Happy Atheist Forum

First of all, I didn't know where to put this, so I'm sorry if this post doesen't fit under "Philosophy".

I have recently been overwhelmed by all the talk about religion on TV, the internet and in life general really. And I can't help but feel down and alone in my views even though I know there's many of us, but still we are outnumbered and as long as I live we will be. I don't mean to sound melodramatic (Hope it's the right word. English is my second language.) but sometimes I just want to get away and don't think about religion at all. And it's partly my fault too 'cause I can't help but judge people who are religious. And I really don't want to. Do you ever feel overwhelmed as well? Do you have any tips?

Thanks anyway.

I don't have any tips, but may I have your permission to use that post to throw in the face of anyone who tells me if I don't like all the pressure from religious groups here that I should "just move" somewhere else?

get a hobby? i cant say that i feel overwhelmed at all. so i have no true tips or advice.

hang in there....

VOTE FOR PEDRO!! he will build you a cake.

... I felt that way during the whole "Intelligent Design" trial a while back.

Best to take a step back and get some perspective.
Hobbies are good.  Pick something else to spend your focus and energy on...

And, hey, if the Rapture comes, we won't be outnumbered anymore!
... of course, that may cause a few conversions ;-)

At one time the majority accepted the Earth as the center of the universe and anyone who differ was in a very low minority if not alone in its views. It was also dangerous to post different. I tell you this you are the master of your own realities and as that master its your desicions that counts and not others. You participate in the world as a human person and as an existence in the whole of existence. What you contribute to existence is either your good nature or bad nature but whichever only your name will be written on your tomstone. I tell some people " I don't care much what you say or think about me cause when I die you won't be there ". Take pride in yourself and what you are to yourself and the good of it will spread to those around you.

When I get overwhelmed, I crochet stuff and watch Futurama.  

Try meditation or Tai Chi or spring forest Qigong.
Get out in nature forests or the ocean are best.
Take up cycling or hill climbing.
"Don't let it bring you down, it's only castles burning, find someone who's turning and you will come around."

A hobby is fine but see if you can find a local secular group or atheist group and go to a meeting or two.  Maybe if you hang around some like minded people you won't have those feelings.  Otherwise i'd recommend maybe learning something new like another language, or take art classes and make paintings or build small robots or something.  Find something that captivates your attention and pursue it.  I was fortunate enough to always have friends who were atheists so I never had these feelings ... not to try and make you feel more alone  or anything  Ironically the only friend I really hang out with is a Young Earth Creationist.  Maybe you need to find a Christian who you can debate a bit ... who knows you might deconvert someone ... maybe ^_^

Thanks everyone. I think it's extra hard 'cause I am currently taking a year off school and I don't have a lot to do during the day. I will definitely try to take up some kind of hobby.

Every once in a while the news media in general makes me feel this way. Turn off your TV. Smash your TV. Make things, dream things, do anything to free yourself from the garbage. You can't change the world so might as well focus on changing your life.

Quote from: "Cecilie"Do you ever feel overwhelmed as well? Do you have any tips?

Occasionally. By philosophy I am satanist. That has helped. I embrace life in all it's colors and tones. If I find myself overwhelmed I simply ask myself which of the seven "sins" I have failed to partake in that has allowed me to feel so run down. Often it is sloth- I really don't get enough rest at times. But one thing I read (although I hear it's from a movie really) that has helped me through the years is that no matter what we do, no matter the good or the bad, in a thousand years who will care? That's quite empowering. So, do your best or take a nap- but for goodness sakes do what you need to to feel joy.

Watching Ricky Gervais always warms my cockels.

Quote from: "mama_ape"Watching Ricky Gervais always warms my cockels.

Ha! He is a doll, isn't he!

Quote from: "joeactor"Best to take a step back and get some perspective.

That's the advice I'd give. Just reaffirm, in your head, your own beliefs.
I personally find it refreshing to look at some pro-religious arguments (wherever I can find them) and then come up with logical arguments to them. This not only makes me feel better, but I also can learn some good debate strategies.
That's just me, though.

Quote from: "pinkocommie"watch Futurama.

Also good advice!

I always find it entertaining that people don't recognize Tai Chi and Qigong as religions.  They are.  They're not patriarchal Yahweh cults like those we see in the west, but they still require faith in unknowns, and belief in things that are not provable.  Substituting these for western religions is really a lateral move, not a move away from religion.

Quote from: "happynewyear"Try meditation or Tai Chi or spring forest Qigong.
Get out in nature forests or the ocean are best.
Take up cycling or hill climbing.
"Don't let it bring you down, it's only castles burning, find someone who's turning and you will come around."

Quote from: "Heathen's Guide"I always find it entertaining that people don't recognize Tai Chi and Qigong as religions.  They are.  They're not patriarchal Yahweh cults like those we see in the west, but they still require faith in unknowns, and belief in things that are not provable.  Substituting these for western religions is really a lateral move, not a move away from religion.

Quote from: "happynewyear"Try meditation or Tai Chi or spring forest Qigong.
Get out in nature forests or the ocean are best.
Take up cycling or hill climbing.
"Don't let it bring you down, it's only castles burning, find someone who's turning and you will come around."

Now you are being silly. I have never heard of the religion tai chi or qigong, next you will be saying that taking a walk on the beach is a religion.

Tai chi is overtly Buddhist (a religion).  

Qigong is a newer version of the same thing, but it's only been around for a hundred years or so.

Like I said... funny that people do not see it as religion.  Pretty much all meditative art is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.  He in turn learned the concept of meditation from the Vedic priests who instructed him.

So yeah... religious.  The whole concept of "chi" energy is the same as saying "the Tao" or "God in Everything".  It is all religion, but not North American religion.  It's origin is Vedism, but the concept is in a lot of other religions now.



[/quote]Now you are being silly. I have never heard of the religion tai chi or qigong, next you will be saying that taking a walk on the beach is a religion.[/quote]

Quote from: "Heathen's Guide"Tai chi is overtly Buddhist (a religion).

He will be overwhelmed after this.............

Buddhism is a religion, yes, but Tai Chi is body and mind exercise.
I don't what form of Tai chi you are practising but I sounds pretty strange to me.

Quote from: "happynewyear"He will be overwhelmed after this.............

Buddhism is a religion, yes, but Tai Chi is body and mind exercise.
I don't what form of Tai chi you are practising but I sounds pretty strange to me.

There's a whole philosophy behind Tai Chi which traditionally was religious. Although I thought it was Taoism.  

Quote from: "Sophus"

Quote from: "happynewyear"He will be overwhelmed after this.............

Buddhism is a religion, yes, but Tai Chi is body and mind exercise.
I don't what form of Tai chi you are practising but I sounds pretty strange to me.

There's a whole philosophy behind Tai Chi which traditionally was religious. Although I thought it was Taoism.  

Yeah, I thought is was Taoism or Confucianism, but I'm certainly no expert.

Quote from: "pinkocommie"

Quote from: "Sophus"

Quote from: "happynewyear"He will be overwhelmed after this.............

Buddhism is a religion, yes, but Tai Chi is body and mind exercise.
I don't what form of Tai chi you are practising but I sounds pretty strange to me.

There's a whole philosophy behind Tai Chi which traditionally was religious. Although I thought it was Taoism.  

Yeah, I thought is was Taoism or Confucianism, but I'm certainly no expert.

Buddhism hadn't even arrived in China when Tai Chi was evolving. But you are correct it did have close ties with Taoism but originated independently.

The concept of "chi" is a religious concept.  It is an unknowable "force" (yes,like Star Wars) that flows through all things.  Tai Chi is a meditative practice designed to "align your chi" and make you "One" with your environment.  It is Eastern mysticism, pure and simple.  All martial arts are based on it.  

While some people can find therapeutic aspects to the practice, they are religious, not secular.  You can also have a lot of fun with tantric sex, but like Tai Chi it is a religious practice, not a secular regime.  Science does not recognize the existence of chi, or any other great, all-encompassing force that you need to balance yourself with to feel good.

Confucianism ["the teachings of Master K'ung"] are secular though.  At least they were before they got muddled in with Buddhism.  Confucianism is all about your place in the world and the proper way to live according to Master K'ung.

FYI... the Chinese word for "Master" is "FU".   The Chinese word for "Wisdom" is "Tzu".  So the real name of the philosophy was K'ung Fu Tzu... "The Wisdom of Master K'ung".  We just couldn't say it properly, so it was anglicized to "Confucian".


[/quote]Buddhism hadn't even arrived in China when Tai Chi was evolving. But you are correct it did have close ties with Taoism but originated independently.[/quote]

It's been a while since anybody has commented on this thread (?) and I just really let it die. But if anybody reads this I was wondering if you had an advise for a hobby, since I really have no idea what that should be.

And on the Ricky Gervais advise I loved it. I love him.

Lastly, I prefer Family Guy over Futurama although Futurama's good as well.

hobby?  Well what are your interests?  Do you like detail oriented stuff?  Or do you like instant gratification type stuffs?

To give you an idea of my hobbies since I'm not one of the popular people in town and tend to be ignored.....
Hand quilting
Machine quilting
hand embroidery
hand and machine sewing/piecing
hand and machine applique
beading
bead embroidery
bead weaving
writing
reading
cooking
photography
woodwork, when I can
gardening, yep growing as much of my own food as I can this year, not necessarily a hobby though, same with the chickens

If I had the money right now I'd also have a kiln for glass fusing and slumping, have the regular glass and dichro and access to the slump molds but no kiln to play with

Quote from: "KDbeads"hobby?  Well what are your interests?  Do you like detail oriented stuff?  Or do you like instant gratification type stuffs?

To give you an idea of my hobbies since I'm not one of the popular people in town and tend to be ignored.....
Hand quilting
Machine quilting
hand embroidery
hand and machine sewing/piecing
hand and machine applique
beading
bead embroidery
bead weaving
writing
reading
cooking
photography
woodwork, when I can
gardening, yep growing as much of my own food as I can this year, not necessarily a hobby though, same with the chickens

If I had the money right now I'd also have a kiln for glass fusing and slumping, have the regular glass and dichro and access to the slump molds but no kiln to play with

Seeing as I am really bad at sewing and knitting and such, I don't think that would fit me. But thanks so much for your tips!  

Quote from: "Cecilie"Seeing as I am really bad at sewing and knitting and such, I don't think that would fit me. But thanks so much for your tips!  

I think it's not really what you're good at, it's what you're interested in and can relax while doing, sometimes those are mutually exclusive, like golf: my friend can't relax because he sucks, while even though I suck it's still relaxing.

Things I enjoy doing that relaxes me (even though I'm not very good at most of it):
Programming for myself
Reading
Drawing
3D art and animation
Sewing
Skateboarding
Playing sports (not a big fan of watching sports)
Video games
Running
Making music
Rock climbing
Discussions

[/quote]Discussions[/quote]

Ahh. I love discussion. Too bad I have no one in real life to discuss with. They're not interested.  
However I got offered to do some volunteer work. I might do that.