The spirituality of atheists

[rousseau]

All of my study of religion proper over the past few years has got me wondering:

What, if anything, replaces religion once we accept an atheistic, materialistic universe?

Have studies been done on people's views from communities that are largely atheistic?

Is it as simple as accepting that the world works on physical laws, doing our best to achieve our subjective end-goals, and then dying? Is there more to the story than that?

 

[Wiploc]

It's a strange question. What replaces disease after one is cured?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

There are a lot of humanist philosophies out there which start with the basic premise that people are valuable as a result of being alive and go from there.

 

[Keith&Co.]

What, if anything, replaces religion once we accept an atheistic, materialistic universe?

I don't think anything necessarily replaces it. I mean, it could be that a new fascination with ____ is the reason you left religion...

I mean, I know people who have really become fanatics about their car, about running, about making sure everyone knows they've turned vegan...

I, on the other hand, just stopped bothering to answer the lay leaders' threats about the afterlife.

 

[rousseau]

It's a strange question. What replaces disease after one is cured?

Not really.

Religions, no matter how untrue, act as a source of meaning and purpose. I'm not trying to give religion credit for that. We could re-hash the same arguments about it ad-nauseum, but the point of the thread is that presumably humans will still seek out meaning and purpose sans religion.

The question then is: what comes after religion, in a materialistic world?

 

[rousseau]

What, if anything, replaces religion once we accept an atheistic, materialistic universe?

I don't think anything necessarily replaces it. I mean, it could be that a new fascination with ____ is the reason you left religion...

I mean, I know people who have really become fanatics about their car, about running, about making sure everyone knows they've turned vegan...

I, on the other hand, just stopped bothering to answer the lay leaders' threats about the afterlife.

I think this has some truth to it, if Canadians are any indication.

We're a pretty atheistic bunch, but as far as I can tell most people just don't care to think about these questions. And I might even go further to say that those who identify as Christian aren't really thinking about these questions either.

Maybe existence is only a problem of the philosopher?

 

[Keith&Co.]

Maybe existence is only a problem of the philosopher?

Evangelicals are always insisting that atheists have no answer to the question, therefore evolution is wrong, the most accurate answer is probably NOT:

1) We don't know
2) There are a number of hypotheses
3) You're confusing evolution and cosmology AGAIN! Is this intentional or a congenital problem?


But something closer to 'Who gives a shit?'

 

[poster]

For me, who had unfortunately been raised with religious indoctrination and then found my way out, there was no real void afterward, it just felt that way because of the change in perspective. Another unfortunate part for me was confronting all the aspects of my personality that religion tainted. I used to say that half my life was spent getting screwed up and the other half had to be spent undoing the damage. A complete waste of time for me that I did not visit on my children. As a result they appears less stressed and judgemental toward life and others.

The internet has proven to be an invaluable resource in accessing information and debate on religion. I had been exorcising religion before I used the internet, so it was going to happen either way, but I certainly found lots of rich dialogue that made it a bit easier.

There are hard truths to confront on life after religion. It was difficult for me to accept that neither I nor my life was intended to be special. That I now see that outside of myself and those who care for me I'm no more important than any other organism. That was huge for me. Knowing that I am an equal member with all other life is a relief.

I no longer have to come up with explanations and reasons why my opinion and philosophies are better or more relevant than any other organism's that may or may not have any that I'm aware of.

And if any of that seems goofy to anyone, I really couldn't care less.

 

[rousseau]

Maybe existence is only a problem of the philosopher?

Evangelicals are always insisting that atheists have no answer to the question, therefore evolution is wrong, the most accurate answer is probably NOT:

1) We don't know
2) There are a number of hypotheses
3) You're confusing evolution and cosmology AGAIN! Is this intentional or a congenital problem?


But something closer to 'Who gives a shit?'

It makes you wonder how much of religion of old was actually about ontology, rather than ritual and the basic resolutions to cognitive dissonance.

History nor theology really matters, as long as I know that when I die I'm going to heaven. And so in practice most people are human first, and only Christian insofar that they don't get outcast from society, or exiled from heaven.

Then once we discover that God isn't real we just have to deal with this cognitive dissonance another way. And it may be the case that people without religious understanding often lack scientific understanding, and so life is de facto the same, just without religion.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

It's a strange question. What replaces disease after one is cured?

Not really.

Religions, no matter how untrue, act as a source of meaning and purpose. I'm not trying to give religion credit for that. We could re-hash the same arguments about it ad-nauseum, but the point of the thread is that presumably humans will still seek out meaning and purpose sans religion.

The question then is: what comes after religion, in a materialistic world?

Speaking personally, knowledge brings happiness because it solves problems, otherwise I'd still be expecting voodoo to cure disease.

I see religion more as a security blanket than an actual vehicle that gives purpose and meaning. If religious folk would actually observe how much of their behavior is religious and how much is not they would conclude that religion is only vaguely important if at all, just like that security blanket that makes them feel safer.

Discovery and knowledge are great things to me, more important than a man living in the clouds watching how I behave. Religion is a safe, comforting attachment to ritual with nothing risked, so of course it is popular and attractive. It allows someone to use knowledge and still embrace superstition.

What's needed is a vision that replaces the religious vision, so get one! Think about traveling to the stars or consider a world where humans aren't building arms to annihilate each other in some medieval mindset of ghosts and mutual superstition and hatred. Stop being so greedy. Start seeing the next person as yourself. Stop needing enemies. There are lots of ways to make life meaningful without religious baggage.

But religious visions are easy and cheap and don't require much effort to achieve.

 

[poster]

It's a strange question. What replaces disease after one is cured?

Not really.

but the point of the thread is that presumably humans will still seek out meaning and purpose sans religion.

Not in my case. My life has no meaning or purpose other than to not off myself because that would be a problem for my children who would be left to deal with the aftermath. I get up, work, eat, surf, sleep and hope it's the last time each time I close my eyes.

BTW, I'm not depressed, just tired. I've passed on my genes and been happy; had lots of great sex and been loved. I experience complete satisfaction whenever I am in the company of loved ones. But the gig has been finished for some time now.

 

[rousseau]

It's a strange question. What replaces disease after one is cured?

Not really.

but the point of the thread is that presumably humans will still seek out meaning and purpose sans religion.

Not in my case. My life has no meaning or purpose other than to not off myself because that would be a problem for my children who would be left to deal with the aftermath. I get up, work, eat, surf, sleep and hope it's the last time each time I close my eyes.

BTW, I'm not depressed, just tired. I've passed on my genes and been happy; had lots of great sex and been loved. I experience complete satisfaction whenever I am in the company of loved ones. But the gig has been finished for some time now.

I can relate to this, although I experience it a bit differently. The more knowledge I have the longer I want to live. It's the recognition that I'm alive, right now, and will never get another chance at this experience. Further than that, having the knowledge that most of what humans do is delusion, and actually understanding how the universe works makes it all the better.

Granted, I'm already starting to get somewhat bored and I'm not 32 yet, but I'd take that over suddenly waking up at age 60 and dying 5 years later.

 

[Keith&Co.]

For me, who had unfortunately been raised with religious indoctrination and then found my way out, there was no real void afterward, it just felt that way because of the change in perspective.

Kind of like ending service in the military.

No one ever asks, "What, if anything, replaces the Navy once you accept an civilian, 40-hour/week existence?"

It's just understood that you stop living your life by the UCMJ, Plan of the Day and Uniform Standards.

The experience will never be completely removed from the influences it had on you, but it's just no longer something you think about every time you wake up (esp. if a bugle is involved).


Sometimes they ask about the transition. And sometimes they ask me if I wear Hawaiian shirts in January exactly because I no longer have to show the Uniform of the Day.

 

[fromderinside]

Its the other way around. I never wore a regulation dixie cup except at parade which precisely corresponded to my only uniform time.

 

[Elixir]

I get up, work, eat, surf, sleep and hope it's the last time each time I close my eyes.

I can't fathom that - because of the surf part.
When I'm anywhere near the ocean, I am driven from bed in anticipation of waves I don't want to miss...

 

[Politesse]

All of my study of religion proper over the past few years has got me wondering:

What, if anything, replaces religion once we accept an atheistic, materialistic universe?

Have studies been done on people's views from communities that are largely atheistic?

Is it as simple as accepting that the world works on physical laws, doing our best to achieve our subjective end-goals, and then dying? Is there more to the story than that?

Fierce, religion-ish nationalism. At least if history is any guide.

 

[poster]

I get up, work, eat, surf, sleep and hope it's the last time each time I close my eyes.

I can't fathom that - because of the surf part.
When I'm anywhere near the ocean, I am driven from bed in anticipation of waves I don't want to miss...

Surf the internet. I don't hang ten.

 

[poster]

All of my study of religion proper over the past few years has got me wondering:

What, if anything, replaces religion once we accept an atheistic, materialistic universe?

Have studies been done on people's views from communities that are largely atheistic?

Is it as simple as accepting that the world works on physical laws, doing our best to achieve our subjective end-goals, and then dying? Is there more to the story than that?

Fierce, religion-ish nationalism. At least if history is any guide.

Without the materialism?

 

[Underseer]

All of my study of religion proper over the past few years has got me wondering:

What, if anything, replaces religion once we accept an atheistic, materialistic universe?

Have studies been done on people's views from communities that are largely atheistic?

Is it as simple as accepting that the world works on physical laws, doing our best to achieve our subjective end-goals, and then dying? Is there more to the story than that?

If we get rid of all the child molesters, what will we replace them with?

I never understood this line of thinking. If we get rid of religion, why replace it with anything?

 

[Wiploc]

Fierce, religion-ish nationalism. At least if history is any guide.

That wasn't theism, but it was religion. This thread is about after religion.