The thrill is gone.

[Stevil]

I know people with years of formal education and are complete morons.

That's why it took them years, they had to take the same classes for a few years before they were able to pass.
At least they were persistent.

[original_gender]

I guesse for me once I doned the robe of non beleif, I still did not feel as though I live in a world without consequence. All of our actions have dirrect personal consequences, good and bad. Even animals without higher cognitive fuction understand the need to work together somewhat and that thier actions have consequences. Even scavangers like Heyena's use secrative methods to get there food because they realize if they just didn't care the lions would eat their faces off. Honestly I am not entirely sure where I was going with this only that we can not shed our humanity in loue of self sastifaction because then al we are is a virus, or parasite take your pick.

While I completely agree that the majority of things we do usually elicit some kind of consequence, the joy of being in the know is being able to remind ourselves, when faced with life's comparatively innocuous complications, that the sun is eventually going to explode and everything we have ever concerned ourselves with will be reorganized on a molecular level.

It's not that I feel inclined to harm other people (I couldn't bring myself to tip below 20 even if a waiter were to spill scalding hot coffee on my lap), and I'm pretty well bored of drugs also – vice in general isn't really what I'm aspiring to. I'm talking about the exciting nonchalance we are capable of when reminding ourselves that, for all practical purposes, we are the mold growing in the universe's neglected coffee filter (and I don't just mean running some iteration of this cheesy metaphor through your head; I'm talking about rattling your mind with the truth of it). I'm sure you can relate to some extent.

From the handful of constructive responses I've received, it seems like most of us are only capable of feeling this occasionally because we are all doomed to stub our toe on Melmoth's coffee table. However, there might be some hope in increasing the feeling's frequency through quality reading and awe inspiring field trips (basically, I need to stop getting drunk with my cat, retire the Chet Baker, and go to the zoo  ).

[xSilverPhinx]

I know people with years of formal education and are complete morons.

That's why it took them years, they had to take the same classes for a few years before they were able to pass.
At least they were persistent.

I think the situation you described would make this example look better, but they've had many years of formal education going on to post graduate school and are now teaching others at university. That makes it worse, because expectations are much higher (or am I being a fool here?). Okay, so their knowledge is a bit more restricted to their fields but you would expect people who are much older and have spent many years in school to know better and be smarter. That's just the thing, all their years have not made them as smart as they think they are, but they're just as prone to bleating and baaaing like sheep.

Yeah, the year I spent in a university here in Southern Brazil has really eroded previous preconceptions I had. 

[Cooper20]

I never had a thrill when I officially declared myself an Agnostic. To be honest, all that fear based faith of Christianity  was making me loose slepp and wondering if I had made the right choice, if I should just go back. But after joining here, and doing more research, I got rid of most of that fear.

Then I suppose I had a bit of thrill in pointing out obvious flaws in others beleif systems. But I don't think I'll stop enjoying that.

[xSilverPhinx]

I'm talking about the exciting nonchalance we are capable of when reminding ourselves that, for all practical purposes, we are the mold growing in the universe's neglected coffee filter (and I don't just mean running some iteration of this cheesy metaphor through your head; I'm talking about rattling your mind with the truth of it). I'm sure you can relate to some extent.

What exactly do you mean by this? As in being free from structured ideologies and others mindlessly accept and follow?

Personally you get used to feelings and realizations that inspire those feelings of awe that you're looking for. If you're not finding it you have to look somewhere else.

First, you can see that even though you're an accident and product of of nature, you're a significant accident. You exist and the universe which makes you look so insignificant in scale exists. That leads to almost anything, I think.

I'm just curious: what are you looking for exactly?

[original_gender]

Then I suppose I had a bit of thrill in pointing out obvious flaws in others beleif systems. But I don't think I'll stop enjoying that.

Yeah, verbally spanking bigots is the bee's knees.

I'm just curious: what are you looking for exactly?

Exactly? Oh good, if your demanding specificity you must be familiar with the inventory. Initially, I was looking for commiseration among like minded thinkers. Now I'm looking to interact with intelligent and potentially witty strangers on an atheism themed message board.

What exactly are you looking for? 

[xSilverPhinx]

Then I suppose I had a bit of thrill in pointing out obvious flaws in others beleif systems. But I don't think I'll stop enjoying that.

Yeah, verbally spanking bigots is the bee's knees.

I'm just curious: what are you looking for exactly?

Exactly? Oh good, if your demanding specificity you must be familiar with the inventory. Initially, I was looking for commiseration among like minded thinkers. Now I'm looking to interact with intelligent and potentially witty strangers on an atheism themed message board.

What exactly are you looking for?  

I meant it more in the context of your thread. You find hanging out with like-minded individuals awesome?  If so, then good for you

See sig.

[The Magic Pudding]

Bigness is overrated.
I think religion would make me feel small, bowing to the almighty and all, but obviously theists get something out of it.
It seems unhealthy to let the immensity of the universe make you feel diminished, an error of perspective maybe.  Knowing a little about insects, bacteria, and atoms doesn't make me feel any bigger.  

The world would have to take a major turn for the worse before it's transience offered me solace.  I suppose the transience of a beautiful thing should make it more precious.

However, there might be some hope in increasing the feeling's frequency through quality reading and awe inspiring field trips (basically, I need to stop getting drunk with my cat, retire the Chet Baker, and go to the zoo  ).

I'm not sure how bleak Chet Baker gets but there can be beauty in bleakness, anyway I'm going to visit the baby bunnies.

[The Black Jester]

I guesse for me once I doned the robe of non beleif, I still did not feel as though I live in a world without consequence. All of our actions have dirrect personal consequences, good and bad. Even animals without higher cognitive fuction understand the need to work together somewhat and that thier actions have consequences. Even scavangers like Heyena's use secrative methods to get there food because they realize if they just didn't care the lions would eat their faces off. Honestly I am not entirely sure where I was going with this only that we can not shed our humanity in loue of self sastifaction because then al we are is a virus, or parasite take your pick.

While I completely agree that the majority of things we do usually elicit some kind of consequence, the joy of being in the know is being able to remind ourselves, when faced with life's comparatively innocuous complications, that the sun is eventually going to explode and everything we have ever concerned ourselves with will be reorganized on a molecular level.

It's not that I feel inclined to harm other people (I couldn't bring myself to tip below 20 even if a waiter were to spill scalding hot coffee on my lap), and I'm pretty well bored of drugs also – vice in general isn't really what I'm aspiring to. I'm talking about the exciting nonchalance we are capable of when reminding ourselves that, for all practical purposes, we are the mold growing in the universe's neglected coffee filter (and I don't just mean running some iteration of this cheesy metaphor through your head; I'm talking about rattling your mind with the truth of it). I'm sure you can relate to some extent.

From the handful of constructive responses I've received, it seems like most of us are only capable of feeling this occasionally because we are all doomed to stub our toe on Melmoth's coffee table. However, there might be some hope in increasing the feeling's frequency through quality reading and awe inspiring field trips (basically, I need to stop getting drunk with my cat, retire the Chet Baker, and go to the zoo  ).

I'm not sure, but it seems like you're searching for something entirely unheard of in the catalogs of Philosophy (at least 20th Century Philosophy), an entirely new term altogether: Existential...Joy?  A little weird, if you ask me.  I mean, take the angst out of Existential Angst, and it's hardly Existential, is it?  Seriously though, don't give up on drinking with the cat quite yet...just maybe go on a few of those outings and watch some old Nova episodes.  Those are fun drunk.  Just ask the cat (what did you think it did while you were out?).

You definitely seem like a pretty cool cat yourself.  I've much enjoyed the ease with which you've interjected something so deeply philosophical into a "getting to know you" section of the forum.  (SEE DragonStorm!! THAT's how it's done.)  You're clearly quite intelligent and coherent.  I look forward to engaging with you more.

[original_gender]

Bigness is overrated.
I think religion would make me feel small, bowing to the almighty and all, but obviously theists get something out of it.

Kids get a lot out of candy too (jelly beans are delicious [I'm re-purposing your unit of measurement, lol]), but the costs of diabetes and dentistry are apparently not subject to the miracle of prayer.

More often than not, I think they exaggerate the benefits of religion to reinforce their own denial. During my adolescent years as a baptist, I felt a great deal more fear than anticipation or peace. Pornography was a lot more interesting as a guilty little Christian, though – I do remember that much. We were told that Jesus was always watching us, but considering we were all operating 56k dial-up modems at the time, I doubt he shared our patience; maybe that's why he invented DSL.

I'm not sure how bleak Chet Baker gets but there can be beauty in bleakness, anyway I'm going to visit the baby bunnies.

Very very bleak. Your bunnies are really cute by the way. It's unfortunate that rabbits are such turd factories.

I'm not sure, but it seems like you're searching for something entirely unheard of in the catalogs of Philosophy (at least 20th Century Philosophy), an entirely new term altogether: Existential...Joy?  A little weird, if you ask me.  I mean, take the angst out of Existential Angst, and it's hardly Existential, is it?  Seriously though, don't give up on drinking with the cat quite yet...just maybe go on a few of those outings and watch some old Nova episodes.  Those are fun drunk.  Just ask the cat (what did you think it did while you were out?).

You definitely seem like a pretty cool cat yourself.  I've much enjoyed the ease with which you've interjected something so deeply philosophical into a "getting to know you" section of the forum.  (SEE DragonStorm!! THAT's how it's done.)  You're clearly quite intelligent and coherent.  I look forward to engaging with you more.

Thank you, I'm flattered. I look forward to riding bikes with all of you cool kids when my training wheels are removed.