Philosophical Advice For A Rationalist Atheist Who Wants To Be Religious Without Betraying His Ideal

[rug]

June 14, 2013
By Daniel Fincke

Shawn writes:

I’m an atheist. I was raised as a Christian but deconverted in my early twenties when I realized that I didn’t have sufficient evidence to support my beliefs. Since then I’ve tried to adopt a consistent and rational way of looking at the world and I’ve tried to remain intellectually honest. I’m struggling with something right now and I feel like I’m letting myself down in that aspect, at least in the intellectual honesty department, and I could use the perspective of a clear-thinking secular person like yourself.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to be religious, at least in a manner or speaking. I want to perform rituals like chanting, praying, or making offerings. I also want to belong to a group of at least somewhat like-minded people who are doing the same things, so it needs to be in the context of some already-established tradition. I see some benefit to this kind of practice in people I know, even if everything is happening on a psychological level rather than some sort of “spiritual” one.

This seems to conflict with my desire for rationality to be my guide to truth. Invariably, there would be some aspects of any of these traditions that I’d be unable to accept as true. I’d have to view the gods as representations of nature or as something going on inside my own head rather than as real beings existing outside myself. I’d have to view stories as useful myths rather than as factual history. I’d have to paint every supernatural element as some sort of metaphor or useful tool rather than as being the truth. It seems like too much of a hassle to be worthwhile, but I think I’m willing to do it.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/camelswithhammers/2013/06/philosophical-advice-for-a-rationalist-atheist-who-wants-to-be-religious-without-betraying-his-ideals/

[dimbear]

1. It's just possible that believers might troll a blog offering advice to atheists.

Just possible. No way to be sure, just have to judge from the improbability of Shaun's stance.

[rug]

4. Hey, the post below is a reply. I put in in the wrong spot.

[cbayer]

5. You are correct and that train runs both ways.

Sometimes it is really hard to tell - Poe and all.

[dimbear]

6. Agreed.

I try to tell by the facial expression, but it's hard.

[cbayer]

7. Lol, yep. It's all about the body language.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. ritualistic repetitive behavior....

sort of like an obsession.

[rug]

3. Well, Daniel Fincke is taking him seriously.

Shawn might have revealed more in his email to him.

But there are trolls everywhere.

[LostOne4Ever]

8. I immediately thought of

UU
Buddhism/taoism/eastern philosophies
Ethical Societies

Upon reading the exert from the link. Glad to see the author brought those up.

But as with all these posts I feel obligated to say there are those of us who could NOT care less about ritual and social interaction.

Going to church every sunday was torture in every way. Having to dress up, the extortion for money, having to sit through boring lectures...err sermons, standing up, sitting down, kneeling, sitting again, standing up again, etc, the chant like replies to the priest, all of it was torture.

But the part I could not be happier to know ill never have to deal with again is all the "socializing" after it was done. I just can not personally understand how anyone would miss all the awkward silences and conversations with people you don't know or would have nothing to do with the rest of the week...And having to go to school during the weekend as a child was itself another type of hell altogether.

I get that a lot of people like this sort of thing, and I hold nothing against those who do, I just can not understand it myself.

[skepticscott]

9. Tell them

To become a college sports fan..

Rituals...check

Chanting and singing...check

Praying...check

Established tradition...check

Lots of like minded people gathering together in big cathedrals..check

Add in a sabbath day and brightly colored vestments, and they're covered completely.

[LostOne4Ever]

10. +100000 (nt)

[skepticscott]

11. Hey, not sure what else to tell them

Since they seem to be asking the rough equivalent of "I'm trying to live a strictly vegetarian lifestyle, but I want to eat meat once a week...how do I do it?"

But thanks for the thumbs up!