Is there anybody out there?

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- GRB
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Is there anybody out there?
OP - June 20, 2012, 09:45 PM

Many times when I am speaking to religious friends, I get told that it must be lonely being an atheist since there's no god I can turn to. I was trying to remember the time I spent being religious to see if I felt that connection back then. I haven't felt a difference in how I felt back then, to what I feel now.

I believed in a god, I desperately prayed to that god and hoped that somehow my prayers will get answered, but I never felt as if it were personally looking out for me. Even as a believer, I never found any comfort in knowing that there's an all powerful being who can make everything right. I never believed that everything was magically going to be okay, even though I prayed for things to get better. When I came over to the darkside, I didn't believe, I didn't pray and I didn't feel lonely.

So, I'd like to ask you guys how you felt, did you feel a connection to a higher being when you believed? Do you somehow feel lonely since you came over to the darkside? Are you indifferent like me?

I don't know if there's a thread like this, if there is one, you can guide me there.
- Cheetah
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Re: Is there anybody out there?
Reply #1 - June 20, 2012, 09:52 PM

I never felt a connection to any higher being. The only times I've ever been moved to spontaneous prayer, (as opposed to ritualistic or forced prayer), was when something was so desparate and hopeless that there was no other option. And of course every single time the prayers failed.

For a long time I blamed the 100% failure rate of prayer on some god or some supernatural thing that I couldn't comprehend. I hated god. But then I grew up a bit and realised that prayer is like a wishbone or blowing out the candles on your birthday cake. It doesn't make any difference either way, its just this "God" bollocks is given such respectability to us from day one that we expect it to work, long after we've outgrown blowing out birthday candles.

I don't feel lonely at all since I realised that. I feel relieved.

"Befriend them not, Oh murtads, and give them neither parrot nor bunny." - happymurtad's advice on trolls.
- rabksaj
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Re: Is there anybody out there?
Reply #2 - June 20, 2012, 09:57 PM

I agree with you all the way
- Absurdist
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Re: Is there anybody out there?
Reply #3 - June 20, 2012, 10:01 PM

I still feel a connection to something larger than myself (actually, I never felt it as a Muslim). That's why I identify as a pantheist. I don't believe it's a supernatural power, but it's a phenomenon that I experience and cannot deny.
- GRB
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Re: Is there anybody out there?
Reply #4 - June 20, 2012, 10:06 PM

Quote from: Cheetah on June 20, 2012, 09:52 PM
The only times I've ever been moved to spontaneous prayer, (as opposed to ritualistic or forced prayer), was when something was so desparate and hopeless that there was no other option. And of course every single time the prayers failed.

I pretty much prayed the same way, and like you, my prayers were never answered, but a part of me never expected it to work.

Quote from: Cheetah on June 20, 2012, 09:52 PM
I don't feel lonely at all since I realised that. I feel relieved.

I've had a more grounded view, I know that I have to do everything myself, I can't rely on some mystical being to make things right.
- Alex Lam Meem
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Re: Is there anybody out there?
Reply #5 - June 20, 2012, 10:06 PM

Quote from: rabksaj on June 20, 2012, 09:57 PM
I agree with you all the way

Welcome rabksaj. Say hi to everyone in the intro section.

@thread

The only difference was realization that I will have to find a purpose in life instead of having one sent from heavens. I'm not sure if lonely is the right word for that feeling. Connection to someone you can't see, feel or hear - no such thing.

"That it is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger" (The Koran 69:40)
- GRB
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Re: Is there anybody out there?
Reply #6 - June 20, 2012, 10:18 PM

Quote from: Abood on June 20, 2012, 10:01 PM
I still feel a connection to something larger than myself (actually, I never felt it as a Muslim). That's why I identify as a pantheist. I don't believe it's a supernatural power, but it's a phenomenon that I experience and cannot deny.

Would you like to define it? Does it comfort you in any way?
- Naerys
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Re: Is there anybody out there?
Reply #7 - June 24, 2012, 09:29 AM

I think fear annihilated any kind of "special connection" I might ever have had with God. Kind of like when you're told you're supposed to love your great uncle but he's so mean and scary you can't even bring yourself to think about it. It was somewhat a comfort to "have" God when I witnessed something really evil, the kind that makes you go "at least there will be a retribution in the next life, even if that person gets away with it in this one", but I never dared apply the same thinking process to myself because I was so small, so insignificant, so sinful. And I'd rather not attract his attention (and wrath) toward myself.

So really, I don't feel lonely in my atheism. I feel relieved and much happier.

He's no friend to the friendless
And he's the mother of grief
There's only sorrow for tomorrow
Surely life is too brief
- ExMuslimVlogGuy
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Is there anybody out there?
Reply #8 - December 25, 2015, 06:06 AM

It was a bit devastating for me. God was all I really had.

Even now, it's difficult to let go. It's been about 2 years without the comfort and concept of an All-Powerful Being watching over me..

It's pretty difficult to adjust even as an atheist, not going to lie.. And even after being an atheist, you still find other atheists attaching themselves to non-religious dogma..

Even being an ex-muslim and an atheist, I find others that just want to talk about religion.. Perhaps it's an addiction I have to just talk about religion as well..

I sometimes want to be free of the shackles.. I can't really explain it..

I still feel kinda feel misunderstood. Comparing my mindset back then and now are really contrasting in a lot of ways. Perhaps it's my fault for not being able to communicate my feelings effectively.

Many would think I'm sad just for expressing this or that I'm being too emotional.. Which is why I don't really express my feelings that much.. But inside I really don't know how I'm supposed to be in this world.

I know this is an old thread, but just thought I'd give it a shot to see if anyone understands any part of it.

I really had a relationship with God as a Muslim sort of how a Christian has a relationship with God. I'd tell Him all my complaints, and would see God as a comforter.

I'm not hopeless nor do I feel aimless, and have a better understanding of science and evolution.. But sometimes I feel that there is something missing from my life that everyone else has.. It's quite different when these feelings affect someone in their late 20s as opposed to when they were younger, as I see most atheists come to their realizations at this time..

I have my good moments and I have my bad moments.. The void is always there.. Just don't know what to do about it.

"If you don't like your religion's fundamentalists, then maybe there's something wrong with your religion's fundamentals."
"Demanding blind respect but not offering any respect in reciprocation is laughable."
"Let all the people in all the worlds be in peace."
- yeezevee
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Is there anybody out there?
Reply #9 - December 25, 2015, 11:40 AM

...."God was all I really had."......my goodness gracious ... fantastic post from ExM_VlogG..

Quote from: ExMuslimVlogGuy on December 25, 2015, 06:06 AM
It was a bit devastating for me. God was all I really had. Even now, it's difficult to let go. It's been about 2 years without the comfort and concept of an All-Powerful Being watching over me.. It's pretty difficult to adjust even as an atheist, not going to lie. And even after being an atheist, you still find other atheists attaching themselves to non-religious dogma..
Quote
Even being an ex-muslim and an atheist, I find others that just want to talk about religion.. Perhaps it's an addiction I have to just talk about religion as well..

...."God was all I really had."....

that was exactly the situation I used to be in when I was around 9 to 15 dear ExM_Vlog.,., But events in life, persistence of human spirit against all odds, zebra life, confused interactions with relatives from different religions took me way beyond this stupid mundane nonsense ritualistic religious gibberish. Now I need to read rest of your post.. but I would like to say one thing. I am afraid you do not have proper definition of Atheism or you misunderstood it.. here is a old clip of Dawkins who many of us think as HARMLESS militant atheist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH9VILely7M

harmless in the sense he doesn't go and kill people who are theists and who question his views on Theism. Even Dawkins puts a number on existence of super duper controller .. I mean he doesn't say it is zero and absolute zero...

So my point is you don't need to leave Allah/god whatever .. you can have it and keep that aside but at the same time you can question religious rubbish of every religion that is a stench from the human history.. So I often joke at dinner time...

"I killed my god when I was 15 .. because that guy(god was guy at that time) was useless and wastes my time."

So my point is you don't need to leave Allah god .. keep it if it helps you. As far as addiction is concerned., it is medical problem and is a different problem.. You need to learn to channel your time and energy in to other fields that you may be interested in.. such as Music.. sports.. creative writing.. and if you are a student "THERE ARE PLENTY OF COLLEGE THINGS IN WHICH YOU COULD USE YOUR TIME".. Or or Volunteer yourself to do some work around where you live.. You go plant some flowers on road side...lol.. anyways I am very glad to read you..

with best wishes
yeezevee

Do not let silence become your legacy.. Question everything
I renounced my faith to become a kafir,
the beloved betrayed me and turned in to a Muslim
- ExMuslimVlogGuy
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Is there anybody out there?
Reply #10 - December 25, 2015, 03:24 PM

Thanks Yeez,

that was very insightful.

"If you don't like your religion's fundamentalists, then maybe there's something wrong with your religion's fundamentals."
"Demanding blind respect but not offering any respect in reciprocation is laughable."
"Let all the people in all the worlds be in peace."
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Reply #11 - December 25, 2015, 03:38 PM

Quote from: ExMuslimVlogGuy on December 25, 2015, 06:06 AM
The void is always there.. Just don't know what to do about it.

God or no God the void is always there. No need to gaze into it; there's nothing to see.
- ExMuslimVlogGuy
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Is there anybody out there?
Reply #12 - December 25, 2015, 03:51 PM

Well I climbed up one of the biggest mountains in the US..

I climbed this mountain with a group of friends on a 3 day journey. I was drunk off Jack Daniels and beers...

It was a conflicting feeling while I was climbing up and down.. I personally wanted God to exist.. Examining the beauty and just seeing how everything was coherent in nature..

But at the same time, I knew that God didn't exist and all I had were my friends and a good time.. I appreciated the nature as it was..

It was very interesting.. I got lost a few times during the hike, and thought about a lot of things. I highly recommend ex-muslims to climb up a mountain to see if they have feelings coming back to them.

"If you don't like your religion's fundamentalists, then maybe there's something wrong with your religion's fundamentals."
"Demanding blind respect but not offering any respect in reciprocation is laughable."
"Let all the people in all the worlds be in peace."
- babooshka
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Is there anybody out there?
Reply #13 - December 25, 2015, 09:24 PM

your looking for god in all the wrong places. he's not in a book and she's not up a mountain.
- babooshka
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Reply #14 - December 25, 2015, 09:27 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihW56Xa3XGQ
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