Whats left ??

[Spiral Out]

In my atheist life i have denounced any religion . But my life has gone down a spiral where i always find a new bottom .

Will power has taking me far , but i think its reached its limit . I need help more than ever .

Is it time ?? should on look to god ? im on the edge with no net below .

[Cuberun]

look to Buddhism, it is a more agreeable path for someone who is an atheist. it's the path I chose. It's more of a spiritual life philosophy than a religion. It is flexible too.

[~lostgurl~]

You can't force a belief on yourself but when you feel desperate as you obviously do right now then it is worth taking a look at the options and maybe giving some things a go that previously you have dismissed, especially if you know that something has helped others. God, religion, counseling, meds, lifestyle changes, AA/NA.... Find what works for you. Good luck and I hope things improve for you soon.

[crackcityrocker]

the way swim has recently started looking at religion is agnosticism. how can you believe in anything telling swiy what will happen in the afterlife (which is what just about any religion comes down to)? religion does both good and bad, go with what is in swiy's heart. but make sure swiy believes what swiy believes.

[Fight Club]

Call it what you will, but recognize that there is a supreme force in the universe that connects all things (and it is not you).

Find connections to the people and living things around you, and you will not feel so isolated. When you feel connected, the void, and feelings of wanting to use simply go away.

FC

[guldenat]

Originally Posted by Cuberun

look to Buddhism, it is a more agreeable path for someone who is an atheist. it's the path I chose. It's more of a spiritual life philosophy than a religion. It is flexible too.

If a person is a rational atheist, how is buddhism a viable alternative? Going from non-belief to believing in reincarnation doesn't make much sense to me. If you are simply referring to its philosophy, it really isn't all that much different than major western religions.

[Burnt]

"god" won't save you and neither will lieing to yourself.

[ScorpioSunshine]

Read up on Humanism and Eudaimonia. It's not religion, and it may give you something a bit bigger than yourself to look toward. (If that's what you're after)

Best of luck, and I hope things do get better.

[Cuberun]

Originally Posted by guldenat

If a person is a rational atheist, how is buddhism a viable alternative? Going from non-belief to believing in reincarnation doesn't make much sense to me. If you are simply referring to its philosophy, it really isn't all that much different than major western religions.

Buddhist philosophy isn't much different from western religions?
ok

[Ilsa]

perhaps taoism is worth looking into...it's more philosophy, less dogma and ritual. i personally started studying tao, then moved to yoga and buddhism and have found it to be a very flexible, holistic and rational system of viewing the world because it provides for the fusion of personal insight with unifying, big-picture concepts. for example, how would we know the nature of suffering without having experienced joy, and vice versa? what i like about it is that i can place even my worst experiences into a greater and more meaningful context--with some effort. i'm not great at it, but it's provided me with a means of accepting difficult things and being compassionate with myself and others (again, i'm not great at it, but improvement is a dynamic process). best of all, i can laugh at my silliness in grasping at the little things that only we humans get worked up about--often yielding humorous experiences. hope this makes sense--i'm a little tired and should've been in bed awhile ago

best of luck and namaste

[sweetsugar]

great post FC.

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

Swim thinks our thoughts shape who we are perhaps try to think more positivly, swim hopes you feel better soon and wishes you the best of luck in finding swiys inner stength again. And swiy will!!

Take care

[AvidFan]

I would recommend looking into Buddhism - you don't necessarily have to believe in reincarnation, or deities, or anything (the confusion comes about cos of mix ups with Hinduism and other ancient cultural factors AFAIK) - in fact the Buddha specifically told his followers not to believe a word he said, but to try things for themselves to see if they worked.

He also said, "I teach only this - suffering and the end of suffering".

Or in the Dalai Llama's words, "My religion is kindness".

I think it has a lot to offer, certainly not as dogmatic as anything else i ever came across.