Religion

Chemisse

(31,384 posts)

62. That's pretty similar to me in my questionings over the years.

Sun Mar 22, 2015, 08:19 PM

Mar 2015

I wound up - after decades of being an atheist and a lifetime of working with science - becoming a Pagan.

I don't literally believe in lots of gods and goddesses, but I think that there is some collective energy that we are all a part of. I don't really think the energy has an intelligence or a purpose, but I could be wrong.

I spent a lot of time exploring aspects of science, like quantum theory, to try to at least imagine how science could support this belief, and have wound up with an odd mix of science and spirituality that I find satisfying.

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A couple questions for believers [View all] Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 OP

If they were honest Cartoonist Mar 2015 #1

When I was a kid I asked my father "Why am I a Catholic?" Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #3

That's an important point, particularly in terms of religious tolerance. Chemisse Mar 2015 #53

I really like the way you put that. cbayer Mar 2015 #56

Did your parents choose atheism for you? cbayer Mar 2015 #5

They sent me to parochial school Cartoonist Mar 2015 #9

So, it's quite possible for people to overcome the "brainwashing" then. cbayer Mar 2015 #11

50%? Cartoonist Mar 2015 #13

Oh? hrmjustin Mar 2015 #14

Yeah Cartoonist Mar 2015 #18

Well it was a change to me. hrmjustin Mar 2015 #21

Like changing a shirt Cartoonist Mar 2015 #25

Oh really? hrmjustin Mar 2015 #26

Wow. This is really low. cbayer Mar 2015 #28

This was alerted on. Because that's how the godly roll, I guess. enki23 Mar 2015 #29

For your information I did not alert. hrmjustin Mar 2015 #30

Update. Hide failed (obviously) but only 4-3. enki23 Mar 2015 #31

"these people"? hrmjustin Mar 2015 #33

Yeah, you know. Those pathetic godly people who are incapable of feeling any shame cbayer Mar 2015 #35

Have we no shame! hrmjustin Mar 2015 #36

Imagine this. cbayer Mar 2015 #38

If they're abusing the jury system, please do. enki23 Mar 2015 #43

You disagree with the alert. Four out of seven people agree with you. cbayer Mar 2015 #46

There was nothing even vaguely against the rules in that post. enki23 Mar 2015 #50

This seems to be terribly difficult for you, but not everyone shares your POV. cbayer Mar 2015 #51

As a member of the jury, you saw the alerter's comment. okasha Mar 2015 #58

You realize that juries are a randomly selected group of 7 DU members, right? There's no conspiracy. pinto Mar 2015 #67

None, my dear. None. okasha Mar 2015 #41

Yeah, well, that's just like, your opinion, man. enki23 Mar 2015 #42

Three jury members did not consider it abuse. hrmjustin Mar 2015 #45

You and yours? Who in the world are you talking about? cbayer Mar 2015 #48

Vote how they "feel?" Jury nullification isn't cute when it's used in reverse. enki23 Mar 2015 #47

If 4/8 people (the alerter and the 3 concurring jury members) are all doing it because they cbayer Mar 2015 #49

Isn't this a fun forum? Warren Stupidity Mar 2015 #86

Yes, it is a change. cbayer Mar 2015 #16

Jesus is the constant in all your examples Cartoonist Mar 2015 #19

"Keep trying to make a point. Someday you may succeed." cbayer Mar 2015 #20

You are running away again Cartoonist Mar 2015 #24

All three of those faiths are abrahamic, so no I agree with cartoonist, its like changing your shirt AtheistCrusader Mar 2015 #74

Because the Assembly of God and Hinduism are just alike. okasha Mar 2015 #39

A belief in a sentient being Cartoonist Mar 2015 #44

And that makes three! okasha Mar 2015 #52

You see things differently Cartoonist Mar 2015 #63

In this case, since the offered examples are all christians, it's more like switching from coke to p AtheistCrusader Mar 2015 #75

I still prefer the baseball analogy. Cartoonist Mar 2015 #82

Just above you claimed that all religions are the same skepticscott Mar 2015 #68

50% of people change their religion during their lifetime LostOne4Ever Mar 2015 #61

That number comes from longitudinal PEW study that looked primarily at cbayer Mar 2015 #64

Thanks for the link. LostOne4Ever Mar 2015 #69

Glad you had the opportunity to look at it. cbayer Mar 2015 #93

I was raised in a in name only Catholic family but was sent to Catholic Grammar school. hrmjustin Mar 2015 #2

I, too, left the Catholic church to explore alternatives. Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #7

Thats fine. hrmjustin Mar 2015 #8

That's pretty similar to me in my questionings over the years. Chemisse Mar 2015 #62

Catholic in name only LostOne4Ever Mar 2015 #71

Not a believer, but a few questions back at you. cbayer Mar 2015 #4

And some answer back at you Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #10

As to the first question, I ask again. cbayer Mar 2015 #12

I'm an occasioal poker player, okasha Mar 2015 #15

So far, he's doing a pretty good job, to be honest. cbayer Mar 2015 #17

Based on some of the posts here, Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #37

I actually think you might be sincere, but there is a history in this group cbayer Mar 2015 #40

Let me correct myself, then Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #65

Just so you know: this poster is not the judge of sincerity here. Warren Stupidity Mar 2015 #87

I think your questions are well worth asking, and indeed have been the focus of much inquiry. LTX Mar 2015 #89

Your experience is anecdotal and you have some serious investigator bias that cbayer Mar 2015 #92

Don't let Cbayer badger you out. AtheistCrusader Mar 2015 #77

An atheist (someone who doesn't believe in gods, she claims) who refuses the label for herself... trotsky Mar 2015 #90

Ah, another one for the list. Thanks. AtheistCrusader Mar 2015 #76

1. When I became convinced that God probably existed. Htom Sirveaux Mar 2015 #6

A rather great response. longship Mar 2015 #23

Thank you! Htom Sirveaux Mar 2015 #99

Occam is spinning in his grave right now. phil89 Mar 2015 #57

Probably not. okasha Mar 2015 #59

... cbayer Mar 2015 #60

Who the hell was William of Occam? AtheistCrusader Mar 2015 #78

As in Occam's Razor. okasha Mar 2015 #83

I know. It's actually Ockham. AtheistCrusader Mar 2015 #84

No standardized spelling before Boswell's dictionary. okasha Mar 2015 #85

you think that edhopper Mar 2015 #95

How you got that bullshit okasha Mar 2015 #96

It seems edhopper Mar 2015 #97

Again, I have no idea how you got that out of my post okasha Mar 2015 #98

Enough about Occam's razor. Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #66

Some of these discussions revolve around semantics. Choice, truth, meaning, faith, doubt, etc. pinto Mar 2015 #22

Looks to me like you really have no interest whatsoever pangaia Mar 2015 #27

No judgement or ridicule from this quarter. Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #32

No, you do not have an interest in others. pangaia Mar 2015 #55

I assumed. You assumed. Score is a draw. Binkie The Clown Mar 2015 #72

One question too many. Leontius Mar 2015 #34

what a web of semantics we have here guillaumeb Mar 2015 #54

Here's a question you'll never get an answer to. Booster Mar 2015 #70

According to the Latter Day Saints, he has. okasha Mar 2015 #73

And yet the rest of the christians in the US don't believe them. AtheistCrusader Mar 2015 #79

And some of the most self-proclaimed tolerant and civil folks in this group... trotsky Mar 2015 #91

Yeah, I have to have my special pleading filters replaced monthy, and that is AtheistCrusader Mar 2015 #94

You're kidding right? Booster Mar 2015 #80

Your question was completely open-ended, okasha Mar 2015 #81

There are plenty of religions that claim prophets and revelations Warren Stupidity Mar 2015 #88