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Author Topic:   What is an "Ex Believer", anyway?
New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


(1)
Message 100 of 123 (826584)
01-04-2018 1:43 PM
Reply to: Message 99 by Aussie
01-04-2018 12:01 PM


Re: Mom And God.
He spoke to me; gave me confidence;
...
I now no longer believe. I used to believe, and now I don't.
What do you make of the thing that spoke to you and gave you confidence? Just all in your head?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 99 by Aussie, posted 01-04-2018 12:01 PM Aussie has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 101 by Aussie, posted 01-04-2018 3:14 PM New Cat's Eye has replied

  
New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 102 of 123 (826597)
01-04-2018 4:12 PM
Reply to: Message 101 by Aussie
01-04-2018 3:14 PM


Re: Mom And God.
It wasn't "a thing" speaking to me. I was projecting my own thoughts and feelings into a third-party mind that I believed to be real, but wasn't.
How'd you figure that out? Was it an active projection, or passive? And can you still do it?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 101 by Aussie, posted 01-04-2018 3:14 PM Aussie has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 103 by Aussie, posted 01-05-2018 8:42 AM New Cat's Eye has replied

  
New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 104 of 123 (826616)
01-05-2018 10:58 AM
Reply to: Message 103 by Aussie
01-05-2018 8:42 AM


Re: Mom And God.
I'm not sure what you mean by an "active or passive projection," although as used in my sentence it is certainly in the active voice. Maybe you could clarify for me. I was not deliberately lying to myself; but then deception is usually subtle.
I was wondering if you were actually trying to project it, or if it was just something you were doing unconsciously.
If my brain were magically able to answer all my doubts and questions, and revert to a state of substance-less belief, I have little doubt I would be able to "do it" again.
I get how doubt could prevent you. But have you tried?
Why did you qualify the belief as substance-less? I don't see why that matters in particular.
I mean, millions of people "do it" every day, to a variety of gods. Maybe you also "do it."
Sure, but I don't think those people haven't concluded that they're just projecting. I'm just curious if you can still do the projecting after you've determined that's what you're doing.
Oh yeah, so how did you determine this? Is it a deduction you had to accept after you stopped believing? Or was there something in particular that made you realize it?
These are the complexities of the human mind, but I'm not impressed with the way you worded it, as though it were a parlor trick.
That was unintentional, and I don't mean to belittle the experience. I'm just curious. Just asking questions.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 103 by Aussie, posted 01-05-2018 8:42 AM Aussie has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 105 by Aussie, posted 01-05-2018 11:47 AM New Cat's Eye has replied

  
New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 108 of 123 (826634)
01-05-2018 3:51 PM
Reply to: Message 105 by Aussie
01-05-2018 11:47 AM


Re: Mom And God.
I could "try" to communicate with a wide variety of beings and creatures that I am quite certain are imaginary...but why would I? Seriously...why?
I'm curious if you can still invoke that same state of prayer where you're spoken to and given confidence. Or, did not believing anymore mean those experiences stopped happening.
I dunno, it seems like someone could still utilize or benefit from it even if they think it's all in their head. You ever get into meditation or anything afterwards? (not to imply that you need it).
Faith is belief in things for no good reason.
That's not how my faith works, but whatever.
It matters in every conceivable way to me that my beliefs have some substance that is verifiable in some other way than I just want it to be true.
Yeah I just don't care about that as much.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 105 by Aussie, posted 01-05-2018 11:47 AM Aussie has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 109 by Aussie, posted 01-05-2018 4:04 PM New Cat's Eye has replied

  
New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


(1)
Message 110 of 123 (826636)
01-05-2018 4:36 PM
Reply to: Message 109 by Aussie
01-05-2018 4:04 PM


Re: Mom And God.
Oh, I see what you mean. My completely made-up answer would be YES! I think some meditative step could quite well simulate the sense of peace and well-being generated by intense and prolonged prayer. I used to love those times alone with the Lord. A great sense of peace and tranquility would come over me. I would like to think that a deep and relaxed meditative state would replicate that, almost exactly.
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I figure you found the prayer rewarding and thought it would suck to loose that peace and tranquility just because you didn't believe in God anymore, especially if you can still get it through other means. I would have been disappointed if you thought that you couldn't.
I can't say this for sure, I'm not an expert in any of this. But I can speculate.
Meditation can be cool - but it isn't easy and it takes work. But when I get there I do like it.
How do you possibly not care much if what you believe is true or not?
Because it doesn't matter. I'm sure I believe things that are wrong, but at the end of the day it's inconsequential. (depending on the belief, obviously)
Like, I believe that aliens have been to Earth. If I'm wrong why should I care?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 109 by Aussie, posted 01-05-2018 4:04 PM Aussie has not replied

  
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