And then what? (aka What religion am I?)

[lizsquiz]

I know KATG often brushes past or mildly addresses the issue of religion which is something I am thinking about a lot at the moment. I have to say upfront that on a base level, I was raised Christian but as I have grown up, I would define myself as more agnostic i.e I don't believe in anything in particular because it's impossible to know for sure.

My biggest stumbling block day to day is the concept of there just being nothing when you die. I just feel so attached to my brain and thinking, that the thought that there could be a time that I don't exist to have thoughts seriously scares the shit out of me. So I see value in religion there, as a means of reassuring you that at the end, you can still experience something, anything.

But the case against religion (in general, not just Christianity) is huge. Like, if there is one God, why did different religions which recognise different and even multiple Gods evolve? I get that different religions that agree there is a single God could be ok, even if their stories vary slightly and there are debates about details, but what about like Hindu and stuff where there many gods? Seems like if there was a supernatural being that world religions would all agree on there being one God, and just call it different names and have varying interpretations of his rules.

I guess I am just interested in what everyone else thinks. I realise it's a tricky area with beliefs that are equally varied, but given my current state of fear slash perpetual spiritual crisis, I thought the semigodless forums of KATG might be a good place to start.

[Rock 'n' Rye]

Originally Posted by lizsquiz

I know KATG often brushes past or mildly addresses the issue of religion which is something I am thinking about a lot at the moment. I have to say upfront that on a base level, I was raised Christian but as I have grown up, I would define myself as more agnostic i.e I don't believe in anything in particular because it's impossible to know for sure.

My biggest stumbling block day to day is the concept of there just being nothing when you die. I just feel so attached to my brain and thinking, that the thought that there could be a time that I don't exist to have thoughts seriously scares the shit out of me. So I see value in religion there, as a means of reassuring you that at the end, you can still experience something, anything.

But the case against religion (in general, not just Christianity) is huge. Like, if there is one God, why did different religions which recognise different and even multiple Gods evolve? I get that different religions that agree there is a single God could be ok, even if their stories vary slightly and there are debates about details, but what about like Hindu and stuff where there many gods? Seems like if there was a supernatural being that world religions would all agree on there being one God, and just call it different names and have varying interpretations of his rules.

I guess I am just interested in what everyone else thinks. I realise it's a tricky area with beliefs that are equally varied, but given my current state of fear slash perpetual spiritual crisis, I thought the semigodless forums of KATG might be a good place to start.

I Always thought that Agnostic was the belief that the existence of god can neither be confirmed nor denied

I feel the reason that multiple interpretations of the god figure exist is the same reason that different languages exist, Different cultures are creating ideas and concepts Semi-independently.

Your beliefs will come to you in time, don't force yourself one way or the other otherwise it isn't truly what you believe.

Also this forum a godless abyss

[Cart Horse]

We have a very exaggerated view of ourselves. We are not really as important as we think we are.

I would think it highly likely that we just drift away when we die. (Until there is proof to the contrary that's the only way to think.)

Our spirits do somehow hang around for a while sometimes (I've seen ghosts), but we just eventually, probably after just a few weeks perhaps, just fade away.

Enjoy your life, be kind to others, and above all avoid organised religion. That's a repository of the uncertain, the misinformed and the charletans.

Death is the ending of life that's it. May it be as pleasant as possible. You can't hope for anything more.

[Rock 'n' Rye]

Is lizsquiz Australian? If so did you just watch Catalyst?

[lizsquiz]

Originally Posted by Rock 'n' Rye

I Always thought that Agnostic was the belief that the existence of god can neither be confirmed nor denied

I feel the reason that multiple interpretations of the god figure exist is the same reason that different languages exist, Different cultures are creating ideas and concepts Semi-independently.

Your beliefs will come to you in time, don't force yourself one way or the other otherwise it isn't truly what you believe.

Also this forum a godless abyss

Yeah, neither confirmed or denied = impossible to know for sure in my book. I get the different languages thing, which is why I could get the different iterations of a single God or Godlike being. But the thing that is getting me is the multiple God cultures. And like the Aztecs and shit. You'd think if there was one God, despite varying cultural translations and interpretataions, that would preclude cultures having many gods...

What about death? Doesn't that make you want to poo yourself endlessly?

[lizsquiz]

Originally Posted by Cart Horse

We have a very exaggerated view of ourselves. We are not really as important as we think we are.

I would think it highly likely that we just drift away when we die. (Until there is proof to the contrary that's the only way to think.)

Our spirits do somehow hang around for a while sometimes (I've seen ghosts), but we just eventually, probably after just a few weeks perhaps, just fade away.

Enjoy your life, be kind to others, and above all avoid organised religion. That's a repository of the uncertain, the misinformed and the charletans.

Death is the ending of life that's it. May it be as pleasant as possible. You can't hope for anything more.

I get death is the end of life in theory in a way. But in my expanded theory, my brain attempt to imagine death as the end of life, but how can you imagine the sensation of death? It's my connection to my brain and the feeling that I am always thinking, something, anything, that makes it hard to imagine a time my brain could just switch off and never come back on.

[lizsquiz]

Originally Posted by Rock 'n' Rye

Is lizsquiz Australian? If so did you just watch Catalyst?

If you mean Compass, yes. I have seen its ads all week and hoped other atheists would have some sort of answer for my brain / thought problem. but to no avail. Hence resorting to forum.... argh, being found out is creepy.

[Cart Horse]

If your head is cut off you possibly can think for a few seconds before your brain stops working. Does happen though. Even to you. Even to me.

[Rock 'n' Rye]

Originally Posted by lizsquiz

Yeah, neither confirmed or denied = impossible to know for sure in my book. I get the different languages thing, which is why I could get the different iterations of a single God or Godlike being. But the thing that is getting me is the multiple God cultures. And like the Aztecs and shit. You'd think if there was one God, despite varying cultural translations and interpretataions, that would preclude cultures having many gods...

What about death? Doesn't that make you want to poo yourself endlessly?

Some Multi-god religions (is the right word multi-theistic?) see the many gods as aspects or faces of the single god or that there is a king or father of the gods and that the others are lesser gods like angels with jobs.

Death? not to worried above the natural fear of it, if there's non-existance then I won't care if there's heaven than it'll be more fun than life and dying was the best thing you can do with your pants on.

[Junkenstein]

I think of myself as an atheist: i firmly believe there is no god of any form or kind and at the moment of our death we just rot in the ground. I was raised catholic, and have a catholic partner but after much self questioning, i think that's what seems the most plausible option for my frame of mind.