Is there a category for people not interested in knowing whether or not god exists? I think I’m one of them. I barely want to debate it because I came to the understanding that no one wants to be convinced of a fact if it opposes their belief. The belief itself is core and they will create a blind spot and stuff it in.
All the same, I do like how celebration of equinoxes, concentration on personal renewal make me feel. It’s a conscious choice to recognize the change of seasons and treat both negative and positive as seasonal. That’s about as far as I get. I have felt the twinge to reread the works of my early 20s and see what’s new in skepticism. I had Dawkins, Hitchens, and even Penn Jillette. I’m not sure there are so many outspoken non-believers these days or maybe I just don’t know them.
Thanks for your comments - very interesting. I think your first paragraph raises two points: 1. Can you be indifferent to the debate on whether or not a god exists? And 2. Is it worth debating with theists? I would answer 1. No, not when so many theists would force others outside their faith to live by their interpretation of the rules of their god, and 2. Yes, because what you are debating is childhood indoctrination - if you can get them to recognise the source of their beliefs, then there is a possibility of making them at least ask some questions.
I like that you get your own sense of renewal as the seasons change - which seems like a wonderful personal philosophy. I also go back to Dawkins when I get a chance - it's important to reconnect with secular minds in the face of so much fundamentalism in the world today!
I think you’re right. “The debate” in esoteric terms does not interest me. On a personal level, I don’t want to engage. But there is real indoctrination and I have been fortunate that my children are being raised as skeptics so while they may be exposed to religion in some contexts, they have not been moved by it.
The theists in my life are family members. My friends are mostly agnostic (by my estimation). It’s just not a topic that comes up but I think if it did, I have a softer way now. I have chosen my way and there’s no convincing me. Simple. But it does make me think, wow, people have cooled down in my circles as we’ve gotten older and I can’t see any real debates taking place.
You get hit with so much that you really do need to reconnect.
Hmmm, just a few thoughts. Reading this it seems you are referring to the Christian religion in particular. Well, maybe Judeo-Christian religions. Do you feel the same way towards other religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American belief systems, etc? Do you have any spiritual beliefs or are you a pure atheist? I know a lot of people who came to question their Judeo-Christian roots as they grew up and left them in the dust. many still have some kind of spiritual beliefs whether they are pagan or "starseed." Whether you are a pure atheist or not really doesn't matter to me, I am just wondering. As we transition from the Age of Piscses into Aquarius it seems to be a natural progression away from Christianity and toward something more "progressive" as you might put it.
Hi Catherine, thanks for commenting. To answer your question, yes - I feel the same way about all spiritualities as I feel about religions. In the absence of any empirically-verifiable proof, I don't see the need to subscribe to these 'other-worldly' beliefs either. Although, if any irrefutable proof were to be provided and widely accepted, then I would be happy to reconsider!
Ok, so it's all about science. I get it. I wonder what you would think about the Noetic sciences. In a nutshell, they are trying to "bridge science and spirituality." You may, or may not be interested.
Is there a category for people not interested in knowing whether or not god exists? I think I’m one of them. I barely want to debate it because I came to the understanding that no one wants to be convinced of a fact if it opposes their belief. The belief itself is core and they will create a blind spot and stuff it in.
All the same, I do like how celebration of equinoxes, concentration on personal renewal make me feel. It’s a conscious choice to recognize the change of seasons and treat both negative and positive as seasonal. That’s about as far as I get. I have felt the twinge to reread the works of my early 20s and see what’s new in skepticism. I had Dawkins, Hitchens, and even Penn Jillette. I’m not sure there are so many outspoken non-believers these days or maybe I just don’t know them.
In any case, this was a nice read. Thank you. 😊
Thanks for your comments - very interesting. I think your first paragraph raises two points: 1. Can you be indifferent to the debate on whether or not a god exists? And 2. Is it worth debating with theists? I would answer 1. No, not when so many theists would force others outside their faith to live by their interpretation of the rules of their god, and 2. Yes, because what you are debating is childhood indoctrination - if you can get them to recognise the source of their beliefs, then there is a possibility of making them at least ask some questions.
I like that you get your own sense of renewal as the seasons change - which seems like a wonderful personal philosophy. I also go back to Dawkins when I get a chance - it's important to reconnect with secular minds in the face of so much fundamentalism in the world today!
I think you’re right. “The debate” in esoteric terms does not interest me. On a personal level, I don’t want to engage. But there is real indoctrination and I have been fortunate that my children are being raised as skeptics so while they may be exposed to religion in some contexts, they have not been moved by it.
The theists in my life are family members. My friends are mostly agnostic (by my estimation). It’s just not a topic that comes up but I think if it did, I have a softer way now. I have chosen my way and there’s no convincing me. Simple. But it does make me think, wow, people have cooled down in my circles as we’ve gotten older and I can’t see any real debates taking place.
You get hit with so much that you really do need to reconnect.
Hmmm, just a few thoughts. Reading this it seems you are referring to the Christian religion in particular. Well, maybe Judeo-Christian religions. Do you feel the same way towards other religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American belief systems, etc? Do you have any spiritual beliefs or are you a pure atheist? I know a lot of people who came to question their Judeo-Christian roots as they grew up and left them in the dust. many still have some kind of spiritual beliefs whether they are pagan or "starseed." Whether you are a pure atheist or not really doesn't matter to me, I am just wondering. As we transition from the Age of Piscses into Aquarius it seems to be a natural progression away from Christianity and toward something more "progressive" as you might put it.
Hi Catherine, thanks for commenting. To answer your question, yes - I feel the same way about all spiritualities as I feel about religions. In the absence of any empirically-verifiable proof, I don't see the need to subscribe to these 'other-worldly' beliefs either. Although, if any irrefutable proof were to be provided and widely accepted, then I would be happy to reconsider!
Ok, so it's all about science. I get it. I wonder what you would think about the Noetic sciences. In a nutshell, they are trying to "bridge science and spirituality." You may, or may not be interested.
https://noetic.org/about/noetic-sciences/