Religion

Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)

127. I gave up religion long before I gave up god.

Sun Dec 10, 2017, 09:13 PM

Dec 2017

My Catholic upbringing convinced me by age 7 that religion was B.S. (they kept telling me I was born evil and had to redeem myself, and I knew damn well there wasn't an evil bone in my body.), so I went looking in other directions. Over the years I tried out numerous Christian denominations, including LDS and Unity. Moved on to Unitarianism, and Theosophy without luck. Finding more of the same nonsense I looked East. Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, Transcendental Meditation, etc. etc.

The only thing of value I ever found was the positive effects of mindfulness meditation on my mental and physiological state, and there was no need of any "god" hypothesis to benefit from deep meditation. Finally, I decided that not one single concept of god as taught in any human religion made any sense whatsoever. So I finally gave up both religion and god.

But I kept meditation because it actually works.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

233 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Where have you looked for God, and what were you looking for? [View all] guillaumeb Dec 2017 OP

Look within saidsimplesimon Dec 2017 #1

Congratulations on your 2,222nd post. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #2

thank you, saidsimplesimon Dec 2017 #3

But a human looking within,.will of course find human things Bretton Garcia Dec 2017 #61

Sometimes to everyone's peril. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #181

Why don't you tell us what to look for? trotsky Dec 2017 #4

What can I tell you? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #6

You said I had a bad teacher, and that's why I'm an atheist. trotsky Dec 2017 #19

Did I say you had a bad teacher, or was it a possibility? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #20

I misheard nothing. trotsky Dec 2017 #21

Yes, you actaully did. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #22

No, I actually did not. That was an earlier post. trotsky Dec 2017 #23

No, you still misread. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #24

That is your opinion, and you are certainly entitled to it. trotsky Dec 2017 #25

I agree. Others will judge. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #26

Great! So now that's settled, trotsky Dec 2017 #49

So, you gonna find where my faults are or not? trotsky Dec 2017 #160

And WHY are we supposed to be looking for it? Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #162

I said nothing of the kind. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #163

I see atheism as neither. trotsky Dec 2017 #165

No, I do not. That is your misperception. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #167

My "misperception" of what you expressly stated in your OP? trotsky Dec 2017 #168

Again, you misperceive. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #169

So instead of falling back to your sorry, lame-ass "your narrative" bullshit, why don't you clarify? trotsky Dec 2017 #170

I asked the questions to illustrate my argument. An argument I have made many times here. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #171

Your questions all beg the most important question: trotsky Dec 2017 #172

Faith is what is required. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #173

I don't have to disprove it. trotsky Dec 2017 #179

No, but we can prove whether the universe requires a creator, or whether it bears the toolmarks of AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #218

Your statement is totally unprovable. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #224

Be specific. Which part? AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #225

All of it. It is an opinion. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #226

Do you just not read qualifying statements or what? AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #230

As to opinion, this is one of yours: guillaumeb Dec 2017 #231

That's not an opinion. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #232

That was a shitty thing to say by the way. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #182

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #206

You're not making a lot of sense, you know. MineralMan Dec 2017 #207

Post count and content suggest that person is not here to make sense or contribute meaningfully. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #209

FancyMonkeyBrain believes he knows all. trotsky Dec 2017 #212

No doubt. MineralMan Dec 2017 #214

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #215

Religious leaders in the Bible try to teach faith constantly Bretton Garcia Dec 2017 #62

I am old, but not old enough to be in the Bible. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #67

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #205

Um, wat? n/t trotsky Dec 2017 #208

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #210

Wats your point, monkey brain? Anything to contribute to the conversation? marble falls Dec 2017 #211

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #213

So. Where have you looked for "god", and what were you looking for, monkeybrain? marble falls Dec 2017 #216

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #217

Pshaw. You have nothing to add. marble falls Dec 2017 #219

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #220

Looks more like a reading comprehension problem to me. What "sounds" are you experiencing? marble falls Dec 2017 #221

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2017 #222

Why are you so hostile and rude? marble falls Dec 2017 #223

No need to look for one. Others put their deities up for consideration MineralMan Dec 2017 #5

I can draw many conclusions. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #7

You can draw anything you like, Guillaume. MineralMan Dec 2017 #8

Simply trying to help out. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #10

No, you're not, Guillaume. MineralMan Dec 2017 #14

You know very little about me, other than my first name. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #15

No, you were not being sincere. You were trying to game me. MineralMan Dec 2017 #16

I read your other post. And I understand the anger. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #17

Fuck that, OK? MineralMan Dec 2017 #18

Actually, I think he is baiting me marylandblue Dec 2017 #45

You are incorrect. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #78

ok, thanks. marylandblue Dec 2017 #83

Ah, the angry atheist meme Lordquinton Dec 2017 #74

Ridiculous. We all get angry. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #189

You found it! Lordquinton Dec 2017 #194

And what of all of the angry responses from non-theists here? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #196

I literally just explained it to you Lordquinton Dec 2017 #197

And what of my last question? eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #198

What question? Lordquinton Dec 2017 #229

Here you are again, suggesting the problem is with the other person in the conversation. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #184

Here YOU go again, insisting that you know my motivation. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #190

I didn't say a word about your MOTIVE. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #201

Nothing to find WhiteTara Dec 2017 #119

A conclusion based solely on your own thoughts. I understand. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #187

If God is everything WhiteTara Dec 2017 #191

Jesus suggested praying in secret, guillaumeb Dec 2017 #192

Perhaps you can help me find the invisible dragon my garage. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #183

You have decided for yourself, based on your won feelings. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #188

Here you go again marylandblue Dec 2017 #193

Agreed. I should have qualified my post. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #195

This message was self-deleted by its author AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #202

False. I have not decided at all. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #200

#4 Cartoonist Dec 2017 #9

Assume for the argument that God exists. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #12

If God is omnipotent Cartoonist Dec 2017 #33

You claimed that I said God cannot communicate, when I actually said: guillaumeb Dec 2017 #38

Why ask the question then? Cartoonist Dec 2017 #43

Why did you misframe it? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #66

There is another reason Cartoonist Dec 2017 #69

Perhaps you should have asked why I wrote what I did, rather than misframe what guillaumeb Dec 2017 #70

Think about omnipotence Cartoonist Dec 2017 #84

There are many ways to communicate. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #85

And which one can't God do? Cartoonist Dec 2017 #86

Do you still misunderstand what I actually said? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #88

You implied it by asking the question Cartoonist Dec 2017 #114

I did not imply any such thing. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #139

Which god? AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #185

If there are so many easy ways to miss God? Bretton Garcia Dec 2017 #63

He really wasn't visible in most of the book. Mariana Dec 2017 #65

That's mostly right. Bretton Garcia Dec 2017 #87

There's an option you aren't including Lordquinton Dec 2017 #73

I looked in the cookie jar but only found crumbs WestMichRad Dec 2017 #11

Are there other jars in the kitchen? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #13

Chocolate chip oatmeal! WestMichRad Dec 2017 #31

Laughter on this end. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #32

Science reveals God zipplewrath Dec 2017 #27

I Googled the term, and this was the first citation: guillaumeb Dec 2017 #28

I agree with this statement. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #52

Potentially zipplewrath Dec 2017 #59

I guess I am more in line with the Jesuits then. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #60

Fritjof Capra Locrian Dec 2017 #126

Here comes the broken record. saidsimplesimon Dec 2017 #29

Faith requires belief in the unprovable. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #30

"...requires belief in the unprovable." WestMichRad Dec 2017 #34

If that suffices for you, fine. oem guillaumeb Dec 2017 #39

faith - Manly Palmer Hall Locrian Dec 2017 #128

Thanks! Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #36

By "God", do you mean a monotheistic deity that has some reason for the capital letter muriel_volestrangler Dec 2017 #35

I mean whatever one conceives of as a deity. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #40

This seems to beg the question, then muriel_volestrangler Dec 2017 #41

Confirmation bias is everywhere. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #42

That's why science is such a good process to finding truth marylandblue Dec 2017 #47

The scientific method is indeed the gold standard, but it is subject Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #53

Yes that's true, it's not perfect marylandblue Dec 2017 #55

Research with human subjects is a different ballgame than the hard sciences. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #57

I believe in spirituality, but I wouldn't call it a belief system marylandblue Dec 2017 #135

Good point, when we turn spirituality into an organized thing, it gets used as a weapon. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #137

Yes -- I too think and believe that KPN Dec 2017 #174

IF ONLY THERE WAS SOME WAY TO CONTROL FOR IT. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #48

It is not possible to eradicate bias in research, but yes the scientific method Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #104

I didn't say anything about eradicating bias. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #134

If only we had a method for acquiring knowledge... trotsky Dec 2017 #50

"Conceive of a deity" Mariana Dec 2017 #44

I found it hiding in the garage. Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #37

Did it come back to you? True Dough Dec 2017 #100

Road kill. Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #102

I would look for a being that has a measureable effect on the universe marylandblue Dec 2017 #46

Perhaps there is a divine being doing something every day. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #54

I agree with that, sort of marylandblue Dec 2017 #56

We could argue that the God part of the brain is an evolutionary force at work. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #58

Mine started as an intellectual exercise. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #51

An interesting response. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #68

Yes, a lot of people see God in nature. I see God in people and their creations. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #72

So I looked deep inside. And the voice said ... Bretton Garcia Dec 2017 #64

Any evidence that a deity edhopper Dec 2017 #71

How would you know? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #79

a Creator edhopper Dec 2017 #82

So what you're saying Lordquinton Dec 2017 #75

No, what you are framing is what you claim to be my views. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #80

And you avoid the topic completely Lordquinton Dec 2017 #99

Never felt the need to look for any mythical entities. procon Dec 2017 #76

You have found your path. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #81

This thread edhopper Dec 2017 #77

If you do not believe in a deity, there is no need to look. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #89

In fact edhopper Dec 2017 #90

I have a lot of time for things also. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #91

I just think of all thos Saturdays wasted edhopper Dec 2017 #92

Was it truly wasted? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #93

A lot of fairy tales edhopper Dec 2017 #94

Too bad that more do not learn about the Holocaust. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #95

Do you think a nine year old edhopper Dec 2017 #96

No, I do not. Material should be age appropriate. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #97

Well edhopper Dec 2017 #98

I have attended services in a synagogue, and I found them quite nice. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #103

I suppose once or twice can be interesting edhopper Dec 2017 #130

I went every Friday night for a couple of years. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #132

Looking for God assumes that WhiteTara Dec 2017 #101

Yes this is what I was trying to say in my posts, but you said it better White Tara. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #105

Thanks. As I understand it WhiteTara Dec 2017 #107

Can you say more about Mind? Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #108

The heart chakra is the seat of compassion WhiteTara Dec 2017 #109

I think we mean the same thing, but use different terms. nt Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #110

Very close WhiteTara Dec 2017 #111

I don't believe God has gender or race. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #112

I believe in the laws of Karma WhiteTara Dec 2017 #113

Yes exactly. I believe this too. We are seeing a lot of karma taking place Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #115

So are you saying that Universal Laws WhiteTara Dec 2017 #116

I would say Universal Laws are God's laws, and part of God. nt Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #117

If God is everything WhiteTara Dec 2017 #118

Again, semantics in the way.. God is his laws, and his laws are him. But he is more than his laws. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #120

Once again we have returned to the personal god..."him" WhiteTara Dec 2017 #121

I know, God should be an it. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #122

Would you give some examples of karma taking place? Mariana Dec 2017 #123

There are many kinds of karma. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #124

Thank you. nt. Mariana Dec 2017 #125

YW nt Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #129

I think that is just confirmation bias. Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #148

Trump's karmic journey is far from over. It has just begun. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #150

Of course you will see what you wish to see, that is what confirmation bias is. Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #152

Faith is not confirmation bias to me. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #154

"Trump's karmic journey is far from over. It has just begun." trotsky Dec 2017 #153

Do the American people play any part in selecting their leadership? Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #155

That's a cop-out non-answer. trotsky Dec 2017 #158

That is a good question. As a group here at DU, KPN Dec 2017 #175

A better example is some of the horrible brutes of the past marylandblue Dec 2017 #156

Agreed, those are great examples. trotsky Dec 2017 #159

"I owe the public nothing." Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #161

An example of what I have been trying to say about finding God in people and in their creations. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #106

He may have intended that meaning. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #140

I don't think it is a conscious process for most. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #142

True, and language/religion/culture are all blended together. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #143

Certainly atheists and non theists are capable of producing angelic or god like material. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #144

I gave up religion long before I gave up god. Binkie The Clown Dec 2017 #127

And if it works I would say you found your path. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #141

Chocolate is absolute proof of a deity.. Permanut Dec 2017 #131

If there were a God, chocolate would not be fattening marylandblue Dec 2017 #133

Point taken.. Permanut Dec 2017 #136

Yes, clearly the forbidden fruit was a cacao bean marylandblue Dec 2017 #138

Now they are saying dark chocolate is nutrient dense. So it is really like medicine, right? nt Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #145

I like where you're going with this.. Permanut Dec 2017 #147

A friend of mine drinks a glass of red wine, and eats a square of dark chocolate Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #149

If angels ate and drank, they would eat chocolate and sip champaign? Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #146

Everywhere. KPN Dec 2017 #151

Do you see evidence of a Creator in creation? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #157

Interesting question and point. That is if I understand your point. KPN Dec 2017 #164

I was speaking about the ability of a human to actually understand guillaumeb Dec 2017 #166

Well I appreciate that. KPN Dec 2017 #176

The Divine, or 'I am that I am' has many faces. PatrickforO Dec 2017 #177

An excellent response. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #178

I spent a lot of time listening to religious people talk about what they perceive as AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #180

Do not waste your time. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #186

It's not confirmation bias if I look where they tell me to look and nothing is there. AtheistCrusader Dec 2017 #199

That's just you twisting the facts to suit your narrative. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #203

per your question, nothing heaven05 Dec 2017 #204

I did... Snackshack Dec 2017 #227

What did you find? If I can ask. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #228

Hypocrisy. EOM Snackshack Dec 2017 #233