I have been an Atheist a very short time. I don’t want to bore you all with how or even why. I’d like to deal with a question that perhaps other people are struggling with as well. The question of, “How do I stop quoting the Bible to myself?” For every thought or revelation, or beautiful experience as an Atheist I find myself thinking on the Bible verse that reveals the Truth to me just as I did when I was a Theist. I find myself then questioning whether I am truly an Atheist. I KNOW there isn’t evidence for a God based on what I’ve LEARNED. But the educational piece has not taken away the deep love that I have for God, or the peace I have received from remembering what I used to think of as, “God’s promises.” I don’t want a lecture about why there is no evidence for a God. Please spare me these details. I rather want to know how to move forward as an Atheist. A True Atheist.
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Permalink Reply by Bo Fowler on February 19, 2013 at 3:40pm A true atheist does not dread the occasional sensation of faith within him. If he regards it at all he regards it with distant fondness, as though it were a memory of a far away country he once visited in his youth.
Permalink Reply by Mabel on February 19, 2013 at 4:03pm Belle, One suggestion could be if you used to believe in an eternal tormentful hell for non-believers, now you no longer have to feel the disturbance that such a place exists and feel peace about this instead of the peace that came from your previously perceived promises of God. I don't know if this will work well enough for you but it helps me somewhat. I would be interested to know what you think?
Permalink Reply by Belle Rose on February 19, 2013 at 5:07pm The idea of the torment of hell hasn't disappeared within me or brought me peace, (thus far.) It seems like other people feel that too. I wish I could flip a switch and shut down the whole circuit. I WISH I could feel that peace you describe. I suppose I do sometimes. I should say I do until someone says something about God then I start to have conflicting thoughts again... Instead it brings doubts and then I have the whole, "I've fallen away" talk with myself....Atheism wins every time.
I'm liking the Shakespeare suggestion, (Strega). I am somewhat of a poet. :)
Permalink Reply by Strega on February 19, 2013 at 5:52pm It's all about compromise, Belle. Once you learn to treat yourself with kindness, you no longer spend time mentally slapping yourself, and can accommodate what you need and want, using substitutions as applicable.
I love reading other people's poetry, especially if I 'know' the author. Do you put your writings up on the net anywhere you'd care to share?
Permalink Reply by Mat Waldie on February 19, 2013 at 6:42pm Doubt is good and can be your proof, everything worth a goddamn started out as a "I don't know". you didn't believe in god or the bible in a few months or even a few years, you were brain washed from birth by everyone you ever trusted. If you have any doubt you really need to praise how far you have come to that doubt on your own:) And remember (if you still have doubt of a heaven and hell) the party downstairs would have to be way better than the party upstairs. Well just saying jesus and moses would be absolute pills to hang out with for an eternity.
Started by Adam in Small Talk. Last reply by Belle Rose 3 minutes ago. 6 Replies 0 Likes
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