is a hedonistic religion.  I call my religion "New Age Hedonism."   Hedonism is the philosophy of maximizing pleasure (positive emotions) and minimizing pain (negative emotions).  Although, as I explain later on, I am undecided when it comes to the existence of god, the afterlife, and the paranormal.  If these phenomena do not exist, then my hedonistic religion would instead take on a secular form.

As for what type of environment or artistic landscape I would use to convey my worldview, it would not be the fear mongering images of unsaved sinners being thrown into the lake of fire which is often conveyed by religions such as fundamentalist Christianity.  My image would be a beautiful and tropical paradise.  This symbolizes being happy, wild, free, and not having to adhere your life to any such horrible religious doctrines.  It is looking forward to an afterlife of eternal bliss where you can finally be free of all depression, unhappiness, and misery.  The New Age spiritual beliefs adhere to the doctrine of an all loving god who does not condemn people to an eternal hell or expect others to serve their lives to him.  That is why I call my worldview/religion "New Age Hedonism."

Nobody needs an old religion, new age religion or to concoct a new religion. It is not brain surgery to say, "Try not to physically harm others, and help others when you can."

Sorry, but just because you rightfully reject old mythology does not mean you need this "new" club to label yourself. Human's ability to be cruel or compassionate is not in any form of woo, but in our species evolution as individuals.

Your quoted message wasn't the sole message my worldview was attempting to convey.  I was saying that our positive emotions such as feelings of love, joy, or excitement which are euphoric states, that these states are like the light of god we need in our lives.  Without them, then our lives are empty.

[Edwardo Piet]

I can never even figure out what I'm even feeling 99% of the time. I don't understand emotions and that isn't going to change anytime soon. What do you recommend?

[Transcended Dimensions]

So tell me, Transcended Dimensons, what's the difference between a 'real' emotion and a placebo? And how exactly are my emotions real unless they literally make me run with fear or laugh? I feel like 99% of emotions are only as real as you believe they are.

Biochemicals:  endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.

Moods:  This is not a feeling of elation.  Rather, it is either a generalized and constant state of well being or non well being.  For example, when the brain is in its normal, healthy state, this is a constant, chronic, 24/7 state of well being since this is the state the brain is normally supposed to be in.  It is a state of mind induced by the biochemicals (or a spiritual state in a spiritual universe).  Likewise, if you were in a constant, low-grade, depressed state of mind, then this would be a depressed mood. 

Mood states give our lives a constant and stable perception of good or bad value in our lives.  It's no different than how we constantly see objects and our whole entire world through our sight.  This is the divine light and spiritual darkness taking on a constant and stable form.  Take note that, in my writing, I talk only about emotions being the source of value in our lives.  But moods are also to be included as well.  So, when you read my theory, also incorporate moods.

Feelings/Emotions:  Both terms can be used interchangeably to describe moments of elation.  For example, if you felt excited over a new movie, video game, or felt intense love, then these are feelings/emotions.  They are, again, states of mind induced by the biochemicals (or spiritual states in a spiritual universe).  Likewise, if you felt completely miserable due to an emotionally traumatic life event, then this would be a miserable feeling/emotion.
 
Feelings/emotions are far more powerful and profound states of mind than moods, according to my whole theory.  They give a person's life a much greater and more profound perception of good or bad value.  It would be like having moments of enhanced vision through your sight.  This would be the divine light and spiritual darkness taking on powerful forms.  In addition to the positive mood, I also require the positive emotions to drive and inspire me to enjoy my life, hobbies, and compose.

Positive Mood And Emotion:  A positive emotion would be a feeling of love, joy, sexual arousal, or excitement.  It would be a euphoric state.  A positive mood would just be a stable and constant state of well being.

Negative Mood And Emotion:  A negative emotion would be a feeling of despair, anger, sadness, hopelessness, or anguish.  It would be a dysphoric state.  A negative mood would just be a stable and constant state of non well being such as a depressed mood.  Based upon my own personal experience, I can tell you that, for me, the miserable and hopeless states of mind I have been through due to emotional trauma and negative obsessive thinking is the absolute worst negative emotional state to be in.