How atheism affects your life (if at all)?

tech77

Hi.
What are the implications of your atheistic belief for your life?

For some it might be "nothing, just don't believe in God".
For others it might have more profound implications.
Not least, i suppose it provides an interesting philosophical talking point/discussion.

In some ways it's weird how a non-belief can generate so much fuss.
So what effect (if any) does non-belief have on your life?

Overheal

I dislike the notion that Atheists don't have a system of beliefs or morals. We're just Atheist. Just like you have Polytheists and Monotheists, I just don't believe a higher being created things and has been treating us like their own personal Sims. I don't personally feel it has anything to do with Non-Belief.

Tar.Aldarion

It affects me as much as not believeing in unicorns. Apart from I don'r get laughs out of crazy fundamentalist unicorn believers.

Overheal

Im telling you I saw one dammit. Why else would congress be trying to ban Unicorn Porn?

Tar.Aldarion

Two horns on screen is illegal in most states :pac:

Dades

How atheism affects your life (if at all)?

A welcome side-effect is I can play golf on Sunday mornings.

marco_polo

Dades wrote: »

A welcome side-effect is I can play golf on Sunday mornings.

If those were the only two options I'd pick a bit of an old pray myself

Dades

marco_polo wrote: »

If those were the only two options I'd pick a bit of an old pray myself

You obviously don't have kids.

marco_polo

Dades wrote: »

You obviously don't have kids.

No Sir.

Doctor DooM

1) I get a lie in on Sunday mornings

2) I get to only feel guilty about things I have done which are actually wrong.

threeleggedhors

I think it's a little bit depressing being atheist, no happy ever after thoughts but beneficial in not wasting time / money worshipping something that you feel / think isn't real.

If we're wrong though, we're screwed, Jebus help us all !!

marco_polo

threeleggedhors wrote: »

I think it's a little bit depressing being atheist, no happy ever after thoughts but beneficial in not wasting time / money worshipping something that you feel / think isn't real.

If we're wrong though, we're screwed, Jebus help us all !!

The only depressing thought is that if we are right, we never get to say "Told you so".

MrPudding

I don’t really find it depressing, to be honest. That said I do miss that belief I once held that I would somehow meet up with all the relative and friends I had lost. That was a very comforting feeling. With hindsight, it was silly, but still comforting.

Another thing I have difficulty with is death. Not in an “I am so scared of dying as I know there is no afterlife” kind of a way, but in a “what do I say to someone who is religious and has just lost a loved one.” I also find it very hard to stomach funeral services.

I have kids and I really enjoy trying to instil a respect for other people and give them an understanding of right and wrong without having to resort to supernatural rewards and punishments.

My life is much happier in unbelief. I know I am a reasonably good person and I feel much happier know I am not going to hell because I masturbate too much.

MrP

dossier

threeleggedhors wrote: »

I think it's a little bit depressing being atheist, no happy ever after thoughts but beneficial in not wasting time / money worshipping something that you feel / think isn't real.

If we're wrong though, we're screwed, Jebus help us all !!

+1

I find it a bit depressing too. No afterlife, no real importance in the scheme of things etc

But I don't want to believe something because I might feel bad if I don't. I want to believe it because I think it's true

Goduznt Xzst

my life has more focus now. Without the carrot of immortality dangling in front of me I try to plan to make every minute I'm awake count or at least be spent doing something I enjoy. I also take much better care of myself (more exercise, no smoking, very little alcohol, transfats... etc) If this life is all there is I'd rather live to as ripe an old age as I can. I've also educated myself in the medical history of my family so as to know what hereditary ailments might eventually befall me so that I can begin to protect against them now.

Malari

dossier wrote: »

+1

I find it a bit depressing too. No afterlife, no real importance in the scheme of things etc

But I don't want to believe something because I might feel bad if I don't. I want to believe it because I think it's true

I don't find it depressing at all!

I find all natural science, evolution, life in general fascinating and exciting!

I enjoy my life, I have great friends and a caring family. Of course, everyone has worries and problems but I just deal with things as they happen and the lack of afterlife affects me not in the slightest.

Anything could happen to me tomorrow and I don't want to have wasted any of my time alive.

Overheal

Overheal wrote: »

Im telling you I saw one dammit. Why else would congress be trying to ban Unicorn Porn?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=225139&title=sh#t-thats-never-gonna-happen

rainbow kirby

SDooM wrote: »

1) I get a lie in on Sunday mornings

2) I get to only feel guilty about things I have done which are actually wrong.

+1

ChocolateSauce

It's interesting how a lack of something can be so important to my life. In some respects, it is the foundation of it. I'm a direly liberal fellow, and I arrived at that position precisely because I don't believe in those holy books. If I did, my logic would lead me to follow them and lead my life "piously".

I also have a love affair with science, and I find that science and atheism are natural allies. They complement each other and in doing so become very influential in my life.

redfacedbear

The only real effects have become noticable since my daughters have come along.

I now find myself having conversations with my mother-in-law trying to re-assure her that Educate Together is not dangerous nor a cult :P and that if we decide to not put them forward for First Communion indoctrination it probably will not be 'the worst thing in world that you could do to a little girl'. - no dressing up in a mini-wedding dress - imagine!

Stercus Accidit

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

my life has more focus now. Without the carrot of immortality dangling in front of me I try to plan to make every minute I'm awake count or at least be spent doing something I enjoy. I also take much better care of myself (more exercise, no smoking, very little alcohol, transfats... etc) If this life is all there is I'd rather live to as ripe an old age as I can. I've also educated myself in the medical history of my family so as to know what hereditary ailments might eventually befall me so that I can begin to protect against them now.

This is quite a motivating post, and a good philosophy on life.

I still want my booze and fags though! I have a few years of those left in me, without guilt

bigeasyeah

yawn

Dades

bigeasyeah wrote: »

yawn

Bored with you, too. Contribute or begone.

coffee_cake

It doesn't have any effect
well more agnostic, but still

Valmont

I'm only really an atheist on here to be honest. It's not a topic I like to discuss in the real world, mainly because I don't like offending people. I know it sounds supremely patronising but I feel really bad when I hear someone talking about God and trying to argue the case etc (not very often). Meh.

Ickle Magoo

It doesn't really affect my life at all.

It seems to bother other people immensely that we're not religious & don't intend on impressing on our children their need to hold dear a faith and in Ireland that's made doubly as difficult by the entwining of state & Church in so may issues, especially those involving the kids. It's annoying and it makes life a bit more challenging to be true to our own values but it doesn't really "affect" us, we just sigh, roll our eyes & get on with it.

dreamlogic

tech77 wrote: »

What are the implications of your atheistic belief for your life?

A couple of things that spring to mind about being an atheist/agnostic:
I am more likely to take responsibility for my own life than put what happens to me down to fate or predestination etc.
I think for myself and arrive at my own ideas of what is right and wrong rather than from being preached to.

Having said that I tend to think of being an atheist/agnostic as the 'default' position. It is religions and cults are what are unnatural and impose a new structure...

MrPudding wrote: »

Another thing I have difficulty with is death
...
in a “what do I say to someone who is religious and has just lost a loved one.” I also find it very hard to stomach funeral services.

Same here.

liah

I feel it makes me more compassionate, understanding and accepting. But that's just me.

threeleggedhors

There's certainly a sense of freedom from being atheist, you're your own master. I read an interesting study in Robert Whiston's book on human instinct about how there were twins fostered to different families at birth one going to your average religious family and the other going to a non religious family. They both however were inately spiritual. Could being spiritual, religious be in your breeding ?? Don't know why I thought of that but thought I'd throw it out there. Whinston reckoned that being spiritual would give you the edge when it came to a severe illness in that you would strive to get better through God. Funny that though I would've thought it to be the other way around with the believer being more accepting of their fate and looking forward to life ever after. Sorry I know I'm on a rant, I'll stop now.....

AtomicHorror

Less guilt whilst eating babies.

Zamboni

redfacedbear wrote: »

The only real effects have become noticable since my daughters have come along.

I now find myself having conversations with my mother-in-law trying to re-assure her that Educate Together is not dangerous nor a cult :P and that if we decide to not put them forward for First Communion indoctrination it probably will not be 'the worst thing in world that you could do to a little girl'. - no dressing up in a mini-wedding dress - imagine!

Good point.
These conversations have started already and I don't even have kids yet!
How to prevent the grandparents (both sides) interfering in the children's upbringing with regards to faith will be interesting.