i lost my faith today, and i dont think its worth looking for...

[LastKnight]

i lost it again, that is... and what caused me to, i wont go into, not something worth sharing. i was raised in a very religious (but NOT fundie) family, and my grandfather is a pastor even, but i just dont get it i guess.

i guess i never liked the idea of "god has a plan for me", what about me having a plan? if god gave us the right to think why would he give us no choice? i do believe there was a Jesus Crist, but still, what if he was as crazy as the homeless guy down the street who claims to talk to god?

i thought i had it figured out... i just dont get it anymore.

im not lookin for a flamewar... just kinda bitchin bout my problems.

is it ok to be an athiest? i know id be denounced in my family if i told my parents/grandparents.

-LK

[commander bunnypants]

1. Did you look in the freezer?

When I lose something it always ends up there.

Do what you need to do to be happy

DDQM

[Gman]

2. Your plan, if its really what you want to do

and feel it, could well be God's plan.

[Maat]

6. Your plan is God's plan.

Go to Beliefnet.com and take the test -- you will find a congregation that jives exactly with your personal beliefs. I was out of the church for 30 years, but I go to a Church of Religious Science congregation now -- and the theme is ...self-responsibility and choosing your own positve plan. There are at least 5 liberal churches out there that jive with my Democratic beliefs. Hang in there -- you can be spiritual and not have to forego your beliefs!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

26. Bingo!

You got it!

[Jack_Dawson]

3. I'm a "Confirmed Catholic" and I think it's OK to be an atheist

[felonious thunk]

4. Many of us have been there

Of course it's ok to be an athiest. But find your own road. Read, research, find what you really believe not what anyone tells you to believe. And even if you find you are an athiest, you can simply keep it to yourself. When you find the road that's right for you, you don't have to explain it to anyone else. You don't have to justify what you believe. And you don't have to convince others to believe what you do. Just have your beliefs, and be refreshed that you've figured out what it all means to you.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Rather than being resolute in an answer

Why not dwell in the question of whether god exists?

There's a lot to be said for asking questions rather than answering them...especially complex unanswerable ones.

[salinen]

7. Might wanna try

being Agnostic. Atheism is too fundamental. Nobody knows anything. Personally, I'm the proud descendant of the gorilla.

[Rowdyboy]

8. I'm Episcop and its okay with me

If thats how you feel, thats how you feel. According to many of the atheists here, though, you face a really tough road and a lot of discrimination. I'd hold off on telling my family. If you must explain anything, just say you "exploring your spiritual options" or some such bullshit.

[everythingsxen]

9. Don't be an atheist..

Be an agnostic.

Nothing wrong with having hope in a benevolent deity / great spirit / the universe / whatever. I find that a lot of life is attitude, maintain hope and positive outlook and you can do almost anything. If faith helps, cool, if not, don't sweat it.

:shrug: Just my 2 cents.

[Systematic Chaos]

10. I don't think there's anything wrong with your decision

You are trying to do what is best for you and makes YOU feel most comfortable and that's not going to hurt you or anyone else - unless you count their pride.

If your family would want to distance themselves from you over a personal decision such as this one then (and mind you I know you love them) it is their problem and not yours. And in a case such as this, I also don't think there's anything wrong with putting up a false front at times to avoid conflict.

Therein lies the problem with faith, IMO. It is such a uniquely personal thing, yet societies try to pound one specific belief into the collective consciousness as if that's going to improve our quality of life. Obviously there is something wrong with this picture.

[Maat]

I like the mumbling something about..

exploring your religious or spiritual options. That's the nice thing about this Board -- I love reading most of the contributions -- I say 'most.'

[chefgirl]

11. It's absolutely OK to be an Atheist

If being an Atheist is your honest and considered choice, then you've found your truth.
It's just as OK to be an Atheist as it is to be a believer.
Never worry about what others believe, just be true to your own heart.

-chef-

[Maat]

15. Be true to your own heart.

I agree. Absence of mental health any other way. Be positive. Love yourself. And I do believe that every person is a necessary contributor to this Planet. Check out 'Unitarian Universalist'. It is a place to congregate, yet explore spirituality. United Church of Christ is inclusive, yet Christ-centered. There is something for everyone! And I have let my family know that if they want me in their life -- they will accept my choice.

[Lars39]

12. I heartily DO NOT recommend telling parents/grandparents

your personal beliefs, especially since you seem to be in a state of flux right now. Family usually doesn't take such an admission kindly; it feels like rejection to many family members.

Just my 2. Hope things start to calm down for you soon. :hug:

[BurtWorm]

13. Pssst. It's okay to be an atheist.

If that's what you finally get around to. I've been one for most of my life--most of the time without even knowing it. So far I'm fine. I felt liberated coming to the realization that I was an atheist. I'll bet you'd stop being pissed at God--or feeling guilty for being pissed at God--too.

[DebJ]

14. God's plan for you IS your choice..free will...

[DrWeird]

16. God says atheists burn in hell.

Naw, I'm just joking with you. I'm an atheist too. Of course it's OK to be an atheist and anybody who says otherwise is a dumb bigot. If you don't believe in God, then say so. If there were a supreme being, and not that I think there is, he'd probably want you to be honest with yourself and certainly wouldn't want you to waste your time worshipping his absentee ass.

[Rainbowreflect]

17. I can relate to how you feel, I've been there.

Check out my story.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x937199

[adamblast]

18. There's nothing wrong with being an...

...athiest, or an agnostic, a Buddhist, or even--*shudder*--a harcore Christian fundamentalist, if that's what you truly believe...

At the risk of sounding Hallmark-y, just find who you are, and *be it.* Don't be in a rush. It's not a matter of "deciding"--more a matter of "uncovering" what is already real in your heart.

It's all good.

[adamblast]

19. OK, I take it back.

$cientology isn't good.

:D

[Bog Frog]

20. it's okay to be an atheist

If you're not comfortable telling your family, don't. If you're UN-comfortable going along to big church events or services, make an excuse. Do what you have to to be comfortable. You deserve to be yourself.

[rock]

21. As an atheist, I say

It's okay to be religious. Irrational, yes, but also perfectly OK. I would even fight to defend that right.

[Ladyhawk]

22. You are the only person who can decide what you believe.

It's "OK" to be an atheist, but be warned. Most people in this nation still look down on atheists. When I decided I was tired of keeping it a secret, all hell broke loose. It was and still is a painful experience because the religious people who know me still try to proselytize.

If you decide this whole "religion" thing isn't for you, you can also decide to keep it a secret as long as you like. There are perfectly legitimate reasons for keeping your mouth shut. The decision is yours.

As for me, I now feel embarrassed when people assume I'm religious, even though they'd probably like me better if I were.

[liberalhistorian]

23. Speaking as a liberal Christian,

I believe that we ARE given the right to think for ourselves and that we ARE given total free choice. We are free to make our own choices and do our own thing, and free to suffer the consequences of those choices, whether good or bad.

What I think is meant by "God has a plan" is that it isn't his will to see us suffer (or to suffer fools such as fundies and wingnuts and freepers!), and that he opens up certain circumstances. The final choices and decisions are ours, though.

[blindpig]

24. my new theory:

faith is an example of behaviorial neotony.
Sounded good last night.

[LastKnight]

25. thanks guys....

the replies helped me calm down a bit, but i still dont quite know what to think.

i love this place... always people around to help somone out.

-LK

[SOteric]

27. It's always 'okay' to doubt and to ask yourself questions.

I know if you chose Atheism you will find many supporters, even if your family does not number amoung them.

I would encourage you, however, to spend more time with the doubt and questions. If you never feel an answer in one direction more strongly than the other, that's alright too.

The most rational amoung us on either side of the "is there a god question" will acknowledge that divine existence/non-existence is not an objectively knowable thing.

Personally, I'm a believer. Sometimes, much like a working marriage, it's necessary to examine how we've come to define an assortment of abstractions and explore a deeper understanding of our own selves in order to reconcile the concept of a loving god with a series of events. In simple terms, we need to understand how our expectations and understanding can deeply limit our concept of a loving god. No easy feat. I'm not in the habit of making judgements about people who have difficulty with that.

And mostly, because it seems to me the events that have brought you to this traumatic level of questioning, - I'd kind of like to offer you a :hug:

Regardless of our religious or irreligious affiliations, you're cared about. People like and respect you around here. I hope you find some ways to ease your pain.

[LastKnight]

28. completely selfserving kick...

i got no shame. but i understand if this subject may be a bit to heavy/serious for a friday night

-LK

[Ysabel]

29. yeah - i think it's okay...

whatever is best for you - somebody said that already - i think so too...