i used to (still do?) believe in God but the more I look at life I see only this. People can be disgustingly mean and lead great lives at the expense of someone else's suffering. what makes them succeed in this? their willpower, obviously. and then you have the religious people who are constantly struggling and so forth...so, from what I see, it's the willpower that helps you instead of...i don't like the way I think and I do want to believe but I can't ignore what i see.
i know my philosophy's not very deep but i want to hear your thoughts on this.
thanks
(but why do i feel so unhappy and depressed about it)
2006-10-15 05:14:10 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Why fear this? Why do you think atheism is a bad thing? I am agnostic...I have seen no proof of a higher power, and seriously doubts there are any, but I don't know for sure...however if there were any, I sure wouldn't want to follow those that might be as most of the larger religions believe their dieties to be...
I get more out of taking charge of my own life...knowing that if I mess up it's my mistake and if I do good, then bravo me...I try to treat people as I'd like to be treated (not just an xian concept) and make the best of my life...I don't need any gods for that...
2006-10-15 05:21:49 · answer #1 · answered by . 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't really sound like you are becoming an Atheist necessarily, but just more that you are questioning the benefits of religion. Personally, I don't believe in a God, but I do think that everyone should be decent to one another and good people because we only have this one life and this one Earth and have to all live here together, so we should make that experience as pleasant as possible to each other. I think you can totally abide by that type of philosophy, which is the basis of many religions (love thy neighbor, respect all living things, help those in need...), without necessarily believing in a God.
It sounds that you are more down on people that are bad people, and I've got to tell you that religion matters little when it comes to this. There are plenty of horrible people who are religious. Like criminals who kill but then go to confession, or child molesters who may work as priests or rabbis, those religious extremists in the middle east, or, in our own country, the ones that blow up abortion clinics. There are equally many good non-religious people (many scientists, philosophers, writers, charity workers).
I understand feeling the injustice of seeing bad people live good lives and good people suffering, but it doesn't have to do with God or with religion. So if you don't want to lose your faith, you don't have to. But if you still are losing you faith, just know that you can still live a good and happy life without belief in God.
2006-10-15 12:28:30 · answer #2 · answered by Stephanie S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi, Steve H is onto the right thought here. Continue to seek God and you will find Him. Not in any miraculous fashion but the God of the Bible will talk to you through His word. Others out there who don't believe in God all "magically" call upon Him when they are in danger or near death. Bad people in this world will prosper some times because Satan is the ruller of this world. That is why God tells us to be in the world but not of the world. Suffering for God is something to be admired and God will reward you when you get to heaven. But you will not get there unless you step out in faith and become a Christian first. God has no obligation to hear the prayers of non-Christians. You must follow the New Testament format for becoming a Christian as found in the book of Acts. Hear the Word of God, Believe what you hear, Repent of your sins, Confess Jesus before men , and be Baptized for the removal of your sins. Try attending a local church of Christ congregation to see what their service is like. If you want help or to talk.....just let me know. Good luck!
2006-10-16 01:59:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People whom "lead great lives at the expense of someone else's suffering" are not leading great lives. They are truely unhappy people. They find little spurts of excitement by hurting others, not happiness. You are only seeing surface happiness, look deeper into those people around you. Religious people need no surface happinsss they are happy inside and they know it. If you are having a troubling time, keep in mind that you must live in the valley to appreciate the mountain.
2006-10-15 12:32:19 · answer #4 · answered by happyfarmerswife 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you are experiencing is disillusionment. You are seeing through the illusion to what your being desires-the truth. I was raised as a chirstian but with respect for all to have their own... and I find the use of violence throughout history to force, by will, one upon the other is a disgrace. So I looked around for anyone who still had some grace about them, and I found the Buddhadharma to be a great teacher. Not a god I have to subjugate myself and my better judgment to. Rather a philosophy that encourages me to think logically and behave kindly towards all without feeling that I have to be responsible for anyone else's karma but my own. There is only permanent happiness in liberation, not in this contaminated existence. I will pray for you that you emerge from your depression with a renewed hope for your future. :)
2006-10-15 12:32:27 · answer #5 · answered by island girl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well just believe what you want to believe, you know? Whatever works for you in leading a good life is fine. If you still feel guilty about it, try to go to church or do something like that which might help you feel more religious. As long as you're a good person, I don't think it matter what religion you are.
2006-10-15 12:23:57 · answer #6 · answered by she who is awesome 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is all God's plan. He did this because those believer suffering on earth will have a great life in heaven. The ones that are living good lifes without God they will suffer in hell. God said "The first will be the last, and the last will be the first." You should pray and have others pray that your relationship with God will get stronger. You have to know God personally. God will always love you and you got to love him back more than anything else. Jesus Died for you because he loves you. Just spend more time with God. Pray all the time. I will pray for you.
2006-10-15 12:26:55 · answer #7 · answered by Steve H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everyone who has faith in anything feels defeated sometimes. And sometimes they feel that way for a long time. Just remember that the people who are religious are going to be stronger than those who have lives at someone else's expence. People who struggle know the meaning of work, while the others just take the short cuts. Anything of worth comes slowly through a lot of hard work and sometimes you have to go through bad times to get it.
2006-10-15 12:26:28 · answer #8 · answered by Kammie 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is a lot of bad people in this world. It isn't because there is no God. Satan has corrupted the world. God gives us the opportunity to chose between good and bad. Some people just chose for the worse. In the end though, it will be those bad people(that seem like their life is so much better) that will not be better off.
2006-10-15 12:50:58 · answer #9 · answered by Llama 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you are in the stage of evaluating yourself, and in that process you evaluate the things around you-the world as it is, yor views about God and Spirituality. Let me assure you that you should not fear this. Being an atheist is a choice and out of free will. I think what is influencial for you right now is what you are experiencing in this world.
It is not wrong to re evaluate things because further re evaluation can bring to a deeper understanding.
2006-10-15 14:06:01 · answer #10 · answered by GREG JOSEPH P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋