This is the most uplifting post I’m likely to read for a very long time. It’s made my day.
I love the “Lessen the sufferings of others” – only I would insert “….and don’t ADD to it” – as well as substituting “ALL creatures” for “others”. (There, I’m done!)
Glad you like. To me, not adding to someone’s suffering is implicit in the phrase “Lessen the suffering of.” I mean, you can’t lessen someone’s suffering if you’re adding to it, right? You know I’m with you on all creatures. To me, they ARE others. I know that is not true for everyone, unfortunately. Thanks for commenting.
I suppose so, S/b, but what I was trying to get at is to turn it round so it’s easier for us simple folk to grasp and apply in life. As a parallel, I can never understand why Christianity (and J.C. himself!) makes such great play about “Love thy neighbour as thyself”. Of course I can see the motive behind saying it but the concept is too nebulous. I think they’ve missed a trick when it make much more sense and can be applied much easier if one says “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t like done to you.” Now THAT’S a philosophy we can all live by with a great deal more ease.
Lovely quotes, all. It must be as brave and as bold to ‘come out’ as an atheist as a gay person, for the need to have a cosmic being is so ingrained into or beings. People don’t let go; and they are not forgiving towards others who wobble their faith foundation.
I have a god, or power greater than myself, of my own understanding. It’s private and mine. It’s a life force of the universe. It’s love. It’s not for me to impress on anyone else. Everyone should be free to believe or not believe in whatever being, energy, force or lack thereof with respect, honor and non judgement. I choose what is right for me. You choose what resonates with you. Hugs!
I am also an atheist, and since I developed that perspective, life has only gotten better. I spent 20 years of my life worried about what would happen after I died, now I enjoy the life I am living now. Most people don’t understand atheism–they think we are going around all upset and angry. I find that religious people are angrier, because their god rarely does all they ask him/her/it to do. In my life, I look at what I have control over and if I want something to happen, it is up to me to do what I can to make that happen. I usually get what I want…
Life can be “easier” when one is religious, except for some of the extreme religions, when you are just fucked if you do and fucked if you don’t. But that “ease” includes a great amount of worry and fear–studies have shown that religious people are more anxious as they get closer to death. No shit–what if they did it wrong all these years?
I gave up beating myself up over choices that did not go well–that never produced anything except guilt. Now, I am able to objectively look at the effects of my choices and make a decision about whether that action was good for me and others, or not. My brother, who is Mormon, ignores most of these effects, and as a result has had horrible health issues–feeling that “god” would take care of him while he shoved junk food in his mouth for 30 years. Guess that did NOT happen! Anyway, you can tell I love this subject, and I agree that atheism throws people much more than gayness at this point. But I love seeing them squirm…
Tony: I do follow your blog and I did read these posts, but I was happy to revisit them again. I think you and I are of very like minds. But you are MUCH better looking 🙂
Oddly enough, as a self-professed Christian, I don’t take offense at any of this. I think it is because my upbringing as a Christian taught me many things that are embraced by these quotes, especially the ones by Neil deGrasse Tyson and the Dalai Lama. Whether you pray or not, whether you believe in an afterlife or not, or even believe in a god of any sort, the lessons of “do unto others…”, “love thy neighbor…”, “…the greatest of these is love”, etc. ring true. It truly hurts to see so many who claim to love a god treat so many so badly. It’s a real shame. So putting all the supernatural aside, since I absolutely do believe in science (crap, I’m an engineer, it’s all science), I just don’t know about a super being, a super power. I just try to live my life as if maybe there is. Oh, and if you don’t believe, that’s fine, too. I make no judgment (that’s another thing I learned early on – “judge not, lest ye be judged”).
Peace ❤
Jay
Idle Eyes and a Dormy 
I like these; a good meditation theme for tomorrow. I believe in me-myself-and-I. thanks, sassybear!
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This is the most uplifting post I’m likely to read for a very long time. It’s made my day.
I love the “Lessen the sufferings of others” – only I would insert “….and don’t ADD to it” – as well as substituting “ALL creatures” for “others”. (There, I’m done!)
LikeLike
Glad you like. To me, not adding to someone’s suffering is implicit in the phrase “Lessen the suffering of.” I mean, you can’t lessen someone’s suffering if you’re adding to it, right? You know I’m with you on all creatures. To me, they ARE others. I know that is not true for everyone, unfortunately. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
I suppose so, S/b, but what I was trying to get at is to turn it round so it’s easier for us simple folk to grasp and apply in life. As a parallel, I can never understand why Christianity (and J.C. himself!) makes such great play about “Love thy neighbour as thyself”. Of course I can see the motive behind saying it but the concept is too nebulous. I think they’ve missed a trick when it make much more sense and can be applied much easier if one says “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t like done to you.” Now THAT’S a philosophy we can all live by with a great deal more ease.
LikeLike
Lovely quotes, all. It must be as brave and as bold to ‘come out’ as an atheist as a gay person, for the need to have a cosmic being is so ingrained into or beings. People don’t let go; and they are not forgiving towards others who wobble their faith foundation.
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I have received more grief for my atheism than I ever did for my sexuality.
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I imagine so: that’s a tough one indeed
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Thank you, my friend. Today more than ever, I needed this kind of shot in the arm. I’ve had enough of the other.
Cheers!
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I have a god, or power greater than myself, of my own understanding. It’s private and mine. It’s a life force of the universe. It’s love. It’s not for me to impress on anyone else. Everyone should be free to believe or not believe in whatever being, energy, force or lack thereof with respect, honor and non judgement. I choose what is right for me. You choose what resonates with you. Hugs!
LikeLike
I am also an atheist, and since I developed that perspective, life has only gotten better. I spent 20 years of my life worried about what would happen after I died, now I enjoy the life I am living now. Most people don’t understand atheism–they think we are going around all upset and angry. I find that religious people are angrier, because their god rarely does all they ask him/her/it to do. In my life, I look at what I have control over and if I want something to happen, it is up to me to do what I can to make that happen. I usually get what I want…
Life can be “easier” when one is religious, except for some of the extreme religions, when you are just fucked if you do and fucked if you don’t. But that “ease” includes a great amount of worry and fear–studies have shown that religious people are more anxious as they get closer to death. No shit–what if they did it wrong all these years?
I gave up beating myself up over choices that did not go well–that never produced anything except guilt. Now, I am able to objectively look at the effects of my choices and make a decision about whether that action was good for me and others, or not. My brother, who is Mormon, ignores most of these effects, and as a result has had horrible health issues–feeling that “god” would take care of him while he shoved junk food in his mouth for 30 years. Guess that did NOT happen! Anyway, you can tell I love this subject, and I agree that atheism throws people much more than gayness at this point. But I love seeing them squirm…
I wrote this post last year about atheists and Christmas, you might find it of interest: http://leavingcaliblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-atheists-love-christmas-more-than.html
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Tony: I do follow your blog and I did read these posts, but I was happy to revisit them again. I think you and I are of very like minds. But you are MUCH better looking 🙂
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Ha! Well, you know the right thing to say, for sure, but many would argue the opposite! There is room in this town for both of us, I am sure!
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Totally love these. Thanks!
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Oddly enough, as a self-professed Christian, I don’t take offense at any of this. I think it is because my upbringing as a Christian taught me many things that are embraced by these quotes, especially the ones by Neil deGrasse Tyson and the Dalai Lama. Whether you pray or not, whether you believe in an afterlife or not, or even believe in a god of any sort, the lessons of “do unto others…”, “love thy neighbor…”, “…the greatest of these is love”, etc. ring true. It truly hurts to see so many who claim to love a god treat so many so badly. It’s a real shame. So putting all the supernatural aside, since I absolutely do believe in science (crap, I’m an engineer, it’s all science), I just don’t know about a super being, a super power. I just try to live my life as if maybe there is. Oh, and if you don’t believe, that’s fine, too. I make no judgment (that’s another thing I learned early on – “judge not, lest ye be judged”).
Peace ❤
Jay
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