Deconversion and some doubts

[Belacqua]

I'm in my early twenties, I want to have the best time of my life, party, have sex and stuff But there is still this voice in the back of my head, and though I'm trying to do these things, they are accompanied by worries and guilt.

Judging just by your OP, you sound like a good person!

I don't see any reason why you have to hurry up and settle all the issues about morality while you're still so young. Yes, for sure, enjoy yourself. But I think it's great that you're deeply concerned about the morality of what you're doing. You're working with the morality you were raised with, and it may not be the best, but it's also a good thing to have a conscience. Especially while you're young and have the potential to really mess things up.

Anomie is a real thing, and we can see it all around. I'm NOT saying that religion is the only alternative, but an inner voice that keeps you from doing your worst is a valuable thing. A more mature morality will be built through life experiences. 

But I repeat: it is OK to enjoy yourself!

[tackattack]

Leaving the faith doesn’t mean your morals change because your morals don’t only come from faith. If you want to party party . If you don’t don’t . Stop making it about God because you were raised in it.

[Abaddon_ire]

But there is still this voice in the back of my head, and though I'm trying to do these things, they are accompanied by worries and guilt. I would like to be convinced that god doesn't exist and start living my only life, but I have this inner block. I'm in the constant battle with myself over this. Also I'm really confused and scared why I feel this way.

That supposedly moral voice, is just a projection of your own, a product of social and cultural conditioning.

The other day a man dropped his wallet, and I was tempted to keep it, but that pesky voice of admonishment telling me not to do it, because it’s wrong reared his head.

But I was able to snuff it out, by reminding myself that it’s just a projection, that there’s  nothing right or wrong about anything, that I am master of my own life, not that stupid voice of moral authority. It’s just an illusion, a sound effect, no more authoritative than a fart.

So I took it, bought myself some nice things with the money, and have been happy since.

Go and do the same

Possibly one of the most childish posts I have seen on this site.

I mean seriously, you expect me to believe that the only reason you are not out there murdering, raping and pillaging is because of a crinkly old book that instructs you to do exactly that? That this is what you want to do? That tells me more about your character than you likely wished to reveal.

[downbeatplumb]

But there is still this voice in the back of my head, and though I'm trying to do these things, they are accompanied by worries and guilt. I would like to be convinced that god doesn't exist and start living my only life, but I have this inner block. I'm in the constant battle with myself over this. Also I'm really confused and scared why I feel this way.

That supposedly moral voice, is just a projection of your own, a product of social and cultural conditioning.

The other day a man dropped his wallet, and I was tempted to keep it, but that pesky voice of admonishment telling me not to do it, because it’s wrong reared his head.

But I was able to snuff it out, by reminding myself that it’s just a projection, that there’s  nothing right or wrong about anything, that I am master of my own life, not that stupid voice of moral authority. It’s just an illusion, a sound effect, no more authoritative than a fart.

So I took it, bought myself some nice things with the money, and have been happy since.

Go and do the same

As an atheist that has faced this exact situation I returned the wallet because I am a nice person.

A Christian may return it because they fear the wrath of god.

I think that makes me a BETTER person than that Christian.

[Acrobat]

That supposedly moral voice, is just a projection of your own, a product of social and cultural conditioning.

The other day a man dropped his wallet, and I was tempted to keep it, but that pesky voice of admonishment telling me not to do it, because it’s wrong reared his head.

But I was able to snuff it out, by reminding myself that it’s just a projection, that there’s  nothing right or wrong about anything, that I am master of my own life, not that stupid voice of moral authority. It’s just an illusion, a sound effect, no more authoritative than a fart.

So I took it, bought myself some nice things with the money, and have been happy since.

Go and do the same

Possibly one of the most childish posts I have seen on this site.

I mean seriously, you expect me to believe that the only reason you are not out there murdering, raping and pillaging is because of a crinkly old book that instructs you to do exactly that? That this is what you want to do? That tells me more about your character than you likely wished to reveal.

No, I was referring to things I’m tempted to do, and the barrier between doing it and not doing it, is that conscience voice, telling us that something is wrong.

I’m saying in those situations just snuff that voice out, reminding yourself that it’s a product of social of cultural conditioning, and should have no real authority over what you do or don’t do.

Do I think peoples behaviors would change if they truly believed this about that voice in their head, about our supposed moral compass, our conscious, etc..? Sure, but luckily for us most people don’t, and think it is a true voice of moral authority over their lives.

[Abaddon_ire]

Possibly one of the most childish posts I have seen on this site.

I mean seriously, you expect me to believe that the only reason you are not out there murdering, raping and pillaging is because of a crinkly old book that instructs you to do exactly that? That this is what you want to do? That tells me more about your character than you likely wished to reveal.

No, I was referring to things I’m tempted to do, and the barrier between doing it and not doing it, is that conscience voice, telling us that something is wrong.

I’m saying in those situations just snuff that voice out, reminding yourself that it’s a product of social of cultural conditioning, and should have no real authority over what you do or don’t do.

Do I think peoples behaviors would change if they truly believed this about that voice in their head, about our supposed moral compass, our conscious, etc..? Sure, but luckily for us most people don’t, and think it is a true voice of moral authority over their lives.

But your god is immoral and provides immoral rules. Yet you slavishly follow it.

[Acrobat]

No, I was referring to things I’m tempted to do, and the barrier between doing it and not doing it, is that conscience voice, telling us that something is wrong.

I’m saying in those situations just snuff that voice out, reminding yourself that it’s a product of social of cultural conditioning, and should have no real authority over what you do or don’t do.

Do I think peoples behaviors would change if they truly believed this about that voice in their head, about our supposed moral compass, our conscious, etc..? Sure, but luckily for us most people don’t, and think it is a true voice of moral authority over their lives.

But your god is immoral and provides immoral rules. Yet you slavishly follow it.

Judging that I haven’t said anything here, about what sort of God I do or don’t believe in, let alone whatever supposed rules he gave, this seems to be a dodge of addressing anything I actually did say.

[Abaddon_ire]

But your god is immoral and provides immoral rules. Yet you slavishly follow it.

Judging that I haven’t said anything here, about what sort of God I do or don’t believe in, let alone whatever supposed rules he gave, this seems to be a dodge of addressing anything I actually did say.

I don't care about your imaginary friend. Morality does not depend on it. That you consider yourself immoral without this imaginary friend says enough. That you would happily perform immoral acts without this imaginary friend is particularly disgusting.

[comet]

Hey guys!

I was raised Roman Catholic, at moments I was definitely believing some of this stuff. For example, I tried to stay away from masturbation (not really succeed ), thought that sex desires are somehow sinful and sex before marriage is bad. After moving out to college I went to church handful of times and after confronting my beliefs with my atheist (at the time) roommate I started to seeing how it all could be false.

It's been around 3 years I started deconverting and I'm still not fully atheist. I feel like religion is still capturing my mind. I know that to some of you some of this stuff might sound pretty silly, but maybe some of exbelievers will be able to help me to sort it out.

Okay, so for the starters I find almost no logical reason to believe in god. Like I can see how someone can find pro-theistic arguments convincing when they start from the position that deity exist, but all of them can be easily refuted.

But I have all these feelings. Like anything that is frowned upon by Catholic church is bad, that I know that Christianity is true, that I'm trying to delude myself from truth, that afterlife exists, that atheist are wrong... it's really messing with me. Like if it's all false, why than am I still experiencing this? I'm in my early twenties, I want to have the best time of my life, party, have sex and stuff But there is still this voice in the back of my head, and though I'm trying to do these things, they are accompanied by worries and guilt. I would like to be convinced that god doesn't exist and start living my only life, but I have this inner block. I'm in the constant battle with myself over this. Also I'm really confused and scared why I feel this way.

Can anyone relate? Any tips? If it's also okay in later posts I will question you about some of my doubts about atheism in later posts. Thanks!

yeah, I totally relate.

I then shifted efforts into just studying the system that we live in.  Then all of the sudden, lol, not really, it was the new discovery's, I realized its not god they think they feel, its the system the system they are in that they feel.  Some properties of that god thing thing fit the system's properties and some of the things properties don't.

"guilt" is good to a degree.  I had fun in my twenties and it was the "guilt" that stopped me from hurting too many people while having that fun.

[vulcanlogician]

No, I was referring to things I’m tempted to do, and the barrier between doing it and not doing it, is that conscience voice, telling us that something is wrong.

And the barrier between us thinking 2+2=5 is social conditioning. Understanding of mathematics has nothing to do with it. Even if you have a PhD in mathematics, once you begin to reject social conditioning, you are bound to accept some absurdity like 2+2=5. Is that what you're saying?

The fact is, people are conditioned to think that 2+2=4. But to say 2+2 equalling 4 is a product of conditioning (and nothing more) is a misstatement.

I’m saying in those situations just snuff that voice out, reminding yourself that it’s a product of social of cultural conditioning, and should have no real authority over what you do or don’t do.

Or you could just do what critical thinkers do. Examine the claim for its truth value. Listen to arguments that conclude that X is true. Listen to arguments that conclude that X is false. Make a determination as to which argument is stronger. And from there, if you feel confident enough, make judgments according to the truth you have discovered. Here are some examples: 1) There is nothing morally wrong with homosexuality. 2) Rape is always a moral transgression. --Those who are "conditioned" to think the Bible is inerrant will reject both of those moral propositions. I happen to think both propositions are sound. And it has nothing to do with my conditioning.

Do I think peoples behaviors would change if they truly believed this about that voice in their head, about our supposed moral compass, our conscious, etc..? Sure, but luckily for us most people don’t, and think it is a true voice of moral authority over their lives.

What is morally true is morally true regardless of what most people think or do. Or maybe things are morally false... still-- the layman's moral compass doesn't have shit to do with what is right or wrong. It's not even worth bringing up. Your assumption is that most people are moral. That's not true. "Most people" are obedient; "most people" are conformists. Put "most people" under the rule of a Nazi regime and this will become painfully clear.