I hate being an atheist

Evelyn Cusack

I truly do, the thought of an infinity of nothing is terrifying.

And Yes I know that you aren't conscious of it so you won't feel the pain, but that is the very tragedy of it, the loss of consciousness.

I love life and the world, all my thoughts will be lost like tears in the rain, to steal a phrase.

I'd prefer to live in blissfull ignorance and I hope I don't offend anyone by saying belief in an afterlife is ignorance because, if faith is a gift, then the receivers of this gift are luckier than I.

Religion is comforting, give me that comfort , it is a terrible injustice to think that all us fine fellows will cease to exist, in every single form.

I see older folk find religion as they age, they see so many pass on so I don't blame them, hope I have the same.

Any former atheists here who have had a religious awakening??

Captain Chaos

It's the irrational fear of death that drives some back to religion for some sort of mental comfort.

Slutmonkey57b

Why on earth would you consider death an "injustice"? What exactly do you believe you are "owed" or "deserve" from existence? Immortality?

How arrogant.

COYVB

If you think an Infinity of nothing is terrifying you clearly don't understand what nothing actually is

yawhat!

There is one thing I hate about Atheists, they have to tell everyone there an atheist.

Evelyn Cusack

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

Why on earth would you consider death an "injustice"? What exactly do you believe you are "owed" or "deserve" from existence? Immortality?

How arrogant.

Consciousness and life are amazing, and is ultimately all we have. And we will ultimately be robbed of everything we own regardless of how we live. That's an injustice to me, if I'm arrogant then That's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

I love you.

Mint Aero

I hate being a chocolate bar.

furiousox

yawhat! wrote: »

There is one thing I hate about Atheists, they have to tell everyone there an atheist.

I hate people who say "there, an athiest!"

Slutmonkey57b

Evelyn Cusack wrote: »

Consciousness and life are amazing, and is ultimately all we have. And we will ultimately be robbed of everything we own regardless of how we live. That's an injustice to me, if I'm arrogant then That's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

I love you.

If it's injustice to be "robbed" of your consciousness, then surely it's equally unjust to be "granted" it in the first place?

B_Rabbit

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

If it's injustice to be "robbed" of your consciousness, then surely it's equally unjust to be "granted" it in the first place?

Are you just looking for an argument or what?

Frynge

yawhat! wrote: »

There is one thing I hate about Atheists, they have to tell everyone there an atheist.

Ah the hipster atheist,


I find it easier to just say I'm not religious.

Duck Soup

yawhat! wrote: »

There is one thing I hate about atheists, they have to tell everyone they're an atheist.

The thing I hate about some atheists is oftentimes they are more pontificating and sanctimonious than religious people.

I'm a confirmed agnostic. Don't know, don't particularly care. But Jesus wept, spare me from the 'intellectual bravery' and searing intellect of an atheist in full shíte.

Catholics are much more fun. Seriously.

Mint Aero

yawhat! wrote: »

There is one thing I hate about Atheists, they have to tell everyone...there! an atheist!

Where?! :mad: Thems atheists, why I oughta :mad:

zenno

Narrow minded people.

I'm what you call a complicated atheist. I believe your electrical energy/conciousness carries on.

Not religious, but open-minded.

Captain Chaos

zenno wrote: »

Narrow minded people.

I'm what you call a complicated atheist. I believe your electrical energy/conciousness carries on.

Not religious, but open-minded.

That's agnostic, = not religious but open minded to just about anything.

B_Rabbit

Captain Chaos wrote: »

That's agnostic, = not religious but open minded to just about anything.

Except anal.

Evelyn Cusack

If I sound arrogant, I hope I'm proven wrong

Captain Chaos

Evelyn Cusack wrote: »

If I sound arrogant, I hope I'm proven wrong

Why though.

As an aside, no one will ever know either way and come back and tell us. It's a one way trip.

All the NDE stuff has been shown as effects to what happens to the brain during extreme shock and the body starting to shut down.

Frynge

It is very simple, just be a good person and good things will happen to you.


It may be complete bull**** but when good thing happen to you they can be explained away with the above statement.

urabell

Where do you people get the time to think about this sort of thing?

3rdDegree

yawhat! wrote: »

There is one thing I hate about Atheists, they have to tell everyone there an atheist.

And lots of religious feel they have to convert the rest of us (in fact, the bible tells them that they must). That's kind of irritating too, you know!

Aestivalis

You know what I love? Not giving a crap about religion or atheism
No time for either, live life in the now. If I die, I die. I try not to think about it too much because whats the point.

Ignorance is bliss etc

roadrunner16

Evelyn Cusack wrote: »

Consciousness and life are amazing, and is ultimately all we have. And we will ultimately be robbed of everything we own regardless of how we live. That's an injustice to me, if I'm arrogant then That's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

I love you.

What would you prefer ? live forever ? sounds far worse.

Burky126

As long as you've lived,what's the issue?

Why worry about something you have no control over? We're all destined for the same fate.

It's normal to get existential now and again but it's not worth wasting more time than it is worth - and time is the most currency you own.

Don't waste it.

Galwayguy35

urabell wrote: »

Where do you people get the time to think about this sort of thing?

I would imagine most people think of death now and again, it's the one thing none of us can escape.

Personally death is my biggest fear.

Filibuster

You should have taken the blue pill.

poundapunnet

Burky126 wrote: »

As long as you've lived,what's the issue?

Why worry about something you have no control over? We're all destined for the same fate.

It's normal to get existential now and again but it's not worth wasting more time than it is worth - and time is the most currency you own.

Don't waste it.

The way I think of it is there were people hundreds of years ago thinking the same thing, trying to wrap their heads around their own mortality and the concept of them completely ceasing, and it seemed like a big deal. And who gives a sh1t now? And it'll be the same for all of us, no matter how overwhelming it feels. You live, you die, there's no getting out of it, there's no point worrying about it.

The Backwards Man

These threads go nowhere, theists and atheists are two peas from the same pod, no difference in them. I'm off to listen to some uplifting music to cheer myself up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxbIU0X-lCI

_Redzer_

Duck Soup wrote: »

The thing I hate about some atheists is oftentimes they are more pontificating and sanctimonious than religious people.

I'm a confirmed agnostic. Don't know, don't particularly care. But Jesus wept, spare me from the 'intellectual bravery' and searing intellect of an atheist in full shíte.

Catholics are much more fun. Seriously.

You mean "Catholics" are more fun, as in the ones who don't follow any of the rules, don't really give a shíte yet still give themselves the title just in case. They're the majority of the country and they're normal.

Then you have your proper Catholics. The ones that follow the rules to the last and don't do anything sinful (which happens to be anything fun). Those dudes are often seriously judgemental and prudish too.

Full on atheists can be arrogant and pompous, but full on Flanders Catholics are freaks from my experience.

Nestle

In Ireland being an atheist is the default position and that held by most. This is because the top level scientists and academic philosophers hold to this position and these are thought to be best equipped to know about that sort of thing.

What a horror show being alive in the 21st century is. We have it so easy physically yet psychologically it's a war-zone. The feeling of utter meaninglessness is so prevalent and the only remedy is to seek pleasurable distractions.

At least in times past life was a struggle so we actually had something to strive for, to see a better day. Now we have all that we could want yet we're still not happy.

Everyone in the world should mutually agree to shoot themselves in the face with a double barreled shotgun at an agreed time and place. It can take place in the middle east since that's at the center of the globe and they will be glad to host the big event as they actually think they'll survive death and get some nice young tush in the process. Perhaps instead of the 2018 world cup in Quatar we can do my plan instead.

WilyCoyote

I truly do, the thought of an infinity of nothing is terrifying.

The opening salvo by the OP above. Why in God's anybody's name would you hate being an atheist? I've been one for about 48 years now and have never felt this way. I think you need to take out the beads before a full breakdown!

systemicrisk

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

Why on earth would you consider death an "injustice"? What exactly do you believe you are "owed" or "deserve" from existence? Immortality?

How arrogant.

Did your parents not play with you when you were a child or is there some other reason why you are cruel? The OP came on here with what seems like a genuine question regarding something quite important and it seems you go out of your way to find the only part of the post that could be criticised. I think its time for you to have a long hard look in the mirror and question why you respond to peoples insecurities in this manner. I really hope you are not like in real life.

Captain Chaos

systemicrisk wrote: »

Did your parents not play with you when you were a child or is there some other reason why you are cruel? The OP came on here with what seems like a genuine question regarding something quite important and it seems you go out of your way to find the only part of the post that could be criticised. I think its time for you to have a long hard look in the mirror and question why you respond to peoples insecurities in this manner. I really hope you are not like in real life.

If the OP isn't happy with the idea of being an atheist then don't be one and go back to religion and or a faith/belief system that works for them.

It's a frame of mind the OP is clearly not comfortable with so why punish themselves until they do more soul searching for want of better word.

Nestle

WilyCoyote wrote: »

I truly do, the thought of an infinity of nothing is terrifying.

The opening salvo by the OP above. Why in God's anybody's name would you hate being an atheist? I've been one for about 48 years now and have never felt this way. I think you need to take out the beads before a full breakdown!

Because, it means dying is really dying. I'd like it to mean going to a world without pain with a lot of hot girls without clothes with the desire to have sex without condoms.

Slutmonkey57b

Evelyn Cusack wrote: »

If I sound arrogant, I hope I'm proven wrong

Think of it in terms of the idea that consciousness is something to be granted, stolen or owed, is arrogant instead. To feel that one deserves immortality simply because one feels so special that the loss of it is cruel implies that one believes the universe should exist to please our whims and needs. While that's a good explanation of why religions start, it's not going to help anyone in the long run.

Ultimately, all you can do is try to . understand why you need to feel special and exceptional. That might assuage the issues you're experiencing.

systemicrisk

Captain Chaos wrote: »

If the OP isn't happy with the idea of being an atheist then don't be one and go back to religion and or a faith/belief system that works for them.

It's a frame of mind the OP is clearly not comfortable with so why punish themselves until they do more soul searching for want of better word.

Perfectly reasonable coherent answer and I agree. I was just questioning why the poster had to immediately jump in and call the OP arrogant for what seems like a question borne out of a possible state of turmoil. Seemed uncalled for to me

poundapunnet

Captain Chaos wrote: »

If the OP isn't happy with the idea of being an atheist then don't be one and go back to religion and or a faith/belief system that works for them.

It's a frame of mind the OP is clearly not comfortable with so why punish themselves until they do more soul searching for want of better word.

"Don't be an atheist"? As in "stop not believing in any higher consciousness and decide to start believing it"? How does that work? You can't force yourself to really believe something.

Nestle

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

Think of it in terms of the idea that consciousness is something to be granted, stolen or owed, is arrogant instead. To feel that one deserves immortality simply because one feels so special that the loss of it is cruel implies that one believes the universe should exist to please our whims and needs. While that's a good explanation of why religions start, it's not going to help anyone in the long run.

Ultimately, all you can do is try to . understand why you need to feel special and exceptional. That might assuage the issues you're experiencing.

The universe thinks it can bring us into existence with a strong will to survive indefinitely, have life be fairly shocking and then have us to to sleep for eternity. Screw it's terms and conditions.

RE-REG USER BANNED.

Mod.

kylith

I'm an atheist and I think it's great. I have no fear of Death, why should I? There's nothing I can do about it. As for an afterlife, I can't think of anything worse than eternity. You'd go out of your mind with boredom. I wasn't overly concerned about what was going on before I had brain activity so I can't see why I'd be bothered about what happens after it stops.

Senna

I'm with the OP on this one, I think a believe in some kind of afterlife would be very comforting (I see it in my own mother following the death of my father). But I just can't believe in it myself and I think as I grow older the lack of believe will probably haunt me more.

rossie1977

Evelyn Cusack wrote: »

I truly do, the thought of an infinity of nothing is terrifying.

really? for me an infinity of an afterlife would be terrifying.

the first hundred million years might be fine but the next hundred million after that and the next hundred million after that...and when those are finished you still have infinity to go :eek:

Czarcasm

Evelyn Cusack wrote: »

I truly do, the thought of an infinity of nothing is terrifying.

And Yes I know that you aren't conscious of it so you won't feel the pain, but that is the very tragedy of it, the loss of consciousness.

I love life and the world, all my thoughts will be lost like tears in the rain, to steal a phrase.

I'd prefer to live in blissfull ignorance and I hope I don't offend anyone by saying belief in an afterlife is ignorance because, if faith is a gift, then the receivers of this gift are luckier than I.

Religion is comforting, give me that comfort , it is a terrible injustice to think that all us fine fellows will cease to exist, in every single form.

I see older folk find religion as they age, they see so many pass on so I don't blame them, hope I have the same.

Any former atheists here who have had a religious awakening??

OP an infinity of nothing is, well, nothing! So you actually won't feel anything, neither pain nor joy. Part of being human and feeling alive is finding motivation and meaning in your life, and it doesn't have to be religion or atheism. You can have faith in yourself, faith in other people, helping them to achieve their potential, fulfilling your own potential and giving your own life meaning in the process, and long after you've gone, those people whose lives you made a difference in will carry your memories and thoughts with them. Your body isn't immortal, but your consciousness certainly is, in those you leave behind when your body can no longer function.

Your body is only a useful tool for your consciousness, so use it and make the best of it and make the best of your life and the lives of those people around you and inspire them to want to inspire other people. That way when you die, it doesn't mean your memories are dead.

zenno

The Backwards Man wrote: »

These threads go nowhere, theists and atheists are two peas from the same pod, no difference in them. I'm off to listen to some uplifting music to cheer myself up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxbIU0X-lCI

Great song, I remember it well. That was a blast from the past and at the right time

Dirk Hardpeck

I'm not an atheist but I do love this quote from Richard Dawkins:

We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Arabia. Certainly those unborn ghosts include greater poets than Keats, scientists greater than Newton. We know this because the set of possible people allowed by our DNA so massively exceeds the set of actual people. In the teeth of these stupefying odds it is you and I, in our ordinariness, that are here.

Insect Overlord

systemicrisk wrote: »

The OP came on here with what seems like a genuine question regarding something quite important and it seems you go out of your way to find the only part of the post that could be criticised.

systemicrisk wrote: »

I was just questioning why the poster had to immediately jump in and call the OP arrogant for what seems like a question borne out of a possible state of turmoil.

You said "seems like" twice. That's somewhat telling.

zenno

Captain Chaos wrote: »

That's agnostic, = not religious but open minded to just about anything.

No. It is not agnostic. I just have the moulder gene that makes me want to believe, but I do have proof, personally, but again, the proof is in me, I cannot show folk this proof, but it doesn't make it un-realistic.

How can I prove to you what I had for breakfast ? I can tell you what I had but would you be sure in believing me of what I had if I told you ? or would you even believe me ?.

DesperateDan

Hitch on death.

That is all

Wereghost

yawhat! wrote: »

There is one thing I hate about Atheists, they have to tell everyone there an atheist.

But not the ones who don't, obviously.

riffmongous

Dirk Hardpeck wrote: »

I'm not an atheist but I do love this quote from Richard Dawkins:

We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Arabia. Certainly those unborn ghosts include greater poets than Keats, scientists greater than Newton. We know this because the set of possible people allowed by our DNA so massively exceeds the set of actual people. In the teeth of these stupefying odds it is you and I, in our ordinariness, that are here.

You should look up the Many Worlds Interpretation, existence could be far crazier than you could possibly imagine

CrinkElite

The good life is out there somewhere

nice_very

Duck Soup wrote: »

The thing I hate about some atheists is oftentimes they are more pontificating and sanctimonious than religious people.

I'm a confirmed agnostic. Don't know, don't particularly care. But Jesus wept, spare me from the 'intellectual bravery' and searing intellect of an atheist in full shíte.

Catholics are much more fun. Seriously.

when did you "make" your confirmation was it in the auld agnostic satan rituals or with the men in dresses?