Do you ever feel like life is spiritually empty?

[Guestx]

We have a lot of religious discussions on here. Some go well, some not so well. People air opinions on multiple sides of the aisle.

I personally identify as an agnostic. I was raised Christian, left that faith when I was about 18 (I'm 34 now), and have since looked into all kinds of shit. I've examined all the mainstream religions as well as what we would call "New Age" lines of thought.

These days, spiritually, I feel unsatisfied. I have this sense that there's more out there, and in fact I think there's even solid evidence to suggest otherwise, but I'm unable to connect with it. Yet, what I do know, is that if this is all there is then that's pretty depressing.

Am I alone in feeling this way?

 

[Thunderflash500]

I think it's being pushed that way. The family is being attacked. In the black community it's in complete shambles but it's moving to whites too. Everyone is being pushed to look out only for themselves. Men against women, young against the old and ethnicity vs ethnicity. The community has been broken down. Then the family. Then man is separated from woman and child. Drugs which help cure depression are outlawed. These same drugs were used for 1000's of years in religious ceremony. We can't even see the stars anymore. Light pollution blocks the sky. People who grew up in the city really don't understand how many stars are in the sky.

When you lack relationships and community, don't have religious experiences, your food is basically poison, yes it's normal feel alone and depressed. Go to the doctor and they'll prescribe hardcore drugs that often wreck your system. Doctors don't heal the body and soul, they push pills. It's really a complete mess. The statistics prove it. Depression and being on hardcore pills is just normal.

The closest thing I had to a real religious experience was taking acid and sitting in a cold field for awhile. And that activity made me a criminal.

 

[Seano]

I do.

I have to admit, part of me wishes I "got it" when it comes to religion. I come from a religious family, so I respect it and defend it but I don't really feel it for myself. Honestly, I sort of hope I have that revelation some day. Most people I know who are devout seem fulfilled and happy.

Not that I'm especially unhappy or anything, just saying.

 

[uncommon]

We have a lot of religious discussions on here. Some go well, some not so well. People air opinions on multiple sides of the aisle.

I personally identify as an agnostic. I was raised Christian, left that faith when I was about 18 (I'm 34 now), and have since looked into all kinds of shit. I've examined all the mainstream religions as well as what we would call "New Age" lines of thought.

These days, spiritually, I feel unsatisfied. I have this sense that there's more out there, and in fact I think there's even solid evidence to suggest otherwise, but I'm unable to connect with it. Yet, what I do know, is that if this is all there is, then that's pretty depressing.

Am I alone in feeling this way?

I would put myself in the same ballpark as you, i think i know the feeling you are talking about too. Getting outside in the woods/nature seems to help (temporarily at least)

 

[Seano]

I think it's being pushed that way. The family is being attacked. In the black community it's in complete shambles but it's moving to whites too. Everyone is being pushed to look out only for themselves. Men against women, young against the old and ethnicity vs ethnicity. The community has been broken down. Then the family. Then man is separated from woman and child. Drugs which help cure depression are outlawed. These same drugs were used for 1000's of years in religious ceremony. We can't even see the stars anymore. Light pollution blocks the sky. People who grew up in the city really don't understand how many stars are in the sky.

When you lack relationships and community, don't have religious experiences, your food is basically poison, yes it's normal feel alone and depressed. Go to the doctor and they'll prescribe hardcore drugs that often wreck your system. Doctors don't heal the body and soul, they push pills. It's really a complete mess. The statistics prove it. Depression and being on hardcore pills is just normal.

Yep. Community is a thing of the past too. Communities used to be more than just a bunch of people who lived in the same town.

 

[Medical Marijuana Man]

I honestly never feel spiritual empty. I'm proud to be a believer in Jesus Christ. My life is a million times better because of it. I truly believe that.

 

[TeTe]

I was raised by atheists, became a Buddhist after I got sober 13 years ago. It was a great decision. Spirituality was a big driving factor in me turning my life around and feeling like I had purpose.

It isn't about the religion you choose.. it's about dumping your ego and dependence on people, places and things and being of service to others. It's hard to take your life for granted when you are selflessly helping others and you see how much harder it is for others in this world. I feel that it's very possible that there is something beyond what we know as life. I'm not sure if reincarnation is the answer, but I think something's possible outside of human existence.

 

[Mike]

For sure. Modern culture is garbage. It's been moving in that direction since I was in my early teens. everything is about instant gratification, and everything is disposable.

 

[Guestx]

I think it's being pushed that way. The family is being attacked. In the black community it's in complete shambles but it's moving to whites too. Everyone is being pushed to look out only for themselves. Men against women, young against the old and ethnicity vs ethnicity. The community has been broken down. Then the family. Then man is separated from woman and child. Drugs which help cure depression are outlawed. These same drugs were used for 1000's of years in religious ceremony. We can't even see the stars anymore. Light pollution blocks the sky. People who grew up in the city really don't understand how many stars are in the sky.

When you lack relationships and community, don't have religious experiences, your food is basically poison, yes it's normal feel alone and depressed. Go to the doctor and they'll prescribe hardcore drugs that often wreck your system. Doctors don't heal the body and soul, they push pills. It's really a complete mess. The statistics prove it. Depression and being on hardcore pills is just normal.

I guess what I don't understand is why there's a divide here. Why is it that there are people who are perfectly happy just living carnally (and by that I simply mean being content with worldly pleasures and riches) and others find that shit unfulfilling. Is it a brain thing? I really don't know.

 

[BisexualMMA]

I was raised by atheists, became a Buddhist after I got sober 13 years ago. It was a great decision. Spirituality was a big driving factor in me turning my life around and feeling like I had purpose.

It isn't about the religion you choose.. it's about dumping your ego and dependence on people, places and things and being of service to others. It's hard to take your life for granted when you are selflessly helping others and you see how much harder it is for others in this world. I feel that it's very possible that there is something beyond what we know as life. I'm not sure if reincarnation is the answer, but I think something's possible outside of human existence.

I've found meaning and purposes in challenges and goals that arise from what is verifiable in our dimension / plane of existence.

 

[ocean size]

Certainly not alone, and sometimes if I stare hard into the abyss I feel it too. What really gets me is contemplating the infinite, and no theistic explaination makes that any better.

Other times I feel liberated by existentialism.

 

[Thunderflash500]

I guess what I don't understand is why there's a divide here. Why is it that there are people who are perfectly happy just living carnally (and by that I simply mean being content with worldly pleasures and riches) and others find that shit unfulfilling. Is it a brain thing? I really don't know.

Personality differences. I think the myers briggs test is a real thing. Some people are more able to cope with society than others. That doesn't make them superior, they just naturally fit in. The amount of happy people is going down though. They've done studies showing this.

 

[FeloniousMonk]

We are living in spiritually bereft times.




Perhaps it's all the fluoride
in the drinking water.



Personally? I believe that your
spirit is like your body. & you
maintain it, exercise it & grow it.
Whichever way suits you best.
But certainly, do not ignore it.
I believe that is a grave mistake
that is made by far too many
people.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Not really. I find complete fulfillment in my career, family / friends and worldly pleasures. For me, its the greatest time ever to be alive. Love it. No religion needed whatsoever.

 

[Guestx]

I do.

I have to admit, part of me wishes I "got it" when it comes to religion. I come from a religious family, so I respect it and defend it but I don't really feel it for myself. Honestly, I sort of hope I have that revelation some day. Most people I know who are devout seem fulfilled and happy.

Not that I'm especially unhappy or anything, just saying.

I guess, for me, what's weird is that at one point I thought I DID have it. But I was the kind of kid who was always questioning things. Always demanding evidence and demanding logical cohesion. That's what lead me away from Christianity.

Like you, I was raised within a religious family. My parents are very Christian. Growing up, we were a "three times a week in the church" kind of family. Somehow my brother and I BOTH ended up disengaging from the church, though for me it's been a more uncertain kind of proposition.

 

[Guestx]

I would put myself in the same ballpark as you, i think i know the feeling you are talking about too. Getting outside in the woods/nature seems to help (temporarily at least)

Funny you mention that. I just started hiking last year and it did in fact help to some extent. At the very least, it let me get away from modern technology and re-connect with the earth.

 

[Guestx]

I honestly never feel spiritual empty. I'm proud to be a believer in Jesus Christ. My life is a million times better because of it. I truly believe that.

What is it that gives you certainty about your faith?

 

[Guestx]

I was raised by atheists, became a Buddhist after I got sober 13 years ago. It was a great decision. Spirituality was a big driving factor in me turning my life around and feeling like I had purpose.

It isn't about the religion you choose.. it's about dumping your ego and dependence on people, places and things and being of service to others. It's hard to take your life for granted when you are selflessly helping others and you see how much harder it is for others in this world. I feel that it's very possible that there is something beyond what we know as life. I'm not sure if reincarnation is the answer, but I think something's possible outside of human existence.

I think there may very well be an afterlife and I also think that reincarnation could be real (the work of Ian Stevenson is helpful on this latter point).

And I hear you on selfless living. I have lately been thinking that I should spend more time in service of something bigger than myself. Since I come from the Christian tradition, I think of this in terms of "doing unto others as I would have them do unto me," whatever form that might take.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Hunters / nature enthusiasts are usually pretty happy. You said a few months ago you wanted to take up hunting - give it a shot.

People with a passion or multiple passions are very happy.

 

[Guestx]

Certainly not alone, and sometimes if I stare hard into the abyss I feel it too. What really gets me is contemplating the infinite, and no theistic explaination makes that any better.

Other times I feel liberated by existentialism.

Ha ha. If you notice, my sig is a Kierkegaard quote. What's interesting is that SK was a Christian philosopher.

EDIT: Where the fuck did my sig go?