My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Some say it takes more faith not to believe than to believe.
Well, yeah, if I’m wrong, the consequences are dire. Eternal damnation sounds like a real bummer.
The point is, you have faith.
I don’t stress about it much. The burden of proof is not on me after all. I don’t make any metaphysical claims.
I didn’t assert you stressed. Just stated a fact. Yet some would suggest “life emerges” is a metaphysical claim.
Some are wrong. There's no metaphysical claim with "life emerges", rather, we're? just saying we don't know yet (and may never know). But not knowing the answer doesn't equate to evidence of magic or that the laws of physics were suspended this one time.
At the end of the day, I stand by Saint Chris Hitchens point, which is to say that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
Yes… it can be. Which is why “life emerges” 600 million years ago requires faith. Because it can be dismissed without evidence.
My bro in law has a PHD in chemistry. From UW in the mid 90s. He runs a big department of about 200 people doing top secret shit. His journey to Christianity was chinteresting (or not). The deeper he got into science and his field, he could no longer ignore that God exists. Until he then accepted Christ. He’s not the only scientist I know who went through this. It doesn’t prove or disprove anything. I just find it compelling when people deep into chemistry, biology, archaeology, astronomy, etc either become Christian’s or their faith deepens.
It takes a whole lot more faith to believe the entirety of the universe came together by a series of unrelated cells, minerals, atoms and events than to accept that perhaps there is some master designer that built it.
That’s my point. Im an atheist though. But I understand the benefit religion has in organization and maintaining a civil society throughout history and today. I’m not anti religion. Atheists who lose their shit over religion are fucking annoying. They are usually arrogant smug pricks as well. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a stupid schtick. Some very intelligent and enlightened people throughout history aren’t so dismissive and flippant about it. Calling people of faith idiots show inability to think abstractly and see a picture.
I remember my calling non-atheists idiots stage phase .
Hopefully you’re more enlightened now.
Oops did I put stage?
I wouldn't say enlightened. I did stop calling people idiots over their faith though. My gf of many years is serious about Christianity. It's not an issue for us.
YKWYWF
? I don't know that one. I'll assume it's a compliment though.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Some say it takes more faith not to believe than to believe.
Well, yeah, if I’m wrong, the consequences are dire. Eternal damnation sounds like a real bummer.
The point is, you have faith.
I don’t stress about it much. The burden of proof is not on me after all. I don’t make any metaphysical claims.
I didn’t assert you stressed. Just stated a fact. Yet some would suggest “life emerges” is a metaphysical claim.
Some are wrong. There's no metaphysical claim with "life emerges", rather, we're? just saying we don't know yet (and may never know). But not knowing the answer doesn't equate to evidence of magic or that the laws of physics were suspended this one time.
At the end of the day, I stand by Saint Chris Hitchens point, which is to say that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
Yes… it can be. Which is why “life emerges” 600 million years ago requires faith. Because it can be dismissed without evidence.
My bro in law has a PHD in chemistry. From UW in the mid 90s. He runs a big department of about 200 people doing top secret shit. His journey to Christianity was chinteresting (or not). The deeper he got into science and his field, he could no longer ignore that God exists. Until he then accepted Christ. He’s not the only scientist I know who went through this. It doesn’t prove or disprove anything. I just find it compelling when people deep into chemistry, biology, archaeology, astronomy, etc either become Christian’s or their faith deepens.
It takes a whole lot more faith to believe the entirety of the universe came together by a series of unrelated cells, minerals, atoms and events than to accept that perhaps there is some master designer that built it.
That’s my point. Im an atheist though. But I understand the benefit religion has in organization and maintaining a civil society throughout history and today. I’m not anti religion. Atheists who lose their shit over religion are fucking annoying. They are usually arrogant smug pricks as well. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a stupid schtick. Some very intelligent and enlightened people throughout history aren’t so dismissive and flippant about it. Calling people of faith idiots show inability to think abstractly and see a picture.
I remember my calling non-atheists idiots stage phase .
Hopefully you’re more enlightened now.
Oops did I put stage?
I wouldn't say enlightened. I did stop calling people idiots over their faith though. My gf of many years is serious about Christianity. It's not an issue for us.
YKWYWF
? I don't know that one. I'll assume it's a compliment though.
Deist - some God of some sort is out there, somewhere
I paid $35 for my official papers and became a priest in the Universal Life Church. I held communion daily, sometimes 3-4 times a day - to hell waiting for Sundays. None of my friends would let me perform the wedding ceremonies. Assholes.
I was down and out when I paid the $35 - otherwise I would have paid the $100 for the advanced degree and name or my choice. My wife at the time did not approve of me doing that as I wanted to name myself Mother Superior.
Sermon Seeker - TRUE believer in REAL God (protestant division)
I certainly believe in God. I grew up Catholic and going to Church most weekends until I was a teen. Weekends got busy with sports and other activities so my family only went sporadically and then not at all.
I don’t think I could be a Catholic now. It’s a little too stuffy for me. I’m not big on the rules other than attempting to be a good person. I have thought about joining a Christian church and trying it out, but have not done so as an adult. I probably overthink it, but I want something that fits me and it’s hard.
I like the aspect of it being a community. Someone can move to a new city and join a church and be welcomed. Most that attend are trying to be good person.
I can’t stand people that think religion is all awful. Obviously organized religion is deeply flawed, but it has its purpose and is important.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.
It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.
It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.
Nope. But we can make educated guesses.
There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
If God's purpose is to fill in the gaps of human knowledge, then God is shrinking every day.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
If God's purpose is to fill in the gaps of human knowledge, then God is shrinking every day.
If you’ve ever read an @HHusky or @MelloDawg post on the Tug, you’d know that’s not true.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
If God's purpose is to fill in the gaps of human knowledge, then God is shrinking every day.
If you’ve ever read an @HHusky or @MelloDawg post on the Tug, you’d know that’s not true.
Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.
But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.
After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.
But then 2020 happened.
Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.
I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.
Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
If God's purpose is to fill in the gaps of human knowledge, then God is shrinking every day.
If you’ve ever read an @HHusky or @MelloDawg post on the Tug, you’d know that’s not true.
It’s a long list.
You can't rank the amateurs with the professionals.
Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.
But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.
After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.
But then 2020 happened.
Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.
I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.
Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.
Sam Harris tells me there's no mutual exclusivity between meditation and atheism.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.
It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.
Nope. But we can make educated guesses.
There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.
It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.
Nope. But we can make educated guesses.
There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.
Evolution seems pretty magical to me.
I dont understand why people bother with evolution anymore. There are way bigger, way older, way more difficult questions that render recent, small matters like life on an isolated rock planet a trivial matter.
My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...
Earth = 4.5 billion years old
Simple life emerges 600 million years ago
Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years
Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago
Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.
I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.
Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.
ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.
Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.
It was, but you still can't rule out that it was all set in motion by something.
Nope. But we can make educated guesses.
There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.
Evolution seems pretty magical to me.
Agree. Sexy-time to pass along heritable traits is a magical thing. I've enjoyed it.
Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.
But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.
After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.
But then 2020 happened.
Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.
I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.
Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.
Sam Harris tells me there's no mutual exclusivity between meditation and atheism.
You’d be correct. Buddhism (or any religion) can’t lay exclusive claim to meditation practices.
And there’s many that believe the historical Buddha himself was an atheist.
Secular Buddhism is in fact one of fastest growing ways to practice. All the tasty mindfulness/virtue of original recipe Buddhism without all those pesky karma/rebirth calories.
Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.
But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.
After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.
But then 2020 happened.
Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.
I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.
Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.
Sam Harris tells me there's no mutual exclusivity between meditation and atheism.
You’d be correct. Buddhism (or any religion) can’t lay exclusive claim to meditation practices.
And there’s many that believe the historical Buddha himself was an atheist.
Secular Buddhism is in fact one of fastest growing ways to practice. All the tasty mindfulness/virtue of original recipe Buddhism without all those pesky karma/rebirth calories.
I'm trying to take more deep breaths these days and not yell at my computer or the kids as much.
I didn't even yell at the TV once during the UCLA game, but that was partly due to @PurpleThrobber 's fruity little edibles.
Comments
I was down and out when I paid the $35 - otherwise I would have paid the $100 for the advanced degree and name or my choice. My wife at the time did not approve of me doing that as I wanted to name myself Mother Superior.
I don’t think I could be a Catholic now. It’s a little too stuffy for me. I’m not big on the rules other than attempting to be a good person. I have thought about joining a Christian church and trying it out, but have not done so as an adult. I probably overthink it, but I want something that fits me and it’s hard.
I like the aspect of it being a community. Someone can move to a new city and join a church and be welcomed. Most that attend are trying to be good person.
I can’t stand people that think religion is all awful. Obviously organized religion is deeply flawed, but it has its purpose and is important.
All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.
There’s no examples of magic in the normal, every day universe, which is why I don’t see how “life began” would be any different.
But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.
After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.
But then 2020 happened.
Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.
I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.
Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.
And there’s many that believe the historical Buddha himself was an atheist.
https://tricycle.org/article/was-buddha-atheist/
Secular Buddhism is in fact one of fastest growing ways to practice. All the tasty mindfulness/virtue of original recipe Buddhism without all those pesky karma/rebirth calories.
Can we discuss the merits of a Catholic upbringing?
I didn't even yell at the TV once during the UCLA game, but that was partly due to @PurpleThrobber 's fruity little edibles.
#YellaMindfulness