Clyde and I were discussing all the atrocities and wars that were fought in the name of religion, and he made an interesting comment, "If it wasn't for religion, there would be no atheists." I've been thinking about that for several days. I was once a true believer, but my faith has been so shaken that I am on the verge of questioning his very existence.
If it wasn't for religion, there would be no atheists.
by Bonnie_Clyde 7 Replies latest jw friends
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XU
If it wasn't for religion, there would be all atheists.
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Mary
I was once a true believer, but my faith has been so shaken that I am on the verge of questioning his very existence.
Well, everyone has to decide for themselves what to believe in.......I for one still believe in a God although not the dogmatic God that was created by Bethel. It's natural to be suspicious of any belief once you realize we were duped by "the Truth". Many on here have become athiest, agnostic, or another religion. You have to find what suits YOU the best without someone else TELLING you what you must believe.
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Sailor Ripley
You're right. If it wasn't for [insert noun here], there would be no [insert anti-noun here]. You don't need something to describe nothing. I'm sure there is some cool term for this sort of reasoning but I had a little drink about an hour and it's gone straight to my head.
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JamesThomas
I was once a true believer, but my faith has been so shaken that I am on the verge of questioning his very existence.
Good for you, Bonnie.
Often times our chosen god becomes a huge part of the false personal-identity and ego. So much so that we could not imagine life without our Jesus, or our Jehovah, or our Allah, or whomever. Questioning the existence of the deity or deities we have been raised with, takes courage and a special kind of maturity.
Perhaps it may help your transition if you spend more time in nature, and also silently sitting and watching the mind. Allow yourself to clearly see how religious beliefs are simply mental thoughts and words. Letting go of our deity, is letting go of certain thoughts/memories is all; and perhaps some connected emotions. It can be very refreshing and freeing.
As you move away from placing significance in religious thoughts, place more attention on the vibrant immediacy of being and existing. Really see how much richer the actual rawness of Life is compared to the metallizations of thoughts, interpretations and stories. There is a vast depth right here that beliefs and fabrications only hide.
Look past not just beliefs in a god, but past all beliefs in "self" and universe. Be still and meet with the beauty and bottomless depths of your true and vibrant being and presence. Perhaps what you seek, has been here all along.
j
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Scully
Maybe the title of your thread should be: "If it wasn't for religion, we'd all be atheists".
You might enjoy the following site about Postive Atheism: http://www.positiveatheism.org/index.shtml
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lonelysheep
If it wasn't for religion, there would be all atheists.
Ditto.
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fullofdoubtnow
If it wasn't for religion, there would be all atheists.
Sort of true, but if there was no religion, would the word atheist be necessary?
Personally, I don't care how many religions there are, I am an atheist now, and unlikely to change.