I'm atheist as well. At the last funeral that I went to , which was a childhood friend of mine who was killed in the Orlando Shooting. I was the only in the room not crying. I did all the crying when I got the news but as an atheist I have learned to accept life for what it is & that that was going to be my final goodbye. The damn pastor wouldn't shut up about heaven. Death is just like you were never born, all you leave behind is your body and memories & they too will die once you're gone aswell. She will be remembered now for many years because now she is part of history. In a tragic way but she's left a legacy.
Though I'm not an atheist. I love how you handle the philosophy and the respect you have for other people's personal choice. Any belief theist or atheist is only a tool to enhance one's life. Religion is not supposed to be about serving God , but serving yourself to become better. I hope atheism does the same for you...
have you seen Niko choski and stardusk's talk. 'life and death '? if not you might find it interesting. I was raised catholic and I still remember many hymns but I like singing them to be honest! they come into my head and u enjoyed the carol services as a boy. but I am am agnostic very much slanted towards atheism. I lost my faith as a teenager and after reading Dawkins became an atheist. I became agnostic when I read montaigne's essays, I realised that I couldn't say for definite that there isn't a higher power, I am more humble with regards to human intelligence and its limits. I can see why you revere nature, 'enigmatic poetry ' as plato said. I have a nun aunt and a priest uncle but although they are fervent believers you can have an intelligent conversation with them. essentially they are good natured kindly people with other interests too, they are my favourite relatives. as for dealing with funerals and the like, I go to anniversary masses and birthday rembrances out of respect but I don't say the words or get the bread and no one cares thankfully! especially here in Ireland the church has taken quite a battering, people openly criticise the church like never before and the society is quite secular as far as I'm can see. so very little to no shame for unbelievers. perhaps pretending to believe in those situations is the easiest way if you can stomach it simply strength. as you know reasoning isn't popular!
Brian Coyle Cheers Brian. I think reasoning would just make me fall out with my extended family, it's best in this case to do as you say and simply respect their choices.
Great video like you everyone around me is religious.. I like you treat the religious texts as literary pieces that have messages on how to live life and pass on the fire and brimstone
Wanted to give you some perspective I grew up in Soviet Union where was no religion, so I have been just like you - skepticism, reason and science and all. At the tender age of 35 I had a revelation and became a believer. So never say never. I always thought that it's not one or the other - science or God. What I realised, is that you don't have to choose sides - both can be true. You poo-pooing religious people, and yet you talk about mystical ceremonies like your funeral and what you want it to be. This is completely irrational. Understand that. This is not science. You are being mystical right here. But I am not saying this is wrong. I am just pointing out the hypocrisy in your deliberations. Best of luck to you, And I hope that one day you have a revelation too.
androidas79 What's hypocritical about wanting songs and stories at my funeral, not a priest babbling over a piece of wafer and quoting scripture? It's not about choosing sides my friend, it's about searching for truth in an empirical fashion.
I'm atheist as well. At the last funeral that I went to , which was a childhood friend of mine who was killed in the Orlando Shooting. I was the only in the room not crying. I did all the crying when I got the news but as an atheist I have learned to accept life for what it is & that that was going to be my final goodbye. The damn pastor wouldn't shut up about heaven. Death is just like you were never born, all you leave behind is your body and memories & they too will die once you're gone aswell. She will be remembered now for many years because now she is part of history. In a tragic way but she's left a legacy.
Though I'm not an atheist. I love how you handle the philosophy and the respect you have for other people's personal choice. Any belief theist or atheist is only a tool to enhance one's life. Religion is not supposed to be about serving God , but serving yourself to become better. I hope atheism does the same for you...
blackgnosticspeaks Thanks man I appreciate that.
have you seen Niko choski and stardusk's talk. 'life and death '? if not you might find it interesting. I was raised catholic and I still remember many hymns but I like singing them to be honest! they come into my head and u enjoyed the carol services as a boy. but I am am agnostic very much slanted towards atheism. I lost my faith as a teenager and after reading Dawkins became an atheist. I became agnostic when I read montaigne's essays, I realised that I couldn't say for definite that there isn't a higher power, I am more humble with regards to human intelligence and its limits. I can see why you revere nature, 'enigmatic poetry ' as plato said. I have a nun aunt and a priest uncle but although they are fervent believers you can have an intelligent conversation with them. essentially they are good natured kindly people with other interests too, they are my favourite relatives. as for dealing with funerals and the like, I go to anniversary masses and birthday rembrances out of respect but I don't say the words or get the bread and no one cares thankfully! especially here in Ireland the church has taken quite a battering, people openly criticise the church like never before and the society is quite secular as far as I'm can see. so very little to no shame for unbelievers. perhaps pretending to believe in those situations is the easiest way if you can stomach it simply strength. as you know reasoning isn't popular!
Brian Coyle Cheers Brian. I think reasoning would just make me fall out with my extended family, it's best in this case to do as you say and simply respect their choices.
Great video like you everyone around me is religious.. I like you treat the religious texts as literary pieces that have messages on how to live life and pass on the fire and brimstone
Chr Rah I think it's the best way forward in my opinion, there are some great quotes in there for sure.
Wanted to give you some perspective
I grew up in Soviet Union where was no religion, so I have been just like you - skepticism, reason and science and all.
At the tender age of 35 I had a revelation and became a believer. So never say never.
I always thought that it's not one or the other - science or God. What I realised, is that you don't have to choose sides - both can be true.
You poo-pooing religious people, and yet you talk about mystical ceremonies like your funeral and what you want it to be. This is completely irrational. Understand that. This is not science. You are being mystical right here. But I am not saying this is wrong. I am just pointing out the hypocrisy in your deliberations.
Best of luck to you, And I hope that one day you have a revelation too.
androidas79 What's hypocritical about wanting songs and stories at my funeral, not a priest babbling over a piece of wafer and quoting scripture? It's not about choosing sides my friend, it's about searching for truth in an empirical fashion.