Do you believe in God?
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- TexRex72
Things like morality, empathy, kindness, generocity and altruism, among countless other attributes associated with "goodness," exist in the absence of religious belief. Religion is frequently (which is to say it's not without exception) itself founded upon these principles. One does not depend upon irrational belief to live a life founded upon these principles.
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- I Renown I
I may be writing this from anger but I no longer care.
Let me preface all of this by saying I wasn't religious nor believed in God prior to all of this, but it's certainly strengthened my foothold on the matter. As some of you know, my mom passed away last December and I've been having more than my fair share of ups and downs to say the least. I've spent the past month with family in Philadelphia trying to find happiness and clarity wherever, and this wasn't the place to come for it, despite what I saw in January and was lead to believe in the weeks leading up to me coming back here.
Anyway, onto the point, my aunt and uncle are staunch Christians. So much so it's really all they talk about and do. My aunt holds services what feels like everyday, and on Saturday she holds a women's-focused service with all of her friends. On Sunday there's the usual Church-going service but they're still doing things remotely.
I've felt like a second or even third-class citizen the entire time I've been here. God this, God that; give praise for this, give praise for that. From my perspective, it's incredibly fanatical the way they act, almost like they're in a cult. A few Mondays ago I remember my uncle talking about preaching and the "good word" and all of this nonsense, and it leads him to make a comment that if things were normal I'd be church with the rest of them on Sundays, and if I didn't go he'd send me back home.
At that point, one, I was already sure I'd never come back and, two, I don't understand the willingness to put someone you've never met once in your entire goddamn life, over someone you consider the son you never had. Yeah, so long as I'm willing to drink the same Kool-Aid as you, huh?
If you're thinking "Well T, why don't you tell them how you feel?" These aren't the kind of people emotionally equipped to accept someone not knee deep in the same belief system as them.
Everything is because of God. Your health? God. The doctors that got you through that sickness? God. Waking up in the morning? God. Now, don't misunderstand me, I don't mean this in the sense that you're thanking whomever you believe in because all is well and good as if it were an extended sigh of relief. No, I mean, it's literally because of this higher power that it all happened. I overheard my aunt having a phone conversation one day (she's loud so that's no exceptionally difficult) and she said something to the effect "My mother may have given birth to me, but it is because of God that I'm here."
I just...I can't take this. I know this isn't the case for everyone of a religious belief and I'm not knocking religious belief in any way, shape, or form, but what I've experienced firsthand is exactly why I'm not religious. Apologies for the rant but I needed to get that off of my chest.
Let me preface all of this by saying I wasn't religious nor believed in God prior to all of this, but it's certainly strengthened my foothold on the matter. As some of you know, my mom passed away last December and I've been having more than my fair share of ups and downs to say the least. I've spent the past month with family in Philadelphia trying to find happiness and clarity wherever, and this wasn't the place to come for it, despite what I saw in January and was lead to believe in the weeks leading up to me coming back here.
Anyway, onto the point, my aunt and uncle are staunch Christians. So much so it's really all they talk about and do. My aunt holds services what feels like everyday, and on Saturday she holds a women's-focused service with all of her friends. On Sunday there's the usual Church-going service but they're still doing things remotely.
I've felt like a second or even third-class citizen the entire time I've been here. God this, God that; give praise for this, give praise for that. From my perspective, it's incredibly fanatical the way they act, almost like they're in a cult. A few Mondays ago I remember my uncle talking about preaching and the "good word" and all of this nonsense, and it leads him to make a comment that if things were normal I'd be church with the rest of them on Sundays, and if I didn't go he'd send me back home.
At that point, one, I was already sure I'd never come back and, two, I don't understand the willingness to put someone you've never met once in your entire goddamn life, over someone you consider the son you never had. Yeah, so long as I'm willing to drink the same Kool-Aid as you, huh?
If you're thinking "Well T, why don't you tell them how you feel?" These aren't the kind of people emotionally equipped to accept someone not knee deep in the same belief system as them.
Everything is because of God. Your health? God. The doctors that got you through that sickness? God. Waking up in the morning? God. Now, don't misunderstand me, I don't mean this in the sense that you're thanking whomever you believe in because all is well and good as if it were an extended sigh of relief. No, I mean, it's literally because of this higher power that it all happened. I overheard my aunt having a phone conversation one day (she's loud so that's no exceptionally difficult) and she said something to the effect "My mother may have given birth to me, but it is because of God that I'm here."
I just...I can't take this. I know this isn't the case for everyone of a religious belief and I'm not knocking religious belief in any way, shape, or form, but what I've experienced firsthand is exactly why I'm not religious. Apologies for the rant but I needed to get that off of my chest.
Ghost Lap
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I mean you could interpret it that way, but the way I like to see it is just to think for yourself. I admit that I could be wrong about many things, but I try to at least think for myself as much as I can and form my own opinions not based on what other people tell me I should think or believe.
Dotini
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Reportedly, when we die, we undergo "a meaningful and purposeful review of our life, involving a critical analysis of all our past actions — basically, our life flashes before our eyes". We will see ourselves as others have seen us, and know the harm and the hurt we have done to others.
Glimpses of afterlife? 'Near-death' experiences aren't hallucinations, scientists conclude
A review of research exploring what people experience when they’re close to death reveals “that near-death experiences” are a real thing, even if we can’t explain them.
www.braintomorrow.com
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Ghost Lap
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At the end of the day, scientists can't actually conclude anything about NDE's unless they've actually experienced one for themselves firsthand.Reportedly, when we die, we undergo "a meaningful and purposeful review of our life, involving a critical analysis of all our past actions — basically, our life flashes before our eyes". We will see ourselves as others have seen us, and know the harm and the hurt we have done to others.
Glimpses of afterlife? 'Near-death' experiences aren't hallucinations, scientists conclude
A review of research exploring what people experience when they’re close to death reveals “that near-death experiences” are a real thing, even if we can’t explain them.www.braintomorrow.com
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Scaff
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And here's why it's important to not just look at the media that cherry-picks from papers, but at the actual papers themselves.Reportedly, when we die, we undergo "a meaningful and purposeful review of our life, involving a critical analysis of all our past actions — basically, our life flashes before our eyes". We will see ourselves as others have seen us, and know the harm and the hurt we have done to others.
Glimpses of afterlife? 'Near-death' experiences aren't hallucinations, scientists conclude
A review of research exploring what people experience when they’re close to death reveals “that near-death experiences” are a real thing, even if we can’t explain them.www.braintomorrow.com
"So far, the researchers say, evidence suggests that neither physiological nor cognitive processes end with death and that although systematic studies have not been able to absolutely prove the reality or meaning of patients' experiences and claims of awareness in relation to death, it has been impossible to disclaim them either."
Recalled Experiences Surrounding Death: More Than Hallucinations?
/PRNewswire/ -- Scientific advances in the 20th and 21st centuries have led to a major evolution in the understanding of death. At the same time, for decades,...
www.prnewswire.com
Guidelines and standards for the study of death and recalled experiences of death--a multidisciplinary consensus statement and proposed future directions - PubMed
An inadvertent consequence of advances in stem cell research, neuroscience, and resuscitation science has been to enable scientific insights regarding what happens to the human brain in relation to death. The scientific exploration of death is in large part possible due to the recognition that...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Which is basically saying, we think somethings might be happening, but we don't know, so here are some guidlines we've agreed to for studying it, if something is happening.
It's much more a consensus on how to research what may be occurring. Something that's quite clear once you read the actual title of the paper.
"Guidelines and Standards for the Study of Death and Recalled Experiences of Death,"
It's also an early view publication that's not been pre or post peer reviewed.
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UKMikey
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I had a near death experience while paramedics were performing CPR on me following my heart attack. Everything went white as the oxygen to my brain ceased for a few seconds. I guess that's what makes people think of heaven.
I may have seen something I thought was my late father telling me to go back. But I can't remember for sure. If there was definitely something on the other side I don't think they'd screw with your memory about it so I'm inclined to believe what I experienced was mostly oblivion.
I may have seen something I thought was my late father telling me to go back. But I can't remember for sure. If there was definitely something on the other side I don't think they'd screw with your memory about it so I'm inclined to believe what I experienced was mostly oblivion.
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ROAD_DOGG33J
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Thank God you were able to get that off of your chest.
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News from the medical community regarding near-death experiences.
Glimpses of afterlife? 'Near-death' experiences aren't hallucinations, scientists conclude
A review of research exploring what people experience when they’re close to death reveals “that near-death experiences” are a real thing, even if we can’t explain them.www.braintomorrow.com
Reportedly, when we die, we undergo "a meaningful and purposeful review of our life, involving a critical analysis of all our past actions — basically, our life flashes before our eyes". We will see ourselves as others have seen us, and know the harm and the hurt we have done to others.
Glimpses of afterlife? 'Near-death' experiences aren't hallucinations, scientists conclude
A review of research exploring what people experience when they’re close to death reveals “that near-death experiences” are a real thing, even if we can’t explain them.www.braintomorrow.com
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- rising_glass1
Omg, hope you recovered from that near death experience. I had one in the ER last May, they had to give me someone elses blood, about 7 units of it. All my blood values were low and I was throwing up to everything. Prayed to God the whole time and a week latter my levels came back to normal and I recovered. It was rough, I hate my greedy family cause they are the cause of all my health issues. Well they're gonna get karma times 60. Withholding money for food ,medical treatment from people is a cruel thing.
Joey D
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I was in the ER last week and I'm good not because of a god, but because I had a highly-trained, knowledgeable clinical staff who took excellent care of me. Seriously, when it comes to medical stuff you're outcomes have more to do with the quality of the people taking care of you than divine intervention.
UKMikey
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There's a tiny sliver of infinitesimal chance involved in which staff are assigned to you on admission... therefore #GodDidIt. Jesus, take the wheel! /s
God of the gaps - Wikipedia
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Joey D
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That's really a slap in the face to those clinicians who spent years of their lives training and hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical school to get where they are. Clinicians are good because they've trained and studied hard, not because of divine intervention. The only thing a belief in a higher power gives you in terms of healthcare is hope or solace when someone close to you dies. That's not a bad thing, but when it comes to healing you it's a combination of the people taking care of you and medical science that is responsible.
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