3 ms·

My wife and I came from completely different traditions and yet we could see the similarities in our understanding of both "prayer" and "god". Pointedly, I have

by robg 18y ago

My wife and I came from completely different traditions and yet we could see the similarities in our understanding of both "prayer" and "god". Pointedly, I haven't tried to explain my views on either much here - this isn't a good forum for it. My main point has been an epistemological one rather than an ontological one. Why choose nihilism? The inflexibility of thought is what doesn't work for us. But that wasn't a reason to stop learning. We just searched a bit harder for folks to learn from. Now we're satisfied by the result even as the learning is incomplete.

IsaacSchlueter 18y ago
Who says atheism == nihilism? I consider my life rich with meaning and spiritual satisfaction. I relish my place in this species, my instincts and my awareness of them. My scant century-or-so of life is a limited quantity, and that motivates me to use it to live and love and push for everything I can achieve.
- robg 18y ago
  Atheism is one version of nihilism unless some attempt is made to redefine the basic concepts. It sounds like you already have and it sounds very similar to what I embrace. I don't know where that leaves us, but it doesn't worry me either. I'm not trying to convert anyone. But I'm also very satisfied by my working model for God. You may choose a less-loaded term to describe where you derive a "life rich with meaning and spiritual satisfaction".
  - IsaacSchlueter 18y ago
    God is a particularly bad word for that term. Not only is my life 100% godless, I try to be free of superstition of all kinds. (No Santa, no tooth fairy, no magic dreams, no esp, no ghosts, etc.) Superstition, in my opinion, is mental clutter that obscures spirituality.
    - robg 18y ago
      "I try to be free of superstition of all kinds." Really? What's "spirituality" then?
      - IsaacSchlueter 18y ago
        Spirituality is a type of experience. No more superstitious a term than "happy" or "hungry" or "purple" or "curious".

by robg 18y ago

IsaacSchlueter 18y ago

Who says atheism == nihilism? I consider my life rich with meaning and spiritual satisfaction. I relish my place in this species, my instincts and my awareness of them. My scant century-or-so of life is a limited quantity, and that motivates me to use it to live and love and push for everything I can achieve.

robg 18y ago
Atheism is one version of nihilism unless some attempt is made to redefine the basic concepts. It sounds like you already have and it sounds very similar to what I embrace. I don't know where that leaves us, but it doesn't worry me either. I'm not trying to convert anyone. But I'm also very satisfied by my working model for God. You may choose a less-loaded term to describe where you derive a "life rich with meaning and spiritual satisfaction".
- IsaacSchlueter 18y ago
  God is a particularly bad word for that term. Not only is my life 100% godless, I try to be free of superstition of all kinds. (No Santa, no tooth fairy, no magic dreams, no esp, no ghosts, etc.) Superstition, in my opinion, is mental clutter that obscures spirituality.
  - robg 18y ago
    "I try to be free of superstition of all kinds." Really? What's "spirituality" then?
    - IsaacSchlueter 18y ago
      Spirituality is a type of experience. No more superstitious a term than "happy" or "hungry" or "purple" or "curious".