Fin some balanced perspectives. Remember people on Lemmy are fanatics, just with atheism and Linux instead of Jesus or Donald Trump. Thanks opinions here with a grain of salt and talk to people in the real world. People you respect and whose spirituality makes sense to you.

Many years ago I realised that any believe system based on fear of something can’t be trusted. If it tries to manipulate you in any way, it’s just that, manipulation. Maybe that was helpful centuries ago among fearful people, I don’t know.

From what was left, all that stuff didn’t really matter, specially if it was true because it is some sort of wait and see and meanwhile it doesn’t affect me.

There was a book I read maybe 25 years ago about this that helped a lot to shape how I see spiritualism. I could try to find it if you’re interested, I don’t think it would be hard to find.

Spirituality is just the space between our understanding and reality. While many, even in this thread, advocate for creating an idealistic fantasy in this gap for your own mental “health” or pleasure; personally, I don’t think it’s necessary to avoid hopelessness, and in fact is harmful when these fantasies act as blinders to reality in the one existence we get.

In a very real way, every cell that makes up the people we’ve lost recycles into the world around us. We are made of the universe before us, and will become the universe after us. So while our consciousness as we know it is temporary, our existence is not.

Same here. I was raised a Christian. Luckily the good types, love, community and peace. Then in my teenage years went atheist as I developed the classic Anti religion doctrine that it causes more harm than good. And now as young adult I have rekindled my spiritual side and take inspiration from Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and even Norse paganism and Greek patheon.

I still struggle to actually devote myself to one religion. On one side this keeps me floating and ungrounded. But to actually take the step to go to church etc also doesn’t feel necessary for me. On the other hand it allows me find my own way with God(s).

It depends on what you’re looking for. If you need something in life that really becomes your Red Line, that guides every action, then find a church/community and attend it. If you need a spiritual outlet then stay free forming it and take what works for you.

Can you not get life guidance, community and inclusion without having to believe in the supernatural?

Nothing says you have to believe the same thing everyday, or even moment to moment. Think of your spirituality as kind of story, or a painting, or a song that you sing to yourself. Wouldn’t it be boring to sing the same song every day? There isn’t just one “greatest” song/poem/story/painting because you can’t fit all human experience or emotion into just one of them. I like to treat spirituality this way. Play with your relationship to life’s mysteries. Make an art of it to entertain and comfort yourself.

To be clear, I have some core values that I don’t change, and these inform my politics and how I interact with other people. When it comes to things like death, “the meaning of life”, the origins of the universe etc, I’m most comfortable with fluidity.

I recommend you something like Buddhism or similar things. Its about finding your inner peace in stressful times, regardless of who you are. I feel like buddhism is the non-judging religion that has no god but still some good explanations about the world

Death is a paradox. Whoever lives, can never see whats behind the door, and those who are dead, can never experience it, because to experience, you need to live.

You can paint the door colorful, create stories and paintings. But painting the door, will never describe or explain how it looks behind the door. Its just a painting of hopes. Hoping what it might be, but very likey isnt.

We can never shut off, we can never imagine the nonexistence. Its impossible for the consciouss mind to not experience anything. But we want to know. It makes us afraid to not know, which is the reason why we try to explain it and go on.

So, I would say. Find the picture that creates an inner peace within you. Or rather, create one, that fits with your viewings of the world and experience.

In my personal journey, I came to be permanently skeptical of all organized religions. None of them are infallible, all of them are a cult to a degree. Here are some other beliefs I hold today:

1 - There might be something real behind exorcisms and hauntings, regardless of the validity of the religions who treat them. I base this on conversations I’ve held with witnesses I trust.

2 - I don’t think there is only one higher power. Whether there are tiers, I cannot say.

3 - The evidence for reincarnation is fascinating. Check out the history of the university of Virginia and it’s department dedicated to the supernatural.

4 - Some people can see/commune with the dead. Whether any can do it at will is another story. Most of the people I believe are private about it, most of those who sell the service seem phony.

5 - Although I don’t believe in any religion, I was my best self when I did. Faith in a moral cause does wonders for the soul, regardless of factuality. Prayer, meditation, and ritual are good for the soul. Community is incredible.

I reckon ‘wrestling’ is probably the wrong approach. I also reckon it’s pointless to worry about what happens to you after you die. The only thing you have knowledge of or control over are the the things that happen prior to that, so focus on that.

For me it isn’t really worth thinking about unfalsifiable things? If you’re looking for guidance, community, and inclusion, go join a socialist org or a queer community center?

I have this displaying as a bot account? 🤖

I think what you need is Britt Hartley and her book No Nonsense Spirituality. She understands the common elements of different religions that are important to us psychologically, and explains how to bring them into your life without the need for faith in a particular deity.

Good luck. I came out the other side as non religious. As a non believer. I have helped in ceremonies for different religions because family. I will be headed there in bit because they need help… You are who you are.

I thought all bots blindly believed in silicon heaven. I mean where else would all of the calculators go?