Discussion What gave you a sense of purpose post-religion?

[Abort!]

I often find it difficult to cope in the meaningless void this reality appears to be dead-set in. I'm just curious as to what you guys have to say on this topic. What helped to give you a sense of purpose post-religion? Past the illusion of material? Even partial answers or ongoing struggles are welcome.

 

[MapleS]

Nothing matters so it's not worth to even be san about that nothing makes sense.
Everything is relative and it's better to have no purpose and find something for yourself than have the purpose you don't like. If you wanna have purpose you can generate yourself one now and it will be almost like mandatory purpose.
Sandbox is cool

 

[ethereal_hobo]

Uncertainty kind of provides meaning. "I'm certain that life is meaningless" versus "Life has meaning because of my religion or philosophy". How about not committing to either position?

You can explore all kinds of religions and philosophies and ideas and see what you can get from them. Or just think about your own ideas. Or both.

 

[MyLifeisHell]

Dabrowski’s Theory and Existential Depression in Gifted Children and Adults - Davidson Institute

When people undergo a great trauma or other unsettling event—they have lost a job or a loved one dies, for example—their understanding of themselves or of

www.davidsongifted.org

 

[fuzzypeach]

ive never been a religious person. i wish i could be, because i know the wonders it does for people's mental health, but i just simply dont have it in me. i do want to be more spiritual, though. and i feel my most spiritual when i am connected to nature. walking barefoot on grass, doing magic mushrooms, etc. i want to grow in this spirituality because feeling one with the universe gives me a sense of belonging? purpose?

 

[GodzillasBiggestFan]

i gave myself a new purpose based off what made me happy even if its silly

 

[Arvayn]

I found subjects that interested me for one reason or another, and devoted myself to mastering them.
For me, it's less about focusing on the fact that existence is meaningless, and more about focusing on-- even knowing that existence is meaningless, what point would I be happy to make? Which causes would I stand for?
From there, I mostly formulate my own justifications and explanations for why the thing I'm doing is important to me.

 

[timf]

I rejected the religion of my parents when I was 13. It was not in favor of another religion just a neglect for the next 17 years. I came to see most religions as a sort of family tradition the practice of which gave a context and solidity to life for them. For me a lecture and three songs was insufficient to understand the complexity I saw in the world. However, I did not want to upset those for whom this was not only sufficient, but necessary.

When I was 30 I started what might be called an exploration of Christianity. Slowly I would find a useful nugget or two and could put pieces together that made sense. After the Internet came along I had access to tons of information to consider and delve into. One has to be able to quickly discard that which is not useful.

If one is going to chart their own course to find what is true, one has to be cautious not to upset or alarm those who prefer the conventional. One might come to radical opinions such as the harm caused by educational institutions. Since most people think school is the salvation of mankind, these opinions should not be widely shared.

Here are a couple of web sites I found helpful in my exploration of Christianity, but there are websites not only for religion but other explorers as well. If you explore the unconventional, you have to realize that your explorations will require sifting through much that is not helpful.

Christian Pioneer

Christian Pioneer - Answers to questions about Christianity

christianpioneer.com

Bible Doctrine - doctrine.org

Bible Doctrine is a site that emphasizes Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20.24), that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15.1-4).

doctrine.org

Grace Bible Church - Warren, MI

Discover the unsearchable riches of Christ! We encourage you to read, believe, and obey what God has to say to you in the Bible. Then begin to attend a good Bible Church where God’s Word is believed and taught. Grace Bible Church is just such a place. %

rightlydividing.org

 

[SarahThrowsGin]

The work (not job related) I've done and am committed to continue doing, discovering things that I can express which others hitherto would have never thought of or implemented. Unfortunately, can't be stated any less vaguely, since I don't want to correlate my identities (otherwise would have just pointed to what I published elsewhere, as examples).

Also, rejecting both scientism and religion at the same time, yet allowing myself to embrace some beliefs not grounded on facts (such as that strong determinism is false), when they are expedient and don't cause problems.