So, what's stopping you from being religious, anon?
The fact that it's not real is something of a sticking point for me.
No.12092
Anonymous
2026-09-07 19:30:19
>>12091
What's not real?
What's not real?
Feels disrespectful to God to pretend to believe in Him for purely aesthetic or political reasons
No.12097
Anonymous
2026-09-07 22:43:24
>>12094
What about purely personal reasons?
What about purely personal reasons?
Or pragmatic ones?
>>12089 (OP)
Nothing. I wish I could engage more fully in my religion (cradle Catholic) but you cant live a modern secular life AND have Eucharist etc.
There are a lot of incredible Catholic and Christian thinkers that I think atheists, especially young men, could enjoy reading regardless of faith status. Kierkegaard, Aquinas, St Theresa and Pascal are my favorites currently.
Nothing. I wish I could engage more fully in my religion (cradle Catholic) but you cant live a modern secular life AND have Eucharist etc.
There are a lot of incredible Catholic and Christian thinkers that I think atheists, especially young men, could enjoy reading regardless of faith status. Kierkegaard, Aquinas, St Theresa and Pascal are my favorites currently.
I plan on becoming religious soon. not going to mainstream religion shop but going to read and think more on matters spiritual and moral to have a better understanding of my principles and then meditate daily (hopefully) to have these beliefs at the forefront of my mind as I go about the day. I find it very difficult to stick to my values in the present especially when surrounded by commonplace venial sins (gossiping, unfettered consumption) so I need to lock in and get better
1. I’m not going to believe in something that’s obviously not real
2. I’m not going to ‘submit to my husband in everything’ or otherwise treat myself as an inferior being based on my sex, because I don’t hate myself. Every religion in existence requires that of women
3. Religion as a self-help system and way to get the proles to produce more workers is the cringiest idea to come out of the right wing media ecosystem. Even when they speak about the benefits of religion, they use a purely psychotherapeutic (“it makes you feel better! It helps you stop doing drugs!”) or socioeconomic (“it builds Community! it raises birth rates!”) framing, which shows what their *actual* religion is. Metaphysical claims aren’t something that can be discarded. Most proponents of ‘religion’ in the abstract treat them like an optional addition to the ‘community’ and alleged psychological benefits it provides, which is ridiculous. In that case you can just join any club.
2. I’m not going to ‘submit to my husband in everything’ or otherwise treat myself as an inferior being based on my sex, because I don’t hate myself. Every religion in existence requires that of women
3. Religion as a self-help system and way to get the proles to produce more workers is the cringiest idea to come out of the right wing media ecosystem. Even when they speak about the benefits of religion, they use a purely psychotherapeutic (“it makes you feel better! It helps you stop doing drugs!”) or socioeconomic (“it builds Community! it raises birth rates!”) framing, which shows what their *actual* religion is. Metaphysical claims aren’t something that can be discarded. Most proponents of ‘religion’ in the abstract treat them like an optional addition to the ‘community’ and alleged psychological benefits it provides, which is ridiculous. In that case you can just join any club.
>>12102
>I plan on becoming religious soon.
This made me straight laugh out loud. Something so absurd about it. The phrasing maybe.
>I plan on becoming religious soon.
This made me straight laugh out loud. Something so absurd about it. The phrasing maybe.
>>12089 (OP)
Truly, beyond anything else, it would require me to commit to something.
Truly, beyond anything else, it would require me to commit to something.
No.12120
Anonymous
2026-09-08 07:29:42
>>12111
I knew it sounded ridiculous as I typed it. its like something someone in american psycho would say. LOL
I knew it sounded ridiculous as I typed it. its like something someone in american psycho would say. LOL
No.12122
Anonymous
2026-09-08 08:00:48
No.12123
Anonymous
2026-09-08 08:02:06
I have no spiritual basis from which to derive *any* religious system. I am a fully atheistic, aspiritual person. It would be stupid and Dawkins-esque to bloviate about how much I love cultural Christianity because I hate muslims, especially when I don't agree with almost any part of Christian doctrine or morality. I was raised in a nation where the first thing we are told is we're free to believe or say anything we want, and the first of God's laws is literally "don't believe anything else and don't talk shit about me." The list of stark differences between any religious system with a single god and the philosophy that guides me is VERY long.
Plus, if god is real, and he knows everyone's heart, would 't "cultural Christians" like Dawkins be sent to Hell for not believing anyway? So why pump god up and push for his fanbase when I will actively be tortured forever either way? And it would lead to more cruelty against the few people I give a shit about too.
Plus, if god is real, and he knows everyone's heart, would 't "cultural Christians" like Dawkins be sent to Hell for not believing anyway? So why pump god up and push for his fanbase when I will actively be tortured forever either way? And it would lead to more cruelty against the few people I give a shit about too.
>>12126
>I was going to be Christian to hate Muslims but then I realized I hate being told what to do
Most erudite, introspective rightoid
>I was going to be Christian to hate Muslims but then I realized I hate being told what to do
Most erudite, introspective rightoid
No.12131
Anonymous
2026-09-08 11:12:42
>>12128
I am explicitly saying that I disavow that mindset and cultural-Christian types. And yes, when the alleged all powerful creator of the universe wants you to mutilate your sons and hurt others for the sake of a stupid notion of morality that has no home in the land of the free, but in the kingdom of the enslaved.
I am explicitly saying that I disavow that mindset and cultural-Christian types. And yes, when the alleged all powerful creator of the universe wants you to mutilate your sons and hurt others for the sake of a stupid notion of morality that has no home in the land of the free, but in the kingdom of the enslaved.
No.12135
Anonymous
2026-09-08 12:00:23
No.12136
Anonymous
2026-09-08 12:12:32
Ugh. I don't know what I expected to get from what I said but you two can just go ahead and fuck. I'm not going into leftoid vs. rightoid """discourse."""
>>12089 (OP)
Everyone is religious. It is just a fact of humanity.
Everyone is religious. It is just a fact of humanity.
No.12161
Anonymous
2026-09-08 21:04:28
>>12101
>Nothing. I wish I could engage more fully in my religion (cradle Catholic) but you cant live a modern secular life AND have Eucharist etc.
Can you say more? Because I feel like you are contradicting yourself. "Nothing" is preventing you from being religious, but "modern secular life" prevents you from "having eucharist", by which I assume you mean you cannot fully believe in transubstantiation because you know that it violates the most basic of contemporary scientific assumptions. Not trying to be mean here, I'm serious.
>Nothing. I wish I could engage more fully in my religion (cradle Catholic) but you cant live a modern secular life AND have Eucharist etc.
Can you say more? Because I feel like you are contradicting yourself. "Nothing" is preventing you from being religious, but "modern secular life" prevents you from "having eucharist", by which I assume you mean you cannot fully believe in transubstantiation because you know that it violates the most basic of contemporary scientific assumptions. Not trying to be mean here, I'm serious.
No.12164
Anonymous
2026-09-08 21:56:01
>>12089 (OP) I keep sleeping through church.
No.12170
Anonymous
2026-09-09 04:12:05
Godless communist raised by godless communists. I have played around with Chinese Zen and Daoism, but metaphysical claims mostly make my skin crawl.
>>12102
I agree with the other anon that "I plan on becoming religious soon" is an amusing phrase, but one that I sympathize with.
>I find it very difficult to stick to my values in the present especially when surrounded by commonplace venial sins (gossiping, unfettered consumption) so I need to lock in and get better
You find it difficult to stick to your values because you fall into temptation?
Is "being religious" to you then a sort of simplicity and cohesion between thought and action?
I agree with the other anon that "I plan on becoming religious soon" is an amusing phrase, but one that I sympathize with.
>I find it very difficult to stick to my values in the present especially when surrounded by commonplace venial sins (gossiping, unfettered consumption) so I need to lock in and get better
You find it difficult to stick to your values because you fall into temptation?
Is "being religious" to you then a sort of simplicity and cohesion between thought and action?
No.12172
Anonymous
2026-09-09 08:02:22
>>12108
1. What's obvious about it?
2. It's true (and interesting) that every mainstream, legalistic religion does require submission from women to men (mainly thinking of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Confucianism here). Is there any reason to reject religious thought from more egalitarian groups? Quakers, etc. Also, what do you think of religious thought from women themselves? Just a historic lens foist upon them?
3. Your point is one of the things that I think makes "truly" believing in religion difficult these days. I don't think it's just the right-wing which thinks of religion in these terms, though you might say it's the right-wing which still holds onto the vestigial idea "belief" in spite of also using modernist, "scientific" claims about religion. On the other hand, other religious groups are expanding without any contradiction at all, in spite of the introduction of these claims or thought. Maybe it's because Christianity ("the West") has always had a bit of a weird relationship with politics and the control of people, whereas a group like Islam has no qualms about creating overarching, sociological narratives as long as you believe in a fairly basic theological claim.
1. What's obvious about it?
2. It's true (and interesting) that every mainstream, legalistic religion does require submission from women to men (mainly thinking of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Confucianism here). Is there any reason to reject religious thought from more egalitarian groups? Quakers, etc. Also, what do you think of religious thought from women themselves? Just a historic lens foist upon them?
3. Your point is one of the things that I think makes "truly" believing in religion difficult these days. I don't think it's just the right-wing which thinks of religion in these terms, though you might say it's the right-wing which still holds onto the vestigial idea "belief" in spite of also using modernist, "scientific" claims about religion. On the other hand, other religious groups are expanding without any contradiction at all, in spite of the introduction of these claims or thought. Maybe it's because Christianity ("the West") has always had a bit of a weird relationship with politics and the control of people, whereas a group like Islam has no qualms about creating overarching, sociological narratives as long as you believe in a fairly basic theological claim.
>>12113
You're committing to something if you choose not to commit to religion though, aren't you?
You're committing to something if you choose not to commit to religion though, aren't you?
>>12173
You mean to say... If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice??
You mean to say... If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice??
No.12178
Anonymous
2026-09-09 08:21:47
>>12171
yes and yes
yes and yes
>>12163
I was referring to not being in a state of grace, mostly bc premarital. You can’t date outside religious circles and avoid it really.
I was referring to not being in a state of grace, mostly bc premarital. You can’t date outside religious circles and avoid it really.
No.12193
Anonymous
2026-09-09 10:07:39
>>12175
yeah
yeah
>>12182
Opening up sex beyond the sacred confines of marriage (well, at least in a way "de jure", practically speaking affairs were basically an open secret depending on your time and social rank) really put the final nail in the coffin. Do you "want" to live in a state of grace?
Opening up sex beyond the sacred confines of marriage (well, at least in a way "de jure", practically speaking affairs were basically an open secret depending on your time and social rank) really put the final nail in the coffin. Do you "want" to live in a state of grace?
No.12201
Anonymous
2026-09-09 14:48:18
I have a leanings, always had interest in religion, mythologies, etcetera but I am simply not, and this fact saddens me immensely. I am envious of people who have natural ability to wholeheartedly embrace any sort of mysticism, even something like Tarot or astrology. The way I see it you cannot persuade or reason yourself into earnest belief. Either you're in some way born into it, or some particularly meaningful experience has coerced you. I was born into largely materialist tradition, and am myself extremely skeptical and downright unbelieving. The best I can do is to cautiously embrace symmbolism that sometimes presents itself in this life. I wish I was the seer type, but I feel like I will never cross this threshold and I'm impoverished by that fact.
No.12214
Anonymous
2026-09-09 22:20:23
>>12200
I can't imagine believing in the concept of a state of grace and not wanting to be in it. I had a period not long ago where I was regularly making confession and was on good behavior and it does bring a serenity to your life. I suppose I hope that I can get married and make confession before I die which is admittedly a bad way to go about things. I try to live virtuously in my day-to-day at least.
A quote from St. Theresa on souls in mortal sin:
While the soul is in mortal sin nothing can profit it; none of its good works merit an eternal reward, since they do not proceed from God as their first principle, and by Him alone is our virtue real virtue. The soul separated from Him is no longer pleasing in His eyes, because by committing a mortal sin, instead of seeking to please God, it prefers to gratify the devil, the prince of darkness, and so comes to share his blackness.
I can't imagine believing in the concept of a state of grace and not wanting to be in it. I had a period not long ago where I was regularly making confession and was on good behavior and it does bring a serenity to your life. I suppose I hope that I can get married and make confession before I die which is admittedly a bad way to go about things. I try to live virtuously in my day-to-day at least.
A quote from St. Theresa on souls in mortal sin:
While the soul is in mortal sin nothing can profit it; none of its good works merit an eternal reward, since they do not proceed from God as their first principle, and by Him alone is our virtue real virtue. The soul separated from Him is no longer pleasing in His eyes, because by committing a mortal sin, instead of seeking to please God, it prefers to gratify the devil, the prince of darkness, and so comes to share his blackness.
No.12216
Anonymous
2026-09-09 22:34:40
>>12200
Let's be so extremely for fr right now, anon. Marriage was just a route by which to introduce POWs in tribal genocides to your harem. There's nothing, not one thing, sacred about it. Nearly every prophet and saint had a harem of wives, many attained through war.
Let's be so extremely for fr right now, anon. Marriage was just a route by which to introduce POWs in tribal genocides to your harem. There's nothing, not one thing, sacred about it. Nearly every prophet and saint had a harem of wives, many attained through war.
I feel too loved to worry about specifics. I'm confident I came from a better place and am going to a better one
No.12275
Anonymous
2026-09-11 13:01:34
>>12226
I don't want to stop living to be honest. At least you're honest that it's based on feeling.
I don't want to stop living to be honest. At least you're honest that it's based on feeling.
Imagine explaining to God that you were doing pascal's wager
No.12287
Anonymous
2026-09-11 16:43:30
>>12280
I would love to do that actually. “If you wanted genuine love, you shouldn’t have coerced it with the threat of Hell”
I would love to do that actually. “If you wanted genuine love, you shouldn’t have coerced it with the threat of Hell”
No.12288
Anonymous
2026-09-11 16:56:35
>>12280
If doing the pascal's wager gets you to god's kingdom then we know for a fact that god is jewish
If doing the pascal's wager gets you to god's kingdom then we know for a fact that god is jewish
>>12280
It's a stupid wager. So many religions, all equally unlikely, all so punishing. Any tri-omni god would not fall for a selfish mortal's wager based trickery.
It's a stupid wager. So many religions, all equally unlikely, all so punishing. Any tri-omni god would not fall for a selfish mortal's wager based trickery.
>>12289
this is why I like greek mythology. they (iirc) don't claim that gods are all knowing and morally perfect. greek gods are like humans with superpowers. when you pray you're hoping they like you and confer your wish, no question of if your wish is good LOL
this is why I like greek mythology. they (iirc) don't claim that gods are all knowing and morally perfect. greek gods are like humans with superpowers. when you pray you're hoping they like you and confer your wish, no question of if your wish is good LOL
>>12290
Also gods' contest each other all the time. Following the commands of one god can get you in trouble with another. What's a mere mortal to do? A descriptive religion rather than prescriptive.
Also gods' contest each other all the time. Following the commands of one god can get you in trouble with another. What's a mere mortal to do? A descriptive religion rather than prescriptive.
I wish I could believe in God. My mind is stuck on being agnostic.
No.12300
Anonymous
2026-09-12 01:19:31
I enjoy reading Chesterton, but could never actually join a church. Its too cringe.
No.12315
Anonymous
2026-09-12 12:28:57
>>12306
What's cringe about it?
What's cringe about it?