tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post6567256182479268796..comments2023-10-20T08:32:14.040-04:00Comments on Heaving Dead Cats: Don't Assume I'm A Sensitive SoulAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653141544095753595noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-84371810001950500422010-03-04T09:37:24.000-05:002010-03-04T09:37:24.000-05:00"If it can’t be taken literally, then the who..."If it can’t be taken literally, then the whole book is just about how you interpret it, which means it can mean anything, which means it’s completely worthless as a guide."<br><br>Indeed. The way a person interprets religious texts (or in many cases rationalizes the content of them to maintain a sense of connection to their particular ingroup, rather than interprets) says more about them than it does about the texts. <br><br>The idea that atheism must stem from a traumatic experience seems to be somewhat common, and you are right on, that this viewpoint is arrogant and condescending. Piety and certainty seems to blind people to the fact that many atheists simply do not see any reason to believe in something for which there is no evidence of its existence, much less base their actions on such a thing. In case she's reading this, I would like to make it clear that my previously held beliefs did not make me feel either depressed or suffocated. My only psychological disturbance related to shedding the last vestiges of belief in the supernatural came in the form of fear of social acceptance, mainly the fear that admitting my lack of belief would hurt or frighten some of my friends and family members, and possibly alienate them from me. <br><br>I am also not looking for some great truth to reveal itself. I enjoyed Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" as much as the next person, and think the similarities we share in our experiences as humans are often beautiful and profound, but it's completely ignorant to assume that in order to appreciate this, you must believe in the existence of some great ultimate truth, and work toward finding it. <br><br>And having followed your posts, the comment suggesting you're not already willing to "expand your conversation" to include, well, anyone really, is annoying to read, just so very off the mark. You have consistently shown willingness to engage others in conversation, perhaps she doesn't know this. Or perhaps she feels that expanding your conversation means letting people drown you in pious woo while remaining in respectful silence rather than actually addressing them point for point.Barbara_Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-85706256641796385762010-03-04T13:22:35.000-05:002010-03-04T13:22:35.000-05:00Good reply!I always found religion to be suffocati...Good reply!<br><br>I always found religion to be suffocating and depressing. Especially the "burn in hell, forever" part It was an extremely liberating feeling when I "jettisoned" it, too. And I didn't think the poem was "religious." She seemed condescending and assumed that we are all "on a higher journey." I'm not journeying to find a hidden truth, I'm looking to experience this life, while it happens. This isn't a dress rehearsal.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-4336284239448768552010-03-04T16:07:14.000-05:002010-03-04T16:07:14.000-05:00Thanks for the confirmation, Mike. I agree with yo...Thanks for the confirmation, Mike. I agree with you. This one precious life is awesome and amazing. I don't need hidden truths, except maybe to learn how bacteria do all the cool things they do. Nature is amazing and interesting. I don't need fairy tales to get me through the day, or promises of things after I die.<br>It was suffocating, you're right. I am much happier as a godless heathen. :)Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-15929128295135880802010-03-04T19:02:39.000-05:002010-03-04T19:02:39.000-05:00Thanks for posting, Neece, as always! The "s...Thanks for posting, Neece, as always! The "something traumatic" CAN be there. It is, in my case, but that isn't all there is to it. <br>I finally realized that by trying to rationalize the good & evil that happens with god & satan, I was making myself miserable, or at least less happy than I could be. When I decided to throw off the shackles of "faith" and "religion", I felt freer than I had in a long time.<br>I, also, love Wild Geese. To me, it means that I don't have to beat myself up. What I needed to do was allow myself to live, love, and enjoy life. When I did that, my heart opened up again. My boyfriend says he noticed a difference in me after that. <br>Since this is the only life I get, I want to live it to the fullest. I don't need a life after this life to make this one fulfilling.Angie D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-3652760304084579812010-03-05T01:56:21.000-05:002010-03-05T01:56:21.000-05:00Hi Angie!Yes, I agree, religion can be extremely t...Hi Angie!<br>Yes, I agree, religion can be extremely traumatic. When I was a kid I was so afraid of burning in hell I got baptized 3 times. But that's nothing compared to the real trauma and horror the church in all its forms can perpetrate on people, especially innocent children. I'm sorry your experience was so horrible.<br><br>Wild Geese, to me, is exactly about tearing off the shackles of religion. "You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting."<br><br>That sounds exceedingly anti-religious to me and that's why I love it. How that could be seen as religious is beyond me. But how a person can believe in a talking snake is also a mystery to me.<br><br>And yes, knowing this is my only life makes it that much more precious.Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.com