From: J Corbally (icorb@indigo.ie)
Date: Tue Jul 24 2001 - 17:10:38 MDT
>Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 08:47:42 -0700
>From: "Zero Powers" <zero_powers@hotmail.com>
>Subject: Believe in God - add a decade to your life
>http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/1728.84376
>This article has the same stuff you always hear: eat right (vegetarian),
>don't smoke and exercise. Also suggests that some sort of spiritual support
>system is beneficial as well.
>As a former pentecostal Christian I can 'testify' to the beneficial euphoric
>feeling of listening to a great choir, surrounded by a supportive family of
>fellow believers all of whom professed a love for my God and me and the
>feeling that no matter how bad I was yesterday, God still loved me and would
>forgive me if I 'repented.' A clean slate is a very handy thing to have.
>It was also incredibly satisfying to believe that, in worshipping God, I was
>doing the most important work in the world.
Never had it, can't say I miss it.
Perhaps something along the model of the North Texas Church of Freethought
would be the way to go. They have the social mixing without the God stuff
(they're all atheist/agnostic).
>But, now that I'm an atheist, much of that sort of positive energy is gone
>from my life. I can't believe the fairy tales anymore. But I would like to
>have some sort of spirituality in my life that didn't depend upon believing
>a lie.
Not sure what you mean by "positive energy". I enjoy life much better
since my deconversion. I've no idea what you could fill this void with.
>Since giving up on theism, I've tended toward Zen buddhist thought
>and practice and a sort of reverence for truth and quality ala _Zen and The
>Art of Motorcyle Maintenance_.
Didn't like that book. Never read it, but when I picked it up off the
bookstore shelf a while back I was actually looking for instructions for
servicing my mopeds' carburettor. Boy, was I surprised. Still haven't
found out a thing about my carb....
> This has been fairly satisfying of my
>spiritual yen, but not to the same extent as being in the house of worship
>used to provide.
>Any others on this list have a spiritual yearning? I'd be interested to
>hear your thoughts, comments on how you satisfy it sans theism.
>- -Zero
>Life is good. Refuse to die.
I have to say I really don't miss it, probably because even as a theist it
was never a big thing for me. The whole energetic choir/passionate and
animated preacher thing would be considered a bit embarassing here
also. The most I've heard of is live music to try draw the crowds
back. Worked a little for a while I think.
I'm attempting to start a Transhuman group here in Ireland. I guess such
social constructs might serve some of your missing positive energy.
James...
"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and
crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures
to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it's not for the timid."
-Q, Star Trek:TNG episode 'Q Who'
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