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Ask me anything! Dec 31, 2017 7:47:25 GMT

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Post by Arlon10 on Dec 31, 2017 7:47:25 GMT

Dec 31, 2017 7:06:33 GMT rachelcarson1953 said:

Dec 31, 2017 3:10:32 GMT captainbryce said:

The answer to both questions is surprisingly no. I actually found it quite liberating and a relief because it freed me up to focus on what was actually important...prosperity and happiness through scientific understanding and logical reasoning.

As far as doubts go, I suppose I’ve always had them. But cognitive dissonance compelled me to surpress them to facilitate what I wanted to believe (rather than what actually made sense). The trigger was essentially a sleepless night followed by an epiphany. No dramatic life changes! Suffice it to say, I woke up one night and realized that god (specifically the Christian God as described by the Bible and taught by traditional Christianity) doesn’t exist because it CAN’T exist within the framework of its own logic. That god (and all attributes associated with the belief) is self contradictory, and as a concept can only exist as a paradox.

Interesting, because my journey from Christian to atheist took years of doubt, brief explorations of other religions and finally one pivotal experience that was the final nail in the coffin. Even then I still identified as an agnostic atheist, as agnosticism states that it is not possible to know, based on available evidence, if there a a god, and if there is, the nature of that god.

At what age did this epiphany happen? How many years were you a Christian when this happened?

   I had some extra time to give thought to various people on this board and their assorted philosophical musings.

   I considered whether dividing people is the cause of conflict and whether religion more than anything else divides people.

   Considering division, I not am seeing it as a problem. If two dogs are going to fight, separate yards will solve the problem. Putting them in the same yard would likely cause it.

   Considering religion, I am not seeing it as the cause of division. With the exception of Christianity, most religions have more in common with each other than with atheism or Christianity. Have you never noticed how much Christians have in common with atheists? It's stunning. Christianity is the one "religion" with a higher divorce rate than atheists.