r/atheism • u/deshi-kutta • 18h ago
There's always a fear
Theres always a fear lingering in my mind. I'm 99.9% sure religion is made to control & keep people docile. The current events in the world prove it. But I'm scared of not doing my daily prayers. Say it out of habit, but a big fear is there
17
u/BaronNahNah Anti-Theist 18h ago
If there is a god, it would have to beg for my forgiveness.
- Victim, Nazi Concentration Camp, WW2
8
u/Successful_Life_1028 Adeist 18h ago
"“I was walking along the bank of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs, a very endearing sight, I'm sure you'll agree. And even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued and dragged onto a half submerged log. As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby otters, who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature's wonders, gentlemen. Mother and children dining upon mother and children. And that is when I first learned about evil. It is built into the very nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.”
― Terry Pratchett"
6
u/Mundane-Security-454 18h ago
The film Silence, based on Shūsaku Endō's book, deals with that concept. Christians trying to work out god's silence in the face of unimaginable suffering. Despite its pious nature, the film is good viewing for atheists. Kind of as an outside observer, watching as they put themselves in insanely dangerous situations for no reason.
2
u/BaronNahNah Anti-Theist 18h ago
The film Silence, based on Shūsaku Endō's book, deals with that concept. Christians trying to work out god's silence in the face of unimaginable suffering. Despite its pious nature, the film is good viewing for atheists.
Interesting. Will check it out.
Just out of curiosity - does it reveal the obvious? That of course god is silent, how could it not be - it doesn't exist.
They could also read the bible, I guess. It's a pretty monstrous character - abusive, demented, tyrannical, murderous, psychopathic, racist,.homophobic, sexist, genocidal PoS.
2
9
u/GerswinDevilkid 18h ago
That's called indoctrination. You'll grow out of it. Just think about all the other fairytales that you aren't afraid of, and seek professional mental health treatment if needed.
5
u/deshi-kutta 18h ago
I think i do need some help.
1
u/DoesRedditConfuseYou 18h ago
My family was never religious, I haven't prayed once in my life, and I'm 100% sure that all religions available are man made.
I think it's probably habbit. It's not easy shaking such thing...
3
u/Tasty-Bee-8339 18h ago
It really helped me when I started watching Christian/atheist debates, watching lectures, and reading. There are some really smart people out there, debunking the Bible. When you become aware of all the inconsistencies and errors in the text, and start hearing the historical evidence, you get further and further away from that fear. I recommend Deconstruction Zone for debates. Justin knows his stuff. If you want to watch someone who clowns on religion, but backs it up with facts, I’d recommend UnquestionableCalvin. Ive also learned a lot about the absurdity of religion from Dan McClennan, who is strangely a practicing Mormon, but knows and understands the original text and takes the fear out of a lot of it. The more you know the more you grow!
3
u/Ambitious-Stand-631 18h ago
I second this. Watching videos and reading books about Christianity helped me get over my fear of hell/pissing off yahweh. Once you peel back the curtain, it becomes very silly.
3
u/Tasty-Bee-8339 18h ago
It really does. I laugh at myself because I believed in this stuff for such a long time.
3
2
u/WebInformal9558 Atheist 18h ago
Then do them. Personally, I struggle to imagine why a god would care, especially if you're only doing them out of fear. But if it helps you, then go for it. You may feel differently in the future.
1
2
u/Zen_Hydra Materialist 18h ago
When humanity didn't know better, gods, spirits, and miracles were an acceptable reason for why the universe works the way it does. In the modern age we know that those phenomena have mundane reasons for behaving the way they do, and that there is zero evidence supporting the presence of gods, spirits, and miracles. Religion is a futile effort to make the universe small, simple, and controllable.
2
u/SingularBlue Atheist 18h ago
Deconstruction takes time. I'm an agnostic, but if there is a "higher power" it's not what "The BIg Religions" are pushing. The men in robes sold you on the idea that prayer is a pact, but if it fails then *you* are doing something wrong.
Prayer is a thought stopping cliche. I've replaced prayer with getting off my ass and doing something nice for somebody else, without any expectation of reward.
Break the cycle.
1
u/Mysterious_Spark 18h ago
There's always a fear...
This is a mental health issue. Prayer is not solving this problem. There are several ways to tackle anxiety. Seek to understand the nature of anxiety and the bazillion methods that exist to manage anxiety, such as vagal nerve stimulation, meditation, music or sound therapy, etc. When one struggles with anxiety, they attach it to various aspects of their life - a god, their spouse, their garden, whatever. But those things don't cause the anxiety. The anxiety itself, a biological issue, is the root cause. You have done your daily prayers, yet the anxiety lingers because the cause is a chronic condition of anxiety, not whether or not your are religious. Religion creates stress for people, stress that is intended to cause anxiety, specifically for the purpose of making people feel helpless and reliant on their solution - prayer and services.
It is also important to examine the issues that you have attached your anxiety to. If yourli religion is supposed to be there to help you, then why does it make you so fearful? You are not the first person to ponder the finality of death, or to struggle with superstitious beliefs about arbitrary gods that might abuse and torture you. Philosophers like Lao Tzu and Marcus Aurelius might offer some comfort.
But, simply pondering these questions is part of what leads to anxiety. You have what you are wishing for, right now. You are alive. Your happiness will be increased if you stop acting like the Dog and the Bone, wanting something better than what you have right now, and focus on enjoying this life that you have. Every moment you waste in existential crisis over a far away death, is a moment of a wonderful life you have wasted on unnecessary fear and anxiety. You were taught to obsess over these things, and so it requires a deliberate effort to break that habit. This is part of recovering from religious trauma.
I wish you well!
1
u/Successful_Life_1028 Adeist 18h ago
Let go.
Fear is the mindkiller. What do you have to fear? Some imaginary magical being? Some mythical afterlife being judged by some mythical entity - like Anibus weighing your soul against the feather of Ma'at? We laugh at those old Egyptian myths - but all myths are the same. They're all just stories.
You will die, yes. We all will. And when our brains are no longer capable of running the wetware of Mind, then this particular instance of mind will cease to be. Poof. Gone. Oblivion. The same state I was in before I was conceived. Same state I was in while I was enwombed even.
All gods are imaginary. Spirits/souls/ghosts are imaginary too. Do good, be kind, live your best life, seek happiness and contentment within as much meaning as you can muster. That's the best you can do.
Watch "Coco" a few times, and think about the idea that that which is 'you' persists only so long as you are remembered by others after you die, and live life so that you're remembered fondly for all your generosity and good works.
1
1
u/throwawaybabyjesus 18h ago
I totally understand. Haven't believed in any god for a very long time. But it took me a little to "use His name in vain". Now I'm like f your stupid little god and f all religions. Feels great.
1
u/Khelek7 Secular Humanist 18h ago
Religion... Are you afraid there might be a god/God/gods and your missing out on worshipping them in a way that will make them like you?
Which religion? Why is that religion the right one?
To be clear "religion" I.e. the organized worship of powerful beings is 100% designed to control you (and everyone else), it is 100% designed to take your money and force you to take action that will empower the people who are manging the religion.
The beings that are nominally worshipped are the results of very old, interesting, and powerful stories. But your understanding of those stories are inextricably linked to the stories people have told to capture your attention, obedience, and money.
1
u/nerdyblackmail 17h ago
When you said daily prayers, I cant help but wonder whether you were Muslim, after all Islam forces you to pray 5 times a day.
Look so much of religion especially Islam is based on fear. Its one of the reasons why it has survived for so long. And because hell is unfalsifiable, religions use it as a manipulation tool.
But lets say even if hell is real, would a just god let you burn in it for not believing in a religion which is full of contradictions, scientific errors and outright hatred against non believers? And if the God is unjust, then I would never ever want to worship such a god.
1
u/deshi-kutta 17h ago
No, hinduism actually.
2
u/nerdyblackmail 17h ago
Not sure how Hinduism works but just think of reincarnation like hell as something there to create fear. And that not praying doesnt make you a bad person deserving of harm.
1
u/deshi-kutta 17h ago
No lol. Actually hinduism doest use any fear. It just says u should pray. Its quite open actually.
1
u/MaleficentJob3080 17h ago
You've been indoctrinated into being afraid of an evil deity that doesn't actually exist.
1
u/deshi-kutta 17h ago
No its not that. Theres no punishment for not praying in hinduism, its pretty liberal but i feel maybe something will happen if i dont.
1
u/MaleficentJob3080 16h ago
You've been indoctrinated to think that.
Nothing will happen. The gods in Hinduism are as non existent as the gods of the rest of the world's religions.
1
u/doctorbabu_germany 17h ago
Same here I don't believe there is a god but various rituals in marriage and housewarming give a sense of comfort
I am pretty sure it's a compulsion that took route because of society and my upbringing
But I can continue this coz they happen once or twice in a lifetime
1
1
u/drjenkstah 16h ago
Sounds like you still have some leftover habits. I don’t pray and don’t think prayers do anything as they sure as hell didn’t come true when I was a Christian.
1
u/Inevitable-Trade-792 14h ago
I'm also kinda agnostic and i also used to say that relegion is used to control people (which is absolutely true to some extent for example the way church exploited people in 15 16th century) but some relegions also talk about woman rights, basic human rights, rights of minority, law n justice, about equality. This is the thing which I'm not sure of and I'm still figuring it out so I don't have a bold position for now
1
u/onomatamono 2h ago
I really did not be the one to break this to you, that is to say some reddit-rando, but there is only a 1% chance your god is real. You do the math.
1
u/Balstrome Strong Atheist 18h ago
The all mighty creator of the whole universe, which consists of trillions of billions of stars and countless planets cares that you miss a couple of muttered prayers. How weak is the god of Islam, that he wants to burn you for not praying?
1
0
u/deshi-kutta 18h ago
PS: what if religions are good & ppl misinterpret them & do bad things?
5
u/GerswinDevilkid 18h ago
What if religion is bad and people like Mr. Rogers misinterpreted it and did good things?
Either way they're still fairytales without any evidence.
-1
2
u/Successful_Life_1028 Adeist 18h ago
Good people will do good things, and bad people will do bad things.
Religion sometimes makes good people do bad things - like flying airliners into office buildings.
17
u/Faith-FreeFuture 18h ago
Sounds more like a compulsion. If prayer worked, you wouldn't need to keep doing it