I'm no longer an atheist

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

I believe in God. I actually don't like using that term because of the thoughts it brings up in my mind. It's not the Christian God or any of the traditional religions filled with too much dogma. It's the belief in the one. There is one energy that ties everything together. We all have a portion of God inside of us.

I have experienced some profound things recently. I have read and listened to so many amazing books, articles, podcasts, and videos. The biggest change that I have made is discovering happiness comes almost solely from within ourselves. There is nothing outside of us that can make us happy.

The other realization is the concept of presence. Once I realized how to be truly present, to push all thought out of my mind in the present moment and just experience life, a switch flipped inside of me.

I'm 39 and yet I feel 25. I have more energy than I have ever had. I have gotten rid of most of my anger and other negative emotions. Almost nothing bothers me any more. It's an amazing feeling

As Eckhart Tolle says, thinking about the past or future makes us spend our energy in the past or future, which don't actually exist. The only thing that exists is the present. So only when we clear our mind of all thought can we truly be present. He isn't saying never think, but to minimize thinking about unnecessary things.

Did you know that if you took all 7 billion people and removed all of the empty space in their atoms, then combined all of that mass, the mass would take up the volume of a sugar cube? My mind was blown when I heard that. Everything in the world is 99.9999% empty space, or energy.

I do deep meditation now. It's a pretty incredible experience. My relationships have gotten so much better with everyone. I have learned how to process every negative emotion that comes through my mind and body and get rid of them quickly. I have never felt peace and happiness like this before. It's amazing, and it's all in my mind.

[GutterBoy 2,900]

Puff puff pass

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

18 minutes ago, GutterBoy said:

Puff puff pass

My foreman and I talk about this stuff quite a bit. This is basically how my partner at work responds.

I have always been a skeptic. There weren't many bigger skeptics than me. I needed to experience this stuff for myself to believe it. In which I did. There is way too much evidence that points toward an afterlife, a higher being like God, and an energy that ties us all together.

I didn't understand how to be happy. I was always angry and impatient. I had no idea how people stopped being like that. I have been trying to change for so long. After I started going down this path it all made sense. I kept trying to use willpower, which never works in the long run.

I am proof that it works, because the old me could not contain his temper and anger after a certain point. I'm still not perfect, but it's a massive shift from where I was. Once you figure out how to be present, it changes everything. You learn how to get rid of any negative feelings almost instantly. It's like a super power

[Hardcore troubadour 16,042]

Wow. You sound like a happy man. Good for you.  

[GutterBoy 2,900]

Good for you fb.  It's great to hear stories of personal growth and people improving their lives.  You're never too old to change or to be better.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

Thanks guy.

I'm always down to talk about this stuff if anyone wants to. I'm always looking for new suggestions to implement into my life and I'm always willing to share what works for me. I like helping people, and I like learning new things that will help me.

[GutterBoy 2,900]

10 minutes ago, Frozenbeernuts said:

Thanks guy.

I'm always down to talk about this stuff if anyone wants to. I'm always looking for new suggestions to implement into my life and I'm always willing to share what works for me. I like helping people, and I like learning new things that will help me.

I was raised a god fearing guilt ridden Catholic.  After I grew up and wised up, I went into an atheist phase.  Then I experienced things that couldn't be explained to randomness and embraced the idea of something greater.

As far as helping people, this is what works for me.  I have found that I am at more peace with myself when I can make a positive impact on the lives of others.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

2 minutes ago, GutterBoy said:

I was raised a god fearing guilt ridden Catholic.  After I grew up and wised up, I went into an atheist phase.  Then I experienced things that couldn't be explained to randomness and embraced the idea of something greater.

As far as helping people, this is what works for me.  I have found that I am at more peace with myself when I can make a positive impact on the lives of others.

I would like to hear what you experienced. If not in here you can dm me. If you want to keep it to yourself then I understand.

[DonS 3,330]

Good to hear that you are happy. 

The biggest question on my mind is if you still look like V for Vendatta (Guy Fawkes mask)? 

[Kopy 596]

If it wasn't for god, we'd have no meatloaf or beer.

So god is great 

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

7 minutes ago, DonS said:

Good to hear that you are happy. 

The biggest question on my mind is if you still look like V for Vendatta (Guy Fawkes mask)? 

You know I do. I will always remember how you took the time to print out the picture and cream all over it

[DonS 3,330]

29 minutes ago, Frozenbeernuts said:

You know I do. I will always remember how you took the time to print out the picture and cream all over it

[weepaws 3,425]

12 hours ago, GutterBoy said:

I was raised a god fearing guilt ridden Catholic.  After I grew up and wised up, I went into an atheist phase.  Then I experienced things that couldn't be explained to randomness and embraced the idea of something greater.

As far as helping people, this is what works for me.  I have found that I am at more peace with myself when I can make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Yea if I was raised in a catholic I would have felt the same.  I grew up an atheist, then God called me unto him, and now I’m a Christian, sorry that you were raised in that religious crap.  What you need, and we all crave is a relationship, and that true relationship comes when one accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Jesus said, no one goes to heaven without  Jesus, there is no other way to true happiness with out Jesus.   

Live it, Love It Accept Jesus in our heart oh foolish man.  

Amen. 

[weepaws 3,425]

God of the Bible is the only God, the only way to peace and comfort and joy, is the true acceptance of His Son Jesus Christ as ones Lord and Savior.  

Amen. 

Ps happy for you frozen.  

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

22 minutes ago, weepaws said:

God of the Bible is the only God, the only way to peace and comfort and joy, is the true acceptance of His Son Jesus Christ as ones Lord and Savior.  

Amen. 

Ps happy for you frozen.  

Thanks, I appreciate that.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

One thing I have learned is how harmful negative energy is to us. We get pissed off, impatient, think the other person is an idiot etc. Really it's harming the person feeling that way more than anything. I was guilty of it big time. I don't want to feel like that any more. Most of the stuff we argue about in our daily lives is meaningless bs.

I have taken the stance that everyone is right. I may try to convince someone that what I believe is right, but in the end, if you really think about it, we all think we are right about our beliefs. Even if we know we can't be right about everything, we don't know what we are wrong about until undeniable proof enters into our mind. There may be consequences to certain beliefs, but until we face those consequences or undeniable truth counter to what we believe, we remain stuck in our beliefs.

I have read a lot about the placebo effect and how our mind plays such a role in everything. Especially our physical health. Most of the ailments we go through, especially when we get older are due to negative energy built up over time. I want to live as long as possible, or at least until i feel like I have spent enough time on Earth. With the new advancements in medicine, combined with epigenetics we are going to be living much longer. Well we may see a dip if WW3 happens, but after that we would see a rise in longevity much longer than what we experience now. Tony Robbins has a great book on it

[BufordT 444]

Antone Smith would be happy for you.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

7 minutes ago, BufordT said:

Antone Smith would be happy for you.

Haha he would. Mike Smith finally realized what he had, and then as soon as he got 15 touches in a game he broke his leg if I remember correctly. He got another shot the next year and then promptly hurt himself again.

[weepaws 3,425]

Dangerous to believe that everyone is right,  it’s not right when someone thinks it’s right to harm or kill another person.  

People that do that think that’s the right  thing to do, not arguing about vain things is a good thing, but not everything people do can I agree with. Jarrett the subway guy thought it was right to have sex with children, I can’t agree with him and feel that he’s right.  

 

[Pimpadeaux 2,407]

3 hours ago, Frozenbeernuts said:

I would like to hear what you experienced. If not in here you can dm me. If you want to keep it to yourself then I understand.

I've had a lot of things like that happen, but the one that stands out the most is what happened on the day my dad died.

He had failed carotid artery surgery, and the chunk of plaque was way bigger than the surgeon knew going in the procedure. His artery was like 98 percent blocked, and the plaque was a good 4 inches long and went up into his brain.

The surgeon thought he got it all, but a piece broke off and caused a stroke, rendering my dad a near-invalid.

He held on almost two months, and there were times I was able to communicate with him, but then his body started shutting down, and he went into Hospice.

I drove over to meet my mom to see him. While my mom stepped into the bathroom, I grabbed his head and said, "It's OK, dad. I'm going to take good care of mom. I love you."

The Hospice said he could last as long as six weeks.

But later that night, I got a call from my mom. She said my dad had died. She said the power went out briefly at her house, and the second it came back on, she got the call from Hospice.

I grieved hard, but I also was upset because I thought I'd have more chances to see him. I called Hospice to understand what happened, and they said, "Oh, he was waiting for you. We see that all the time."

Flash forward to last month, when my wife's dad was in Hospice after a long decline. He and my wife were not close, but she went over to see him. She told him she loved him and that she had forgiven him from walking out on her mom years ago, leaving her to raise to little girls by herself.

Not long after she arrived home that night, her dad passed away.

For me, it has always boiled down to faith, and mine has never waivered.

 

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

27 minutes ago, Pimpadeaux said:

I've had a lot of things like that happen, but the one that stands out the most is what happened on the day my dad died.

He had failed carotid artery surgery, and the chunk of plaque was way bigger than the surgeon knew going in the procedure. His artery was like 98 percent blocked, and the plaque was a good 4 inches long and went up into his brain.

The surgeon thought he got it all, but a piece broke off and caused a stroke, rendering my dad a near-invalid.

He held on almost two months, and there were times I was able to communicate with him, but then his body started shutting down, and he went into Hospice.

I drove over to meet my mom to see him. While my mom stepped into the bathroom, I grabbed his head and said, "It's OK, dad. I'm going to take good care of mom. I love you."

The Hospice said he could last as long as six weeks.

But later that night, I got a call from my mom. She said my dad had died. She said the power went out briefly at her house, and the second it came back on, she got the call from Hospice.

I grieved hard, but I also was upset because I thought I'd have more chances to see him. I called Hospice to understand what happened, and they said, "Oh, he was waiting for you. We see that all the time."

Flash forward to last month, when my wife's dad was in Hospice after a long decline. He and my wife were not close, but she went over to see him. She told him she loved him and that she had forgiven him from walking out on her mom years ago, leaving her to raise to little girls by herself.

Not long after she arrived home that night, her dad passed away.

For me, it has always boiled down to faith, and mine has never waivered.

 

Wow that's a powerful story. I appreciate you sharing it.

My wife's grandma died in September. They were very close. One day about a month back my wife was sitting with her grandma's remains and talking to her. She asked her grandma to please send her a sign that she was listening

The next day she gets a call from a real estate agent asking for her a Barbara, her grandma's name. It was about a house in Maryland that he said this Barbara owned. The wife told him her grandma didn't own a house in Maryland, which she didn't. It was a pretty obvious sign to me.

[Frozenbeernuts 2,427]

This may sound hokey, but it happened to me. The skeptic in me never really believed in these things

I had a vision while laying in bed one night. It was one of those where you see someone in a movie or show have this intense physical reaction. That happened to me. It was so profound that I felt like my mind would melt. My eyes were burning.

You start reading or hearing about so many people who experience similar things. Is everyone just insane or a liar? I know what I experienced was real. And I am perfectly sane. And not a liar.

[BeenHereBefore 1,669]

A lot of people walked this earth and still many on it now. The universe is huge and sure there is many places for all the souls to go.

[DonS 3,330]

I'm not sure if I'm truly atheist or agnostic.

Too much bad mojo goes down that makes me question why "a god" would allow it.

An innocent child gets cancer. Why the fock would "a god" allow that?

Edit: unless it's the Watchmaker philosophy  which still makes me say "fock you Jobu" 

[weepaws 3,425]

Wondering if this might be an April Fools joke.  

Maybe. 

[weepaws 3,425]

20 minutes ago, DonS said:

I'm not sure if I'm truly atheist or agnostic.

Too much bad mojo goes down that makes me question why "a god" would allow it.

An innocent child gets cancer. Why the fock would "a god" allow that?

Edit: unless it's the Watchmaker philosophy  which still makes me say "fock you Jobu" 

To take that Child to Heaven, which is a lot better place to me then here on earth.  No disease, no Crime , no Government, no lack of needs.  That child is in a much better place, and anyone that dies in Christ will be.  If one doesn’t die in Christ , they are just kindling.  

 

[weepaws 3,425]

36 minutes ago, DonS said:

I'm not sure if I'm truly atheist or agnostic.

Too much bad mojo goes down that makes me question why "a god" would allow it.

An innocent child gets cancer. Why the fock would "a god" allow that?

Edit: unless it's the Watchmaker philosophy  which still makes me say "fock you Jobu" 

I find it interesting how we value the lives of children, yet most think it’s okay for about 1500 or so woman a day just in this country to kill their unborn children.  

Mmmm.  God have a Mercy.  

[DonS 3,330]

56 minutes ago, weepaws said:

I find it interesting how we value the lives of children, yet most think it’s okay for about 1500 or so woman a day just in this country to kill their unborn children.  

Mmmm.  God have a Mercy.  

Fock you making this about abortion. Do the children being aborted have a choice?

I'm talking about children that were conceived and born to two loving adults.  Maybe even über Christian parents.  Yet "God" says fock you innocent child have some cancer and die before even having a chance to "sin"

[weepaws 3,425]

1 hour ago, DonS said:

Fock you making this about abortion. Do the children being aborted have a choice?

I'm talking about children that were conceived and born to two loving adults.  Maybe even über Christian parents.  Yet "God" says fock you innocent child have some cancer and die before even having a chance to "sin"

Watch your language.  

Sadly no the children being aborted don’t have a choice, but if they did what would they choose? To be torn apart or to have a life?  

Lol not all children are born to two adults, nor always to loving adults, you must live under a rock.  

Lust has conceived, James 1:15.  

Conceived in sin, Psalm 51:5-10.  

All have sin, all fall short of God’s glory.  

Thanks.  

[DonS 3,330]

Aside from quoting "scripture" and getting your panties in a bunch for my language, please address why "God" decides to smite an innocent child BORN FROM TWO LOVING ADULTS with cancer.

[cmh6476 1,154]

I'm presently taking a sh1t

[shorepatrol 1,871]

1 hour ago, DonS said:

Aside from quoting "scripture" and getting your panties in a bunch for my language, please address why "God" decides to smite an innocent child BORN FROM TWO LOVING ADULTS with cancer.

You will not get an answer save scripture. You believe it or you don't. I don't 

[OldMaid 2,137]

I’m still an atheist. 

[weepaws 3,425]

3 hours ago, DonS said:

Aside from quoting "scripture" and getting your panties in a bunch for my language, please address why "God" decides to smite an innocent child BORN FROM TWO LOVING ADULTS with cancer.

Why do innocent children die in war, why do they die in school shootings,why do they die with different diseases. Innocent people die because of the sins of others including parent. I’ve now given you plenty of answers, you won’t accept it because you like living in your sin, and you will probably die in your sin.  Hell to pay. Excuse my language. 

If you want me to answer for God, I’ll give you God’s answers.  I have to live with the fact that 1500 plus kids a day on avg die from the selfish act of abortion, and I ask why to the Lord.  

Romans 1:28.  Reprobate mind.  

Matthew 18: 21-35.  

Romans 3:20. 

Jeremiah 31:27&29. 

2 Samuel 12:13-14,22-25.  

Thanks.  

[weepaws 3,425]

2 hours ago, cmh6476 said:

I'm presently taking a sh1t

It’s best to leave one then to take one.  

[WhiteWonder 3,000]

You’ve come a long way in a short time from your rhetoric in the crypto thread

 

. Congrats 

[TimHauck 3,415]

18 hours ago, GutterBoy said:

I was raised a god fearing guilt ridden Catholic.  After I grew up and wised up, I went into an atheist phase.  Then I experienced things that couldn't be explained to randomness and embraced the idea of something greater.

I think I believe there is a God.  But sh1t like Jesus rising from the dead and Moses parting the Red Sea is where religion kinda loses me.

[Hardcore troubadour 16,042]

2 minutes ago, TimHauck said:

I think I believe there is a God.  But sh1t like Jesus rising from the dead and Moses parting the Red Sea is where religion kinda loses me.

That’s an interesting, unique take. Tell us more. 

[GutterBoy 2,900]

38 minutes ago, TimHauck said:

I think I believe there is a God.  But sh1t like Jesus rising from the dead and Moses parting the Red Sea is where religion kinda loses me.

Same here.  I don't really believe the stories in the bible, they're pretty insane.  I do believe that there are things out there that we can't see, know or understand.  Thats why I believe in a greater force at work.

Also the teachings of Jesus are good, it's a good blueprint to live your life.  Whether he turned water into wine, or became a zombie, I don't know, but the bible says he was a good dude, living your life like he did would be good for many.  Unfortunately there are many that say they love Jesus but act like complete ass holes in real life.

[TommyGavin 790]

21 hours ago, Frozenbeernuts said:

I believe in God. 

Do you still cheat on your wife ??