I’ve been thinking today and I’ve realised that if there is no God and or afterlife, then life is absurd, and that if there is a God and or afterlife, life is still absurd.

I also think all religion is manmade and inherently wrong, and that it is impossible to know if there is a god and or an afterlife until death.

I think the best thing to do is to do is acknowledge life is absurd, look absurdness in the eye and carry on in spite of it. To enjoy your life, to be the best human you can be by doing what you subjectively think is right, and embracing the absurdness.

That’s just what I’ve been thinking about today. :-s

[This message has been edited by Adrenochrome (edited 04-17-2006).]

Being agnostic means you can't prove anything, therefore you are ignorant. So how do you know religion is wrong?

Life isnt absurd. YOU'RE ABSURD.

score.

religion is manmade, no shit. what do you want, a cookie?

agnosticism is for pussies. either go the full hog or go back to comforting yourself with fairy tales.

How can you be an atheist and not think life is absurd? You do know what absurd means, don't you?

It’s true. I say I’m atheist than I get these bouts of extreme fear and say I’m agnostic, then I go back to atheist, then agnostic. It gets terribly frustrating.



[This message has been edited by Adrenochrome (edited 04-17-2006).]

Pussy. jk jk

Ah, the many amazingly profound conclusions of the Godless. If only they explain how they got there.

Agnostic is not about the existence or nonexistence of a god, it's about man's ability to prove or disprove said existence. It's an opinion of knowledge. So you can be athiest, thiest, or undecided. And you can be agnostic in regards to any of the three.

Agnostic != undecided. http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif)

quote:Originally posted by ohhi:

Pussy. jk jk

I AM a pussy.

Because I believe this life is it and that it’s meaningless, and there’s these nights where I just lay in bed and realise how alone we are in this world, how separated from society I am, then I get to thinking about how I’m wasting my life, then I think this is the only life I got so does it matter how I spend it or not, then I start thinking about what it would be like to be non-existent, then I freak out at the thought of being an un-conscious piece of meat that everyone forgets about, then I start forcing myself to think that there’s gotta be a possibility of more than just this life, then I slap myself for becoming a delusional idiot then I go through the whole thing again the next night. I feel that being an absurdist is the only way I can be true to life but it’s driving me fucking insane.

The void.... Its a nasty little feeling, eh? The void: What is it? The void is that curious sense of lack; that nagging sense that something is missing. It is that place of emptiness inside the human heart. The void is that peculiar intuition that something is amiss and awry, but you aren’t sure why. The void is ever-present in all facets of human thought and emotion. I found this inequality to be true in my own experience, recognizing that it was separate from intellect, meaning, I could not think my way out of it. The void spurns the logical and any attempt to rationalize it ends with disparaging results. The void is a quandary and a vexation of sorts. The whole of life becomes so much more than just enigmatic. It is the missing piece of the puzzle. As more variables appeared, I was confronted with a maze of obstacles. The twists and turns sent me roundabout until I came full circle, from where I began. I became the proverbial dog who chases his own tail. What I thought was reality became illusory. What I thought was truth was anything but, and it chastened me.

From this position, it had caused me to consider the philosophical questions that enter our minds from time to time. I have always found it tremendously interesting to ponder the deeper aspects of such notions and to observe how others have formulated their own conclusions. Gaining perspectives on others allowed me to assimilate my views from theirs, through comparison and contrast. It inevitably led me even further into the uncomfortable journey of introspection. Unfortunately, I had no idea what it was that I was looking for and certainly did not know how to find it. The only thing certain for me was that intangible pang in my heart. It was haunting and nothing seemed to offer any solace. I searched through vain and temporal avenues seeking restitution, but reprieve from it constantly alluded me. There were no lines of demarcation, where a boundary began and where it would end. And so, I sought the council of those I deemed to be wise, hoping that they had some insight on life that I was failing to grasp. To my dismay, they were just as lost as I was, and perhaps more so, because at least I could admit it to myself. These self-help gurus wore pride as a necklace and were blinded by their own convoluted sense of self-worth. At this, point in time, I had heard all the arguments to support this, or that, religion, or to meditate on this, or that, philosophy but it all left a bad taste in my mouth. All that I gave ear to began sounding like a broken record. Today’s discourse was merely a carbon copy of yesterdays rant. The former was a slight gradation from the latter, with a subtle twist. It was the same mouthful of mouthwash swishing to the other side of the cheek. The understanding that I had hoped to find in them was either fleeting or elusive, altogether. Meanwhile, I suffered in quiet desperation as one day melted seamlessly into the next. I am sure those closest to me sensed some level of despair in me, but I doubt they understood the breadth and depth of its extent. Life was grievous to me and what I thought was reality was now façade. Growing weary with cynicism, I eventually embraced agnosticism but not before weighing the juxtaposition of religiosity and philosophy - Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism, Rationalism, and the like. Some of the ‘ism’ schism caught my eye but they were quickly put to death for a lack of, what, I do not know. I had been witnessed to by virtually every Christian denomination imaginable. They were either weak in their faith and thus, could not present an argument that I could dismantle in moments, or I had put up walls in which to shut them out. And so, for years, I was at the crossroads of ambivalence, not knowing up from down.

What changed since then?

Fuck off, hyroglyphx. I'm not subscribing to your little cult, so get the fuck out of my thread.

Then you shall remain in the void...

Yes, yes. Very well. Cry all you want for me. I do not wish to be brainwashed - oops, I meant saved - by Christianity. http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)



[This message has been edited by Adrenochrome (edited 04-17-2006).]

HAHAHAHAHAHA

This is a sure sign of your spiritual immaturity!

quote:Originally posted by hyroglyphx:



What changed since then?

You turned to a large group of people who are unable to comfort and console themselves with the fact that there may be nothing beyond this life. There may not be someone watching over us. You joined the self righteous rat races of believing you are correct, have grace, are inspired by God, and so on.

It appears you turned to christianity because of depression. How unfortunate.

quote:Originally posted by Atomical:

This is a sure sign of your spiritual immaturity!

Why only spiritual?

It was a parody.

threadstarter - don't let them get you down. Nothing shameful/stupid about being undecided. In fact, it means you've probably done more thinking than them which makes you far more intellectual; not more stupid than them.

However - that being said, I think you'd be better off getting decided just cause it's more peaceful. None of this religion/meaning of life stuff makes much sense to me. It doesn't make sense to many of the greatest thinkers... ever. If there's a God/Goddess/Spirit, then I'm sure he/she/it is just trying to confuse us.

Feel good http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

Adrenochrome;

If you havn't done so already, I would suggest you track down and read anything by Albert Camus. Especially The Myth of Sisyphus.

quote:Originally posted by Bandersnatch:

Adrenochrome;

If you havn't done so already, I would suggest you track down and read anything by Albert Camus. Especially The Myth of Sisyphus.

I've ordered The Myth of Sisyphus, and I've read The Outsider.

One of the few times I've actually felt positive about life is when I read the last chapter of The Outsider, the conversation with the priest.

Agnostisism is the smartest approach. Atheists and theists just feel safe and comfortable convincing themselves they're sure of whats going on, when really it's obvious none of us really do.

quote:Originally posted by lucky7:

threadstarter - don't let them get you down. Nothing shameful/stupid about being undecided. In fact, it means you've probably done more thinking than them which makes you far more intellectual; not more stupid than them.

Haha, I don't see how you can support that answer at all.

It's commonly thought that to truly understand your own perspective, you must understand your opponents perspective. Most theists/atheists spend a great deal of time understanding why they adhere to their respective beliefs. What does the agnostic do that would suggest he has done a lot of thinking on the subject? He lays back and says: "Yeah... We can't know." Amazing. How profound this person is. If only we had more of these people who give up during their pursuit of answers.

[This message has been edited by Iam (edited 04-19-2006).]

quote:Originally posted by great_sage=heaven:

Agnostisism is the smartest approach. Atheists and theists just feel safe and comfortable convincing themselves they're sure of whats going on, when really it's obvious none of us really do.

Wrong.

...

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Agnostic is not about the existence or nonexistence of a god, it's about man's ability to prove or disprove said existence. It's an opinion of knowledge. So you can be athiest, thiest, or undecided. And you can be agnostic in regards to any of the three.

Agnostic != undecided. http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif)

Like Elephantitis Man said, "Agnostic" does not necessarilly mean "undecided". One can be an agnostic atheist or an agnostic theist; in fact, there are two definitions of atheism - one of them makes a possitive claim on the non-existence of gods, the other does not.



[This message has been edited by Rust (edited 04-19-2006).]

quote:Originally posted by hyroglyphx:

The void.... Its a nasty little feeling, eh? The void: What is it?

and bla bla bla bla bla....



That was so... just funny. You had me laughing for a good long while, almost as much as Atomical's comment. Your post was gay as hell.

The void is not painful. I welcome the void. I love it. I worship it. That you felt you need to overcome it, or fill it somehow amazes me. Just accept it, waddle in the bliss of meaninglessness.

Some time soon, you'll hit the point where you'll be talking to your God, and it will up and smack you in the face that there's no one there. That the voice you were hearing in your head that you thought was God was your imagination fueled by fantastic stories from the Bible. Either that, or the voice was Digital Savior crooning in your ear. Whatever.

But when you realize that, you'll feel that terrifying Void come rushing towards you like God's Boxing Day present to Indonesia, and you will cower and panic and cry, because you're so scared of the Void. But once you accept that the Void is there, always there, then you'll grow to love it, and the Void will fill the void in your heart, and you'll be happy. You'll find more peace than being scared of a psychotic, vindictive God. You will learn to love yourself, instead of prostrating yourself before the Voice in your head, begging forgiveness for crimes you suppose you've committed. You will lose your guilt. You will lose your conscience. And you will be happy.

God, I'm fucking awesome.

Adrenochrome i agree with you.

quote:Originally posted by Rust:

Like Elephantitis Man said, "Agnostic" does not necessarilly mean "undecided". One can be an agnostic atheist or an agnostic theist; in fact, there are two definitions of atheism - one of them makes a possitive claim on the non-existence of gods, the other does not.





Sure, but both agnostic theism and agnostic atheism only point towards believe in their respective conclusions, and neither claim assurity, therefore they're both still agnostic. What I said still holds true to agnostic theists or agnostic atheists when compaired to flat out atheists and theists.

Which would make your statement a gross generalization. Atheists certainly do not "just feel safe and comfortable convincing themselves they're sure of whats going on", since like you just admitted, there are agnostic atheists (I'd say they constitute the majority of atheists).

[This message has been edited by Rust (edited 04-19-2006).]

quote:Originally posted by Rust:

Which would make your statement a gross generalization. Atheists certainly do not "just feel safe and comfortable convincing themselves they're sure of whats going on", since like you just admitted, there are agnostic atheists (I'd say they constitute the majority of atheists).





Ope, looks like you got the Rustbust, GSH. I think he got you there. http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

I wouldn't go so far as to love the void. I feel it is there. Hiero, this is the first metaphysical thing we've agreed upon. I can sense it. I know it's real. I've experienced it and will experience it again. I don't find love or hate from it; just a wealth of humanity. The difference is that I don't consider humanity evil. We're human and God is more human than we'd wish it to be.

But these are the words of an atheist. I mean, everything I say is spawned from the devil. Nevermind about compassion. Nevermind about accepting the sick. My words are Hell-spawned, meant to tempt and torment you. Thus, I must be locked away. A love eternal until the love has to reach to the poor, right? I shouldn't be surprised by a thing that loves its ego more than its children.

People of faith have blasphemed the name of God. Love is love eternal and unrestrained. Compassion. Open.

quote:Originally posted by -Mephisto-:

agnosticism is for pussies. either go the full hog or go back to comforting yourself with fairy tales.

Agnosticism is the wisest form of disbelief, in my opinion, because it doesn't assume anything. It says, "I do not know because there can be no proof either that God exists or that God does not exist."

Why does this make them pussies ? http://www.totse.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif)

quote:Originally posted by crazed_hamster:

The void is not painful. I welcome the void. I love it. I worship it. That you felt you need to overcome it, or fill it somehow amazes me. Just accept it, waddle in the bliss of meaninglessness.

Do you think this is a great epiphany ?

It is not surprising that a man who is born into sin would relish it.

The "void" which Hyro speaks of is the absence of God. Sin abhors God, and God abhors sin. The two can never co-exist.

Again, it's not a big shock when a pig says, "Gee, I sure do love mud !!"

quote:Some time soon, you'll hit the point where you'll be talking to your God, and it will up and smack you in the face that there's no one there. That the voice you were hearing in your head that you thought was God was your imagination fueled by fantastic stories from the Bible. Either that, or the voice was Digital Savior crooning in your ear. Whatever.

I don't know any Christians that hear voices.

I do believe that's called schizophrenia.

quote:But when you realize that, you'll feel that terrifying Void come rushing towards you like God's Boxing Day present to Indonesia, and you will cower and panic and cry, because you're so scared of the Void. But once you accept that the Void is there, always there, then you'll grow to love it, and the Void will fill the void in your heart, and you'll be happy. You'll find more peace than being scared of a psychotic, vindictive God. You will learn to love yourself, instead of prostrating yourself before the Voice in your head, begging forgiveness for crimes you suppose you've committed. You will lose your guilt. You will lose your conscience. And you will be happy.

God, I'm fucking awesome.

At least you admit there's a void.

There is hope for you yet. http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

quote:Originally posted by Adrenochrome:

Fuck off, hyroglyphx. I'm not subscribing to your little cult, so get the fuck out of my thread.

See what kind of peace and love comes from agnosticism ? http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

See what kind of peace and love comes from agnosticism ? http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

That's not agnosticism. I'm just a cunt. I've always been, even when a Christian.

[This message has been edited by Adrenochrome (edited 04-20-2006).]

Sounds like your beliefs have been largely successful in effecting change, then ! http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif)

Thanks for your candor, though.

Why do beliefs have to cause change? Your sarcastic comment, imho, was stupid.

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

At least you admit there's a void.

There is hope for you yet. http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

Do the words "prophecy" and "talking with Jesus/God/spirit being" mean anything to you?