Another good comment from the original post:
"On the value of life without religion:
When I fully gave up on religion, I came to an almost immediate epiphany. Life is the MOST important thing imaginable. There is only THIS life. This is all there is. Life is short, yesterday is gone forever, and my tomorrows are dwindling fast. There are no do-overs and no ever-afters. This is not depressing, it's uplifting. It makes you want to get off your *bleep* and make the world a better place. It makes you want to enjoy everything to its fullest. Those "small pleasures" in life turn out to be incredible pleasures if you let them. But it's not all just fun and games. It makes you realize that everyone else's life is sacred, too. I mean, how can you sit there while someone else's one life, their ONE SHOT at existence is dominated by pain and suffering? When looking at it like this, you've got to help them. Right? If this life is all you've got, then you're compelled to make the most of it.
Religion belittles life. What is the value of life on the scale of eternity? It's nothing. Life is just a brief holding cell on your way to eternal freedom. What's the point of making a big fuss about it, really? You don't need to help other people, as long as they have Jesus, they'll get their big reward in heaven. And besides, if they were REALLY in trouble God would help them now, right? You don't have to do a damn thing! Just enjoy your small pleasures on earth while you wait for the big cake in the sky. Nothing on earth will ever compare with it. Life sucks compared to eternity in heaven!
On finding your path without religion:
You, and you alone, have the power to choose your path. Let that one sink in for a minute.... There is no cosmic plan for you. There is no possibility of you choosing the WRONG thing. The correct thing is whatever you want it to be. And if you don't like your first choice, you just pick again until you get it right. You can do whatever makes you happy. You don't have to worry about what you're SUPPOSED to be doing. Sometimes you'll fail. You own those failures; no one brought them upon you. But you'll also have success, and you'll own those successes, too. They'll be 100% fully yours, not gifts from god. When you succeed, it will be because of what YOU did. How joyful and empowering will that be? Even if it's the smallest success in the darkest part of life, like not shooting up for 24 hours, you'll have the knowledge that YOU alone accomplished it. You'll have the knowledge that YOU alone have all the power over your own life. You'll be empowered to succeed again and again.
Religion is self-deprecating. Anything you achieve is by the grace of God and all your failures are the result of your sinful nature. Whenever you get through a rough patch, it's because God helped you get through it. You never could've done it on your own. You're too weak. God is your strength. Put your trust in him. Everything happens for a reason and God will put you where he needs you. Listen to your heart and let God guide your path. If you can't hear him it's because you're not close enough to him. It's because you're too sinful. You keep failing because you won't give yourself over to Christ. Get right with God and everything will be fine. You are nothing compared to God. Let Jesus take the wheel. He knows what's best for you. You're just a sinful sheep lost in the wilderness."
~ by jwittenmyer
Community Forum
Topic: I thought this was brilliant (Read 10333 times)
April 26, 2009, 12:33:11 am
