Harumi

This is a question meant mainly for atheists although theists are welcome to answer, even though I wouldn't know why they would, since they believe in God already.

As an atheist, there are times when I become hit with the idea that I'm so very much alone. When I die, there isn't going to be a heaven waiting for me; I'm going to turn into dust and become food for the worms.

When there's a problem with my life, there's no God to turn to for my problems. He/She isn't going to come down, smile at me, pat me on the back, and reassure me while helping me through my life.

Because I think of this so often, there are times when I fervently wished there was a God and He/She was real. There are times when I just want to throw rationality out the window and start worshipping that large invisible being up there in the sky.

Am I the only one who feels that way?

Are there any other atheists there who have felt this way before?

*sigh* Sometimes I hate myself for being honest with myself. But I can't lie to myself, even for a little bit.

Wouldn't it be nice if God was real?

Harumi

tronvillain

Wouldn't it be terrible if God was real? It reallly depends on the exact nature of the god we're talking about, but it certainly isn't something I ever find myself wishing for. Of course, the idea of death doesn't really bother me.

uhcord

Of course a real omnipotent, all-loving, all-knowing, etc. god, that actually cared about his creations would be nice.

But from what I see around me, I'm not convinced that there is one, much less one that is all-powerful, all-loving, etc.

I am, though, convinced if there is a god, he is just an uncompassionate-bastard-superbeing that gets joy out of seeing his creations suffer and deserves no praise nor worship.

HelenM

I think it's great that you are honest with yourself. I hope you always stay that way...

If I may make one theistic comment - if you did believe in God you'd probably still have days of wishing that He'd answer prayers He doesn't seem to want to answer, or would be more 'real' to you. But certainly Christians do talk about God's comfort being experienced by them in a very real way in difficult times even though He evidently is not choosing to end those difficult times.

I think the reality of this life, for theists as well as atheists (and all other -thists ), is that we have to accept things are not always as we wished and that we don't have much control.

love
Helen

[ March 11, 2002: Message edited by: HelenSL ]</p>

Not Prince Hamlet

Oh absolutely, I wish there were a king, loving God to take care of me, and that there were a point to it all.

I also wished I could eat all the ice cream I wanted and not gain weight, and be fabulously wealthy, and on the cover of GQ.

Alas, wishing something doesn't make it so. It would be nice if the universe rearranged itself for our convenience, but it doesn't.

Jeff

Samsa

Benevolent or malign, I don't want ANY god sitting up in the sky watching over everyone.

If he starts causing grief, there's no way to get rid of the bastard. We're stuck with him. No voting this deity out of Elysium after four years.
The thought of a spiritual super-being holding any form of sovereignty over us would be terrifying, if there were any possibility of it being true.

Heaven vs becoming worm food? I'd hate to spend eternity in an ethereal rest home that had no way out. Imagine having a conscious intelligence receiving no variety in stimuli - forever. That's what Heaven could be. In fact, I'd say that's what heaven would be! Oblivion may not be exciting, but it least it doesnt keep torturing you.

Feeling alone? Well, there may not be a Heavenly Father to put his arm round your shoulders and say it all right, but, goddammit, there's a whole lot of people around! Resist the temptation to worship God. You know bloody well that it'd be just a placebo. An emotional sugarfix with no lasting value.

Reason and curiosity are the real drugs, and they'll keep you high for life.

sandlewood

Can you really just decide to start believing in a God? Even if you try, you will still know that you really don't believe a God exists.

I figure that death is probably the same thing as before I was born, and I didn't mind that a whole lot. So I guess I won't mind being dead either. The only hard part is being alive with the knowledge that I'll someday be non-existent.

Another thing that makes it easier is to know you place a high value on truth. That's takes a bit of courage, I guess.

Mageth

If there is a god (note: I'm a strong atheist), and if that god accepts some and excludes others, I've got a theory that many of the "believers" will be among those excluded, and many of us unbelievers will be among those included. Excluded ones will include those who on earth attempt to define god into a set of rules whereby adherents to their particular brand of religion are the only ones that god will accept. This whole idea is ludicrous. Why in hell would a benevolent god care if someone eats pork, is a homosexual, masturbates, says the occasional cuss word, believes in a virgin birth and ressurection, gets dunked in water or eats crackers and wine once a week?

Even when a theist I believed the most surprising thing about heaven would be who was there and who wasn't.

Zuri

Logically or not sometimes when alone everyone has doubts. You're sad, no one to turn to, can't to your family or you can't go to anyone at the moment it's difficult. Yeah, it'd be nice to go to someone, even if you don't believe they're there in which case it would be nice if a truely benevolent god were real. There's nothing wrong with wishing for it. I've had lots of doubts myself in the past and I think it's just a part of growing spiritually (even if atheist).

Don't worry, there will always be people willing to support you if you can talk to them

I would like to reply to something said though...

For those who believe in God, he isn't there to be some magical problem solver. They pray and he doesn't snap his fingers and it goes away. It involves effort on the part of the one who needs help. It's more of an ask for help, recieve comfort/guiding, and he'll help you help it go away.

[ March 11, 2002: Message edited by: Zuri ]</p>

Jayhawker Soule

Yes ...