tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post6672473708391495012..comments2023-12-25T12:43:09.743-05:00Comments on Respectful Atheist: What's So Special About Belief?Respectful Atheisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303760970096374936noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post-36159950509045240122011-12-01T05:35:12.144-05:002011-12-01T05:35:12.144-05:00Thanks for the encouragement Dave. Yeah, I've...Thanks for the encouragement Dave. Yeah, I've thought quite a bit about what people would likely say/think, if they knew I was actually an atheist. I may do a blog about it, at some point.Respectful Atheisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03303760970096374936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post-70284504148047254762011-11-29T19:38:31.041-05:002011-11-29T19:38:31.041-05:00Thank you Dave for the link. I will watch it on y...Thank you Dave for the link. I will watch it on youtube.cerbazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262986633672247969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post-6626861482974576932011-11-28T11:31:36.634-05:002011-11-28T11:31:36.634-05:00R.A., I like this post. You make a great point. I ...R.A., I like this post. You make a great point. I did not stay "in the closet" very long. You will be surprised (well probably not) how Christians will try to stereotype you and say that you are rebelling from God. But there is a big difference in rebelling from a KNOWN authority and simply having a different opinion about how the Christian religion was formed. Realizing that the Bible could not be divinely inspired was the first step in my de-conversion as well.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11573272063962305618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post-72558737501415410982011-11-28T10:46:57.657-05:002011-11-28T10:46:57.657-05:00Cerbaz, I recently watched a video clip by Sam Har...Cerbaz, I recently watched a video clip by Sam Harris where he talks about life's meaning. He made an interesting point that just adding "infinity" to existence does not give it meaning. Believing that this life is just a temporary stepping stone to a better one can actually lead someone to wasting this life (even though this is the only life we are certain of having).<br /><br />If you want to see the video, it's on youtube. "Ask Sam Harris Anything #2" - it's the first question he addresses.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11573272063962305618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post-48015678755344188692011-11-27T19:43:23.047-05:002011-11-27T19:43:23.047-05:00Thank you so much for sharing that Cerbaz. I find...Thank you so much for sharing that Cerbaz. I find it strangely comforting to know that there are other "in the closet" atheists out there (and that we can be an encouragement/support for one another). Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts as my blog progresses.Respectful Atheisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03303760970096374936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post-83313862070577273852011-11-27T11:49:28.928-05:002011-11-27T11:49:28.928-05:00For many years as a christian I was told that god ...For many years as a christian I was told that god and a christian world view gave you a purpose for being here on earth. I now believe that being kind and caring, and helping others makes me happy and fulfills the needs in my life. I was a christian for 30 plus years, I was not born into a christian family, I was invited to a youth group as a teenager and it was wonderful to belong to a community that had fun and treated young people kindly. From that group I met my husband who had grown up in a christian family. Lots of believers on his side of the family not on my side. About 3 years ago I started to have some questions and as I was searching the internet I came across Ken Daniel's deconversion story, it wasn't in a book form at that time. As I found blogs about people deconverting and read their stories I had more and more doubts and questions. I, like you am in the closet, not because of a job situation, but because I can not hurt my husband's elderly parents, or my oldest son who teaches in a christian school. I attend church with my husband, however, the whole time I find myself analyzing what is being said and usually walk away from the sermon with more questions to google search. The pastor is going through the book of revelations right now so I really enjoyed the you-tube link you had on your blog. Thanks for your wonderful writing and I am looking forward to reading more.cerbazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262986633672247969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post-32109447524634173592011-11-26T20:55:15.583-05:002011-11-26T20:55:15.583-05:00Great questions Cerbaz.
No, I honestly don'...Great questions Cerbaz. <br /><br />No, I honestly don't feel personally that I've lost a sense of "purpose or reason", but I can certainly understand how losing faith could cause some to feel that way. (Have you struggled with this at all?) <br /><br />I DO, however, miss that feeling of "knowing" God has my back (and that all the bad things that happen are part of some sort of mysterious master plan he has for me and my life). It's comforting to believe that "all things work together for good" (even if it's bunk).<br /><br />I still pray sometimes, on purpose, but now my prayers are more along the lines of..."Hellooo, God, if you're really up there, and I'm wrong about all this atheist stuff, I'm still listening if you'd like to help me get back on track..." (nothing yet :)).<br /><br />I'd love to hear more of your story, if you'd like to share it.Respectful Atheisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03303760970096374936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812241728597205774.post-30536446896698794172011-11-26T12:15:09.171-05:002011-11-26T12:15:09.171-05:00I have now read all of your blog and things that I...I have now read all of your blog and things that I wonder about is do you feel you have lost a purpose or reason for being on this earth? Do you feel a loss at not having that assurance that when struggles happen you can no longer rely on god/jesus to help you through hard times? Do you still catch yourself praying?cerbazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262986633672247969noreply@blogger.com