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>3) Look at your spiritual life... This can not be overemphasized in my opinion. The natural result of Atheistic Naturalism is, to me, nihilism and its accomp

>3) Look at your spiritual life... This can not be overemphasized in my opinion. The natural result of Atheistic Naturalism is, to me, nihilism and its accompanying depression, so I would encourage an honest examination of your worldview and an openness to faith that provides a sense of purpose.

krapp 8y ago
>The natural result of Atheistic Naturalism is, to me, nihilism and its accompanying depression, This is a view of atheism which seems predicated on a common theist belief that morality and "purpose" can only exist through belief in a divine being. Yet there are plenty of atheists who are neither nihilistic nor depressed - and plenty of theists who are. One can believe that life has value, and that life can have a purpose in the context of humanism, and one can even have spirituality without embracing a belief in the supernatural or the divine. As Douglas Adams said, isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
- emodendroket 8y ago
  I don't think there's any harm in giving it a try, even if you decide it's not for you.
  - BrandoElFollito 8y ago
    Same goes for trying out atheism. Which of course makes no sense because this is not a brand of coffee.
    - emodendroket 8y ago
      If you're already an atheist there is no need to "try it" because you are already familiar.
      - BrandoElFollito 8y ago
        I know, I was suggesting to try out atheism for someone who believes in something else. All this to say that such suggestions do not make sense, a belief or lack of is not something which someone can "try out". I can imagine that following some major life events, for someone who is inclined to such a change, "trying out" is an option. Having had all kind of dramatic events in my life I never felt the need to invoque a superior being. YMMV.
        emodendroket 8y ago
        That's false though. You don't have to start out committed to anything. You can simply pick up a religious book or attend a religious service and see if it speaks to you.
        BrandoElFollito 8y ago
        Are you a believer? Do you think it is enough to just say "I do not believe anymore for the next 2 weeks", really meaning it? If so, it means that the faith was not very strong. Except for some specific cases, one usually grows with a religion or non-religion and this deeply forges one's perspective.
        emodendroket 8y ago
        I'm an adult convert. So what I'm telling you is, I didn't have to start out believing; just curious. Obviously atheism is different because there is no particular doctrine or liturgy to involve yourself in, but you could certainly read atheist polemic.
adamc 8y ago
You don't have to believe in God to have a spiritual perspective -- see, for example, Buddhism. As it happens, I do believe in God(dess), but what is needed is not religion so much as spirituality -- see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality

krapp 8y ago

>The natural result of Atheistic Naturalism is, to me, nihilism and its accompanying depression, This is a view of atheism which seems predicated on a common theist belief that morality and "purpose" can only exist through belief in a divine being. Yet there are plenty of atheists who are neither nihilistic nor depressed - and plenty of theists who are. One can believe that life has value, and that life can have a purpose in the context of humanism, and one can even have spirituality without embracing a belief in the supernatural or the divine. As Douglas Adams said, isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?

emodendroket 8y ago
I don't think there's any harm in giving it a try, even if you decide it's not for you.
- BrandoElFollito 8y ago
  Same goes for trying out atheism. Which of course makes no sense because this is not a brand of coffee.
  - emodendroket 8y ago
    If you're already an atheist there is no need to "try it" because you are already familiar.
    - BrandoElFollito 8y ago
      I know, I was suggesting to try out atheism for someone who believes in something else. All this to say that such suggestions do not make sense, a belief or lack of is not something which someone can "try out". I can imagine that following some major life events, for someone who is inclined to such a change, "trying out" is an option. Having had all kind of dramatic events in my life I never felt the need to invoque a superior being. YMMV.
      - emodendroket 8y ago
        That's false though. You don't have to start out committed to anything. You can simply pick up a religious book or attend a religious service and see if it speaks to you.
        BrandoElFollito 8y ago
        Are you a believer? Do you think it is enough to just say "I do not believe anymore for the next 2 weeks", really meaning it? If so, it means that the faith was not very strong. Except for some specific cases, one usually grows with a religion or non-religion and this deeply forges one's perspective.
        emodendroket 8y ago
        I'm an adult convert. So what I'm telling you is, I didn't have to start out believing; just curious. Obviously atheism is different because there is no particular doctrine or liturgy to involve yourself in, but you could certainly read atheist polemic.

adamc 8y ago

You don't have to believe in God to have a spiritual perspective -- see, for example, Buddhism. As it happens, I do believe in God(dess), but what is needed is not religion so much as spirituality -- see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality