Hi there, i will just throw out a few ideas for fun.
Ultimately, Science and Religion do clash. Look at Evolution, for instance. But it doesn't have to be traumatic.
But I wouldn't try to FORCE yourself to be an atheist!
Perhaps just TRUST YOUR OWN THINKING, and continue to explore and think carefully about everything.
For instance, even as an Atheist a person can look at the universe with wonder and believe in a Higher Power.
I do.
Our bodies are made of atoms created in stars. Evolution produced Life over billions of years. That to me is a Higher Power, but it is impersonal. The Sun is a Higher Power behind all life on earth through photosynthesis. The Aztecs were smart to worship the sun! No sun, no life!
Also, there are ideas like the Platonic Mathematical universe put forward by mathematicians like Roger Penrose.
There are hundreds of fascinating and wonderful ideas out there. Atheism doesn't have to be some depressing chain-smoking nihilism!
You can add Positive Psychology, [
www.positivepsychology.org]
The Brights, [
www.the-brights.net]
Transhumanism [
www.transhumanism.com]
I am not trying to convert you to Atheism! ;-)
I am just pointing out there are hundreds of fascinating ideas out there, and we can have FUN EXPLORING THEM, like a kid in a candy store.
But don't forget your powerful set of Critical Thinking Tools for the journey, otherwise you can get tricked, by others and yourself!
So again, i would encourage everyone to do the opposite of what Cults tell people.
Trust YOUR thinking, and trust your ability to Question and Doubt, and think about things in your own way.
Then, Reality Test your ideas, and use Critical Thinking Skills.
A person can believe in God, or Wicca, or whatever else they want. That is not going to cause problems, as long as you Reality Test your ideas.
If you want to cast a Wiccan spell, then try it, do experiements, see if it works. But do REAL experiments, which control for personal bias, which is not easy to do.
So each person will figure this out for themselves.
Trust your OWN GUT FEELINGS.
Listen to your own Intuition.
but then vigorously TEST your ideas, so you don't trick yourself, or get tricked.
Like in TM, those guys think they are going to learn to Levitate.
Well, instead of hopping on their asses for 10 years, why not enroll in a course in the Law of Gravitation, and learn how the universe REALLY works?
They would save a lot in hemorrhoid cream too...
;-)
As far as Love, Joy and Peace, those are wonderful ideas to think about.
You can approach them philosophically, psychologically, emotionally. Many scholars have written scientific books on love, as well as Artists who have explored these ideas.
As an Atheist, i also treasure Love, Joy and Peace.
Love is an actual feeling, Joy is a real feeling as well.
And peace is another feeling, but it can mean so much more too.
This is why the guys who call themselves Brights, tried to come up with a new term than Atheist. Atheist is so dreary sounding!
They tried to come up with something better, but Bright has not caught on.
So again, i am not advocating a POV, just encouraging everyone to follow their own path, as they see fit.
If ideas don't make sense to you, REJECT them.
Do the opposite of what the cultists tell you, and we should all be just fine!
Coz
Quote
nativeflower
On a level I totaly understand that
I believe in science...science and religion should never clash..for science is based on the scientic method a very thorough experimentation method..and cognitive therapy aggree...I took quite a few psych classes ..cognitive/behavoral approaxh has the most research backing...
I also understand skeptnitism....it is important to be skeptical....it si our defense again irrational ideas
however.....I tried ..to be athiest..I cant.....somehow I know that there is a higher being..I cant shake it.
maybe I am just less evolved.... I dunno
but I can accept that I dont know everything...but there are some mysteris I have to understand..like love, joy and peace
anyway
best wishes
JoAnne