Hmm...I have just been thinking. As a Psychologist, I have learnt about Psychological problems. What if all religious folk are suffering from a mass delusion? I mean, putting faith in, and talking to, and devoting life to a non-existent being is basically a psychological ailment. I wonder how this Mass Delusion came to be? Is it because so many people have so many issues in their life that they pin the blame on someone perceived as mightier than them? Are they all in denial of the life they live and have to turn to someone else to guide them? It is just one big mental problem which has managed to affect millions of people and yet because it is so common, it isn't recognised as a Psychological illness.
Now, I'm not digging at anyone's religious beliefs, you are free to believe in whatever you want, as long as you keep it to yourself and respect other peoples beliefs. But the big problem with religion, and atheism as well, is that we all think we are correct and will assert that belief on others until they believe the same. The only difference is is that religious folk won't accept any other belief than their own due to the rules the religion lays down, which is usually along the lines of "I am the God you need to believe in, any other God is not acceptable and will be deemed a punishable act you if do." Then they scold other religions and non-believers and 'act' under the order of their so-called God, and low and behold, people like the ISIS are born whom kill any who don't believe the same as them.
For that reason, religion pisses me off. People need to know that their actions are the result of their own will, not some higher beings and shouldn't use God as an excuse to down-grade any crimes they have done. The only way I can believe people can be so gullible like this is because they all have some psychological problem. The mind is fragile and it doesn't take a lot to corrupt. There is no other explanation for it. Accept perhaps for environmental causes..if your parents are religious then naturally you will be too. And then there is conformity..conforming to your communities behaviour and beliefs. But all that again is explained by Psychology.
Meh, so that is my take on it all. That is my opinion. I'm not going to force it on you, I'm just going to leave it here and see what you all think. Do you think I am right or wrong? I am intrigued.
:)
Cadwch Y Ffydd.
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manythings711
9 years ago
I'm only 34 but I've had a long relationship with religion. I was brought up pentecostal. Spent my entire young life defending it, believing it, and wrongfully looking down at others for not believing it.
Even then I was always the black sheep of my family. Not quite going along with every single thing in the Bible. College pretty much did away with 85% of my belief in God, religion, thebible, jesus.
Then life took care of the rest afterwards.
For a time, without religion, I felt lost and it was hard to remove the guilt religion had built into my mind all those years.
It took awhile but I discovered that happiness, peace, and morality are my responsibility. It's my choice whether or not I choose to live a life that will make me happy or a life that will make me sad. My actions effect others and my own well being.
Those decisions are mine to make. I'm not perfect but I'm much better now than when I was a believer riddled with guilt and questions. Now that I have no god to burden with prayers or to burden with blame, I live a happier life.
Life will happen. There's no false hope, only the hope of a new day. I feel free and closer to true happiness.
Human history has a long list of religious beliefs at different times. We now scoff at those beliefs and yet think Jesus and Vishnu and Mohammed are somehow more real than Ra and Zeus and the many other Sun Gods.
They're not real. They've never been real. They will never be real.
So you ask, what is love to someone who does not believe in God? I love my family and my girlfriend and my friends as much as you do. Love is love. But like all things, love is a verb, it's action, not just a buzz word. love is what you do for those who are most important to you. Love is when you make the decision to NOT get so mad so quickly. Love is when you decide to understand before you pass judgement. Love is an open ear and a shut mouth. Love is total acceptance. Love is hard work.
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