tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post430287898023595392..comments2024-01-15T04:46:58.572-05:00Comments on Atheist Camel: Watching a Theist Explode: Witnessing the end of faith?Dromedary Humphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-10273688849284777632012-08-04T00:54:41.659-04:002012-08-04T00:54:41.659-04:00I think sometimes we cling to things like this sim...I think sometimes we cling to things like this simply because we learned it from a source we trust more than anyone, including 'god'.<br />Its our parents and theirs before ours and so on! That level of trust can cloud logic and leave us wanting to believe even when all else tells us not to! I think your friend wants to believe more than he actually does believe, and it causes a deep turmoil. His lashing out might be the result. My 2 cents, based on my feelings. but hey what do I know!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15637470187811907640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-17708374449651643922012-06-21T18:43:05.962-04:002012-06-21T18:43:05.962-04:00Longhorn...well said, good advise.
thanks!Longhorn...well said, good advise. <br />thanks!Dromedary Humphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-84729926432513677452012-06-21T18:31:02.923-04:002012-06-21T18:31:02.923-04:00Hump, you are exactly right in your analysis. My d...Hump, you are exactly right in your analysis. My disability was the final step in my 42 year journey from being raised fundamentalist to becoming an atheist. My chronic pain forced me to come face-to-face with the fact that deep down I did not really believe that prayer was going to cure my illness. I just hadn't really had to think about it that hard before. <br /><br />It took me a little over a year to fully make the transition. I was angry too for a while, mostly with family who still thought prayer was the answer. After that was over, I moved on to making the best of things while still trying to find solutions to my health issues. That has certainly been more rewarding and productive than having a conversation in my head with an imaginary friend. I have a whole new life now with new friends and things to do. I hope your friend can make the transition too, and I hope he gets some relief from the physical pain. But take it from someone who knows, the emotional pain (like depression and anger) is far more debilitating than the physical pain.longhorn believerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15520126985162930925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-56470071960876469742012-06-06T18:37:45.960-04:002012-06-06T18:37:45.960-04:00imbrocata,
So sorry about your Mom.
People deal ...imbrocata,<br />So sorry about your Mom. <br /><br />People deal with stress in many different ways. I hope she finds one that comforts her.<br /><br />Hang in there.Dromedary Humphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-56930827921379336402012-06-06T18:34:14.953-04:002012-06-06T18:34:14.953-04:00Interesting blog. While all of it in one way or an...Interesting blog. While all of it in one way or another, resonates with me, something David said hits close to home. My mom has malignant breast cancer. We're just finding out about it but I noticed over just the past two days shes been posting the kind of feel-good, and sometimes even angry blurbs/motivational photos/captions on Facebook. Something she's never really done before. My dad in the other hand…oy! I'm pretty sure they know of my disbelief - we've politely stayed away from all out confrontation - so, like the story here, perhaps she is trying to go out with one last 'hurrah'. A proving to oneself that they ARE faithful… damnit!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-92094007141948033942012-06-04T20:23:02.076-04:002012-06-04T20:23:02.076-04:00I have litle doubt that given the option, and if e...I have litle doubt that given the option, and if ensured of no legal prosecution, that the vast majority of conservative believers, Xtian and Muslim, would happily round up every one of us non-believers and kill us enmasse.Dromedary Humphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-84427593737616984092012-06-04T20:19:46.330-04:002012-06-04T20:19:46.330-04:00I had an experience with a terminally infected co ...I had an experience with a terminally infected co worker who I can only describe as being so confident in his self righteousness that he did not consider it necessary to acknowledge or rebut me or my atheism at all. But he attempted to be polite and civil towards me. This situation went on for some number of years before the nasty snide attacks started out of the blue. It doesn't matter how much a Christian attempts to practise their false beliefs that Christianity is a religion of tolerance, love and forgiveness, give them enough time and their true colours always show.Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-45339243231171506582012-06-04T16:15:19.380-04:002012-06-04T16:15:19.380-04:00Thanks for your input all.
Of course, I'm on...Thanks for your input all. <br /><br />Of course, I'm only speculating as to what prompted this. As I always say, I only have a BA in psych, I'm not a psychologist I only play one on the internet. But it seems viable and as Chatpilot points out, anger at the onset of religious rejection is not a unique response.<br /><br />It could also simply be his meds driving this (or the lack thereof), and yes, perhaps as the only atheist he knows I'm a convenient and god endorsed target.<br /><br />Interestingly, an atheist on fb found it sad he was losing his religious delusion and that he was clearly struggling since it was so important to him.<br /><br />I told her that while the transition to reality/reason may be painful at first (as is withdrawal from any addiction) I have never met a reformed religionist who regretted finding reason and wanted to go back. The recidivism rate among ex-theists is virtually nil.Dromedary Humphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-43162762762977078592012-06-04T14:08:42.029-04:002012-06-04T14:08:42.029-04:00When I first rejected my fundamentalist beliefs I ...When I first rejected my fundamentalist beliefs I remember that the strongest emotion I felt at the time was anger. I was angry because I had wasted so much time out of my life actively living and spreading a delusion. I was angry because I felt duped, suckered, and let down. I was angry at myself for the most part. But every once in a while I shook an angry fist or hurled a couple of derogatory insults at the heavens. <br /><br />Although I knew God was not there it was sort of therapeutic for me to express my rejection and rebellion against a false institution and deity. I literally burned my bible to a crisp and was pissed at every Christian I came across for some months.<br /><br />After deconverting we all handle our frustrations differently and go through our phases. But in the end we come out with a positive outlook on life and look forward to what awaits us in our new life without fear and delusions.Chatpilothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03550924322118366351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-67797335686214201702012-06-04T04:07:37.768-04:002012-06-04T04:07:37.768-04:00Your friend, and others may be interested in a cur...Your friend, and others may be interested in a current BBC radio series called Honest Doubt. I think folks in the USA can access BBC radio.<br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01j6wt1/Honest_Doubt_The_History_of_an_Epic_Struggle_Omnibus_In_the_Beginning/ should be available until Friday June 8.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12802921781000502811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-41424991440370004042012-06-04T03:07:51.831-04:002012-06-04T03:07:51.831-04:00I think you are right in your assessment Hump. How...I think you are right in your assessment Hump. However, I have one other thought. Maybe, in desperation, he is thinking that even tolerating you a little is an affront to his god and this is one reason he is being punished so much. His life sounds pretty damn miserable. I wonder if he is trying one last extreme attempt to cleanse himself of anyone or anything that his god may disapprove of? If so it would be a last gasp effort and he would be forced to confront reality after that effort failed to produce results. But will he confront reality...ever? Most don't. I hope this man's situation improves. I am sure his rant was related to the drugs and frustration of all this.Jim Hudlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12316027248768435017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-81035863568971206392012-06-04T00:53:48.403-04:002012-06-04T00:53:48.403-04:00Well said Hump,
I think you are on to something. ...Well said Hump,<br /> I think you are on to something. I think the larger the emotional investment one has in a belief the more vigorously one will fight to keep it. Of course when all the intellectual artillary has been exhausted, all that is left is raw emotional response. My guess is that "Jethro" is a decent man, but has little left of his illusion and is defending it with all he has left... anger and fear.<br /> Just a take from a recovered theist.<br />Zarzartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16327431316839912762noreply@blogger.com