Knowing that everything I feel is just some chemicals in my brain entering their proper receptors and various electrical impulses shooting the gaps between neurons and such. (if that is indeed what the impulses do, I'm a pretty dumb guy) It is slightly depressing...I can really see why some people turn to a diety for hope.
Well if your're logical enough to accept that version of human existence then obviously you can't be that dumb
I accept it but I don't understand it. How this computer works and how my brain works may as well be magic to me.
A very interesting disclosure from yourself, OP - I've been thinking about this ALOT lately... Regardless, it may appear depressing, but it really isn't - if the worst-case scenario is that it's just lights out and that's it. Because that would mean it would be like BEFORE you were born, which wasn't unpleasant, was it? You just don't remember. Maybe there is nothing to remember. But the whole point about consciousness only being chemical reactions and what-not - that is some serious shit to ponder. Everything that I experience as a person is nothing more than chemical reactions... Wow... BUT, how about this (and this is what makes me happy): These people need "God" in their lives -as you've mentioned. I feel you - a lot on this one, but how much stronger we Agnostics and Atheists are that we DO make it though without that BS? We do it raw-dog, baby. Think about that. That's rather impressive. Sorry, religious folks, but really think about WHY you are religious (mostly speaking about the Abrahamic Religions). Is it because of indoctrination? Or did you become religious later on because something bad happened to you and you need that higher power? And/or are you just too scared about the afterlife, so you "take out insurance" - you cover your asses, so to speak? Trust me, OP. I have that void - and nothing to fill it. But I will be DAMNED if I fucking delude myself.... FUCK THAT. I'm a good person and I ain't going to burn for eternity in a bullshit "hell". Please...
wat I was going to reply to each part of your post individually, but then I realized I'd basically be saying I agree with everything. So yeah, I do agree with pretty much all you're saying. It's been a struggle for me to come to where I am now mentally. I was raised in a Christian household and went to a Christian elementary school and high school, plus I was homeschooled through middle school. Every day I wonder if I will burn in hell but I just keep telling myself that this "Bible" where it says that shit has be rewritten innumerable times, and that even if by some freak wild chance there is a god, that he is merciful enough to know when someone is truly a good person at heart. I believe I am a good person with a good heart/soul (perhaps mind), and a god that doesn't accept me to his fucking heaven doesn't deserve to even look at me! So fuck that whore of a god. Wow, big of a tangent there, I guess I have some pent up anger towards all this bullshit I've been fed. Especially towards people who teach little kids that if they don't believe in god they will go to hell. I do feel like a stronger individual for being able to accept the fact that once I'm dead, I'm dead, there is no afterlife so I don't need any damn insurance. I don't fear death because like you said, it's gonna be just like before you were born. This hash is some good shit, it's got me rambling.
Yes! No - that was good shit. If that (imaginary) god is such a dick that sends people to hell for BULLSHIT, then I don't want anything to do with him. We don't have anything to worry about when we die, I believe... Dude - if the Christian/Abrahamic god ran the Universe(s), it wouldn't work. It would be like having an idiot who doesn't know his ass from his elbow becoming the president of Applebee's or any huge franchise/chain. The shit would be run into the fucking ground the first day. Yet they say this guy even CREATED the Universe... Please...
iMPREPREX and The Crafter... I'm right beside you guys.I used to have that fear,but that's all it is...Centuries of fear mongering.I'm not trying to act like my shit don't stink haha,but I feel much better knowing that I practice love,caring,sharing,and overall being a good person....Without an imaginary man looking over my shoulder to impress.
We do good things without being "under the gun". Yeah, not to come off cocky either, but it's true. When I help someone, I don't do it out of the fear of god getting mad at me if I don't. I do it to truly help. We are ALL on this planet TOGETHER, and we're all we've got (at least until ET comes into the mix). Regardless of what ANYONE says, we still have no idea how we got here or what happens "after". Yes - we're lost... But how many are ready to admit that we are lost? Most just bury their head in the sand (religion). We brave the storm. On our own. We deserve a lot more credit than we get. Instead, we get bullshit from the religious... Damn it... Proud to be an Agnostic Atheist (I know it gets semantically complicated with those words, so I threw them both in there). I believe an Architect is POSSIBLE. I believe that something after death is POSSIBLE. But without further proof, I will say "I don't know". I do not believe that the story - according to the Torah/bibles/koran is accurate, however...
I think science has "boring" connotations to it, and it doesn't really inspire wonder. I think that is a result of much of scientific thought being seen in a sense of a reactionary response to religious ideas that have dominated human thought in the past. I think this "boring" or whatever you want to call it thing indicates an infantile point in science, as logic and emperical reasoning is not for the purpose of taking all wonder away from the earth, and say "it's all mechanical, if you think otherwise you're stupid."
Well, you have to see where they're coming from. Science may indeed seem flawed and close-minded, but it's because it's basically a "non-bullshit", brass-tacks thing... Theories, hypotheses, Empirical proof - all systems implemented for a reason. They're filters, so to speak. I was once into reincarnation, and other metaphysical shit, and at the present time, I don't think it's IMPOSSIBLE. In fact, I hope (not necessarily "believe") things like reincarnation and afterlives exist. But until science discovers anything like that, I'll just take the default view. We're biological machines and our thoughts and consciousness is nothing more than chemical reactions and synapses, etc... It's not the end of the world... Just live life. The one thing I do LOVE from the bible (probably the ONLY thing) is "Treat others how you would like to be treated". Probably THE best advice EVER. No sarcasm.
I was personally an atheist before I started believing in God. I decided to open my mind and take an unbiased and sincere look at the whole thing. I dont believe in God because I "need" to, thats silly. I cant help but to believe it. I cant convince myself God doesnt exist, the same goes for many others that believe in God. They cant just choose not to believe, we arent deluding ourselves. Dont be so arrogant man.
I dont know how to take you seriously when you dont even understand the basics of Christianity/religion. Christianity CLEARLY says that man is lost. That is the reason why Jesus came, because man is lost. That is the purpose of religion, because man forgot its true nature. Also, I dont do good things because I fear punishment from God. Just because some people are that way doesnt mean everyone is. Its made clear in Christianity that a person should be genuine, you shouldnt just "do" good deeds in order to impress God and "earn" your way to heaven. Atleast understand the basics of Christianity before saying these things.
Um, I could not disagree with you more (respectfully of course). To say that science does not experience wonder is completely wrong! Science is ALL about wonder. It is nothing more than a way of approaching that wonder that allows you to discern the noise from the data.That's it! I do not know a single scientist who feels that "it's all mechanical, if you think otherwise you're stupid." Quite the contrary, I have actually found most scientists (exceptions do exist of course) to be some of the most open minded people around. We just want to see some evidence before we accept a claim- thats all! For me, science actually inspires wonder because as you cultivate a deeper understanding of things- you want to know more and more! Scientists are not content to look up at the stars as think "Wow, I wonder what those are made of..." They say that and then build telescopes and space ships to figure it out. Then once they have figured it out the ask more questions and repeat the process over again. "I think that is a result of much of scientific thought being seen in a sense of a reactionary response to religious ideas that have dominated human thought in the past." Maybe it is a reaction to religious thought. I am not willing to say that but even if it were, that would be very reasonable. Religious thought lead us to the Witch hunts- don't want to go down that road again.
It's a pretty depressing thought but it's better to be right than delude yourself. So why do you believe in there being a 'god'? Why not a pantheon of gods? Is it all based on blind faith ?
Dude, Christians don't even agree on this. Personally, I was raised in the Lutheran Church, the Methodist Church and the Pentecostal church. All three I would be willing to call bona fid Christians and all three disagree on the points you are suggesting are the "basics of Christianity". So step one, why don't you explain what the basic are because your own religion does not even seem to have it figured out By the way, have you read Martin Luther's Catechism? The Bible itself is full of parables about people acting morally because God will do horrible things to them otherwise. Its built into your Word of God.
For plenty of reasons. I began to accept that a creator/God is a realistic possibility and not a far fetched one. I then did a lot of research on Jesus/Christianity and it started to make sense.
Ok, but why? It definitely is a far fetched one, there is no evidence for the existence of GODS (past and present), and a fair bit disproving their existence...I mean, fair enough if you believe on blind faith alone, but don't try and rationalize it. And surely if you did some research the opposite happened? What made you start believing? Also, can you please tell me why you think the idea of there being one god has more merit than there being many? And why your choice of religion is right?
lol...more of the same shit here and that other thread... 'God' can be known without the stain of Christian dogma attached...it like its all you know though....all you want to consider and refute. It could be that you are simply too close minded to consider otherwise. Such bullshit because God is so much greater than THAT....