I'm not even sure if other atheists out there even need comforting, or anything like that, But what I'm talking about is like, there a link between atheism and substance abuse?

Do atheists feel lost and alone in the world, and hence turn to drugs, or is that just a coincidence that some people are druggies and atheists, like Christian surfers.

So like, 2 questions.

atheist/substance abuse link?

what do you atheists use for comfort?

I use other humans for comfort. Socially, sexually, and emotionally.

The cold, reassuring fact that nothing I do, ever, will ever matter.

quote:Originally posted by CreamOfWarholSoup:

I use other humans for comfort. Socially, sexually, and emotionally.



Well put.

-F☺rd

The knowledge that the decisions and actions I make will directly influence outcomes.

Rather than some deity pre-planning my whole life.

The computer. On the other hand, the idea of God never really comforted me... so I don't think my atheism has a large effect on what I turn to for comfort.

Having a strong enough psyche to recognize when I would turn to God for comfort and eliminating the thought. Controlling one's mind is only a matter of will power.

for me it's the fact that I'm contributing towards the future of the universe, which ever path it may take.

I'm the proverbial butterfly, I flap my wings and it causes chaos elsewhere.

the universe has become self aware, and in the future it may be thankful to people who made it what it is. if i get no recognition this doesn't matter, so long as i played my part, made a difference, or even made no difference at all, I will have been part of the story of the universe. This, to me, is the most wonderful thing in existence, it almost makes me weep to be part of this phase of awareness. i love myself and all of you. we are the most exciting part of existence to date, and I love it.

simply beautiful isn't it?

quote:Originally posted by dontdrinkbleach:

The cold, reassuring fact that nothing I do, ever, will ever matter.

I keep this in mind, as well as reminding myself that it does matter in a way. But only to myself and my own set of values. Soon enough, though, that won't matter either, and I'm okay with that.

quote:Originally posted by Ford Prefect:



Well put.

-F☺rd

Though we post in the same thread rarely, We get along well.

I smoke much of the ganja.

And I am also a theist. Maybe even closer to a pantheist.

And i also dont think i need anything for comfort really...im pretty comfortable with things as they are.

I think when people start to turn to things for 'comfort', while running away from problems, that they just create bigger problems. People need to learn to deal with life, focus on the positive, and treat negative experiances as lessons.

quote:Originally posted by Kooper0:

The knowledge that the decisions and actions I make will directly influence outcomes.

Rather than some deity pre-planning my whole life.

Predestination is one small part of religion, not accepted by many. In Catholicism, for example, the idea of free will is enforced. (hence the whole "Garden of Eden" story.)You choose to do right or wrong, knowing full well which is which.

drugs

quote:Originally posted by dontdrinkbleach:

The cold, reassuring fact that nothing I do, ever, will ever matter.

Congratulations for fobbing off all responsibility, but I think it does matter for the living. Remember, even to choose not to choose is to choose.

There's lots of things for comfort. Some people console in friends, some in lovers, some in drugs, some in art, some in literature, some in music. And some, like me, use the fact that you only live once to embrace both the dark sides of life and the light sides. I don't want to suffer, but if I'm going to, I might as well get the most out of it since I'm only going to suffer the once.

I use people. The more you involve yourself with others, the less time you have to think, the less reassurance of something metaphysical you need.

quote:Originally posted by Limecat:

drugs

quote:Originally posted by Hare_Geist:

Congratulations for fobbing off all responsibility, but I think it does matter for the living. Remember, even to choose not to choose is to choose.

There's lots of things for comfort. Some people console in friends, some in lovers, some in drugs, some in art, some in literature, some in music. And some, like me, use the fact that you only live once to embrace both the dark sides of life and the light sides. I don't want to suffer, but if I'm going to, I might as well get the most out of it since I'm only going to suffer the once.

I fob no responsibility, but I just know that in the great scheme of things, nothing I or anyone else does will matter. Doesn't mean I just sit at home eating crisps and watching TV, I lead a lovely life.

Thump the person nearest to you and tell me your actions don’t make a difference. Just because there’s not some grand scheme made by some all-powerful, all-knowing being does not mean that your actions don’t have an affect on everything living.

There’s a saying about a butterfly’s wings clapping in China affecting the weather in Britain.

Whether or not people want to accept it, what they do does matter. Who cares if it won't when you're dead? It matters now and for all future-living-beings.

[This message has been edited by Hare_Geist (edited 12-23-2006).]

quote:Originally posted by Hare_Geist:

Thump the person nearest to you and tell me your actions don’t make a difference. Just because there’s not some grand scheme made by some all-powerful, all-knowing being does not mean that your actions don’t have an affect on everything living.

There’s a saying about a butterfly’s wings clapping in China affecting the weather in Britain.

Whether or not people want to accept it, what they do does matter. Who cares if it won't when you're dead? It matters now and for all future-living-beings.



=]

So youre saying there are no christians who abuse drugs?

Ted haggard anyone?

As someone said, i find comfort in alot of things, other people, hobbies and such.....but saying faith brings comfort...does that nmake it TRUE? no..it just means that for some it may bring comfort.

I find all of my stress and comfort in the life long task of avoiding deception of self and others - most of this is focused in the area of meditation; the better I know myself, the more honest I can be. Another large part of this is carrying my own burdens so that I don't need to use manipulation techniques to fulfill my wants and needs at the expense of honesty.

I'm completely against drugs.

What I use for comfort? Me.

I have enough comfort knowing I can do just about anything I want, because I am the one who decides about my life and MY decisions are the reason for anything that happens. When something bad happens, I blame myself without hating myself, and when something good happens I thank myself. Off course there are things which I can't control, and I just accept that instead of begging an abstract concept to change things.

I use a pillow and my blankie.

One does not need something when one does not believe to know its nature.

For regular psychological consonance, I balance my mathematical ponderings with musical composition.

The philosophy comes when I need to figure out the right thing to do. Then, I remember what I figured out as to use it in other situations. I suppose that little memory slot of proofs in my head is the closest I have to the comfort of which you speak.

God would just be more rules to follow. A burden instead of a comfort.

Religion is a crutch.

I take comfort that none of my actions are motivated by either fear of hell or hope of heaven.

If I do good things it's because I'm morally superior to most sheeple, if I do bad things it's because I fucked up.

I use myself for comfort.

I sit there and solve my problems. I do drugs because I like drugs religion or non, not to be some emo fagbitch.

[This message has been edited by General Rodent (edited 12-24-2006).]

I dont need to search for comfort. I'm naturally comfortable, if that makes sense? Well theres the odd time i could use some outside support and thats when i turn to my friends for comradery, and women tend to give me strong comfort!

quote:Originally posted by Kooper0:

The knowledge that the decisions and actions I make will directly influence outcomes.



Bollocks! That's just some smart sounding reply you thought up just now.

My own towering masculinity.

Sodomy...

I'm not an atheist, but I guess I was for a period of time, and the views are still very much ingrained in the way I think. Overall i'd say i'm more agnostic, but also deviating towards theism in my own weird way...

Anyway...um, I guess the fact that reality fucking rocks my socks, and there's no greater thing other than experiecing being alive that the human mind can conceive. Plus it's free, and it's with you for every second you spend on this Earth. Human contact makes me feel alive, and love and laughter, and exploring my consciousness, and thinking wierdly, and laughing at how rediculous we all are.

That gives me strength, hope and comfort http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

Its also pretty sad how some people are raised to need the belief in god to feel comfort. Its hard for me to even comprehend that need, because ive never had it.

Just another reason why parents shouldnt teach there children religion. Just let people decide on there own, once they can think for themselves.

music

its great whenever i feel like shit i could just listen to some music and just zone out.

and

meditating

http://www.totse.com/bbs/Forum32/HTML/008196.html

quote:Originally posted by bitplane:

for me it's the fact that I'm contributing towards the future of the universe, which ever path it may take.

I'm the proverbial butterfly, I flap my wings and it causes chaos elsewhere.

the universe has become self aware, and in the future it may be thankful to people who made it what it is. if i get no recognition this doesn't matter, so long as i played my part, made a difference, or even made no difference at all, I will have been part of the story of the universe. This, to me, is the most wonderful thing in existence, it almost makes me weep to be part of this phase of awareness. i love myself and all of you. we are the most exciting part of existence to date, and I love it.

simply beautiful isn't it?

You're a homo...

Jk.

Drugs, friends, parties, school, food, sleeping, having a general amount of fun.

I take comfort in the knowledge that I don't take comfort in something imaginary.

I just accept that life sucks and do the best I can to deal with it. Only weak minded people have religion. They can't deal with life. It's insane.