Atheists, is it harder for you to fall in love?

Question

Am I correct in saying that atheists by definition are not spiritual people? If I'm misunderstanding "spiritual" or "atheist" please feel free to correct me. But it seems to me that emotions, especially being deeply connected with another human (a very close friendship, a close family member, or being in love with someone) is rooted in spirituality. For me, it is, anyway. Although I'm not exactly sure WHAT it is that I believe, there is no way anyone will ever convince me that the way I feel about certain people is a product of chemical reactions and nothing more. So, I'm wondering, as an atheist, do you think it is harder for you to truly appreciate closeness with others? Or do you have a harder time getting close to others? Or, is it possible to be an atheist and still believe there is something other than our physical bodies that exists at least between people, if not between people and God, on this planet? Thanks ahead of time for all your input.

I have never in my life met a group of more easily offended people than atheists. Its like you expect me to be against you. I'm NOT against you. I do not think that the Bible holds all the answers and I certainly do not think that atheists are not capable of falling in love. I have tried so hard to word my questions in a way that won't offend you, but its as if you are begging to be offended so you can go off on me. To those of you that answered my question respectfully, THANK YOU, because all I'm really doing here is trying to gain a better understanding of my fellow people.

Answer 1

whats that got to do with falling in love?

i think it depends on the person not the religious affiliation...

Answer 2

Ach, you poor thing! You sound like you've gotten all your knowledge of atheists from out here. (No fault of yours; I'm not being mean).

We're an opinionated lot and some of us tend to speak for all others (when we shouldn't).

Atheism isn't a religion. There's no "bible", no shared beliefs, no uniform, no nothin'. The ONLY thing we share is that we do not believe in god. Any god. Or gods.

Some completely deny anything outside the natural world. Some do - they may believe in psychic phenomena, UFO's or whatever.

Being an atheist doesn't preclude being spiritual. I'm not really sure what "spiritual" means but I do have a spiritual side.

So there you go. The answer to your question is we don't have a harder time falling in love because we are atheists. Some of us are what you would call spiritual. Not all of us have taken the fun out of love/lust by examining its origins too closely.

Answer 3

Atheists are extremely spiritual people. We have to be, there is no one who comes to us with answers all wrapped up in a nice little leather cover.

We have to reflect on everything by ourselves: what is justice? what's the meaning of suffering? why are we intelligent yet conscious of death? why can we do so wonderful things and horrible things at the same time? What is hate? What is love?

We cherish our close ones and even strangers possibly just a bit more than religious people because we believe we have a lot less time to spend with them. That life is all important because we don't have any excuse to cause suffering to others since there is nothing after life. That we must love as much as we can because every second is important.

To an atheist, there is no excuse for hating anyone. We cannot say: "even if I'm wrong, God will seperate good from bad and everyone will receive their just reward". There is nothing worse for an atheist than causing death to another human or, for some, to any living creature.

There is some chemistry for falling in love (if you catch my meaning), but the rest is all about two minds connecting to one another in harmony.

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Additional detail:

You just accused a group of people of being incapable of feeling love, of course we're going to be offended! We're not zombie-drones without feelings intend on taking over the world...

Answer 4

Actually I'm a pagan and Taoist as well as an atheist, and I have always had a very strong spirituality, so no that assumption is not correct.

I've long believed that what happens on one level of existance affects what happens on other levels, so it's my opinion that the chemical reactions are triggered by something spiritual.

I've never had problems with love, it's always been the most important thing to me. The connections I forge are not many but very deep.

Answer 5

Being in love or caring for others deeply is not a religiously spiritual thing. The people in my life are REAL people. And they don't have to share my affections with god, nor do they come 2nd (After my religious faith)

The loved ones in my life come first, and are always more important than any archaic old books, ideas, or some jealous all powerful being.

When you face this world -this life - on life's terms, you must acknowledge that this life is fleeting, and there's no guarantee of a tomorrow. That makes my time here, and time w/my loved ones even MORE precious, when there's no "security blanket of faith" that there's a perfect place where they'll all be waiting for me to arrive.

Answer 6

Since you wrote, "...there is no way anyone will ever convince me that the way I feel about certain people is a product of chemical reactions and nothing more," you have shown that your mind is closed to learning. You'd rather believe a lie than accept what's real. Personally, I couldn't stand to live that way, lying to myself. I'd know I was lying to myself, so it wouldn't work.

I don't see how anyone can deny that our thoughts and feelings are created by our brains. It's so clear that that's so when one drinks alcohol, or takes drugs, or has brain damage. Did you ever see someone who'd had a stroke? It can often cause huge changes in one's personality, as can brain injury.

If there was some invisible "soul," why would it be effected by drugs or injury? Why would drugs or injury effect, or even change, one's personality? Why is it that, by electrically stimulating different parts of the brain, different emotions are triggered, by that stimulation alone?

Seriously, there's so much knowledge available on the Internet. Why don't you avail yourself of it?

Answer 7

Look, we're just like you. We aren't some new odd breed of human being. We all have differing ideas of what love is. But here's the thing - just because we don't believe in God doesn't make us any less human than you are.

I apologize if my answer comes across as being a tad testy, but I'm just tired of this mindset people have about atheists. We simply do not believe in any flavor of god. That's all. We have basically the same questions about life and living that you do, we just don't bring God forth as a possible answer. (At least, I don't.) That is the only real difference between us. Too many people think that everything is tied into their faith, and that those who don't believe are somehow odd or strange things to be constantly questioned. It's tiring.

Answer 8

I don't know. Is there a measuring device?

"But it seems to me that emotions, especially being deeply connected with another human (a very close friendship, a close family member, or being in love with someone) is rooted in spirituality"

Only because you believe in the spirit, you've attached emotion to it on your own. Love is an emotion.

Answer 9

I classify myself as a spiritual atheist. I believe that there are things in this universe that can not be explained by science alone.
I grew up as a Christian, in a Christian family. For 16 years I was lonely and depressed, unable to relate to people around me. I rarely trusted anyone for fear of being hurt or rejected.
The around the age of 17 I became an atheist, fell head over heels and have now been with the love of my life for several years and still going strong.
I use to wake up at night feeling alone and depressed. Now if I wake up at night, I feel intensely happy and at rest. Everything in my life revolves around the person I love. Our relationship is filled with a degree of love, respect and trust I never thought I would experience. I want to spend the rest of my life with him.
Don't try to force yourself into a little box with a particular lable on it if that isn't who you are. You have the right to believe and feel what you want. Trying to fit in with the lables society places on people will only make you unhappy.
Remember, the only 'requirement' of being an atheist is that you do not believe God exists...the rest is up to you!

Answer 10

You would not be correct in saying that atheists by definition are not spiritual. Taoists and Buddhists are just as spiritual as anybody else maybe even more so. We all have the need to love and be loved, it is no harder as an atheist. You are talking about a basic human need here.

Answer 11

i'm sorry on your loss, and is there something that i'm able to do for you and your loved ones to assist ease the discomfort= is often solid- i'm a Christian and that i say that besides- although think of approximately something right here, in case you're an atheist why could you care that i would be praying sounds extra own- in case you probably did no longer rather have faith this does not additionally be a moot element for you? merely curious, i do no longer advise to offend