Is there something wrong with me?

I know it might seem weird, but I really am afraid that there is something wrong with me. I'm an atheist in every sense of the word. I cannot believe in a God nor in an afterlife with angles, and I can't change that. But I fear that there is something missing. I talk to theists very often. Maybe not the hardcore theists you'd encounter in the US, but still theists who have faith, who believe stuff without evidence, and who are very optimistic about the future.

Unfortunately I don't believe in destiny either, because I don't like the idea of someone having control over my life. Yet there are so many optimistic people out there and it seems that they one thing in common: their faith. The faith "bit" or "bug" or whatever you choose to call it, hasn't bitten me, nor does it seem likely that it ever will, but it seems like I am missing something. I envy the people of faith, however I can't seem to get my head into faith. I still think there is something there which makes people of faith less pessimistic and I'm worried that I'll never come close to that. Whether it's something "simple" like finding a partner in life or global warning. I feel the theists approach has made things simpler for theists (at least for those, who aren't radical enough).

I happen to read the bible as I read the Greek mythology, and I think I can find a way to guide my path just as easily in Shakespeare as in the bible. And therefore there is one thing that I found was hiding away in ancient Egyptian beliefs which would make sense to me: The Gods would ask two question to determent if someone is ready to go to their version of hell or heaven. First question was: "Did you find joy in your life?" and the second was: "Did you bring joy to others?". Although I don't believe in an afterlife I think this is a nice way of living. I try to enjoy every day I have as much as I can and bring as much joy to others. That's at least the meaning of life I interpreted out of the ancient Egyptian beliefs. Yet I still feel a void of optimism. So what am I missing?

I know this topic was conquered by theists vs atheists beliefs, but I really like to hear theists opinions on this. So please let them speak freely and don't ridicule

 

hello, Central Europe!

is it not possible that these theists would be optimistic and cheerful (or whatever they are) regardless of religion or lack thereof? I've known morose christians and happy atheists, so you know

I guess my point is, it probably doesn't make much difference. a cheerful disposition is a cheerful disposition. if you have it, you'll have it living in a street in calcutta and worshipping cows, or in godless science lab, or a palace in the Vatican. likewise the reverse.

 

It seems to me that you're looking for something to follow. A faith but not a religious one. Why not make morals to live by? Not in the religious sense but how you want to live your life? I do something similar. I incoprate various ideas from different religions in how I talk to people

 

You're missing the point.

It's not about being cheerful, it's about being optimistic. I see global warming, over-population, pollution, war and other things which are just waiting to catch up top me. Theists have generally a more a more cheerful disposition ...

 

And why aren't you optimistic? Why not focus on the small things you do in life that make a difference to the people surrounding you?

 

there are two problems here. first, and most importantly, why do you think theists are optimistic DESPITE the problems the world is experiencing (assuming it's not because they're environmental warriors, which most aren't)? could it be that they don't care? if your answer is anything like that, then surely it's enough to avoid theism like poison.

secondly, there is not any reason at all to feel pessimistic about the problems of the world - if you're actively doing something about it! that may be the thing which is lacking for you. if you stop and think about the effect the way you live has on the planet, you do two things. you give yourself a very BIG purpose, and you help stop the very things you're worried about from eventuating. if you add in a mindful kindness and gentle approach to everyone who crosses your path, and see the wonderful effects this has on you and them, you've added a third dimension of purpose and meaning.

meantime, if you're interested in optimistic and purposeful action against global warming and environmental destruction, start with yourself, tomorrow morning. stop shopping, use as little electricity as possible, don't use air conditioning, collect rainwater in tanks, grow your own vegetables, recycle EVERYTHING, and ride a bicycle. seriously, it's a very satisfying way to live, and the earth, and humanity will thank you for it

 

First allow me to say I'm sorry. Living with the belief that their is something wrong with you is not an easy thing to carry. Second, I'm a former christian. Gave it up a few years ago. With that said I still respect the people who follow the people and even look up to and love some thing like they were family. I honestly believe that they contributed to some of my more positive attributes.

The thing for me is I know that I have people who love me and that I love as well. The ones who have impacted my life the most are the ones who make me want to constantly better myself. I carry their love and their personal belief in me in a constant effort to see to it that I don't let them down. These are major issues for me and it is also what allows me to carry on. You have to find what it is that drives you and it doesn't have to be the same thing. Take your time, be grateful for the people in your life, and take things daily.

Lastly and here is where it gets a little silly, take a leap of faith. Throw a coin in a fountain, make a wish on a shooting star, believe a man can fly. I think we all need a little bit of fairy tale in our lives. Even if you know it's not true or impossible, sometimes we need a little make believe to keep us from growing up to much. We need a little bit of child like faith or innocence to keep from going crazy.

 

Global warming, not much man can do. They can curb certain fossil fuels but that isn't gonna change nature much.
Over population, can't happen as we can only support as many people as food source allows.
Pollution, do what little about it you can control. IE don't do it.
War, been going on since the dawn of man.

Focus on what you have control and don't worry about that which you can't.

 

Its like a missing piece of a puzzle only the good Lord can fill. We, as humans, can't describe it, not can we convince another if the other isn't willing. But experienced by those who found faith, once the Lord opened our hearts and minds, will tell you that the missing puzzle is found once you surrender to the Lord and Christ as your Savior, and the feeling of missing something is gone.
This is something I am stating as a believer but will not discuss any further with unbelievers.

 

Focus on writing the story of your life your way. Regardless of religious beliefs the world is a big exciting and at times magical place. You get from life what you put in

 

I'm reminded of what GB Shaw said-

"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one."---- George Bernard Shaw

 

Global warming, not much man can do? I really would like to know where you live if you haven't had weird natural disasters in the last few decades. In the last 10 years we had bigger floods than in the 20th century, and nobody I know remembers it snowing so late. Usually it starts snowing in November were I live, now we had to wait till the end of January for the first time.

And I dare to say that it can't be that different in the US. Big fires in Texas, record blizzards in the North, New York getting hit by Sandy, etc. etc. Even if global warming was a phenomena by nature, you have to admit that our pollution does change the weather. Shouldn't be that hard to imagine if you live anywhere close to a coal power plant for example.

Over population is a definite problem already. 12 billion people could have housing, food and water. If we all live by the British standard, the population for planet earth would have to drop to 2.5 billion, for the USA it would have to be less than 2 billion. Since we're approaching 8 billion the wasteful attitude of the western world has to change, or we just have to kill off 50% of the planets population by letting them starve to death. So my attitude towards pollution probably differs from your's and I dislike the fact that our representatives don't do what's necessary to secure everyone's future.

War has been going on since the dawn of man and slavery was a world wide phenomena for thousands of years. That doesn't mean that our society can't eventually grow up and change things. I think fear of war is more inherent to Continental Europeans, because we still see the scares of the last wars we had. And I think if you've never been close to a war you can have perky attitude. The people who've been in the middle of war tend to be extremists, either aggressive or pacifist. I happened to have picked up the last...

But I get it. If you live in Wyoming you're not really worried of war coming to your doorstep.

 

There are always going to be things that are bad, what we can change is the rest of the context we live in.

We live in a time when we can cure more diseases than ever before, knowledge has never been so readily available through the internet and we can make friends with people from all over the world, either through communication or travel. We can build buildings almost a kilometer tall, we can communicate with apes and we can look so far into space that we can see what happened billions of years ago.

Humans will always focus on bad things, because they're the ones that need fixing. When we cured smallpox, people didn't wander around thinking about how good it was that we cured smallpox, they started looking for ways to deal with the next disease, because smallpox wasn't a problem anymore. The merit religion has in its offering of heaven (or sim.) is that it hasn't occurred yet, which makes us humans think about it. However, we are quite able to look forward to the material advances humanity is about to make too.

Humanity is about to migrate to the rest of the solar system, we're unlocking the secrets to how humans work, how to grow new organs and deal with hereditary problems, and we can expand our infrastructure with trains that go over 400km/h. The fundamental forces of nature are unlocked piece by piece like an unfolding map and we're starting to understand the psychology behind success and happiness. We're approaching a point where we can satisfy the worlds energy problems with fusion, its food problems with agriculture and many many more problems which we don't even know exist today will be solved in the most ingenious ways.

I find this to be way more optimistic than the eternal heroin needle offered by many religions.

 

I guess because of my history.

I don't trust the stability of a system (or any system for that matter). My grandmother never left the hometown she was born in, yet had (if you count it up) 7 citizenships in her lifetime. Needless to say that she didn't change the paperwork every time. I'm not even 30 yet and I'm moving towards my 3rd. I was born in Communism/Socialism and we lived with hyperinflation. So no trust in money value... I don't like nor trust democracy. To me it's two wolfs and one sheep debating over dinner. Capitalism isn't better, nor is Communism or Socialism. I don't trust any system I've seen thus far really staying till I'm 60.

Americans tend to be very optimistic people, I think we lack that vertue in Central Europe. I think it's just hard being optimistic if you've only seen big things fail massively...

 

Euros do tend to the morose compared to Americans. Maybe just a change in environment and looking for more positive people to hang out with would help.

 

See this is it. I just can't do those little childish type things. I don't believe that a coin in a fountain will do anything, nor do I believe in the good fortune of the shooting star. All these little bits and bops most people just do out of faith and it gives them comfort, but they just don't work for me. I think it is definitely necessary to have a little faith. I think everybody has something they just believe without evidence. Whether is the fear of the number 13, believing in UFOs, ghosts, curses, horoscopes, or something else. It just seems that I have no connection to anything what so ever when it comes to these things. But how can you believe in something in which you don't?

 

Become a Zen Buddhist--it is like religion lite.

 

None of them are 1sts. And most weren't even the biggest. Climates alternate, weather patterns change. To blame it all on fossil fuels is idiotic.
And if you're that concerned, ride a bike and walk to work. Quit complaining and do your little part.

And I never said we shouldn't try to change things. But you're wondering what is wrong with you, it's because you worry about stuff out of your control. Focus on what you can control.

Don't ask what's wrong and then jump on someone when they give advice.

 

Then you don't believe. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. That's part of what makes things so great, we're all so different. You just need to find your "fountain". You believe in facts and that's wonderful. I could do a little more with that myself in certain areas.

So here are the facts, as ugly and cruel as man can be we can still create astounding beauty and compassion. We will travel all the way across the world just to help feed a family. We are willing to rescue wounded and injured animals and care for them like they're our own family. We sing, dance, paint, and love. Find belief in these types of things. These are the things that makes life worth living.

 

beautifully put, RW. couldn't agree more

 

Would you mind if I suggested a book/recording which might appeal to you?

Thank you.

It is "A Return to Love" by Marianne Williamson. Read the book and/or listen to her recordings and you may find it will appeal to your sensibilities and belief system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Return_to_Love

 

You are absolutely correct. You are completely unable. Everyone is concieved in that same exact condition. It is only by the grace of God that that can change. That's not fair, but neither is it unjust. God's justice is not based upon His 'fairness' with His creatures. It's based upon His creation of them.

 

There are very old civilizations who would not agree with you. The vast majority of them reside in Asia.

Are you talking about the same God as Noah had?

 

There are those who would deny that: being exists, being is being, being is not non-being, non-being cannot produce being, etc.
There those who would deny the very first-prinicples of logic.
Denials sway me little.

 

Welcome to reality....it is not beautiful all the time (though it can be usually). Faith does not require a "God" per se....the universe will exist regardless. s this faith is only existent in your own mind, and thus created by yourself...you are essentially God.

Have faith in yourself, live for yourself, and just decide to be happy.

Enjoy the damn ride....because if you don't it's your own damn fault.