tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post6393487477288519617..comments2024-01-15T04:46:58.572-05:00Comments on Atheist Camel: Going back to God? Advice to an atheist in painDromedary Humphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-35620204358990687612012-09-02T08:30:10.962-04:002012-09-02T08:30:10.962-04:00I shed faith about 10 years ago and I'm comfor...I shed faith about 10 years ago and I'm comfortably and firmly a "strong atheist", but the vestiges remain. When I was a child I was taught to say a prayer for the injured whenever I hear an ambulance siren. The other day a blaring ambulance went by, and out of some ancient habit I thought to say a prayer. I didn't, but realized that there was nothing I could do to help the hurt person. I could vote for health care or hospital levies, volunteer somewhere, and use healthy habits myself, but in reality I was helpless to help right at that moment. Prayer gives the illusion of being able to help at any time. <br /><br />I've also recently been having lots of conversations in my head - "If we won a huge lottery I would . . " and "If I found a magic lamp and could make any wish I would . . " I do what I can personally (volunteer with Obama campaign, donate money, take care of my family) but I'm feeling discouraged about the state of world and the amount of unnecessary human suffering and lost potential. I feel like I'm helplessly watching a train wreck. I realized the other day that if I were still religious my "If I found . ." fantasies would be prayers. I would love to feel I was doing something. <br /><br />BTW - my main wish for the genie-fairy is "All humans develop and start using strong critical thinking skills," and I have a list of them printed out if s/he needs help with it. It's what I came up with that will improve life for the most people over the longest time with the fewest bad side effects that I can think of. Because I've read "The Monkey's Paw" and "Magic Street," and wish-granting entities can be dicks. MaryLynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18098725938267871683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-43451813122967937502012-08-30T13:28:36.017-04:002012-08-30T13:28:36.017-04:00First, let me send my best wishes to everyone here...First, let me send my best wishes to everyone here who is dealing with hard times including the person to whom Hump wrote this. You've already taken one very important step on the road to getting better, and that is that you reached out for help. There is indeed no god that is going to miraculously solve the problem. But religion itself does provide some useful tools, and one of those is community and support. Everyone needs that, even atheists. We just look for other places to get the support we need, and the Internet is good place to start. Also, look for atheist groups you can join. Go to meetup.com and see if there is an atheist group that meets in your area.<br /><br />Secondly, I want to pass on a skill that I have learned from a professional psychologist. I am a recent atheist as well. My medical doctors kept recommending cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. So, I findly looked into it and gained some coping skills that have totally changed my life. The therapist, ironically enough, turned out to be agnostic. I didn't know that when I picked her out of the list. That must be a sign, right? Just kidding!!<br /><br />Here is the professional advice I'm passing along. It's important to deal with anger, grief, and depression in a physical manner. For example, go for a run. Go some place where you can yell and scream. Hit a punching bag or pillow. Throw rocks. Writing about the problem can be very helpful too. It may sound hokey, but it really does work in addition to planning and taking action to deal with the problem itself. Perhaps this is one of the reasons studies show that prayer and meditation have real medical benefits. It gives people a physical release of the emotions inside. So, try replacing prayer with a physical action, writing in a diary, or meditation (the non spiritual variety). Fully embrace the grieving process. That is how we heal.longhorn believerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15520126985162930925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-3711672263682594702012-08-30T06:54:07.398-04:002012-08-30T06:54:07.398-04:00Look down you see shit.
Look up (priests, Gods etc...Look down you see shit.<br />Look up (priests, Gods etc.) you see arseholes.<br />Look within, discover your own inner resources.<br />I did and survived prostate Cancer...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-83074478968764452912012-08-30T06:12:43.461-04:002012-08-30T06:12:43.461-04:00I like how you used the term "backsliding&quo...I like how you used the term "backsliding". The very antithesis of the original meaning for christians.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-32540958963542988292012-08-29T18:44:54.584-04:002012-08-29T18:44:54.584-04:00Jim...thanks, and good luck on that powerball tick...Jim...thanks, and good luck on that powerball ticket.<br /><br />Denis... PTSD is a good description. Dromedary Humphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-83129963058983691832012-08-29T18:22:53.531-04:002012-08-29T18:22:53.531-04:00J. was raised a christian, and is suffering a form...J. was raised a christian, and is suffering a form of PTSD which needs to be addressed. It's shameful.... shameful I tell ya, what religion in general and christianity specifically can do to you long after you think that you have escaped it's evil bloody talons. Upsets me greatly that this guy is going through this crappola. I hope he takes your most excellent advice.Den!shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01393112599995835149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-36096196321957627972012-08-29T03:08:00.206-04:002012-08-29T03:08:00.206-04:00Excellent advice Hump. I would add just one other ...Excellent advice Hump. I would add just one other thing along with professional help and that is to take your problems one at a time. I tend to let mine pile up on my event horizon and then they become seemingly insurrmountable in the short term. But they are not if taken one at a time and properly prioritized. I too come from a non theist home and am so happy that is the case. My own issues will be piling up soon in some critical areas but religious woo woo will not be what I rely on to get me through. I have my brains, my instincts, and 5 bucks on next week's powerball lottery.Jim Hudlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12316027248768435017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-44503090845324859162012-08-28T20:52:32.181-04:002012-08-28T20:52:32.181-04:00Thanks for sharing that, Jane. Hope things turn a...Thanks for sharing that, Jane. Hope things turn around for you soon.<br />Dromedary Humphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-41675310502810895522012-08-28T20:46:49.591-04:002012-08-28T20:46:49.591-04:00Ditto New England Bob. You have perfect timing. ...Ditto New England Bob. You have perfect timing. I have fallen back on occasion lately with twinges of "just one prayer can't hurt" Oh, but it can. It is a useless activity which gives the illusion of "doing something positive" My daughter's 48 1/2 year old real father, (and my first husband) may die due to a blood clot in his brain stem and heart. He is uninsured, and not able to collect social security or medicare due to a paperwork screw up from many years ago.... The medical bills from my current husband's fall off a ladder and trip to the ICU have began to arrive and though I am insured, they put a real dent in our budget. I have dealt with more grief and trauma in the last 12 months than a person should have to...but not once have I prayed. I suck it up and do everything in my power to find a solution. And I feel far better on my feet than I ever did on my knees begging.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15520457586322332208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-69994762387373109212012-08-28T20:43:50.807-04:002012-08-28T20:43:50.807-04:00TY, Bob.TY, Bob.Dromedary Humphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165566701791663057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488651241352366915.post-17468729453154803112012-08-28T20:23:16.376-04:002012-08-28T20:23:16.376-04:00Terrific advice.Terrific advice.NewEnglandBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07190715223856189053noreply@blogger.com