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THEY ARE HIDING FLAT EARTH AWAY FROM PEOPLE. flat earth = 100% GOD AND THE BIBLE ARE REAL. SO THEY REFUSE TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IT EXPOSES EVERY LIE THEY HAVE EVER MADE TO ENSLAVE PEOPLE. BA'AL EARTH AND NASA ARE LIES ==>🌍 "nasa" IN HEBREW MEANS TO DECIEVE. THERE IS NO SPACE, JUST A FIRMAMENT DOME, AND OTHER DIMENSIONS/REALMS/HEAVENS. ONCE YOU KNOW THE EARTH IS FLAT IT WILL GET RIDE OF YOUR EXISTENTIAL DREAD WHEN YOU KNOW GOD IS LITERALLY ABOVE YOUR HEAD THAT BIG BANG THEORY CREATES. MENTAL ILLNESS/DEMONIC POSSESION BECOMES A LOT EASIER WHEN YOU REMOVE GOD OUT OF YOUR LIFE.
@@nitsudocsicnarf347 WELL MOST CIRCULAR CHURCHES ARE FILLED WITH FREEMASONS AND SATANISTS AND ON'T TEACH PEOPLE THE REAL TRUTHS IN THE BIBLE. they teach people to go into a building be entertained by some songs than go back out into the world and continue to listen to the satanic overlord govts. noah never spent his time in a building, king david never spent all his time in a building, none of the biblical figures spent their times in buildings they were living the story of the bible in real time on the FLAT EARTH WORLD STAGE. the same will be for the end times it won't take place in a church building it will take place in live action. simply put it, the revolution won't be televised!
Yes, it is interesting right. Someone pointed out that it is the lack of spirituality that causes people to suffer, but the very difference between spirituality and religion is that one is an individual and the other is a collective belief. Humans live communal, we think and function in relation to each other. Thus it is logical that a society is more stable and healthy when its people share the same belief. I think he can only understand the importance of it and the power existential beliefs have, when he do believeth.
@@beatdown4785 I believe we need to emphasize how important it is for us humans to understand the difference between religion and spirituality. I really appreciate your comment.
All religion has ever done is take meaning from my life, I sometimes wish there was a hell for them to go to. Religion breeds mental illness, it looks at the despair it causes and only pushes harder. Fml
“A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, 'You are mad; you are not like us.” ― St. Antony the Great
"If we continue to scorn religion, we will not lose our need for meaning. We will merely look for meaning in other places. We will worship the state, a political party, or science." This describes practically half of my Facebook feed, and it's the reason I've stepped back from social media. WAAAY too many people are putting their faith into political parties. I know this one guy at work. He's mid 50's, and non-religious. Yet, he's completely devoted himself to the Labor party, and has disowned people who speak about it any less than absolute praise. Yet if the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that politicians by and large hate us. And people still devote themselves....
Of course humans will still yearn for answers and meaning. I, for one, would much rather that we look to science, philosophy, art, and math as providing this meaning. The information gleaned from these disciplines is concrete and demonstrable.
Wow like it’s a curse being too wise. You’re happier if you don’t give a shit and just be the good person you see yourself being. I’m Christian and a psychologist. Happiness isn’t that deep but if you try to find a meaning you will get depressed. I’m a nanny and just playing with the kids makes me so happy. My goals is watching them get smarter and their goals are just to have fun.
I think as Christian’s, the depression can be more equated to the acknowledgement of how sinful we truly are and we mourn for those who are lost. My heart aches everyday and I’m only sustained emotionally by the grace of God. The weight of sin is very serious which is why I find the prodigal son parable and the story of the weeping woman so beautiful because there is hope in Christ.
I have no religion and "worship" no one or no thing. The only form of faith that is rational faith, rationality being our best exercise of cognition so far. Rational faith is belief in one's own capacity to negotiate one's way through life. Any other faith is blind/superstition, hence irrational. Irrationality itself is a form mental illness, albeit to varying degrees. Religious "belief" is no different than belief in Santa Claus and any adult that claims such belief is not all there. So the whole presentation above is but a steaming pile.
@@happyhaze1526 So if “rational faith is *belief* in one’s own ability to navigate through life”, on what to you base that belief? Some deeper beliefs? Or is it just a core assumption in your religion?
@@happyhaze1526 How do you know you have such a capacity? Many don't. In fact, it's guaranteed you will face situations you won't know how to deal with including dying.
@@j.pershing2197 Your facticity of what is proven or not lacks veracity. One common example is GPS, which would not work without using Einstein's theories. Everything is relative.
@@j.pershing2197I'm just a curious guy, but taking the time to understand a few things in modern science informs me that Einstein was right about almost everything. I'm not taking away from the other discoveries of those you mention. You seem big on proof, but theories are needed too. Some are more useful than others, but their veracity is not dependent on labs. Testing and labs can be done on cosmic scales and machines on site. Too many examples to list at the moment.
I tried to walk the path that the narrator says is sufficient: Read the myths without joining a community that believes in them. It doesn't work to give life meaning, in my experience. It's not enough to simply know the stories and reflect on them. You have to become part of a community that lives by them. THAT gives life meaning.
Exactly, if you just read the myths you're only getting the propositions. You need the participatory, procedural, and perspectival ways of knowing which can only be found through a community. The communion of believers wrapped within the religious metanarrative is absolutely essential.
So all you need is a community, not religion. Unless you're a sadist looking for an excuse to torture and kill people. Then you need religion so you can do this terrible things to people for 'heresy'.
@@technomage6736 community in any sense is important, but I think it’s more the “living by them” part that’s most important here, community gives you the tools and resources to act on what you’ve reflected about the stories based on the most successful past examples (saints, for example). The experiential part of the myth is fundamental to its full realization, and in that regard you’ll have to discriminate what part of the whole corpus of rituals, practices, communal participation, etc you are willing to engage with and live by that, usually for sometime before you can actually start telling what works for you and what doesn’t, most of us don’t have that kind of patience yet have seen or know good examples of good religious people out there, and even some really extraordinary ones, if one is lucky.
Moderation in all things has led me to my happiest life. Not being over-reliant on one thing, be it logic, faith, hedonism, optimism, skepticism, love, hate, or anything really. I feel tremendous love by those around me, but I also accept that these things will one day be gone, and I shouldn't get too bent out of shape because of that. In the long run, everything will turn out pretty much okay. I'm alive and that's good, and one day I'll die, but that's okay too.
@@CommieApe 100%. Whether that is left of right politically on some issues. Or progressive v conservative on some issues. Weighing and chasing truths as unbiasely as possible
My biggest problem with religion experienced through gathering together is lack of discussion. In the end you cannot question some dogmas in your religion, because you will be seen as someone who is trying to "destroy" community by lack of faith.
I have experienced that to some degree but I have allso experienced much less insecure grupes able to hear and hold ideas and thoughts without feeling threatened.
There's tonnes of discussion in religion, you've gone to the wrong place. Quakers do it. Buddha used to do it. There are lots of conferences and sympsia doing it. Unfortunately the best funded ones seem to be geared to create a global religion for cynical purposes.
@Archie Baldwin I think purely individual engagement in religion is restrictive since it confines your spiritual beliefs and experiences to the realm of subjectivity. The objectivity of those experiences and beliefs can only be obtained through institutions, which requires collective engagement and reasoning.
Exactly. When forced into religion by govt aligned welfare, to a "Hillsong' like charity.....i wanted to discuss these dogmas, in bible study room. A new christian (indian) pastor whose faith relates to his house being sold (jesus did it).....didnt want to do actually verse study (which i had questions about).....instead.....it was 'Speak in Tongues' ..session. How excluded and deluded by it all i felt. And it felt i was in a room with 'demonically possessed' gullible idiots. hehehee......to counter, i started speaking SUMERIAN...and hailing the pagan gods names. this prie$t quickly ended the session...then. Then upstairs in the main congregation (with a Catholic commune section, at the back)....came the faith healers. A 60yr old woman, passed out on the ground , underwear on full display, in violent convulsive 'Fits".......meant, another...Demonically Possessed!!! (for me). is it any wonder i told them to Bugger Off!....when these deceived idiots tried to Lay Their hands on me......and then claim , i had the devil in me. Judgemental fools.
@@anaguerrerosholisticwellbe2788 I see so one religion is better than another? You're hate shows you are not religious at all. Maybe quit the internet for a while. Your type are ruining the world right now.
I had insomnia and depression for over two years. It was during this time that I became an atheist because every attempt I made to improve my life backfired. It wasn’t until I got interested in Stoicism and read Epictetus’s first book that my life began to have meaning. Since stoicism can be practiced along-side religion, I began to trust Epictetus when he said that I had angels who protect and care for me; and so does God. This trust, alongside the many therapeutic stoic practices, relieved me of a lot of anxiety and eventually lead me to cure my insomnia and consequently, my 2 year-old depression. For those who are skeptical: Stoicism can be practiced secularly (none religiously), but, weather it’s through changing your beliefs on religion or just applying stoic practices, it WILL improve your life.
Such ancient traditions like stoicism are also more “advanced” than the Abrahamic religions. They don’t have a bunch of morality tales or false promises and delusions. They’re about confronting reality, your reality, this life and this world. It requires discipline, honesty with yourself, and even bravery.
This is a great example of what the video teaches. We must believe in greater outside ourselves. I found meaning in Christ Jesus. To truly follow Christ, it is defined by relationship but definitely challenging as in a marriage.
Absolutely the Stoics give life affirming advice. I also see a correspondence between Socrates and Christ. If we consider Christ as someone who urged us not to judge or punish. And who urged finding God within and eschewing institutions or institutional thought. I am a theosophist.
Religion presents us with such a great paradox. On the one hand, the personal search for meaning and spiritual truth is the most crucial pursuit we can ever undertake. It is only in our quest for the transcendent that we can ever truly find ourselves. And religion is the documented history of humanity's collective efforts in this direction. Thus it is perhaps the most precious domain of knowledge that we possess. And yet, the history of organized religion is also the history of cruelty, ignorance, bigotry, manipulation, corruption and lies. Religion has been the cause of some of the most abhorrent behavior that we have ever engaged in. When we view religion as a social institution, it reveals everything that is worst in human nature. But when we view religion as a personal journey, it is the means by which we can acheive our greatest potential. This is why Jesus told his followers to pray in private, and condemned false teachers who made a public display of their supposed "righteousness". The only relationship that matters is the one between YOU and God. Grasping after power will always lead us away from truth.
This idea that religion is responsible for countless evils is really just a myth of the enlightenment that has unfortunately become embedded in our cultural psyche. Taking just the last 200 the majority of the myriad wars and persecutions had anything to do with religion, or, as with the communists, it was the irreligious persecuting the religious. Please actually look at history instead of mindlessly repeating the worn out platitude about the evils of religion.
@@Mike-md7op I have a degree in history. I'm not "spouting platitudes". I can prove that what I said is true. Do I need to do that? And more importantly, if I do, will you actually listen to reason? I don't want to waste my time talking to dogmatic ideologues.
@@ahobimo732 Sorry if I came on too strong. However, the idea that religion is some extraordinary cause of violence is simply not true. Did the communists, who killed 100's of millions over the last century, do it in the name of religion? Was WW2 about religion? Was WW1 about religion? I could go on. Religion has been ONE cause of conflict among others, and surely the history of the West as it has become more secular clearly demonstrates that the decreasing influence of religion will not lead to a increase in peace. Finally, I might note that it was the modern, secular West that invented nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, not our deeply religious, medieval ancestors. We may say that modern man has stopped praying and studying religion because he has preferred to study how to invent more powerful explosives and guns. Religion is, in fact, the greatest gift of God to man...and history is the proof of this. All traditional civilizations are nothing more than the outward expression of a particular religion. Medieval European civilization was nothing but the outward expression of Catholicism. Medieval Muslim civilization was nothing but the outward expression of Islam. Traditional Chinese civilization was the outward expression of Confucianism/Taoism/Buddhism, etc. Now, if our ancestors were so stupid as to have been misled, over all those millennia, than I would say mankind is beyond redemption...of course then it also becomes very hard to account for how a few thinkers in Europe over the last few centuries all of the sudden discovered that everyone, everywhere, for all time, had been wrong, and that religion is actually just a source of oppression.
Secular/worldly belief systems like Communism, Socialism, Globalism and other forms of Authoritarianism has proven to be FAR more destructive than anything thing else has ever affected mankind with calamity. Even the most blood soaked and warlord producing religion such as Islam can't even begin to compare. Even in this moment, many of our global governments have the capability to bring an end to civilization in under an hour (nuclear war/M.A.D.) I suggest the book "The Gulag Archipelago" in that case.
"Meaning" almost always ends up being social in some way -- that's the clue. Even if you're locked up alone in your lab trying to invent something, you're either trying to benefit your "tribe" or trying to gain status within it. It comes from the instinct of a social animal to do things which enhance the survivability of his tribe and bloodline. The "selfish gene" at work. So animals DO have meaning -- they just don't notice it because living their natural lifestyles means they're never WITHOUT it long enough to experience the lack. Humans, with our UNnatural lifestyles and overly-complex capacity for introspection, often find our behaviors sufficiently distant from those we find instinctively satisfying, that we percieve a lack of "meaning". Our current society has made it worse, as instinctively "meaningful" activities have been rendered impractical, unfashionable, or so easy as to scarcely register on our instincts that we're doing them. Breeding has traditionally been meaningful, but now it's tied up with unnatural fashions, laws, and arbitrary measurements of financial stability, to the point that many people choose not to do it at all. Feeding oneself is fundamentally meaningful, but tapping on a computer Monday so as to recieve a direct-deposit Friday so that you can order pizza Saturday doesn't feel, to your monkey-brain, like feeding yourself at all -- it feels like goofing off and then having stuffed-crust manna randomly drop from the heavens. All traditional religions (built for a lifestyle much closer to our natural one) encourage behaviors compatible with instinct -- with some compromises, since the newer the religion, the more unnatural the environment in which it needs to thrive, and the religion must always fit the SOCIETY, not the individual. You might LIKE a religion which allows you to hook-up with random girls, but would you like OTHER men to hook-up with your daughter? And there are more of them than of you. Religions, like species, adapt or perish. So it's no surprise that religion and meaning often coincide, as religion actually exists to encourage, justify, or explain the very behaviors which we are built to find meaningful -- the behaviors which, when employed in a natural(ish) human community, tend to promote the success of that community and the DNA it carries.
Religions exist because God exists. Mere reproduction of life does not give meaning to life. There are many now who decide not to reproduce because they see no meaning in life, only angst.
Religion and myths are more than cods of conduct and behaviours. Much like a peas of art, music or natur can carry lots of meening without puchig you to do anything in particular.
I’m not religious and I don’t keep up with social politics, but I truly do love my life. I enjoy the lack of religion in my life, as I don’t feel threatened without something handing me meaning to live by; I make my own as I see fit. I was born into religion, but I eventually exited from it. I can confidently say that I enjoy my life, even without religion in my life.
Thats your personal experience but most people are worse off without religion and lack a meaningful life. You also don't make your own meaning you choose an act which you find meaningful and its not likely you are going to discover your own individual meaning.
@@RA-ie3ssit's because there's no other solution of keeping society from crumbling. Its sad that the one thing that creates division, stunt your potential and hate is necessary for humans to function without self destruction
From what i experience, it is not the lack of religion per se that is causing mental illness. It is the lack of meaning, your rule on the cosmos, your life, the fact that you exist, and ultimately, your suffering. I truly believe that lots of souls simply dont have their identity, and i myself never felt this bliss and content after leaving my suffocating religion, and i also know someone personally who is directly my opposite. I feel very fine that i dont have any role in this existence and i guess you can say that thats what i believe my role is, but people may find the exact opposite in believing in a religion, as they found a role from that religion.
I'm agnostic. but that doesn't necessarily make me believe in nothingness. it actually gave me the freedom to believe in anything I want. it leaves me open to all the possibilities, whether there's a God or not. it actually made me appreciate all the wonders of our world without questioning its legitimacy. it leaves me wanting to know more since on our current understanding of our world, we barely know anything in the grand scheme of everything.
My thoughts as well! I have some extended family that lean fundamentalist religiously, some extended family and friends that lean mildly/not-so-much religious (or just spiritually with no religion attachment), and have some atheist family and friends. My experience with each one of them leads me to agnosticism because then I can experience new perspectives and connect well with my family and friends. Part of my biggest fears with developing my beliefs is getting too "stuck" in one belief (for lack of a better term) and developing a cognitive bias that would make it harder to connect to others (already got some other issues that makes connecting with others hard, and I don't need something more that makes it harder than it already is). ^^;
@@Scarshadow666true. I actually find it easier to connect to different people and have a full understanding of what they believe in. I think agnosticism helps me learn more about myself and everyone else.
You still have no meaning. You can never truly appreciate the world around you without God. You will always short change yourself by not considering The Creator. Always.
@@talisikid1618 Well you see, that's what makes me appreciate life even more. By finding some meaning to something that is objectively meaningless. And honestly, I do consider the existence of God. I even speak to him from time to time. I don't know if he is listening or not or if he really exists or not, but I still do pray to him. I really want to believe that he exists but the only way for me to be able to say for sure that he is 100% real is when I die and see him for myself. And if he really does exist and decides to send me to hell for being me then it's fine. he has all the right to do so, he is God after all. but I will always be forever grateful to him for giving me the freedom to think for myself and being able to live my life as a free thinker.
It isn't so much the lack of one having religious faith that would cause them to become mentally ill so much as it is that the failure to replace it with sufficient ethics/philosophy that speaks to them would cause them to feel deeply empty and lacking in purpose.
@@kamikeserpentail3778 not really. There are plenty of people i know that are very social but still have issues as described in this video. They desire a greater meaning beyond other people. And when some of them turned to faith it helped them. The church and religion are two separate things and should not be conflated together. Especially considering a-lot of people find meaning in faith and feel irritated at the gatherings at church because they take away from ones purpose.
I think you hit the nail on the head. We are spiritual in nature, and to not only avoid including some aspect of spirituality in one’s life but to demonise it and abstain from any philosophy about our existence is a one-way road to mental illness. To deny the spiritual aspects of oneself is to deny your own humanity imo, and it’s what has led to the dehumanisation of Christians, conservatives and unborn children by the far left. I’m not even religious, and I can see that people need religion, no matter what form, to maintain order and compassion within society; something the West is clearly lacking at a worryingly increasing rate.
I think one major thing that Religion does is being spiritual as a collective. Meditation can help oneself, and just having friends and parties will help the basic needs, but only when you pair spirituality with other people do you benefit the most. Thats why i think having a soulmate or a partner that supports you and understands you and vice versa, that you become better and have a better life. Same is also said for having true friends, not just the ones you spend time with, but ones you share with, connect with etc.
Religion isn't necessarily the answer to a lack of meaning. It's -an- answer, but there is no single answer. Some find meaning in craft, some find meaning in others, some find meaning in themselves. There's also the fact that pointing at a lack of religion as the reason for the rise of mental illness and delusion is a great way to distract from other reasons for those things, like exhaustion, abuse, exploitation and the changing of society to new modes of social and emotional expression. Juvenoia and fear of the new is another good thing to point at here, because that's something we can point at in the past and show that no, things didn't fall apart because people moved from reading novels to reading magazines, or from simply remembering things to writing them down. The world isn't in decline.
My thoughts exactly! Some people find meaning in religion, which is fine, but not being religious doesn't mean you lack meaning. People should find their own drive and motivation. My problem is when people insist that meaning can only be found in religion, especially since religion can be the cause of mental illness in some people.
Religion sets standards. People with no standards are the most easy to use and manipulate, religion or no religion. That's why 1st world politicians absolutely hate religions, because a God fearing person who believes the absolute authority in life and death will hold them accountable for humoring evil intentions when tempted by non God fearing people, ESPECIALLY those with money.
You can find meaning in other things but they are all temporary. God and reliance on God is the only constant. You can be in the middle of the desert with nothing but you will have that thing. It is not a crutch but a cure.
@@nidafatima3266 yes, some people find comfort in religion. Unfortunately, I do not, and I see no reason to force myself to believe something I don't. While I'm not sure how God can be a constant if he isn't real in the first place, I can see how people can turn to him to find peace. I simply do not find my peace in Christianity.
@@friedtea9969 Similarly, I do not find peace in things that are temporary, which are everything but God. Everything that is will eventually die. The realness of God isn’t the discussion here, it is the psychological implications of belief vs disbelief and the ramifications of meaning or lack there of on our ontological perspective. Belief is the ultimate cure to the uncertainty, existential anxiety, and lack of inherent purpose in every frame of life. To me, that’s proof enough. Sure you can say that it’s not for everyone but religion is a large framework and if you aren’t in need of this facet of it, you might need another. Also I’m not sure why you said Christianity. There’s other more better frameworks of reality out there, different versions of Truth but there’s one that is raw and pure. I’m not trying to convert you, just to share my perspective that making something temporal your meaning will ultimately destroy you at worst and make you confused at best.
To be a human is by default to be creative. As a biological being you are bound to scopes and limits. Meaning your limits to the body and to understanding will always be of creative outlook. Humans are not angels. Can not understand everything. Do not have the body to understand reality. Understand the creature you are and you will free yourself of the prison this society has forced onto you from birth and education.
On meaning, bear in mind that life was full to overflowing with meaning for the 9/11 hijackers as they raced towards their targets, and for the Crusaders on their way to Jerusalem. On the creative spirit, recall that Hitler was an artist, that Charles Manson was a songwriter, musician and singer, and that Richard Gatling's creative spirit gave us the first successful machine gun. Of meaning we must ask, Just what does this mean, and what is it worth?; of the creative spirit, Just what has it created, and what is it worth?
@@echillykahlil Just to clarify, my real problem is anyone saying real and salutary meaning is religious or quasi-religious in nature, and that's what I hear in this video. I would put it that all religion amounts to an attempt to find meaning, not that all meaning amounts to an attempt to find a religion. Thanks for your reply.
It is very interesting to me that they found the that experience of “happy” people without meaning was the same as those who were enduring extreme hardship. Before I found meaning, I too considered myself a very happy person. I genuinely thought I was having a wonderful time. But after I met my husband I came to realize that the happiness I felt was so small and shallow compared to what I have now. Even while we are experiencing hardship in the form of financial difficulty, I am filled with so much joy and purpose compared to who I was before. And returned to Christ was an essential part of it. Before I was just a mere construct of my damage and desires, now I am a person
As a pagan I agree with you. Conviccion is seriously the most important factor behind every action. It not only gives life to all things but sees life in all things. Vitality/spirit is present in everything. Soon your faith will turn into knowledge because you allowed the truth to come.
It's not too late to teach children about critical thinking, and then let them decide for themselves how to investigate reality with reason and evidence.
You are assuming that everyone has the capability of critical thinking. Trust me, most people would rather choose a simple life, with a determined path.
It might not be to late for the younger generation that's really young right know. But im afraid it's little to late for the generation that's just know becoming young adults. Sadly that whole generation has become way to brainwashed. There dumbasses actually think that more government is the answer to all our problems. When in fact our problem is that we've done let our government get to damn big. Not only do we have to fight our government know we also have to fight our on people. Unfortunately we've all been played by these corrupt institutions. The same one's that are supposed to help finish molding these young adults minds into a productive part of society. But instead they've been brainwashing them into thinking America is evil because it was built solely on racism. SADLY they can't see that they're just being used just to try and destroy the greatest country that's ever been built. Yeah America has had and still has it's problems. But try and name me another country in this world that's never had any problems and still doesn't have problems. But right this minute our biggest problem is our government. In all actuality the people that's in our government is the biggest problem. They actually have the nerve and think that they can just rule over us like a dictatorship and we're not going to do anything about it. Sorry not sorry, im afraid that's just not going to be possible for us to do. The tree of freedom sometimes has to be watered by the blood of patriots- George Washington I believe
Unlike others who shut down or unsub when they see a differing opinion or view, I actually considered what was said. To preface what I’m going to write, I absolutely welcome discussion and criticism. Why is there the assumption here that without religion, people either immediately swap, or drift, towards “unhealthy” or “unfulfilling” institutions? I can only speak with personal experience but I believe I have found mental security in the unknown, or at least continue to work towards that goal. The inherent ignorance of being human and being a small 80-90 year blip upon the unimaginable scale of time itself (assuming I don’t die before natural causes) has led me to not necessarily give up on my search for meaning, but to displace it from external to internal. I wake up in the morning and do the things I do every day because I simply do. There does not have to be a guiding force from above to control that, in my opinion. I have found security in knowing that I *do not know*. I do not crave a higher power to devote myself or my morality towards, I live by my own code that has undoubtedly been shaped by my Christian/western upbringing. With this is mind, my current atheism/agnosticism has not led me to devote to another power structure that I know of. I do not worship the state, nor science.
My life is full of immense suffering. Medical issues, subsequent cognitive issues, financial issues downstream. I often wonder whether I'll ever be able to feel like my old self again. I never even had youth to enjoy. But the things I've discovered in the pits of despair, and the subsequent art and ideas I can produce to explain life to others, will make it all worth it.
@@jojstar4 Funmy you should mention that, I got into programming as a way of turning my life around. It is my art, and I live for my creations. I was in a dark place when I posted the above, but it seems I've figured out the source of my more recent medical issues. Hidden infection! Cleared it up and I'm getting better by the day.
Having no religion means there is no truth. Only “your” truth. If life has no rules and no true purpose then of course you’re gonna be confused, depressed and hateful. Separate yourself from this world or die with it. Your choice.
For weak people religion provides a crutch, someone/something to lead them. The lack of religion doesn't breed mental illness, religion is a mental illness that without those suffering can not cope. Religion is, in essence, a drug that maintains some level of sanity.
Well put. I think it's the first time I strongly disagree with the take on a subject of this channel. In my experience, non religious people are in no way more prone to mental illness than religious ones. Religious people don't report mental illness (in some groups it's actually considered being possessed by the devil) and/or don't seek help outside of the group.
@@ancaas7945 non religious person are mostly people who don't belive in things causing many of then a pessimistic life . Causing them illnes . My conclusion
Most of peoples chasing things to validate self worth, they only see themselves as worth anything if someone/something tells them they are. So I propose that everyone try to be a worthy person for self satisfaction and who gives a hoot about anyone/anything’s definition of you. If you spend your life with an attitude that is respectful of others and accept that there will always be more to learn, you can live a full meaningful life.❤
@@jamiecummings6109 not self worship. Self understanding, improving and acceptance. Knowing it’s ok to be yourself even if others do things different or poke fun at you. When honestly yourself, you shouldn’t get too embarrassed or hurt by others scorning you. Try responding with solutions not aggression. Learn about your passions and beliefs, but also learn about the things you don’t follow. Each of us is the product of life experience’s and our interactions with them. So we each have our own way of seeing things. And as human beings we are capable of accepting others for being themselves.
@@jamiecummings6109 you dont have to be religious to be a good person. You could look at ancient philosophy what is actually the Good parts that are in the religions. The rest is man made to control like dogmas. So you can be the best of yourself starting from within. Like esoteric. From inside out. You be better human for other to become better too. When you live in a place where people are good you become that if you society is bad you take bad habits, but if you control your mind and yourself you control you thought and behaviour
Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape. - Terry Prachett I consider my self an atheist/agnostic but I can't deny the fact that we humans crave for meaning in our lives. Although, I don't think we ought to have religion to prevent falling into a state of mental ilness. At least in a general sense. And sometimes, the worship of religion can also lead to true madness and foolishness. Especially when someone acts upon a benign, transcendental entity and then looses all sense of self-criticism. When every act is good because an entity greater than everyone supposedly says so. Religion can breed fanaticism and certainty just like the worship of the state or science can. And sometimes, even worse. In my opinion, meaning in life rises from the necessity to defy the absurdity of life. Though I accept it and don't ignore it. But I feel the need to defy it "to be human". I think the answer here is compassion. Compassion for the humans who share the struggle with me but also recognise the potential goodness and beauty in the world we live in. Thanks for bringing such an interesting discussion.
@@garethh2045 Atheism can be a sort of religion, yes. Especially when taken to the extreme. Which, in some cases, is basically the worship of science. But essentially, faith in the existence of an entity or entities (theism) is vastly different from not having faith in the existence of those (atheism). One belives in meaning and purpose coming from an exterior source, the other does not. One belives in an objective morality, the other not necessarily. And so on. What you say reminds me more of pantheism.
Belief systems are evidence of Insanity. The human genome describes the prototype of a remarkable creature. (see my standalone comment for the full argument)
To me life has more meaning not believing there is a god or subscribing to a religion. I feel like this is it. The life your living now. Right in front of you. Gives me a sense of intense realness and gratitude that concouisness is even possible. Its mind blowing.
My five pet peeves regarding English vocabulary/syntax: 1. Typing “your” when “YOU’RE” (you are) is required. 2. Typing “their” when “THERE” is required (and vice versa). 3. Using “people” when “PERSONS” is required. 4. Using “literally” when “VIRTUALLY” is required. 5. Using the two words “OFF OF” in succession.
I think the real issue here is a question of value, not necessarily meaning. A serial killer presumably finds great meaning in murdering people. Your source of meaning can be disordered. But what's valuable? Is life inherently valuable? What about pursuing virtue? These are deep questions that can find their answer in different ways, but I think God is the best answer.
@@Justinxoxo Psalm 82:6 is widely regarded as God referring to either other supernatural beings such as Satan and his fallen angel followers or those elected to have authority on earth such as kings. The word used is “elohim” which can mean God, demons, idols, gods of other nations, and the judges elected by God over Israel. It is not to be interpreted as God just saying we are all gods. This is grossly taking scripture out of context. Even in Jesus referring to Psalm 82:6 in John 10:34, Jesus does this in order to show that in scripture there are examples of other beings called “gods” as he is about to be stoned by unbelieving Jews. Jesus implies that there are influential men and spiritual beings can be related to the title of “gods” but this does not mean they are divine beings of essence similar to God. Jesus in this defense outsmarts the unbelievers in using scripture to affirm that whether they believe him to be of the essence of God or not, he cannot be judged off of the title of “Son of God” which he previously claimed and was being threatened for.
In my case, religion caused my mental illness. Because my family wouldn't take me to a psychiatrist. They insisted on taking me to what is called an "exorcist". Who would hit me with a piece of wood and tell me that it is necessary to force the demon out. I had to see a psychaitrist on my own. And after many years of medication i finally got better.
The main issue is "lack of meaning". The suggestion of "tapping in the wisdom embedded in the mythos" (5:22) can be misguided at the very least, leading to more problems than it promises to solve. It may contain insights on the human mentality, however it is also a tool for destruction and machination. On a large scale, it has been used to manipulate and destroy for millennia. On a personal scale, it can easily be misunderstood as even the most knowledgeable and devout religious leaders can't agree on how to interpret religious scriptures, leading to much infighting and the schisms we saw throughout history. I'd argue that "insights for how to cope with elements of the human condition" (5:55) can be found in all sorts of literature, fictional or otherwise. A book may change one's life, but so may a film, a videogame, or a simple conversation at the right time in one's life. Meaning can be derived from multiple sources, and admittedly, none of them seem perfect (in the sense of not having a negative side, and not necessarily being easily reachable). However that also means one does not need to believe in fairy tales to find the meaning of their lives. instead, just being inspired by them can go a long way into positively changing one's life. One can imitate or be inspired by Christ without being a theist, and they can do the same to any historical or fictional figure, and act like them... while recognising their (lack of) realism. "For the truths of religion to impact our life, we do not need to fully understand their meaning"(11:17) Not understanding them leads to many problems, including the aforementioned "misunderstanding and infighting". A teacher who explains in cryptic messages will receive mostly mediocre results from the students. Not exactly what I'd call "the most elaborate system" (8:21). "Myths are encoded in symbolic form" and symbols mean different things for different people. In short: religion used to give people some meaning, but now they have to find it elsewhere... and often are terrible at it.
@@winstonoboogie2424 impossible. If you have a certain belief system that includes the worship of an entity or a principle, you have a religion. There is no God without religion.
"... however it is also a tool for destruction and machination." What is this not true for? Religion has been a tool used to spur crowd madness and purges. As has political ideology. As has any system of shared thinking. The result of this form of use is destruction. Science has given us the ability to incinerate virtually all of existing civilization in the course of a couple of hours. The result of this form of use is destruction. Yet, need I abandon a tool because of it's capacity for both good and evil? What is a tool without a wielder? Is the question of good and evil, one for the wielder or the tool? How do you come an understanding of good and evil, if there is no meaning to anything? From this perspective, Life is just as meaningless as death, neither are of importance, existence without essence. The death of a billion people would be about as meaningful as the current state of a rock I stepped over a month ago. For it to matter, it has to mean something, it has to possess some value, that "objectively" does not exist. What you're missing is that you're not taking the symbolic interpretation, but a literal one. It's intentionally and explicitly subjective, finding the "meaning" in it, is supposed to be constructed from how you see it. The point isn't to "believe" these stories, their factual, material truth of falsity is irrelevant to the deeper meaning they're trying to get at. That deeper meaning is where the truth in a religion lies. For instance, "God", understood literally, is this all-knowing, all-powerful creator that exists way above you somewhere. Understood symbolically, my interpretation is that "God" is the idea of the defining value of the universe, superordinate value, a representation of highest moral and practical virtue, and your broker in dealing with the universe. These insights pop up everywhere, yes, but two things to keep in mind. 1. Much literature is inspired by religious texts or myth 2. Religious texts act as the aggregation of these myths and stories that held this meaning, they are not one coherent story per se, but rather an amalgamation of learned subjective philosophies of humanity told through story. You don't need to "fully" understand it in order to use it. In fact, this idea of a "full understanding" is an abstraction. Need you understand every chemical process happening in each nerve cell, muscle fiber, bone and ligament in your arm, to hold out your hand? The idea is that, though you may not have the total control or knowledge of what your dealing with, that which lies outside your conscious understanding and control can act for you betterment. That you have to trust, at least yourself, to do it right, and perhaps you'll reach an understanding you can work with. This, in it of itself, is a moral lesson with deeper implications.
"Separate god from religion" Which god? If your answer is "there is only one god", you're already assuming Christianity is right (or at least an Abrahamic religion, probably), which enforces monotheism. If your answer points to another specific god, then, again, you're assuming *that* specific religion is right. Indeed, there is no god without religion.
For people who have litte connection to religion or mythos at all it seems impossible that someone can have no ulterior motive when fighting for something they believe in. Today nearly everyone thinks the jihads and crusades in the name of god were just excuses to go pillage and conquer. It is beyond their scope of reality to think someone really fights for their god.
Why is religion the only vehicle for finding meaning to life? You can find meaning and purpose without religion. How do you even define religion/mythos in this context?
I think the breakdown comes from what one means by religion. If you take a closer look at all 'religions' around the world you find some very different looking belief systems. Some of which aren't at all concerned about the existence of some ultimate conscious being that is running the show. Many things that we label as 'religion' are simply a symbolic framework for viewing the world and how we fit into it.
Religion isn't monolithic. It's a spectrum. And some of the religions are dangerous, violent and have terrible morality. We have religions which glorify excessive nihilism for the present life for the afterlife. If you define mental illness as delusion, lack of clarity, anxiety, fear etc, I think religious societies have these in much more quantity compared to non religious society. I do understand the importance of religion in human evolution, but if humans need to go for the next level of evolution, we need to go beyond religion to shape our morality. Also the answer to nihilism isn't religion but family. A big family. The answer to nihilism is meditation. The answer to nihilism is confidence in humanity and the importance of humanity. When you are deep into consumerism, you will always feel empty.
@Vikas Khetan - What's your definition of a non-religious society? Something like the Soviet Union or modern day North Korea, where the government and/or its leader is worshiped? Replacing a sky fairy with the state is still a form of religion.
@@barfo281 these the worst examples. I'd say Japan or most of the Western nations as a non religious society. The problem in the west is that their morals are too tied with religion. Morality and ethics beyond religion is possible and individuals have been able to achieve it. But as a group achieving that will need institutionalisation and state support.
@@vikaskhetan7382 who says Japan is non religious. They worship household deities and totems. Japan is not as non religious as people think. It’s called Shinto religion. Very similar to what people practice in South East Asia. In India also, there are similar communities who worship such household dieties and sacred trees and forest. Such communities do not profess it like those People who follow Abrahamic religion. But they are not non religious. They are simply not professing it in a significant way.
Not some. All. Look what lack of self-criticism did in Christianity. 15 centuries of wars on religion and persecutions commited by Christians on Christians, only because they disagreed on minor details. Lack of self-criticism is the essence of religion as well as totalitarian ideologies, such as Stalinism, Maoism, and obviously Nazism. Whoever disagreed with the leader, was sent to Gulag, or other camp where he would be worked to death. They also had their forms of cult worship. Hailing to Fuhrer's portrait and so on. It was perhaps most obvious in Maoism. At it's peak, people were supposed to 'give reports' to Mao's portraits while holding The Red Book. On mass gatherings people would also write with their blood things like 'Mao made me the happiest person in the world'
I grew up religious, many different forms of Christianity. I do not attribute that or the lack of that to my mental illness. I attribute living under someone else’s hypocrisy to my mental illness. My developing mind was nurtured under the contradictory nature of someone’s grand hypocrisy
Religion offers manipulation, greed, arrogance. Religion wont connect you to a higher power or higher self. Religion connects you to lost sheep that cannot think for themselves and have no answers. Spirituality offers a chance to connect. Religion and spirituality are not the same things. Religions goal is money, cult like manipulation.
I can’t see returning to religion after having left it. I left it because it was so obviously untrue. Returning would require me to live a lie - which would surely lead to problems.
Why view religion materialistically? The writers of the major religious texts obviously weren’t materialists. Why do we continue to view these texts materialistically?
@@andrewternet8370 because reality is materialistic. We exist in a measurably physical world, I dont care about the authors opinions. I care about whether or not their claims are true, and as of now none have been proven true.
Well, religion has many approaches, you can't say that is obviously untrue. And if you look closely, all of them are mostly symbolical and speak of the same principles. I actually see some wisdom in it, since it can't be coincidence that different people, regions and times were talking about the same thing, but differently.
@@andrewternet8370 How is being convinced something is untrue being materialistic? I had a very active spiritual life... a personal relationship with God ( through Jesus, not with him, which is heresy)... the whole nine yards. Then I studied the Bible and other religions and it all fell apart. Did I become a materialist?
I was diagnosed with bipolar type 2 during the pandemic. I’m still searching for the nature of the universe and a meaning. The more I look for the answers and truths. The more I mentally drift from objective reality
Don't focus on what Humankind say. Use their teachings as a guide...not as #FACTS. Focus on what you see around You. Look at creation. Pay close attention. To life...all life forms. Sun,moon,star,,sky,wind, rainbow,rain,ocean, trees, animal's.... mountains .... Nature. Don't focus on what MAN SAYS... focus what you can physically see . When i practice the above mentioned. It's my conclusion. NO MORTAL MAN....is responsible for CREATION.,,,so conclusion in my opinion. Is ..there is a HIGHER POWERFUL ENTITY!!
Aristotle defines moral virtue as a disposition to behave in the right manner and as a mean between extremes of deficiency and excess, which are vices. This is the error of scientism so prevalent an ideology today.
I’m pretty much the only person at my workplace who is a Christian. Everyone I work with is either constantly sad/hopeless, or mentally unstable. Whenever they ask me “Why are you so happy?” I say, “Believing in something higher than myself gives me a sense of hope and a will to live because of something to look forward too after I pass away.”
Maybe if religions couldn't use hellfire and brimstone sermons, they wouldn't screw so many people. However, that would give the holy man fewer sheep in his flock, and he wouldn't like that.
Mr Speaker, you make a salient point - that most people aren't quite aware their lives lack meaning. Reading the comments shows that the 'religious,' the anti-religious, and the non religious often have much in common: they never pause to consider that religion , or the religious myths or stories can re-link ( religio) to their deepest selves, and their deepest selves to life, to the cosmos ( Religion and Yoga have much the same etymology) - that they have an inner meaning that goes to the core of their personal suffering and struggle. And for the potential in these stories to generate the highest meaning and realisation not only for themselves, but to understand they are crucial for the destiny of humanity and the planet.
Oh yeah. Believing in a guy who demands absolute submission, constantly threatening that you will go to hell if not, is supposed to give my life any meaning and connect me with the cosmos... Being a blind slave to a sadistic tyrant who doesn't even exist has to be one the most meaningless and dumb things you can do with your life. It was useful for the nobles and church to force most of people into submission and effectively making them slaves. The peasant class.
@@piotrmalewski8178 That is only one definition of God and something of a stereotype. As for the peasants, they had their own forms of religion, regardless of what the aristocracy thought. The fact that they did became an occasional embarrassment in the middle ages.
@@thursoberwick1948 You can't deny that in medieval times, religion was an important part of the feudal system. In fact it was the whole justification for it.
Whenever I see someone claiming that a lack of Jesus is destroying the USA, I joke that the Salem Witch Trials must have been what the USA was supposed to use for law.
Thank you for voice of reason. Appears on these vids if you don’t comply and agree w the masses and butt kissing of the topic you are shunned. Thanks for speaking up
There is a story of a sawed off ham bone. The 4 year old daughter asks her mother why the ham bone is being sawed off. The mother does not know, she just did it because her parents did it when she was a kid. The grandfather when asked does not know as it was done when he was a kid. Then the great-grandmother is asked and says it was because the pot they had back in the day was small so cutting off part of the bone had to be done to fit the ham. Religion is often claimed as belief in abstract being(s). But in truth it is a belief system regardless of the abstract. Some aspects and traditions might become out dated but not understanding why they are done is when religion loses it's value. This can be seen in things such as marriage which use to be about family and community building but now is more of a narcissistic day of self indulgence for the bride to be broken when things are no longer desirable. Perhaps the ideal of the abstract eternal damnation is more just a tactic to try and scare some into being moral as many are not deep thinkers about what will happen as a result of their actions. For in a way the Judeo-Christian god and by extension Allah is effectively a god of morality and consequence. In this it could be argued that in turning from god Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by the loss of sound morals. The idea that while doing the right thing might not always result in the desired result every time it generally tends to result in a better situations in the long run. It could be argued that Ann Rand's Objectivist ideals are effectively trying to find meaning in a meaningless existence.
I am a deep thinker. Someone who was raised religious, became disillusioned and rejected religion, then came back to religion of my own choice later in life. There is definite value in religion as it pertains to the individual and his unique place and role in the universe. We can’t and never will know everything, and that is the space where religion continues to exist. It seems people are either dismissing that or misinterpreting the message here because of their bias against organized religion.
@Commie Hammer yes ,spirituality is a better and more useful term,is more flexible and in a sense you can follow your own way without the narrow restrictions of organize religion.i myself can live without religion but I can't live without spirituality.
Secular humanism helps to reduce any negative effects of a lack of religion. The problem with religion is there is no scientific proof, so for those well versed in Science it makes no sense to have faith in something without good evidence.
“When you are studying any matter or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only what are the facts, what is the truth that the facts bear out? Never let yourself be diverted either by what you wish to believe or by what you think could have beneficial social effects if it were believed. But look only and solely at what are the facts” - Bertrand Russell
@@FiniteSimpleFox he's using a quote to make a point about how this videos thesis is contrary to the way you are supposed to approach philosophical thinking... this is supposed to be a philosophy channel, but it's more quasi philosophy lately.
If thinkers have gotten one thing wrong, for the past 200 years, it's that religion preceded religious instinct. It's the other way around. This can be seen by the rapid rise of things like Socialism, Science Fiction, Environmentalism, etc. As soon as Christianity began to decline in importance in the early-mid 1800's, these (and others) rose to popularity immediately. I think that Nietzsche, Dostoyevsky, and Jung were the more perceptive thinkers who realized that if people didn't have a religious belief system to satisfy their religious instinct, they would make one.
lol... I think you meant to say the 1960's. Because the US, and the Western World, was still a very VERY Christian civilization before the degeneration of the mid 60's and so on.
@@SirMattomaton How preposterous, yes, those moral times before the 1960’s with all that great slavery, bigotry, and misogyny. You are delusional sir! The 1960’s was the start of the new enlightenment and the freedom from myth.
on that note, and im asking bcs im curious, would you say that since the homo sapiens (assuming at some point) have begun to develop complex mental capacities they/we also develop religious instinct? I agree with your points, I'm just curious if our conclusion is the same
@@rzrdzr It's likely developed due to our tendency to rely on safety through numbers. We always had to find a way to keep large numbers of people feel the same and the ability to have the same interests. A good way to achieve that is through religion where the beliefs of one person would correlate with the beliefs of another, hence, the chances of breaking off or schisms of a group would be less. And due to our nature, after we nearly got rid of religion, we started branching off to other beliefs to keep a sense of community.
The first essay where I think you’re halfway there. 1. Many people are experiencing trauma- complex post traumatic disorder is everywhere, stemming from a childhood of abuse and dehumanization. 2. It is difficult to create a satisfying narrative out of these circumstances. We see many people experiencing love fe as victims or dealing with their abuse via medication. 3. In most cases over the centuries, this abuse narrative was upheld by religion. When you can’t tell a life affirming story about yourself, when you need to forget, chunks of your life go missing or become dis integrated as a means of survival. Religious teaching was used as a surrogate and as an excuse. People clung to religion to explain what was happening- to provide meaning for their abuse. And/or they adopted religious narratives to offer hope. In most cases, abusers used religious narratives to justify their violence. 4. Given this purpose of religion generally, people seeking to create a new narrative for their lives have necessarily quit their religions. 6. This work of getting rid of the old story leaves people in the scary disorienting space of No Story for a while. Their life falls apart for a while. They often feel like they have fallen apart while their life has no meaning. They are open prey for cults, extremist religions, and every other parasite. It is when they’re at their most vulnerable. 7. In time, after the freedom to go searching and finding life affirming ideas, they are able to ascertain a better narrative for their lives. Oftentimes they discover what’s called spirituality, as they reconnect with god or whatever they call the eternal divine. So these philosophers are witnessing the breakdown, which is as horrible as they describe. But it’s a necessary step toward personal growth and a more authentic life-affirming narrative. Cheers!
We need people like you i just lose my shit when people attribute meaning to religion its madness i would go insane if i let god in my self because hes teachings are so violent you have to hate yourself all the time to implement his teachings its unhealthy its either heaven or hell there is no in between the extreme just break everyone backs its so violent its a total war zone if you introject the teachings no wonder people tear each other apart for the name of this filth its against human nature
Back in my 20s I used to hear grown ups say that I might be an atheist at that time, but when I grow older, will believe again. I think what they really meant is that I would return to religion. I don't believe in anything supernatural today but I do agree with the part about myth and meaning.
We all have to agree “mankind” is flawed. Ego, gets in the way of everything, good or bad. Mankind created religion, mankind documents religion, mankind interprets religion, mankind profits from religion, mankind controls using religion. Mankind thinks it is the smartest being on the planet, never ending wars, never ending destruction of the earth, never ending poverty, never ending starvation. Now tell me religion works? The only reason the world would be in chaos without religion is because those that blindly believed have woken to the lies. Which brings me to the world is continuously in chaos. Wonder why people blindly accept government control? It’s the same people that blindly believe in religion
Set personal goals, solve your personal problems, solve your communities problems, Try to solve global problems.. Always be honest. If you’re lonely make friends. If you don’t know how then read books on doing so. Those are just a few ways of how to add meaning to your life. Religion is just a Cult + time.
Recently, I watched 'Three Thousand Years of Longing.' It is about a woman who tells a myth about how she rediscovered the need for myth in her life. I think the enormous hatred and blind devotion in politics is an effort to find meaning. I recently played a video game which uses the quote by Nietzsche that when you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back at you. It then describes a character whose life is shattered. Every morning he wakes up as a different person with a different meaning to his life. He never recognizes that he is always waking up as a different person. I appreciate your video for capturing what is going on in all these events that I have been watching.
In my experience both religious and non religious people can find themselves feeling lost in a meaningless world. But non religious people tend to be more willing to rationally analyze what can actually give them satisfaction and meaning. Whereas the religious people I’ve known tend to accept things the way they are, even if miserable, because they believe god has a plan for them.
@Richard Fox We are making it so. In my opinion problem is that religion, spirituality, meaning and so on are hard to practice and hard to understand. 'Meaninglessness' is mainstream. You got to go so hard against the stream of this world if you want to find spiritual truth of which the Jesus and saints are talking. Looks to me that we don't get what they try to explain not becauce it doesn't exist, but because it is hard to get. I believe so, because when I try harder, or suffering force me to try harder and open up to it, I find out that there is something. Something greater than me and at the same time part of me. So I become curious to find out what it is and how to get closer to it. Also I can pretend that I didn't notice anything and focus on pain or boredom, repeat my old pattern of meaningless thinking and miss the oportunity to expirience anything fresh and new in my existence. Just my point of view. Not trying to preach.
I was recently approached by a missionary. Though I am not religious, it was a strangely satisfying and nostalgic interaction, as though I felt a long lost fragment of previous centuries and healthier times.
That could be your spiritual and subconscious recognition for reconciliation with your Creator. As humans, it’s pretty clear we have a disposition to want to believe in something more than ourselves. Christianity actually speaks to the whole story whereas Judaism and some of Islam speak to the partial story. I’d be happy to share the Gospel message with you if you’d like to receive the information 💛
They are trained for this, they are trained to capture your mind, Once my father was aproached by a misaionary ,offering $4 per month if convert whole family into christianity. Never follow any religion , only dharma and karma stands , an eternal lawful duty which nobody can stop you from fulfilling.
"Religion" is when you have clearly labeled objective standards. Having subjective unexamined values is what leads to problems, and is what can be described as a lack of religion. A false religion is following an unexamined moral story, aka, tribalism.
Yes, personally I follow the Bible’s rules on beating my slaves. I always stop just short of beating them to death. I am having some legal issues after stoning my neighbor to death. Bastard kept doing his yard work on the sabbath and I could not take it anymore
Without great guidance we can easily become lost especially if there is nothing to compare or don't have someone with good intentions to confide in. Do your best, seek help. Life is a daily struggle for all, never give up. Fight to believe in yourself and keep on a good path.
Beliving in ourselfs is a terrible idea since we are constantly disapointing ourselfs. We are imperfect creatures. Just beliving in ourselfs can make us belive that we are superior to others.
I am muslim. I have believed in God as long as i can remember. I have lost my faith, and also regained it in time. I am not perfect by any means and still have much to learn. But I will simply say, it is very nice to *believe* that there is something there guiding you and taking care. Anytime anything goes right or wrong, its part of the plan.
Life in itself is meaning. I think people lack the appreciation because they are unaware of how much is required for life to exist on Earth. Once you realize how precious life is and that you get to experience such a thing at all, you do your best to figure out what in living that life gives you purpose. The meaning is the entire journey itself.
Exactly thats why religion is still important because it gives meaning to life and when u die u might go to eternal peace, when u become an atheist u dont believe in any God, making it harder to live life, u will only believe in yourself. I still prefer atheism tho tbh 😅
I think that can same apply to Terry Pratchett’s quote/ Deaths dialogue from discworld, stating: “Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.”
To all my fellow Christian believers who are scrolling through the comment section and get sad: Luke 23:34 "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they're doing...'"
This was beautifully articulated and well researched. Thank you. Even someone who has a hard time believing in mainstream institutional religions can appreciate the psychological vacuum that is left when faith is abandoned. I surmise that is the reason, as society moves further and further away from these belief systems, that our own attempts to create meaningful stories is also suffering. One of the common complaints, for example, among those who critique modern films is how much the hero's journey, as described by Joseph Campbell, is no longer satisfactorily portrayed in many modern films. Many modern heroes in cinema seem already naturally endowed with all the traits of success, and don't seem to have to through all the trials and tribulations that used to be the hallmark of hero.
Lack of faith leaves no vacuum unless you have an ego problem where you can't accept the way things are for what they are. Where you get greedy and feel you need something special beyond this physical world and your mind. Faith comes from a mix of insecurity and greed.
@@legalfictionnaturalfact3969 There is no "lack of faith" in anyone. Everyone has their faith in something or somebody, be it religion, environmental green green green, government, themselves, someone else, material things, jobs, but I believe everyone has a God that they worship or think about higher than themselves. The native americans had faith in and worshiped the sun as God. Everyone puts their faith in something or someone. I think it's best to put your faith in Jesus, because he set an example of how we should live and showed us how to live and believe all the way to his death.
@@2tycade no. some don't have faith at all. just knowledge. if i dont know the answer to something, i dont' say i " have faith that x".. i just say I DON'T KNOW. lol. again, faith is arrogance and greed. be happy with what things actually are. you're not special. that's just what it is. really takes the pressure off, when you think about it. it's freeing.
Actually most religious people I have met are eager to avoid accountability or accept that life can be finite. The overarching religious theme is that everyone gets taken care of when they die, whether it be punishment or pleasure. People believe in something like religion because the true, unfeeling nature of the universe remains a mystery and source of fear for many.
Noone will be taken care of in the afterlife unless they are accountable , respectable human beings in this life. The wrong perception of Christianity and false teachigs of 500+ protestants sects are to blame.
@@ОтацТорпедије no if there is a God and anyone to blame, it's God and his shitacular way of conveying the supposed most important message to humanity ever. If there is a God that cares for salvation he'd never go about it in such an idiotic way.
I had never considered the lesson of Jesus Christ in that light - to live our best lives, to strive to reach as much of our potential as possible. Thank you. I have not considered myself Christian for a long time, but this allows me to see the religion from another angle.
It's all good and nice, but remember Christians started persecuting each other already in the IIIrd century over differences in opinions on certain dogmas. The problem that is the root of all evil in all religions is the lack of self-criticism. And religions aren't self critical by definition. If something is self critical it is not religion, because self-criticism eliminates faith.
@@stephengehly2319 Do you think all the young socialists and communists engage in self critique? They don't, so it can be argued that they follow a form of non theistic religion
@@stephengehly2319 Actually, it makes sense. But I guess depending on if you have religious beliefs or not, your perception of what was said may be more or less something you don't want to hear. Try to read and and think about it.
The lack of religion doesn't cause mental illness. We can give our own lives meaning. I think its less about religion, and more about community and social relationships.
The Bible says to stay away from like 3% or less of all human activities, mostly the ones with horrendous consequences. How is being forbidden to commit adultery a lack of free will, when you can still enjoy 97% of human activities without a problem?
I have probably engaged myself more, both intellectually and philosophically, trough this channel than any other way. I guess i just had to find the right medium. Btw, for this kind of material to be absolutely free makes me really happy.
@@AttainingExcellenceJesus said right before that "Have I not already said you are gods?" Which he is referring to Psalms 82:6. In that chapter including 82:6 he says this. "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High. But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” Psalms 82:5-7 Context is key. Don't cherry pick for your own purposes
@@FirstName-zt2my again, what you are preaching is called gnosticism which is a parasitic religion that takes things from everything in this case catholicism and twists them You are just a cultist
Do not believe the lies of these gnostics St Thomas Aquinas was part of this cult but rejected it and embraced catholicism, you can read everything he said and he goes against gnosticism Gnosticism is also the religion of the Nacional socialist that invaded Europe
Human soul ultimate search for is unconditional love. All these philosophies and searches begin with crises and end with unconditional love and transcendance. The highest unconditional love is God. Love=truth=consciousness and they are all one thing undivided reality that is god.
Even if it cost your sanity, it's the one thing worth overthinking about. And _if_ Christ is the way, the truth & the life, it's the most important thing you should be pondering about, even if just for a moment in your, admittedly I would say for us all-ever fleeting, uncertain & chaotic existence. May God be with you in all truth.
@@artblock3539 Okay man. I'm just entertaining that if He's true and the alternative is, is that you don't search & ponder: it'll cost more than just your sanity, but your soul. I'll be praying for you to just consider.
Very good! The words of Carl Jung on Jesus Christ are very interesting. Lately, I find myself more and more turning to my faith in Jesus Christ, looking for the meaning and purpose of life in a world that has become more and more confusing and wicked in my eyes. A world in which everything we used to hold in high value is turned upside-down: tyranny is called democracy, freedom of speech is suspicious and censorship is a virtue (in the name of protecting the sensitivity of certain people), racism is called anti-racism (think of the Woke ideology), culprits are regarded as victims and vise versa. Or am I wrong with this assessment?
@@konyvnyelv. Yes so? These religious groups have no bearing on my own personal belief. I like to see myself as someone trying to find out thr truth for herself and not follow any teaching blindly.
@@strayboogie5833 I’ve listened to a performance by Cody Asbury, but unfortunalty couldn’t catch much of the lyrics. I have to look up the text I guess. As you wrote “Jesus going to the cross didnt’t make sense’”, I’m still puzzled about it. Jesus of Nazareth may be one of the most revered and respected figures in history, He is also one of the most mocked and despised to this day. I’ve never heard people mock Siddiartha Buddha for instance (who I respect myself) but many people still mock Jesus, think they can make fun about the way he died. That is a sad truth.
@@tarjan68 Jesus going to the cross. Is a reference to understand the times we are living in. A short while before His death Jesus predicted that he would have to die by crucifixion. His followers told him not to say such things but Jesus told them I must die and be betrayed because that is why I AM here. It didn't make sense at the time but it had to happen so that God's Word would be true. That God would remove sin in a single day. The reference to our current world and the cross is this. It looks crazy but the last book in the Bible said as well as a few others. Timothy, Thessalonians, the 4 gospels. All predict a time such as this. A time of lawlessness before Jesus returns. Yes they hate Jesus to this day. Jesus also predicted this many times and it was because of that hate they killed Him. They hate Him because they reject Him. They reject Him to this day because of the claim He makes. That He is the Son of God and based on the miracles He produced it's hard to argue. There's a really good free series called The Choosen. It's an app you can download from your playstore. It explains a lot of what I'm trying to say but it's a lot to text otherwise. The series is really really good and entertaining. Season 3 drops in about 3 weeks.
"Reality and Fantasy both exist". Something I made myself when coming out of a life-changing psychosis episode. Was wondering about religion ever since a kid. Could respect them, but always felt that there's more underneath. Only noticing it recently with the dive into philosophy, at a slightly early age of a quater century. The sad truth is, as a belief takes form of a religion and expands, the true meaning also dilutes under the ever-increasing systems and practices. The myths, lengends, religion, spirituality, were all pointing towards the general direction of seeking meaning in life. Humans want meaning, something that keeps their spirits moving to pursue something in their limited times of existence. Be it dreams, goals, or beliefs. But ultimately, everyone has the answer within themselves.
Religion exists in the mind. Knowledge in the heart. Modern man lives in his head , when the mind is estranged from the heart, and only intellect dominates, everything becomes a belief. Some things you have to experience to know therm, but then they have to be inside of you. As life flows from within. Intellect has no depth nor the capacity to comprehend life. It’s a servant , but to many it’s their identity , and that’s why they feel lost and empty
Related is Bipolar or Waking Up? channel. As transpersonal psychologist Stanislav Grof puts it in Stormy Search for the Self, manic or psychotic episodes should preferably not be treated with suppressive drugs and stigmatizing labels, they can instead be treated as opportunities for spiritual healing and can have tremendous positive potential. Be with the person and ensure everyone's safe and grow together.
To the *worthwhile person* seeing this, your dream is not dead. Don’t allow the past and current pains and hurts stop and define you. You’re more than a conqueror. Rise up and put yourself together. Keep pushing your future depends on it. I wish you all the best in life ❤️.
This is mostly where I've arrived to after about 20 years of atheism. I'm in my early 30s...it's interesting to see there is a relatively large group of people reaching these conclusions at this particular time, there is a stream, a movement worth describing. It is truly very interesting what has happened in the global thought environment in the past decade
Its interesting because you’re also seeing gen z and younger generations not necessarily turning towards Christianity or organized religion but instead spirituality (not the trendy horoscope kind) . Many people my age have placed their faith in spiritual concepts like Fate, Destiny, Karma, etc. instead of looking to gods or human ideologies such as liberalism or communism. However that is just based off what I see in my everyday life.
@@conlanvanhook2452 Being from Eastern Europe I grew up with catholicism ... But out catholicism was nearly Pagan in origin so it was about family and nature. Honestly, our Christmas and Easter have nothing Christian about them.
@@conlanvanhook2452 I’m Gen Z. Raised Protestant, spent most of my childhood, all of my adolescence and my early 20s as an atheist. Now at 26, I’ve felt the pull of Christianity return to my life. Trying to make sense of it all. This modern world is spiritually bereft and I finally understand what is meant by the “god-shaped hole”
@@ohwellwhateverr I'm in the exact same boat as you, but 23. And I don't necessarily feel a pull back to Christianity, but I feel a pull back to God. I feel that language and identity is reductionist, so I don't want to use a label for my beliefs anymore. I just take a bit from every religion and I see it all as being equally valid perspectives based on real human experiences and epiphanies.
I'm surprised religion is still a thing we turn to. We have figured out so many age old questions about the universe through science alone, and a main motivator for me is to find the true answers to the things we've yet to figure out. We aren't going to find those answers in old fictional books.
Yes... Because religious people are always such perfect pictures of mental health... Especially in America... Stable cross wearing geniuses everywhere...
Obviously untrue, religions create vastly more mental illness than anything... this guy is a gaslighter... For we Americans, RELIGIONS are evil foreign psychotic mass murderous mental illness and an ADDICTION to being LIED TO, an ENFORCED PSYCHOSIS, and, of course, written orders from their evil handbooks for their customers to automatically instantly HATE, HURT, and MASS MURDER everyone
Yeah lmao there's many places to get spiritual fulfillment, not just religion I think art and music are very underrated for that. Lots of people throughout history have derived meaning from art. You don't have to join a church.
Marriage is a religion that all men eventually resent. Why? It goes against nature and biology. I bet any Married man would feel better being free to do what he chooses and with who he wants. Not sexual monogamy but polygamy or something of that sort. Peace and freedom
It's not lack of religion, it's lack of direction and a personal narrative, which as you point out - many people find in religion. Organised religion is primarily a means of controlling populations by installing ultimate wuthority in a conveniently absent parental figure who has left instructions with his trusted generals - who happen to be influential men. It makes good use of basic human drives - to gather, sing, tell stories and share ideas and moral imperatives, but its aim is always to coerce and judge. Personal religion is much more useful in terms of mental health, whether that's a favourite small community prayer group or just a personal conviction that someone's with you, but it still requires you to embrace lies because they make you feel better, and that's immensely destructive to wider society. I have no quarrel with people finding meaning in patterns, whether that's tarot cards or bibles, but I do have a problem when poeople start believing that's genuinely true and try to enforce that view of things on the world around them. When you trust feelings more than reality, then you're making yourself so vulnerable to being misled and manipulated.
So i am an atheist. This does not mean my life is meaningless. Ibelieve in bettering oneself through physical training and education. Be good to your family and contribute something beneficial to the world. Help people whenever possible. You can find so much meaning in life just following these basic concepts. Also don't give in to greed
I think what the video is trying to express is the immense knowledge and meaning in the mythos of our past and traditions is fact as much as any other.
Then you die, then get buried under six feet of dirt, then forgotten while you pass through the gut of a worm. THE END. Here's the real meaning to life: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” -Westminster Shorter Catechism There is no real good without God. Even one of your fellow atheists, Dr. William Provine, admitted as much: “Let me summarize my views on what modern evolutionary biology tells us loud and clear, and I must say that these are basically Darwin’s views. There are no gods, no purposeful forces of any kind, no life after death. When I die, I am absolutely certain that I am going to be completely dead. That’s just all-that’s gonna be the end of me. There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning in life, and no free will for humans, either.” -Dr. William Provine “Atheism doesn’t take away the pain. It takes away the hope.” -Pat Boone as "Walter Wesley" in God's Not Dead II
@@brianmatthews4323 it's not necessary to use the theories n remarks of others to cement or push through our beliefs n values. Even more dangerous is overindulgence in religious theories n dogmas n believes that one's religion is superior n holds all the answers to the worlds problems. If having faith in God lead to greater wisdom, morales n principles, why did the Christians in the US choose to remain silent to the endless conflicts, crimes n atrocities committed by their criminal nation abroad.
@@yaoliang1580 Are you telling me the truth? Or just NARRATIVE that sounds good? As for the truth-claims you posited.....WHO SAYS? And your "If" question is wholly unworthy. I hope you can see that.
Asking "what is the purpose of life?" is implying that life exists for a purpose, rather than life exists because of physics. It is like asking what is the purpose of nuclear fusion in a star? Nuclear fusion is simply a consequence of physics.
Purpose of life is nothing more than survival and replication, everything else is BS. It's only until you've lost everything, you're free to do anything. Happy days.
@@jamespope7669 you'd be surprised by how much dogma that sentence contains. I'm an atheist/non-spiritual but I'd urge you to re read it and see if you can point out areas where you're philosophically/factually incorrect. I see 3. @ me if you want clarification
@@claude2571 life is life, we're not special. People need to know, not fear, that one day they're going to die. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Probably my favorite video you've created because you're spot on throughout its entirety. I was raised a Lutheran and attended church regularly, I always had doubts about its basis in reality but continued to go for the community/comradery. Around age 18 I began to seriously question the teachings, and ended up renouncing my faith. I became nihilistic as my understanding of reality and my personal narrative was torn apart, and as a result began to pursue "things of this world", but all have been unsatisfactory. In my early twenties I was dumbfounded how my coworkers were so happy, because none of them were religious and had no definitive meaning or purpose in life. But like you've alluded to, the mass psychosis brought on by nihilism is just beginning to occur, because technological advancements have kept humanity distracted and content from reality. My coworkers were consumed by Instagram, Facebook, Netflix, etc. which kept them content and distracted with alternate realities or skewed perspectives of our own, but you take these things away and force them to contemplate reality and their place in it, and I think they'd be entirely different people. I think the world is becoming increasingly unnatural, and human nature is far less malleable then we'd like to believe for us to keep pace. I remain hopeful that western civilization as it exists today, the material-consumer society will be abandoned and instead people will pursue experience and relationships, in a sort of post-material world that's far more "spiritual" or humanitarian. Maybe that's something we should consider striving to acheive.
as a teen, you were on Christ's side, while the church served Mammon. you were right to eventually deny those hateful lies. there is literally no such thing as a right wing "Christian" those folks are Paulines...Paul's message is "Believe = Saved" which contradicts Jesus' message. you're doing fine....great, for what you've been through.
Just realize religions create vastly more mental illness than anything... this guy is a gaslighter... For we Americans, RELIGIONS are evil foreign psychotic mass murderous mental illness and an ADDICTION to being LIED TO, an ENFORCED PSYCHOSIS, and, of course, written orders from their evil handbooks for their customers to automatically instantly HATE, HURT, and MASS MURDER everyone
@@RamiSehili-r3q I also believe imaginary friends as an adult is a mental illness. This need for there to be something greater is a fool’s errand. Exist, be good to others, do what makes you happy, and die knowing you did those things as well as you could. I’m a teacher by the way.
I used to be a hard headed atheist and ironically enough it was reading evolutionary biology and psychology which made me rethink. "Can science be so sure there's no such things as the religious instinct?". Exactly. Looking at "Woke " etc indicates that even hard atheist movements evolve towards a quasi religious framing.
Same honestly. Humans have created religions since time immemorial; realizing that religious beliefs are natural and normal and that they tend to serve a population by increasing cohesion, helping to spread genetic material (via conquest and such) and stave off cultural decay made me a believer.
Hope you became normal, religions create vastly more mental illness than anything... this guy is a gaslighter... For we Americans, RELIGIONS are evil foreign psychotic mass murderous mental illness and an ADDICTION to being LIED TO, an ENFORCED PSYCHOSIS, and, of course, written orders from their evil handbooks for their customers to automatically instantly HATE, HURT, and MASS MURDER everyone
When you lump all religions together and say that they are essential to meaning or understanding you create a mental swamp that traps its victims in a sticky goo of conformity. This isn’t meaning or life giving, it’s a prison.
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Religion = Restrict.
God and Religion are not the same.
9000bc called, they want their simple minds back. They said find your own belief.
Like the 🌞
THEY ARE HIDING FLAT EARTH AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
flat earth = 100% GOD AND THE BIBLE ARE REAL. SO THEY REFUSE TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IT EXPOSES EVERY LIE THEY HAVE EVER MADE TO ENSLAVE PEOPLE.
BA'AL EARTH AND NASA ARE LIES ==>🌍
"nasa" IN HEBREW MEANS TO DECIEVE. THERE IS NO SPACE, JUST A FIRMAMENT DOME, AND OTHER DIMENSIONS/REALMS/HEAVENS.
ONCE YOU KNOW THE EARTH IS FLAT IT WILL GET RIDE OF YOUR EXISTENTIAL DREAD WHEN YOU KNOW GOD IS LITERALLY ABOVE YOUR HEAD THAT BIG BANG THEORY CREATES. MENTAL ILLNESS/DEMONIC POSSESION BECOMES A LOT EASIER WHEN YOU REMOVE GOD OUT OF YOUR LIFE.
@@nitsudocsicnarf347 WELL MOST CIRCULAR CHURCHES ARE FILLED WITH FREEMASONS AND SATANISTS AND ON'T TEACH PEOPLE THE REAL TRUTHS IN THE BIBLE. they teach people to go into a building be entertained by some songs than go back out into the world and continue to listen to the satanic overlord govts.
noah never spent his time in a building, king david never spent all his time in a building, none of the biblical figures spent their times in buildings they were living the story of the bible in real time on the FLAT EARTH WORLD STAGE.
the same will be for the end times it won't take place in a church building it will take place in live action.
simply put it, the revolution won't be televised!
My conclusion from reading the comments is that the term “religion” brings to mind different concepts for different people.
Basically
Dennis Prager and Jordan pedersen are fighting for hierarchical austerity and homoerotic distrust of femininity 💚
Yes, it is interesting right. Someone pointed out that it is the lack of spirituality that causes people to suffer, but the very difference between spirituality and religion is that one is an individual and the other is a collective belief. Humans live communal, we think and function in relation to each other. Thus it is logical that a society is more stable and healthy when its people share the same belief. I think he can only understand the importance of it and the power existential beliefs have, when he do believeth.
@@beatdown4785 I believe we need to emphasize how important it is for us humans to understand the difference between religion and spirituality. I really appreciate your comment.
All religion has ever done is take meaning from my life, I sometimes wish there was a hell for them to go to. Religion breeds mental illness, it looks at the despair it causes and only pushes harder. Fml
“A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, 'You are mad; you are not like us.”
― St. Antony the Great
Increadibly circular arguement.
Not many mad people self identify as such.
The time is now and always. The main difference is the greater number and the social position of "madmen".
@@paulgibbons2320 Some of the viewers are going to use this video to reinforce their confirmation bias.
@@aceboogisback9946 >Reinforce their confirmation bias
>Far left
Bruh
@@Klongu_Da_Bongu Not everyone that has a political opinion that you don’t like has confirmation bias.
"If we continue to scorn religion, we will not lose our need for meaning. We will merely look for meaning in other places. We will worship the state, a political party, or science."
This describes practically half of my Facebook feed, and it's the reason I've stepped back from social media. WAAAY too many people are putting their faith into political parties. I know this one guy at work. He's mid 50's, and non-religious. Yet, he's completely devoted himself to the Labor party, and has disowned people who speak about it any less than absolute praise.
Yet if the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that politicians by and large hate us. And people still devote themselves....
We dont need religion
When I see that profile pic I immediately disregard your comment and laugh saying "who cares what this little kid thinks"
Had to say...
@@mariharrik5987 Care to elaborate?
@@burninintexas7597 Maybe you should try getting a JOB!
Of course humans will still yearn for answers and meaning. I, for one, would much rather that we look to science, philosophy, art, and math as providing this meaning. The information gleaned from these disciplines is concrete and demonstrable.
Wow like it’s a curse being too wise. You’re happier if you don’t give a shit and just be the good person you see yourself being. I’m Christian and a psychologist. Happiness isn’t that deep but if you try to find a meaning you will get depressed. I’m a nanny and just playing with the kids makes me so happy. My goals is watching them get smarter and their goals are just to have fun.
true, the purpose of life isnt anything deep its just to live
I would replace wise with knowledgeable
Strongly disagree. The meaning of life is Love. It is in every religion. Agape love, self-sacrificing love is the meaning to life.
I think as Christian’s, the depression can be more equated to the acknowledgement of how sinful we truly are and we mourn for those who are lost. My heart aches everyday and I’m only sustained emotionally by the grace of God. The weight of sin is very serious which is why I find the prodigal son parable and the story of the weeping woman so beautiful because there is hope in Christ.
@@paradiserestored6179the acknowledgement of sin is claimful and conflicting because you label others evil for what they belief ir who they are.
Well said. Where I live many people who profess “no religion” worship their political party and politicians, and those who “represent science.”
I have no religion and "worship" no one or no thing. The only form of faith that is rational faith, rationality being our best exercise of cognition so far. Rational faith is belief in one's own capacity to negotiate one's way through life. Any other faith is blind/superstition, hence irrational. Irrationality itself is a form mental illness, albeit to varying degrees. Religious "belief" is no different than belief in Santa Claus and any adult that claims such belief is not all there. So the whole presentation above is but a steaming pile.
Where I live people worship religion AND their political party and politicians. As you can guess, it's not going so well.
@@happyhaze1526 So if “rational faith is *belief* in one’s own ability to navigate through life”, on what to you base that belief? Some deeper beliefs? Or is it just a core assumption in your religion?
Many more worship football and metal bands etc.
@@happyhaze1526 How do you know you have such a capacity? Many don't. In fact, it's guaranteed you will face situations you won't know how to deal with including dying.
“I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity” -Albert Einstein
So true
@@j.pershing2197 Your facticity of what is proven or not lacks veracity. One common example is GPS, which would not work without using Einstein's theories. Everything is relative.
I like this Albert fella
@@j.pershing2197 I, too, believe this
@@j.pershing2197I'm just a curious guy, but taking the time to understand a few things in modern science informs me that Einstein was right about almost everything. I'm not taking away from the other discoveries of those you mention. You seem big on proof, but theories are needed too. Some are more useful than others, but their veracity is not dependent on labs. Testing and labs can be done on cosmic scales and machines on site. Too many examples to list at the moment.
I tried to walk the path that the narrator says is sufficient: Read the myths without joining a community that believes in them. It doesn't work to give life meaning, in my experience. It's not enough to simply know the stories and reflect on them. You have to become part of a community that lives by them. THAT gives life meaning.
Exactly, if you just read the myths you're only getting the propositions. You need the participatory, procedural, and perspectival ways of knowing which can only be found through a community. The communion of believers wrapped within the religious metanarrative is absolutely essential.
Have you looked into the contingency argument for the existence of God.
th-cam.com/video/6IYK_M3ACHI/w-d-xo.html
Apparently that gives meaning for you, which is totally cool. The beauty of it is that we can have whatever meaning we want.
So all you need is a community, not religion.
Unless you're a sadist looking for an excuse to torture and kill people. Then you need religion so you can do this terrible things to people for 'heresy'.
@@technomage6736 community in any sense is important, but I think it’s more the “living by them” part that’s most important here, community gives you the tools and resources to act on what you’ve reflected about the stories based on the most successful past examples (saints, for example). The experiential part of the myth is fundamental to its full realization, and in that regard you’ll have to discriminate what part of the whole corpus of rituals, practices, communal participation, etc you are willing to engage with and live by that, usually for sometime before you can actually start telling what works for you and what doesn’t, most of us don’t have that kind of patience yet have seen or know good examples of good religious people out there, and even some really extraordinary ones, if one is lucky.
Moderation in all things has led me to my happiest life. Not being over-reliant on one thing, be it logic, faith, hedonism, optimism, skepticism, love, hate, or anything really. I feel tremendous love by those around me, but I also accept that these things will one day be gone, and I shouldn't get too bent out of shape because of that. In the long run, everything will turn out pretty much okay. I'm alive and that's good, and one day I'll die, but that's okay too.
basically the same life philosophy ive discovered. Essentially stoicism more or less
@@ClaytonBridges Seems so. Seems that everytime I think it through the ideas of stoicism seems more rational. Maybe I'll consider it more
Well said. This seems to make sense to me
even being too moderate can be a problem its about being flexible, vigiliant and doggedly chasing the truth regardless where it takes you.
@@CommieApe 100%. Whether that is left of right politically on some issues. Or progressive v conservative on some issues. Weighing and chasing truths as unbiasely as possible
My biggest problem with religion experienced through gathering together is lack of discussion. In the end you cannot question some dogmas in your religion, because you will be seen as someone who is trying to "destroy" community by lack of faith.
I have experienced that to some degree but I have allso experienced much less insecure grupes able to hear and hold ideas and thoughts without feeling threatened.
If u want to debate your religion freely, try Judaism.
There's tonnes of discussion in religion, you've gone to the wrong place. Quakers do it. Buddha used to do it.
There are lots of conferences and sympsia doing it. Unfortunately the best funded ones seem to be geared to create a global religion for cynical purposes.
@Archie Baldwin I think purely individual engagement in religion is restrictive since it confines your spiritual beliefs and experiences to the realm of subjectivity. The objectivity of those experiences and beliefs can only be obtained through institutions, which requires collective engagement and reasoning.
Exactly. When forced into religion by govt aligned welfare, to a "Hillsong' like charity.....i wanted to discuss these dogmas, in bible study room. A new christian (indian) pastor whose faith relates to his house being sold (jesus did it).....didnt want to do actually verse study (which i had questions about).....instead.....it was 'Speak in Tongues' ..session.
How excluded and deluded by it all i felt. And it felt i was in a room with 'demonically possessed' gullible idiots.
hehehee......to counter, i started speaking SUMERIAN...and hailing the pagan gods names.
this prie$t quickly ended the session...then.
Then upstairs in the main congregation (with a Catholic commune section, at the back)....came the faith healers. A 60yr old woman, passed out on the ground , underwear on full display, in violent convulsive 'Fits".......meant, another...Demonically Possessed!!! (for me).
is it any wonder i told them to Bugger Off!....when these deceived idiots tried to Lay Their hands on me......and then claim , i had the devil in me. Judgemental fools.
We are relational creatures. We find that we have a meaningful life when we have meaningful connections. In my view.
you would make a terrible monk or nun
@@johnnyelle8052 that's interesting. It depends on the kind of monk. Western, asian...? Would you expand on your comment?
@@anaguerrerosholisticwellbe2788 I see so one religion is better than another? You're hate shows you are not religious at all. Maybe quit the internet for a while. Your type are ruining the world right now.
@@johnnyelle8052 your sense of commentary is rudimentary at best, my son
That makes sense
“Fairytales don’t teach us that dragons are real. Fairytales teach us that dragons can be slain”
I had insomnia and depression for over two years. It was during this time that I became an atheist because every attempt I made to improve my life backfired. It wasn’t until I got interested in Stoicism and read Epictetus’s first book that my life began to have meaning. Since stoicism can be practiced along-side religion, I began to trust Epictetus when he said that I had angels who protect and care for me; and so does God. This trust, alongside the many therapeutic stoic practices, relieved me of a lot of anxiety and eventually lead me to cure my insomnia and consequently, my 2 year-old depression.
For those who are skeptical: Stoicism can be practiced secularly (none religiously), but, weather it’s through changing your beliefs on religion or just applying stoic practices, it WILL improve your life.
🏆🙏
Such ancient traditions like stoicism are also more “advanced” than the Abrahamic religions. They don’t have a bunch of morality tales or false promises and delusions. They’re about confronting reality, your reality, this life and this world. It requires discipline, honesty with yourself, and even bravery.
This is a great example of what the video teaches. We must believe in greater outside ourselves. I found meaning in Christ Jesus. To truly follow Christ, it is defined by relationship but definitely challenging as in a marriage.
Religion improves the bank accounts of cons and witch doctors (preachers)
Absolutely the Stoics give life affirming advice. I also see a correspondence between Socrates and Christ. If we consider Christ as someone who urged us not to judge or punish. And who urged finding God within and eschewing institutions or institutional thought. I am a theosophist.
Religion presents us with such a great paradox. On the one hand, the personal search for meaning and spiritual truth is the most crucial pursuit we can ever undertake. It is only in our quest for the transcendent that we can ever truly find ourselves. And religion is the documented history of humanity's collective efforts in this direction. Thus it is perhaps the most precious domain of knowledge that we possess.
And yet, the history of organized religion is also the history of cruelty, ignorance, bigotry, manipulation, corruption and lies. Religion has been the cause of some of the most abhorrent behavior that we have ever engaged in.
When we view religion as a social institution, it reveals everything that is worst in human nature. But when we view religion as a personal journey, it is the means by which we can acheive our greatest potential.
This is why Jesus told his followers to pray in private, and condemned false teachers who made a public display of their supposed "righteousness". The only relationship that matters is the one between YOU and God.
Grasping after power will always lead us away from truth.
This idea that religion is responsible for countless evils is really just a myth of the enlightenment that has unfortunately become embedded in our cultural psyche.
Taking just the last 200 the majority of the myriad wars and persecutions had anything to do with religion, or, as with the communists, it was the irreligious persecuting the religious.
Please actually look at history instead of mindlessly repeating the worn out platitude about the evils of religion.
@@Mike-md7op I have a degree in history. I'm not "spouting platitudes". I can prove that what I said is true. Do I need to do that? And more importantly, if I do, will you actually listen to reason? I don't want to waste my time talking to dogmatic ideologues.
@@ahobimo732 Sorry if I came on too strong. However, the idea that religion is some extraordinary cause of violence is simply not true.
Did the communists, who killed 100's of millions over the last century, do it in the name of religion? Was WW2 about religion? Was WW1 about religion? I could go on.
Religion has been ONE cause of conflict among others, and surely the history of the West as it has become more secular clearly demonstrates that the decreasing influence of religion will not lead to a increase in peace.
Finally, I might note that it was the modern, secular West that invented nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, not our deeply religious, medieval ancestors.
We may say that modern man has stopped praying and studying religion because he has preferred to study how to invent more powerful explosives and guns.
Religion is, in fact, the greatest gift of God to man...and history is the proof of this. All traditional civilizations are nothing more than the outward expression of a particular religion. Medieval European civilization was nothing but the outward expression of Catholicism. Medieval Muslim civilization was nothing but the outward expression of Islam. Traditional Chinese civilization was the outward expression of Confucianism/Taoism/Buddhism, etc.
Now, if our ancestors were so stupid as to have been misled, over all those millennia, than I would say mankind is beyond redemption...of course then it also becomes very hard to account for how a few thinkers in Europe over the last few centuries all of the sudden discovered that everyone, everywhere, for all time, had been wrong, and that religion is actually just a source of oppression.
Secular/worldly belief systems like Communism, Socialism, Globalism and other forms of Authoritarianism has proven to be FAR more destructive than anything thing else has ever affected mankind with calamity. Even the most blood soaked and warlord producing religion such as Islam can't even begin to compare. Even in this moment, many of our global governments have the capability to bring an end to civilization in under an hour (nuclear war/M.A.D.)
I suggest the book "The Gulag Archipelago" in that case.
God and the Bible is nonsense and they don’t exist
"Meaning" almost always ends up being social in some way -- that's the clue.
Even if you're locked up alone in your lab trying to invent something, you're either trying to benefit your "tribe" or trying to gain status within it. It comes from the instinct of a social animal to do things which enhance the survivability of his tribe and bloodline. The "selfish gene" at work.
So animals DO have meaning -- they just don't notice it because living their natural lifestyles means they're never WITHOUT it long enough to experience the lack.
Humans, with our UNnatural lifestyles and overly-complex capacity for introspection, often find our behaviors sufficiently distant from those we find instinctively satisfying, that we percieve a lack of "meaning".
Our current society has made it worse, as instinctively "meaningful" activities have been rendered impractical, unfashionable, or so easy as to scarcely register on our instincts that we're doing them.
Breeding has traditionally been meaningful, but now it's tied up with unnatural fashions, laws, and arbitrary measurements of financial stability, to the point that many people choose not to do it at all.
Feeding oneself is fundamentally meaningful, but tapping on a computer Monday so as to recieve a direct-deposit Friday so that you can order pizza Saturday doesn't feel, to your monkey-brain, like feeding yourself at all -- it feels like goofing off and then having stuffed-crust manna randomly drop from the heavens.
All traditional religions (built for a lifestyle much closer to our natural one) encourage behaviors compatible with instinct -- with some compromises, since the newer the religion, the more unnatural the environment in which it needs to thrive, and the religion must always fit the SOCIETY, not the individual. You might LIKE a religion which allows you to hook-up with random girls, but would you like OTHER men to hook-up with your daughter? And there are more of them than of you. Religions, like species, adapt or perish.
So it's no surprise that religion and meaning often coincide, as religion actually exists to encourage, justify, or explain the very behaviors which we are built to find meaningful -- the behaviors which, when employed in a natural(ish) human community, tend to promote the success of that community and the DNA it carries.
This is one of the most under appreciAted TH-cam comment I’ve ever read.
Beautiful.
Bravo, Steven.
Religions exist because God exists. Mere reproduction of life does not give meaning to life. There are many now who decide not to reproduce because they see no meaning in life, only angst.
Religion and myths are more than cods of conduct and behaviours. Much like a peas of art, music or natur can carry lots of meening without puchig you to do anything in particular.
Lack of meaning or lack of aim was always a curse of epochs that lack proper philosophical thinking.
You have an amazing philosophical thinking
Exactly
So all the great philosophers such as Schopenauer lack "proper thinking". That sounds a bit arrogant.
@@joeltunnah "the lack of being." Kind of reminds me of Jordan Peterson
@@joeltunnah God is dead bro
I’m not religious and I don’t keep up with social politics, but I truly do love my life. I enjoy the lack of religion in my life, as I don’t feel threatened without something handing me meaning to live by; I make my own as I see fit. I was born into religion, but I eventually exited from it. I can confidently say that I enjoy my life, even without religion in my life.
Thats your personal experience but most people are worse off without religion and lack a meaningful life. You also don't make your own meaning you choose an act which you find meaningful and its not likely you are going to discover your own individual meaning.
@@RA-ie3ssit's because there's no other solution of keeping society from crumbling. Its sad that the one thing that creates division, stunt your potential and hate is necessary for humans to function without self destruction
I agree
From what i experience, it is not the lack of religion per se that is causing mental illness. It is the lack of meaning, your rule on the cosmos, your life, the fact that you exist, and ultimately, your suffering. I truly believe that lots of souls simply dont have their identity, and i myself never felt this bliss and content after leaving my suffocating religion, and i also know someone personally who is directly my opposite. I feel very fine that i dont have any role in this existence and i guess you can say that thats what i believe my role is, but people may find the exact opposite in believing in a religion, as they found a role from that religion.
@@nashir1187 yes, lack of meaning!
I'm agnostic. but that doesn't necessarily make me believe in nothingness. it actually gave me the freedom to believe in anything I want. it leaves me open to all the possibilities, whether there's a God or not. it actually made me appreciate all the wonders of our world without questioning its legitimacy. it leaves me wanting to know more since on our current understanding of our world, we barely know anything in the grand scheme of everything.
well said !
My thoughts as well! I have some extended family that lean fundamentalist religiously, some extended family and friends that lean mildly/not-so-much religious (or just spiritually with no religion attachment), and have some atheist family and friends. My experience with each one of them leads me to agnosticism because then I can experience new perspectives and connect well with my family and friends.
Part of my biggest fears with developing my beliefs is getting too "stuck" in one belief (for lack of a better term) and developing a cognitive bias that would make it harder to connect to others (already got some other issues that makes connecting with others hard, and I don't need something more that makes it harder than it already is). ^^;
@@Scarshadow666true. I actually find it easier to connect to different people and have a full understanding of what they believe in. I think agnosticism helps me learn more about myself and everyone else.
You still have no meaning. You can never truly appreciate the world around you without God. You will always short change yourself by not considering The Creator. Always.
@@talisikid1618 Well you see, that's what makes me appreciate life even more. By finding some meaning to something that is objectively meaningless. And honestly, I do consider the existence of God. I even speak to him from time to time. I don't know if he is listening or not or if he really exists or not, but I still do pray to him. I really want to believe that he exists but the only way for me to be able to say for sure that he is 100% real is when I die and see him for myself. And if he really does exist and decides to send me to hell for being me then it's fine. he has all the right to do so, he is God after all. but I will always be forever grateful to him for giving me the freedom to think for myself and being able to live my life as a free thinker.
It isn't so much the lack of one having religious faith that would cause them to become mentally ill so much as it is that the failure to replace it with sufficient ethics/philosophy that speaks to them would cause them to feel deeply empty and lacking in purpose.
It's literally just the lack of a collective of individuals who have similar thought process and goals.
Loneliness.
@@kamikeserpentail3778 Precisely. You can prevent isolation in a ton of ways, not just through codified spiritual systems.
Agreed
@@kamikeserpentail3778 not really. There are plenty of people i know that are very social but still have issues as described in this video. They desire a greater meaning beyond other people. And when some of them turned to faith it helped them.
The church and religion are two separate things and should not be conflated together. Especially considering a-lot of people find meaning in faith and feel irritated at the gatherings at church because they take away from ones purpose.
I think you hit the nail on the head. We are spiritual in nature, and to not only avoid including some aspect of spirituality in one’s life but to demonise it and abstain from any philosophy about our existence is a one-way road to mental illness. To deny the spiritual aspects of oneself is to deny your own humanity imo, and it’s what has led to the dehumanisation of Christians, conservatives and unborn children by the far left.
I’m not even religious, and I can see that people need religion, no matter what form, to maintain order and compassion within society; something the West is clearly lacking at a worryingly increasing rate.
I think one major thing that Religion does is being spiritual as a collective. Meditation can help oneself, and just having friends and parties will help the basic needs, but only when you pair spirituality with other people do you benefit the most. Thats why i think having a soulmate or a partner that supports you and understands you and vice versa, that you become better and have a better life. Same is also said for having true friends, not just the ones you spend time with, but ones you share with, connect with etc.
My mother had severe Bipolar disorder and prayed everyday to Jesus.
Religion isn't necessarily the answer to a lack of meaning. It's -an- answer, but there is no single answer. Some find meaning in craft, some find meaning in others, some find meaning in themselves. There's also the fact that pointing at a lack of religion as the reason for the rise of mental illness and delusion is a great way to distract from other reasons for those things, like exhaustion, abuse, exploitation and the changing of society to new modes of social and emotional expression. Juvenoia and fear of the new is another good thing to point at here, because that's something we can point at in the past and show that no, things didn't fall apart because people moved from reading novels to reading magazines, or from simply remembering things to writing them down. The world isn't in decline.
My thoughts exactly! Some people find meaning in religion, which is fine, but not being religious doesn't mean you lack meaning. People should find their own drive and motivation. My problem is when people insist that meaning can only be found in religion, especially since religion can be the cause of mental illness in some people.
Religion sets standards. People with no standards are the most easy to use and manipulate, religion or no religion. That's why 1st world politicians absolutely hate religions, because a God fearing person who believes the absolute authority in life and death will hold them accountable for humoring evil intentions when tempted by non God fearing people, ESPECIALLY those with money.
You can find meaning in other things but they are all temporary. God and reliance on God is the only constant. You can be in the middle of the desert with nothing but you will have that thing. It is not a crutch but a cure.
@@nidafatima3266 yes, some people find comfort in religion. Unfortunately, I do not, and I see no reason to force myself to believe something I don't. While I'm not sure how God can be a constant if he isn't real in the first place, I can see how people can turn to him to find peace. I simply do not find my peace in Christianity.
@@friedtea9969 Similarly, I do not find peace in things that are temporary, which are everything but God. Everything that is will eventually die. The realness of God isn’t the discussion here, it is the psychological implications of belief vs disbelief and the ramifications of meaning or lack there of on our ontological perspective. Belief is the ultimate cure to the uncertainty, existential anxiety, and lack of inherent purpose in every frame of life. To me, that’s proof enough. Sure you can say that it’s not for everyone but religion is a large framework and if you aren’t in need of this facet of it, you might need another. Also I’m not sure why you said Christianity. There’s other more better frameworks of reality out there, different versions of Truth but there’s one that is raw and pure. I’m not trying to convert you, just to share my perspective that making something temporal your meaning will ultimately destroy you at worst and make you confused at best.
Happiness can't hold a candle to meaning in the final analysis. As long as I can tap into the creative spirit, I'll not be bothered by age or loss
To be a human is by default to be creative. As a biological being you are bound to scopes and limits. Meaning your limits to the body and to understanding will always be of creative outlook.
Humans are not angels. Can not understand everything. Do not have the body to understand reality. Understand the creature you are and you will free yourself of the prison this society has forced onto you from birth and education.
Is this a quote?
On meaning, bear in mind that life was full to overflowing with meaning for the 9/11 hijackers as they raced towards their targets, and for the Crusaders on their way to Jerusalem. On the creative spirit, recall that Hitler was an artist, that Charles Manson was a songwriter, musician and singer, and that Richard Gatling's creative spirit gave us the first successful machine gun.
Of meaning we must ask, Just what does this mean, and what is it worth?; of the creative spirit, Just what has it created, and what is it worth?
@@alias_M It is a Monica Lewinsky quote
@@echillykahlil Just to clarify, my real problem is anyone saying real and salutary meaning is religious or quasi-religious in nature, and that's what I hear in this video.
I would put it that all religion amounts to an attempt to find meaning, not that all meaning amounts to an attempt to find a religion.
Thanks for your reply.
It is very interesting to me that they found the that experience of “happy” people without meaning was the same as those who were enduring extreme hardship. Before I found meaning, I too considered myself a very happy person. I genuinely thought I was having a wonderful time. But after I met my husband I came to realize that the happiness I felt was so small and shallow compared to what I have now. Even while we are experiencing hardship in the form of financial difficulty, I am filled with so much joy and purpose compared to who I was before. And returned to Christ was an essential part of it. Before I was just a mere construct of my damage and desires, now I am a person
As a pagan I agree with you. Conviccion is seriously the most important factor behind every action. It not only gives life to all things but sees life in all things. Vitality/spirit is present in everything. Soon your faith will turn into knowledge because you allowed the truth to come.
Amazing Grace.
Muslims also experience the same stuff.. same with hindus.. janes.. which tells us its a human thing and theres no supernatural element whatsoever
I agree, all hail Lucifer the light bringer.
Pure nonsense
I struggle with mental illness (anxiety and depression), and my Christian faith has been a great solace to me.
Same here. I’d be a much worse person without my faith.
I think your Christian faith *is* your mental illness.
Amen, my faith has saved me and taken me out of chronic social phobia and anxiety!
Your religion in your mind helped you but thats not a universal concept.
@@Fibonaccisghostimplying people without faith are worse people.
It's not too late to teach children about critical thinking, and then let them decide for themselves how to investigate reality with reason and evidence.
You are assuming that everyone has the capability of critical thinking. Trust me, most people would rather choose a simple life, with a determined path.
Yes!! So this!!
@@Lux_Aeterna Strongly Agree!!😃
It might not be to late for the younger generation that's really young right know. But im afraid it's little to late for the generation that's just know becoming young adults. Sadly that whole generation has become way to brainwashed. There dumbasses actually think that more government is the answer to all our problems. When in fact our problem is that we've done let our government get to damn big. Not only do we have to fight our government know we also have to fight our on people. Unfortunately we've all been played by these corrupt institutions. The same one's that are supposed to help finish molding these young adults minds into a productive part of society. But instead they've been brainwashing them into thinking America is evil because it was built solely on racism. SADLY they can't see that they're just being used just to try and destroy the greatest country that's ever been built. Yeah America has had and still has it's problems. But try and name me another country in this world that's never had any problems and still doesn't have problems. But right this minute our biggest problem is our government. In all actuality the people that's in our government is the biggest problem. They actually have the nerve and think that they can just rule over us like a dictatorship and we're not going to do anything about it. Sorry not sorry, im afraid that's just not going to be possible for us to do. The tree of freedom sometimes has to be watered by the blood of patriots- George Washington I believe
@@mitchgray5610 America is not the Greatest Country in the World it is now full of vain selfish Egotists America worships Greed and Excess
Unlike others who shut down or unsub when they see a differing opinion or view, I actually considered what was said. To preface what I’m going to write, I absolutely welcome discussion and criticism.
Why is there the assumption here that without religion, people either immediately swap, or drift, towards “unhealthy” or “unfulfilling” institutions? I can only speak with personal experience but I believe I have found mental security in the unknown, or at least continue to work towards that goal.
The inherent ignorance of being human and being a small 80-90 year blip upon the unimaginable scale of time itself (assuming I don’t die before natural causes) has led me to not necessarily give up on my search for meaning, but to displace it from external to internal. I wake up in the morning and do the things I do every day because I simply do. There does not have to be a guiding force from above to control that, in my opinion. I have found security in knowing that I *do not know*.
I do not crave a higher power to devote myself or my morality towards, I live by my own code that has undoubtedly been shaped by my Christian/western upbringing. With this is mind, my current atheism/agnosticism has not led me to devote to another power structure that I know of. I do not worship the state, nor science.
Agreed, I generally feel the same way.
Well said. Same here
Meeee tooooo
So, what do you show reverence to? There must be something.
@@garbageFreeFall himself and his big brain
My life is full of immense suffering. Medical issues, subsequent cognitive issues, financial issues downstream. I often wonder whether I'll ever be able to feel like my old self again. I never even had youth to enjoy.
But the things I've discovered in the pits of despair, and the subsequent art and ideas I can produce to explain life to others, will make it all worth it.
Hearing your authentic account on your life experience is value to me, friend.
Learn to code
@@jojstar4 Funmy you should mention that, I got into programming as a way of turning my life around. It is my art, and I live for my creations.
I was in a dark place when I posted the above, but it seems I've figured out the source of my more recent medical issues. Hidden infection! Cleared it up and I'm getting better by the day.
@@PsychicAlchemygreat to hear this!
Explain life to me genius.
Having no religion means there is no truth. Only “your” truth. If life has no rules and no true purpose then of course you’re gonna be confused, depressed and hateful. Separate yourself from this world or die with it. Your choice.
For weak people religion provides a crutch, someone/something to lead them. The lack of religion doesn't breed mental illness, religion is a mental illness that without those suffering can not cope. Religion is, in essence, a drug that maintains some level of sanity.
Well put. I think it's the first time I strongly disagree with the take on a subject of this channel. In my experience, non religious people are in no way more prone to mental illness than religious ones. Religious people don't report mental illness (in some groups it's actually considered being possessed by the devil) and/or don't seek help outside of the group.
@@ancaas7945 non religious person are mostly people who don't belive in things causing many of then a pessimistic life . Causing them illnes . My conclusion
No religion breeds mental illness.
Most of peoples chasing things to validate self worth, they only see themselves as worth anything if someone/something tells them they are. So I propose that everyone try to be a worthy person for self satisfaction and who gives a hoot about anyone/anything’s definition of you. If you spend your life with an attitude that is respectful of others and accept that there will always be more to learn, you can live a full meaningful life.❤
Amen.
What I'm hearing you say brings to mind the worship of one's self and ego. I could be wrong.
@@jamiecummings6109 not self worship. Self understanding, improving and acceptance. Knowing it’s ok to be yourself even if others do things different or poke fun at you. When honestly yourself, you shouldn’t get too embarrassed or hurt by others scorning you. Try responding with solutions not aggression. Learn about your passions and beliefs, but also learn about the things you don’t follow. Each of us is the product of life experience’s and our interactions with them. So we each have our own way of seeing things. And as human beings we are capable of accepting others for being themselves.
@@jamiecummings6109 you dont have to be religious to be a good person. You could look at ancient philosophy what is actually the Good parts that are in the religions. The rest is man made to control like dogmas. So you can be the best of yourself starting from within. Like esoteric. From inside out. You be better human for other to become better too. When you live in a place where people are good you become that if you society is bad you take bad habits, but if you control your mind and yourself you control you thought and behaviour
Success= a progressive realization of a worthy ideal.
Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape. - Terry Prachett
I consider my self an atheist/agnostic but I can't deny the fact that we humans crave for meaning in our lives.
Although, I don't think we ought to have religion to prevent falling into a state of mental ilness. At least in a general sense.
And sometimes, the worship of religion can also lead to true madness and foolishness. Especially when someone acts upon a benign, transcendental entity and then looses all sense of self-criticism. When every act is good because an entity greater than everyone supposedly says so. Religion can breed fanaticism and certainty just like the worship of the state or science can. And sometimes, even worse.
In my opinion, meaning in life rises from the necessity to defy the absurdity of life. Though I accept it and don't ignore it. But I feel the need to defy it "to be human". I think the answer here is compassion. Compassion for the humans who share the struggle with me but also recognise the potential goodness and beauty in the world we live in.
Thanks for bringing such an interesting discussion.
Compassion is best.
Atheism is just the religion of "the world". You need just as much (or more) faith to believe in "the world" as any other.
@@garethh2045 Atheism can be a sort of religion, yes. Especially when taken to the extreme. Which, in some cases, is basically the worship of science.
But essentially, faith in the existence of an entity or entities (theism) is vastly different from not having faith in the existence of those (atheism). One belives in meaning and purpose coming from an exterior source, the other does not. One belives in an objective morality, the other not necessarily. And so on.
What you say reminds me more of pantheism.
Belief systems are evidence of Insanity. The human genome describes the prototype of a remarkable creature. (see my standalone comment for the full argument)
Case for Christ
By Lee Strobel
Atheist lawyer journalist attempt to disprove Bible
To me life has more meaning not believing there is a god or subscribing to a religion. I feel like this is it. The life your living now. Right in front of you. Gives me a sense of intense realness and gratitude that concouisness is even possible. Its mind blowing.
My five pet peeves regarding English vocabulary/syntax:
1. Typing “your” when “YOU’RE” (you are) is required.
2. Typing “their” when “THERE” is required (and vice versa).
3. Using “people” when “PERSONS” is required.
4. Using “literally” when “VIRTUALLY” is required.
5. Using the two words “OFF OF” in succession.
I think the real issue here is a question of value, not necessarily meaning. A serial killer presumably finds great meaning in murdering people. Your source of meaning can be disordered. But what's valuable? Is life inherently valuable? What about pursuing virtue? These are deep questions that can find their answer in different ways, but I think God is the best answer.
@@Justinxoxo Psalm 82:6 is widely regarded as God referring to either other supernatural beings such as Satan and his fallen angel followers or those elected to have authority on earth such as kings. The word used is “elohim” which can mean God, demons, idols, gods of other nations, and the judges elected by God over Israel. It is not to be interpreted as God just saying we are all gods. This is grossly taking scripture out of context. Even in Jesus referring to Psalm 82:6 in John 10:34, Jesus does this in order to show that in scripture there are examples of other beings called “gods” as he is about to be stoned by unbelieving Jews. Jesus implies that there are influential men and spiritual beings can be related to the title of “gods” but this does not mean they are divine beings of essence similar to God. Jesus in this defense outsmarts the unbelievers in using scripture to affirm that whether they believe him to be of the essence of God or not, he cannot be judged off of the title of “Son of God” which he previously claimed and was being threatened for.
In my case, religion caused my mental illness. Because my family wouldn't take me to a psychiatrist. They insisted on taking me to what is called an "exorcist". Who would hit me with a piece of wood and tell me that it is necessary to force the demon out. I had to see a psychaitrist on my own. And after many years of medication i finally got better.
I'm sure such people believe the mental health industry is a tool of the devil, because people leave and use it instead.
That isn't religion, that's child abuse.
Same. My religious upbringing scarred me.
In most cases, they actually the ones who "have" it. Lol. Deluded. Thinking that you are possessed by a demon.
That is called ignorance.
You have to switch religion bud. Search for something that makes sense to you
The main issue is "lack of meaning".
The suggestion of "tapping in the wisdom embedded in the mythos" (5:22) can be misguided at the very least, leading to more problems than it promises to solve.
It may contain insights on the human mentality, however it is also a tool for destruction and machination. On a large scale, it has been used to manipulate and destroy for millennia. On a personal scale, it can easily be misunderstood as even the most knowledgeable and devout religious leaders can't agree on how to interpret religious scriptures, leading to much infighting and the schisms we saw throughout history.
I'd argue that "insights for how to cope with elements of the human condition" (5:55) can be found in all sorts of literature, fictional or otherwise. A book may change one's life, but so may a film, a videogame, or a simple conversation at the right time in one's life.
Meaning can be derived from multiple sources, and admittedly, none of them seem perfect (in the sense of not having a negative side, and not necessarily being easily reachable). However that also means one does not need to believe in fairy tales to find the meaning of their lives. instead, just being inspired by them can go a long way into positively changing one's life. One can imitate or be inspired by Christ without being a theist, and they can do the same to any historical or fictional figure, and act like them... while recognising their (lack of) realism.
"For the truths of religion to impact our life, we do not need to fully understand their meaning"(11:17)
Not understanding them leads to many problems, including the aforementioned "misunderstanding and infighting". A teacher who explains in cryptic messages will receive mostly mediocre results from the students. Not exactly what I'd call "the most elaborate system" (8:21).
"Myths are encoded in symbolic form" and symbols mean different things for different people.
In short: religion used to give people some meaning, but now they have to find it elsewhere... and often are terrible at it.
@Commie Hammer
Can people agree on how spirituality works? Is it a reliable guide to help oneself or others?
Please explain and be clear.
@@winstonoboogie2424 impossible. If you have a certain belief system that includes the worship of an entity or a principle, you have a religion. There is no God without religion.
"... however it is also a tool for destruction and machination."
What is this not true for?
Religion has been a tool used to spur crowd madness and purges.
As has political ideology.
As has any system of shared thinking.
The result of this form of use is destruction.
Science has given us the ability to incinerate virtually all of existing civilization in the course of a couple of hours.
The result of this form of use is destruction.
Yet, need I abandon a tool because of it's capacity for both good and evil?
What is a tool without a wielder?
Is the question of good and evil, one for the wielder or the tool?
How do you come an understanding of good and evil, if there is no meaning to anything?
From this perspective, Life is just as meaningless as death, neither are of importance, existence without essence.
The death of a billion people would be about as meaningful as the current state of a rock I stepped over a month ago.
For it to matter, it has to mean something, it has to possess some value, that "objectively" does not exist.
What you're missing is that you're not taking the symbolic interpretation, but a literal one.
It's intentionally and explicitly subjective, finding the "meaning" in it, is supposed to be constructed from how you see it.
The point isn't to "believe" these stories, their factual, material truth of falsity is irrelevant to the deeper meaning they're trying to get at. That deeper meaning is where the truth in a religion lies.
For instance, "God", understood literally, is this all-knowing, all-powerful creator that exists way above you somewhere.
Understood symbolically, my interpretation is that "God" is the idea of the defining value of the universe, superordinate value, a representation of highest moral and practical virtue, and your broker in dealing with the universe.
These insights pop up everywhere, yes, but two things to keep in mind.
1. Much literature is inspired by religious texts or myth
2. Religious texts act as the aggregation of these myths and stories that held this meaning, they are not one coherent story per se, but rather an amalgamation of learned subjective philosophies of humanity told through story.
You don't need to "fully" understand it in order to use it. In fact, this idea of a "full understanding" is an abstraction.
Need you understand every chemical process happening in each nerve cell, muscle fiber, bone and ligament in your arm, to hold out your hand?
The idea is that, though you may not have the total control or knowledge of what your dealing with, that which lies outside your conscious understanding and control can act for you betterment. That you have to trust, at least yourself, to do it right, and perhaps you'll reach an understanding you can work with. This, in it of itself, is a moral lesson with deeper implications.
"Separate god from religion"
Which god?
If your answer is "there is only one god", you're already assuming Christianity is right (or at least an Abrahamic religion, probably), which enforces monotheism.
If your answer points to another specific god, then, again, you're assuming *that* specific religion is right.
Indeed, there is no god without religion.
For people who have litte connection to religion or mythos at all it seems impossible that someone can have no ulterior motive when fighting for something they believe in. Today nearly everyone thinks the jihads and crusades in the name of god were just excuses to go pillage and conquer. It is beyond their scope of reality to think someone really fights for their god.
Why is religion the only vehicle for finding meaning to life? You can find meaning and purpose without religion.
How do you even define religion/mythos in this context?
Because we need the little lies to believe the big ones. Just as Terry Pratchett put it in Hogfather:
th-cam.com/video/vPS5Yw_YsHA/w-d-xo.html
Humanism just copied Christian morality and took it for granted as "self-evident"
A purpose greater than oneself that gives meaning to one's life. That works best for me.
@@Jkp1321 Basis of Christian morality and every other morality is one thing, that is: liberation from suffering
I think the breakdown comes from what one means by religion. If you take a closer look at all 'religions' around the world you find some very different looking belief systems. Some of which aren't at all concerned about the existence of some ultimate conscious being that is running the show. Many things that we label as 'religion' are simply a symbolic framework for viewing the world and how we fit into it.
Everyone worships something, if they know it or not.
Religion isn't monolithic. It's a spectrum. And some of the religions are dangerous, violent and have terrible morality. We have religions which glorify excessive nihilism for the present life for the afterlife.
If you define mental illness as delusion, lack of clarity, anxiety, fear etc, I think religious societies have these in much more quantity compared to non religious society. I do understand the importance of religion in human evolution, but if humans need to go for the next level of evolution, we need to go beyond religion to shape our morality.
Also the answer to nihilism isn't religion but family. A big family. The answer to nihilism is meditation. The answer to nihilism is confidence in humanity and the importance of humanity. When you are deep into consumerism, you will always feel empty.
@Vikas Khetan - What's your definition of a non-religious society? Something like the Soviet Union or modern day North Korea, where the government and/or its leader is worshiped? Replacing a sky fairy with the state is still a form of religion.
@@barfo281 these the worst examples. I'd say Japan or most of the Western nations as a non religious society. The problem in the west is that their morals are too tied with religion. Morality and ethics beyond religion is possible and individuals have been able to achieve it. But as a group achieving that will need institutionalisation and state support.
@@vikaskhetan7382 So you do support the concept of religion as long as government is the entity being worshiped?
@@vikaskhetan7382 who says Japan is non religious. They worship household deities and totems. Japan is not as non religious as people think. It’s called Shinto religion. Very similar to what people practice in South East Asia. In India also, there are similar communities who worship such household dieties and sacred trees and forest. Such communities do not profess it like those People who follow Abrahamic religion. But they are not non religious. They are simply not professing it in a significant way.
Not some. All. Look what lack of self-criticism did in Christianity. 15 centuries of wars on religion and persecutions commited by Christians on Christians, only because they disagreed on minor details.
Lack of self-criticism is the essence of religion as well as totalitarian ideologies, such as Stalinism, Maoism, and obviously Nazism.
Whoever disagreed with the leader, was sent to Gulag, or other camp where he would be worked to death.
They also had their forms of cult worship. Hailing to Fuhrer's portrait and so on.
It was perhaps most obvious in Maoism. At it's peak, people were supposed to 'give reports' to Mao's portraits while holding The Red Book. On mass gatherings people would also write with their blood things like 'Mao made me the happiest person in the world'
I grew up religious, many different forms of Christianity. I do not attribute that or the lack of that to my mental illness. I attribute living under someone else’s hypocrisy to my mental illness. My developing mind was nurtured under the contradictory nature of someone’s grand hypocrisy
You sound like you would enjoy the book Invisible Man (by Ralph Ellison). It explores that very theme.
Everyone is a hypocrite, Christians admit they are flawed.
Well said.
Religion offers manipulation, greed, arrogance. Religion wont connect you to a higher power or higher self. Religion connects you to lost sheep that cannot think for themselves and have no answers. Spirituality offers a chance to connect. Religion and spirituality are not the same things. Religions goal is money, cult like manipulation.
A narcissist perhaps? If not for double standards, they'd have no standards at all...
I don't know what the meaning of life is. But I have found at least three things that make it meaningful: beauty, love, and compassion.
Have you looked into the contingency argument for the existence of God.
th-cam.com/video/6IYK_M3ACHI/w-d-xo.html
I like that
So believing in angels will help me avoid being depressed. Thank you i will now believe in angels.
Believing you have a purpose and life has meaning will.
At least we agree on that, except I make my own meaning @@RA-ie3ss
I can’t see returning to religion after having left it. I left it because it was so obviously untrue. Returning would require me to live a lie - which would surely lead to problems.
Why view religion materialistically? The writers of the major religious texts obviously weren’t materialists. Why do we continue to view these texts materialistically?
facts
@@andrewternet8370 because reality is materialistic. We exist in a measurably physical world, I dont care about the authors opinions. I care about whether or not their claims are true, and as of now none have been proven true.
Well, religion has many approaches, you can't say that is obviously untrue. And if you look closely, all of them are mostly symbolical and speak of the same principles.
I actually see some wisdom in it, since it can't be coincidence that different people, regions and times were talking about the same thing, but differently.
@@andrewternet8370 How is being convinced something is untrue being materialistic? I had a very active spiritual life... a personal relationship with God ( through Jesus, not with him, which is heresy)... the whole nine yards. Then I studied the Bible and other religions and it all fell apart. Did I become a materialist?
I was diagnosed with bipolar type 2 during the pandemic. I’m still searching for the nature of the universe and a meaning. The more I look for the answers and truths. The more I mentally drift from objective reality
Read the bhagavad-gita. I feel as though that book really answers everything
Give time to other people.
Don't focus on what Humankind say. Use their teachings as a guide...not as #FACTS.
Focus on what you see around You.
Look at creation. Pay close attention. To life...all life forms. Sun,moon,star,,sky,wind, rainbow,rain,ocean, trees, animal's.... mountains ....
Nature. Don't focus on what MAN SAYS... focus what you can physically see .
When i practice the above mentioned. It's my conclusion. NO MORTAL MAN....is responsible for CREATION.,,,so conclusion in my opinion. Is ..there is a HIGHER POWERFUL ENTITY!!
You're not bipolar ok, you just need to remain in the constant moment.
I can't talk too people anymore even though I'm surrounded by fools.
Funny, I have always thought that religion breeds mental illness not the other way around. But that also does not exclude deep spirituality imo 🤔
You are exactly right..
Strong societies are religious so that is very unlikely
Aristotle defines moral virtue as a disposition to behave in the right manner and as a mean between extremes of deficiency and excess, which are vices. This is the error of scientism so prevalent an ideology today.
Perhaps consciousness itself is mental illness.
Religion grounds you in reality and gives you routines and ritual with which to live out meaning
I’m pretty much the only person at my workplace who is a Christian. Everyone I work with is either constantly sad/hopeless, or mentally unstable. Whenever they ask me “Why are you so happy?” I say, “Believing in something higher than myself gives me a sense of hope and a will to live because of something to look forward too after I pass away.”
Listen to yourself. How delusional, arrogant and disgusting
You believe in something that doesn't exist though.
@@Darth_Nox13the fish might not see anything above the surface of the pond, but that doesn’t mean the above world doesn’t exist
@@Darth_Nox13 Thank you for responding to my comment. Even though we might disagree, I hope everything will go well in your life 🙂.
God bless you my man 😎
I cannot agree as a secular person. I been much happier ditching the trauma hounds for good.
religion is meant to create and defeat enemies, faith is there to create a better world for all - just replace past with hell and future with heaven
Maybe if religions couldn't use hellfire and brimstone sermons, they wouldn't screw so many people. However, that would give the holy man fewer sheep in his flock, and he wouldn't like that.
Mr Speaker, you make a salient point - that most people aren't quite aware their lives lack meaning. Reading the comments shows that the 'religious,' the anti-religious, and the non religious often have much in common: they never pause to consider that religion , or the religious myths or stories can re-link ( religio) to their deepest selves, and their deepest selves to life, to the cosmos ( Religion and Yoga have much the same etymology) - that they have an inner meaning that goes to the core of their personal suffering and struggle. And for the potential in these stories to generate the highest meaning and realisation not only for themselves, but to understand they are crucial for the destiny of humanity and the planet.
A false religion cant connect you to anything of value. Only a spiritual endeavor can do that. Religion and spirituality are not the same things.
@@gothboschincarnate3931 First define "value".
Oh yeah. Believing in a guy who demands absolute submission, constantly threatening that you will go to hell if not, is supposed to give my life any meaning and connect me with the cosmos...
Being a blind slave to a sadistic tyrant who doesn't even exist has to be one the most meaningless and dumb things you can do with your life.
It was useful for the nobles and church to force most of people into submission and effectively making them slaves. The peasant class.
@@piotrmalewski8178 That is only one definition of God and something of a stereotype.
As for the peasants, they had their own forms of religion, regardless of what the aristocracy thought. The fact that they did became an occasional embarrassment in the middle ages.
@@thursoberwick1948 You can't deny that in medieval times, religion was an important part of the feudal system. In fact it was the whole justification for it.
Yeah, and the Inquisition and the Salem Witch Trials were the products of healthy mental processes.
Whenever I see someone claiming that a lack of Jesus is destroying the USA, I joke that the Salem Witch Trials must have been what the USA was supposed to use for law.
Thank you for voice of reason. Appears on these vids if you don’t comply and agree w the masses and butt kissing of the topic you are shunned. Thanks for speaking up
The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky is a great read for anyone enjoying this video regarding this concept.
There is a story of a sawed off ham bone. The 4 year old daughter asks her mother why the ham bone is being sawed off. The mother does not know, she just did it because her parents did it when she was a kid. The grandfather when asked does not know as it was done when he was a kid. Then the great-grandmother is asked and says it was because the pot they had back in the day was small so cutting off part of the bone had to be done to fit the ham.
Religion is often claimed as belief in abstract being(s). But in truth it is a belief system regardless of the abstract. Some aspects and traditions might become out dated but not understanding why they are done is when religion loses it's value. This can be seen in things such as marriage which use to be about family and community building but now is more of a narcissistic day of self indulgence for the bride to be broken when things are no longer desirable.
Perhaps the ideal of the abstract eternal damnation is more just a tactic to try and scare some into being moral as many are not deep thinkers about what will happen as a result of their actions.
For in a way the Judeo-Christian god and by extension Allah is effectively a god of morality and consequence. In this it could be argued that in turning from god Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by the loss of sound morals. The idea that while doing the right thing might not always result in the desired result every time it generally tends to result in a better situations in the long run.
It could be argued that Ann Rand's Objectivist ideals are effectively trying to find meaning in a meaningless existence.
Impressive deduction
@@thotslayer9914 I do.
I am a deep thinker. Someone who was raised religious, became disillusioned and rejected religion, then came back to religion of my own choice later in life. There is definite value in religion as it pertains to the individual and his unique place and role in the universe. We can’t and never will know everything, and that is the space where religion continues to exist. It seems people are either dismissing that or misinterpreting the message here because of their bias against organized religion.
Did you come back to your way of belief or have you found another?
"I am a deep thinker." xd f off
@Commie Hammer religion and spirituality go often hand in hand.
What relation were you raised in and what did you come back to?
@Commie Hammer yes ,spirituality is a better and more useful term,is more flexible and in a sense you can follow your own way without the narrow restrictions of organize religion.i myself can live without religion but I can't live without spirituality.
"Man's search for meaning" by Victor Frankel. Religion is one tool. There are many others. It's the lack of meaning that is hurtful.
The Cross has profound meaning if one but takes time to consider the timeless Truths of the supreme sacrifice.
Well, there is no meaning. None. Anything can have whatever meaning one wants to give it. But that means there isn't any. It's a fabrication
@@commercialrealestatephilos605
As does the Dao
Your feelings got hurt by this video LMAO
The devil will try to convince you to worship yourself instead of following God. If you hate your sins follow God.
Secular humanism helps to reduce any negative effects of a lack of religion. The problem with religion is there is no scientific proof, so for those well versed in Science it makes no sense to have faith in something without good evidence.
“When you are studying any matter or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only what are the facts, what is the truth that the facts bear out? Never let yourself be diverted either by what you wish to believe or by what you think could have beneficial social effects if it were believed. But look only and solely at what are the facts”
- Bertrand Russell
It's unclear to me what point you're trying to make
Human beings are emotional beings and therefore, need emotional support. And philosophy- not only the factual kind - greatly helps with that.
@@FiniteSimpleFox he's using a quote to make a point about how this videos thesis is contrary to the way you are supposed to approach philosophical thinking... this is supposed to be a philosophy channel, but it's more quasi philosophy lately.
If thinkers have gotten one thing wrong, for the past 200 years, it's that religion preceded religious instinct.
It's the other way around.
This can be seen by the rapid rise of things like Socialism, Science Fiction, Environmentalism, etc. As soon as Christianity began to decline in importance in the early-mid 1800's, these (and others) rose to popularity immediately.
I think that Nietzsche, Dostoyevsky, and Jung were the more perceptive thinkers who realized that if people didn't have a religious belief system to satisfy their religious instinct, they would make one.
lol... I think you meant to say the 1960's. Because the US, and the Western World, was still a very VERY Christian civilization before the degeneration of the mid 60's and so on.
@@SirMattomaton How preposterous, yes, those moral times before the 1960’s with all that great slavery, bigotry, and misogyny. You are delusional sir! The 1960’s was the start of the new enlightenment and the freedom from myth.
on that note, and im asking bcs im curious, would you say that since the homo sapiens (assuming at some point) have begun to develop complex mental capacities they/we also develop religious instinct? I agree with your points, I'm just curious if our conclusion is the same
@@rzrdzr It's likely developed due to our tendency to rely on safety through numbers. We always had to find a way to keep large numbers of people feel the same and the ability to have the same interests.
A good way to achieve that is through religion where the beliefs of one person would correlate with the beliefs of another, hence, the chances of breaking off or schisms of a group would be less. And due to our nature, after we nearly got rid of religion, we started branching off to other beliefs to keep a sense of community.
@@vondantalingting this is very well thought out, thank you very much for sharing your opinion
The first essay where I think you’re halfway there. 1. Many people are experiencing trauma- complex post traumatic disorder is everywhere, stemming from a childhood of abuse and dehumanization. 2. It is difficult to create a satisfying narrative out of these circumstances. We see many people experiencing love fe as victims or dealing with their abuse via medication. 3. In most cases over the centuries, this abuse narrative was upheld by religion. When you can’t tell a life affirming story about yourself, when you need to forget, chunks of your life go missing or become dis integrated as a means of survival. Religious teaching was used as a surrogate and as an excuse. People clung to religion to explain what was happening- to provide meaning for their abuse. And/or they adopted religious narratives to offer hope. In most cases, abusers used religious narratives to justify their violence. 4. Given this purpose of religion generally, people seeking to create a new narrative for their lives have necessarily quit their religions. 6. This work of getting rid of the old story leaves people in the scary disorienting space of No Story for a while. Their life falls apart for a while. They often feel like they have fallen apart while their life has no meaning. They are open prey for cults, extremist religions, and every other parasite. It is when they’re at their most vulnerable. 7. In time, after the freedom to go searching and finding life affirming ideas, they are able to ascertain a better narrative for their lives. Oftentimes they discover what’s called spirituality, as they reconnect with god or whatever they call the eternal divine.
So these philosophers are witnessing the breakdown, which is as horrible as they describe. But it’s a necessary step toward personal growth and a more authentic life-affirming narrative. Cheers!
great comment
We need people like you i just lose my shit when people attribute meaning to religion its madness i would go insane if i let god in my self because hes teachings are so violent you have to hate yourself all the time to implement his teachings its unhealthy its either heaven or hell there is no in between the extreme just break everyone backs its so violent its a total war zone if you introject the teachings no wonder people tear each other apart for the name of this filth its against human nature
Do we as a species need permission to commune with a higher plane / self / power ........
@@terryjross1184 No, absolutely not. You just need a "connection".
@@gothboschincarnate3931 yes of course
So how have so many people been convinced to go through a man in a uniform ?
Back in my 20s I used to hear grown ups say that I might be an atheist at that time, but when I grow older, will believe again. I think what they really meant is that I would return to religion. I don't believe in anything supernatural today but I do agree with the part about myth and meaning.
Heard the same, but it indicates nothing more, than fear of death overcomes people as they age to such an extend, they would return to fairytales.
Look, projection!
We all have to agree “mankind” is flawed. Ego, gets in the way of everything, good or bad.
Mankind created religion, mankind documents religion, mankind interprets religion, mankind profits from religion, mankind controls using religion.
Mankind thinks it is the smartest being on the planet, never ending wars, never ending destruction of the earth, never ending poverty, never ending starvation.
Now tell me religion works?
The only reason the world would be in chaos without religion is because those that blindly believed have woken to the lies.
Which brings me to the world is continuously in chaos.
Wonder why people blindly accept government control? It’s the same people that blindly believe in religion
One of the few comments I vehemently condone with.
The Cry for Myth (1991) is a book by the American existential psychologist Rollo May. Great book.
Perhaps he has a better imagination than the weak ones.
Thank you 🙏🏾
Can you possibly send me the link to download that book
@@suhani6677 try Libgen
Rollo May was great on so many levels.
Set personal goals, solve your personal problems, solve your communities problems, Try to solve global problems.. Always be honest. If you’re lonely make friends. If you don’t know how then read books on doing so. Those are just a few ways of how to add meaning to your life. Religion is just a Cult + time.
Recently, I watched 'Three Thousand Years of Longing.' It is about a woman who tells a myth about how she rediscovered the need for myth in her life. I think the enormous hatred and blind devotion in politics is an effort to find meaning. I recently played a video game which uses the quote by Nietzsche that when you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back at you. It then describes a character whose life is shattered. Every morning he wakes up as a different person with a different meaning to his life. He never recognizes that he is always waking up as a different person. I appreciate your video for capturing what is going on in all these events that I have been watching.
Which game is that?
what game?
camping here for a reply on the name of the game
Succubus Academia. This doesn't enfold until the last few minutes of the game.@@NiekLodewijkx
Succubus Academia. This doesn't enfold until the last few minutes of the game.@@bigcheetoPF
In my experience both religious and non religious people can find themselves feeling lost in a meaningless world. But non religious people tend to be more willing to rationally analyze what can actually give them satisfaction and meaning. Whereas the religious people I’ve known tend to accept things the way they are, even if miserable, because they believe god has a plan for them.
@Richard Fox According to who? You?
@Richard Fox How can you say that? How do you know?
@Richard Fox No, not at all.
@Richard Fox
We are making it so.
In my opinion problem is that religion, spirituality, meaning and so on are hard to practice and hard to understand. 'Meaninglessness' is mainstream. You got to go so hard against the stream of this world if you want to find spiritual truth of which the Jesus and saints are talking.
Looks to me that we don't get what they try to explain not becauce it doesn't exist, but because it is hard to get. I believe so, because when I try harder, or suffering force me to try harder and open up to it, I find out that there is something. Something greater than me and at the same time part of me. So I become curious to find out what it is and how to get closer to it.
Also I can pretend that I didn't notice anything and focus on pain or boredom, repeat my old pattern of meaningless thinking and miss the oportunity to expirience anything fresh and new in my existence.
Just my point of view. Not trying to preach.
Its easy for lemmings to fall off of the cliff....
I have a saxophone. It's overpowered as hell. I literally play every single day and it gives me a self sufficient form of purpose.
Yes, yes I find the same thing is true with my garden.
OP sax 🎷 hell yeah!!! I have an OP guitar and it does the same for me🤘
@@mkultra7940 same🌻🌻
New Yorks alright if you like saxophones
your saxophone is your religion
Religion actually means 'to bind again'. So our quest is to become conscious about what we are binding ourselves to, and why.
I was recently approached by a missionary. Though I am not religious, it was a strangely satisfying and nostalgic interaction, as though I felt a long lost fragment of previous centuries and healthier times.
That could be your spiritual and subconscious recognition for reconciliation with your Creator. As humans, it’s pretty clear we have a disposition to want to believe in something more than ourselves. Christianity actually speaks to the whole story whereas Judaism and some of Islam speak to the partial story. I’d be happy to share the Gospel message with you if you’d like to receive the information 💛
@@paradiserestored6179 Dude....christianity is based on judaism
They are trained for this, they are trained to capture your mind,
Once my father was aproached by a misaionary ,offering $4 per month if convert whole family into christianity.
Never follow any religion , only dharma and karma stands , an eternal lawful duty which nobody can stop you from fulfilling.
@@markodiusrex7114 yes, Jesus was Jewish however He fulfilled the law
@@eee9034 who’s they?
I'd say that a better title for this video is "Why lack of meaning breeds mental illness"
See, I could get behind that as opposed to the ridiculous current title.
"Religion" is when you have clearly labeled objective standards. Having subjective unexamined values is what leads to problems, and is what can be described as a lack of religion. A false religion is following an unexamined moral story, aka, tribalism.
Yes, personally I follow the Bible’s rules on beating my slaves. I always stop just short of beating them to death. I am having some legal issues after stoning my neighbor to death. Bastard kept doing his yard work on the sabbath and I could not take it anymore
This is the reason you have mentors, aka priests, monks etc. for guidance and perspective.
Without great guidance we can easily become lost especially if there is nothing to compare or don't have someone with good intentions to confide in. Do your best, seek help. Life is a daily struggle for all, never give up. Fight to believe in yourself and keep on a good path.
Yes, proof why Islam is the greatest religion.
Beliving in ourselfs is a terrible idea since we are constantly disapointing ourselfs. We are imperfect creatures. Just beliving in ourselfs can make us belive that we are superior to others.
I am muslim. I have believed in God as long as i can remember. I have lost my faith, and also regained it in time. I am not perfect by any means and still have much to learn.
But I will simply say, it is very nice to *believe* that there is something there guiding you and taking care. Anytime anything goes right or wrong, its part of the plan.
Belief in anything unsupported by evidence is delusion, nothing more.
Life in itself is meaning. I think people lack the appreciation because they are unaware of how much is required for life to exist on Earth. Once you realize how precious life is and that you get to experience such a thing at all, you do your best to figure out what in living that life gives you purpose. The meaning is the entire journey itself.
This should be sung from the rooftops. Thank you.
This comment is underrated. Thanks.
So basically just practicing gratitude? I understand how that's good but that doesn't bring meaning in my opinion.
no. life have no meaning. life is not precious.
@@filipmazic5486 without God it is not happen.
People who live with experienced doubts actually have less mental and behavioral issues than people with taught certitudes
could you expound?
Any statistics?
Jonahs. Yep. We who come back have stronger faith than most of the untested.
But. Parable of the lost sheep and all that. We'll alway be found.
why so many likes? this doesnt explain anything, just a claim
@@okyoky405 Probably fakers. People really hate Christianity.
It's not life that imbues us with meaning, but we who must give life meaning
Exactly thats why religion is still important because it gives meaning to life and when u die u might go to eternal peace, when u become an atheist u dont believe in any God, making it harder to live life, u will only believe in yourself. I still prefer atheism tho tbh 😅
Subjective emptiness. Religion is greater than self-worship.
The Absurd in the words of Camus.
If so what's the meaning of your life then?
I think that can same apply to Terry Pratchett’s quote/ Deaths dialogue from discworld, stating:
“Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.”
To all my fellow Christian believers who are scrolling through the comment section and get sad: Luke 23:34 "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they're doing...'"
I have listened to Schoppenhauer's book on pessimism 3 times. It left me with this exact conclusion-a purposeless people will go mad.
We are all purposeless.
@@collinmc90 Thats why Europe will become muslim majority in no time ....
@@collinmc90 is what an nihilist/atheist would say.
@@collinmc90 no.
Its more like not making peace with being purposeless will make us mad for me
This was beautifully articulated and well researched. Thank you. Even someone who has a hard time believing in mainstream institutional religions can appreciate the psychological vacuum that is left when faith is abandoned. I surmise that is the reason, as society moves further and further away from these belief systems, that our own attempts to create meaningful stories is also suffering. One of the common complaints, for example, among those who critique modern films is how much the hero's journey, as described by Joseph Campbell, is no longer satisfactorily portrayed in many modern films. Many modern heroes in cinema seem already naturally endowed with all the traits of success, and don't seem to have to through all the trials and tribulations that used to be the hallmark of hero.
Lack of faith leaves no vacuum unless you have an ego problem where you can't accept the way things are for what they are. Where you get greedy and feel you need something special beyond this physical world and your mind.
Faith comes from a mix of insecurity and greed.
I think Atheist can almost be a new religion, just remove god and replace that concept with mainstream science.
@@legalfictionnaturalfact3969 There is no "lack of faith" in anyone. Everyone has their faith in something or somebody, be it religion, environmental green green green, government, themselves, someone else, material things, jobs, but I believe everyone has a God that they worship or think about higher than themselves. The native americans had faith in and worshiped the sun as God. Everyone puts their faith in something or someone. I think it's best to put your faith in Jesus, because he set an example of how we should live and showed us how to live and believe all the way to his death.
@@wolf-bearchief3705 ...no. atheism isn't scientism, though an atheist can be a scientist. i am atheist, but not scientist.
@@2tycade no. some don't have faith at all. just knowledge. if i dont know the answer to something, i dont' say i " have faith that x".. i just say I DON'T KNOW. lol. again, faith is arrogance and greed.
be happy with what things actually are. you're not special. that's just what it is. really takes the pressure off, when you think about it. it's freeing.
Actually most religious people I have met are eager to avoid accountability or accept that life can be finite. The overarching religious theme is that everyone gets taken care of when they die, whether it be punishment or pleasure. People believe in something like religion because the true, unfeeling nature of the universe remains a mystery and source of fear for many.
Noone will be taken care of in the afterlife unless they are accountable , respectable human beings in this life.
The wrong perception of Christianity and false teachigs of 500+ protestants sects are to blame.
@@ОтацТорпедије no if there is a God and anyone to blame, it's God and his shitacular way of conveying the supposed most important message to humanity ever. If there is a God that cares for salvation he'd never go about it in such an idiotic way.
Seems a bit presumptuous to me to assume that all religious belief hinges on a fear of death and the unknown.
Ignoring economic factors is a completely absurd way to account for social problems.
I had never considered the lesson of Jesus Christ in that light - to live our best lives, to strive to reach as much of our potential as possible. Thank you. I have not considered myself Christian for a long time, but this allows me to see the religion from another angle.
It's all good and nice, but remember Christians started persecuting each other already in the IIIrd century over differences in opinions on certain dogmas.
The problem that is the root of all evil in all religions is the lack of self-criticism. And religions aren't self critical by definition. If something is self critical it is not religion, because self-criticism eliminates faith.
@@piotrmalewski8178 this is so wrong it’s almost unbelievable anyone could think this.
@@stephengehly2319
Do you think all the young socialists and communists engage in self critique? They don't, so it can be argued that they follow a form of non theistic religion
How do you know Christianity is true?
@@stephengehly2319 Actually, it makes sense. But I guess depending on if you have religious beliefs or not, your perception of what was said may be more or less something you don't want to hear. Try to read and and think about it.
The lack of religion doesn't cause mental illness. We can give our own lives meaning. I think its less about religion, and more about community and social relationships.
The lack of common sense and free will makes u a good zombie for manipulation from religious absurdities
The Bible says to stay away from like 3% or less of all human activities, mostly the ones with horrendous consequences. How is being forbidden to commit adultery a lack of free will, when you can still enjoy 97% of human activities without a problem?
@@theboombody u have fun
religion also made people go to church every weekend, going outside and meeting others, making it much easier to have friends
And we atheists never go outside, meet people, or have friends.
@@Johnsmith-hp6twOf course not, but the family a church community builds is unmatched. It’s also holds people accountable and gives purpose.
@@mimia.4810 we atbdists don't want love or purpose. And we want to keep sinning without accountability
I have probably engaged myself more, both intellectually and philosophically, trough this channel than any other way.
I guess i just had to find the right medium.
Btw, for this kind of material to be absolutely free makes me really happy.
Religion is the training wheels. Jesus said We are gods John 10 34 ....
@@AttainingExcellenceJesus said right before that "Have I not already said you are gods?" Which he is referring to Psalms 82:6. In that chapter including 82:6 he says this.
"How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.
But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.”
Psalms 82:5-7
Context is key. Don't cherry pick for your own purposes
@@AttainingExcellence that's gnosticism not Christianity
@@FirstName-zt2my again, what you are preaching is called gnosticism which is a parasitic religion that takes things from everything in this case catholicism and twists them
You are just a cultist
Do not believe the lies of these gnostics
St Thomas Aquinas was part of this cult but rejected it and embraced catholicism, you can read everything he said and he goes against gnosticism
Gnosticism is also the religion of the Nacional socialist that invaded Europe
Overthinking meaning and existence also breeds mental illness in the same way
Human soul ultimate search for is unconditional love. All these philosophies and searches begin with crises and end with unconditional love and transcendance. The highest unconditional love is God. Love=truth=consciousness and they are all one thing undivided reality that is god.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is the mental illness
Even if it cost your sanity, it's the one thing worth overthinking about. And _if_ Christ is the way, the truth & the life, it's the most important thing you should be pondering about, even if just for a moment in your, admittedly I would say for us all-ever fleeting, uncertain & chaotic existence.
May God be with you in all truth.
Tiktok is the way :))
@@artblock3539 Okay man. I'm just entertaining that if He's true and the alternative is, is that you don't search & ponder: it'll cost more than just your sanity, but your soul. I'll be praying for you to just consider.
Very good! The words of Carl Jung on Jesus Christ are very interesting. Lately, I find myself more and more turning to my faith in Jesus Christ, looking for the meaning and purpose of life in a world that has become more and more confusing and wicked in my eyes. A world in which everything we used to hold in high value is turned upside-down: tyranny is called democracy, freedom of speech is suspicious and censorship is a virtue (in the name of protecting the sensitivity of certain people), racism is called anti-racism (think of the Woke ideology), culprits are regarded as victims and vise versa. Or am I wrong with this assessment?
Are you conscious religious groups have been the ones who practiced more brainwashing and censorship for most history?
@@konyvnyelv. Yes so? These religious groups have no bearing on my own personal belief. I like to see myself as someone trying to find out thr truth for herself and not follow any teaching blindly.
You got that right.
@@strayboogie5833 I’ve listened to a performance by Cody Asbury, but unfortunalty couldn’t catch much of the lyrics. I have to look up the text I guess. As you wrote “Jesus going to the cross didnt’t make sense’”, I’m still puzzled about it. Jesus of Nazareth may be one of the most revered and respected figures in history, He is also one of the most mocked and despised to this day. I’ve never heard people mock Siddiartha Buddha for instance (who I respect myself) but many people still mock Jesus, think they can make fun about the way he died. That is a sad truth.
@@tarjan68 Jesus going to the cross. Is a reference to understand the times we are living in. A short while before His death Jesus predicted that he would have to die by crucifixion. His followers told him not to say such things but Jesus told them I must die and be betrayed because that is why I AM here. It didn't make sense at the time but it had to happen so that God's Word would be true. That God would remove sin in a single day. The reference to our current world and the cross is this. It looks crazy but the last book in the Bible said as well as a few others. Timothy, Thessalonians, the 4 gospels. All predict a time such as this. A time of lawlessness before Jesus returns.
Yes they hate Jesus to this day. Jesus also predicted this many times and it was because of that hate they killed Him. They hate Him because they reject Him. They reject Him to this day because of the claim He makes. That He is the Son of God and based on the miracles He produced it's hard to argue. There's a really good free series called The Choosen. It's an app you can download from your playstore. It explains a lot of what I'm trying to say but it's a lot to text otherwise. The series is really really good and entertaining. Season 3 drops in about 3 weeks.
You have no idea how much I love this channel. Thank you for creating and sharing. ❤
"Reality and Fantasy both exist".
Something I made myself when coming out of a life-changing psychosis episode. Was wondering about religion ever since a kid. Could respect them, but always felt that there's more underneath. Only noticing it recently with the dive into philosophy, at a slightly early age of a quater century. The sad truth is, as a belief takes form of a religion and expands, the true meaning also dilutes under the ever-increasing systems and practices.
The myths, lengends, religion, spirituality, were all pointing towards the general direction of seeking meaning in life. Humans want meaning, something that keeps their spirits moving to pursue something in their limited times of existence. Be it dreams, goals, or beliefs. But ultimately, everyone has the answer within themselves.
Oh nobody is questioning myths of religion being myths. Accepting them as true, religiosity, that breeds mental illness.
Religion exists in the mind. Knowledge in the heart. Modern man lives in his head , when the mind is estranged from the heart, and only intellect dominates, everything becomes a belief.
Some things you have to experience to know therm, but then they have to be inside of you. As life flows from within.
Intellect has no depth nor the capacity to comprehend life. It’s a servant , but to many it’s their identity , and that’s why they feel lost and empty
Related is Bipolar or Waking Up? channel. As transpersonal psychologist Stanislav Grof puts it in Stormy Search for the Self, manic or psychotic episodes should preferably not be treated with suppressive drugs and stigmatizing labels, they can instead be treated as opportunities for spiritual healing and can have tremendous positive potential. Be with the person and ensure everyone's safe and grow together.
Thank you. We found this. Never met. We find truth in what we see twice.
Since you're into philosophy. Do you know about the contingency argument for the Existence of God.
th-cam.com/video/6IYK_M3ACHI/w-d-xo.html
To the *worthwhile person* seeing this, your dream is not dead. Don’t allow the past and current pains and hurts stop and define you. You’re more than a conqueror. Rise up and put yourself together. Keep pushing your future depends on it. I wish you all the best in life ❤️.
This is mostly where I've arrived to after about 20 years of atheism. I'm in my early 30s...it's interesting to see there is a relatively large group of people reaching these conclusions at this particular time, there is a stream, a movement worth describing. It is truly very interesting what has happened in the global thought environment in the past decade
Its interesting because you’re also seeing gen z and younger generations not necessarily turning towards Christianity or organized religion but instead spirituality (not the trendy horoscope kind) . Many people my age have placed their faith in spiritual concepts like Fate, Destiny, Karma, etc. instead of looking to gods or human ideologies such as liberalism
or communism. However that is just based off what I see in my everyday life.
@@conlanvanhook2452 Being from Eastern Europe I grew up with catholicism ... But out catholicism was nearly Pagan in origin so it was about family and nature. Honestly, our Christmas and Easter have nothing Christian about them.
@@conlanvanhook2452 I’m Gen Z. Raised Protestant, spent most of my childhood, all of my adolescence and my early 20s as an atheist. Now at 26, I’ve felt the pull of Christianity return to my life. Trying to make sense of it all. This modern world is spiritually bereft and I finally understand what is meant by the “god-shaped hole”
@@ohwellwhateverr I'm in the exact same boat as you, but 23. And I don't necessarily feel a pull back to Christianity, but I feel a pull back to God. I feel that language and identity is reductionist, so I don't want to use a label for my beliefs anymore. I just take a bit from every religion and I see it all as being equally valid perspectives based on real human experiences and epiphanies.
Jesus said you could pray to God worship God in a closet
I'm surprised religion is still a thing we turn to. We have figured out so many age old questions about the universe through science alone, and a main motivator for me is to find the true answers to the things we've yet to figure out. We aren't going to find those answers in old fictional books.
Yes... Because religious people are always such perfect pictures of mental health... Especially in America... Stable cross wearing geniuses everywhere...
Lol
Yes atheists are such pictures of mental health and rational. Btw forget the higher suicide rates and rates of mental illness
@@abird4170 Oh go cry to your imaginary friend about it.
"Unless you believe in and shape your life around some crazy story, you'll go mad." -Carl Jung
Rubbish
Obviously untrue, religions create vastly more mental illness than anything... this guy is a gaslighter...
For we Americans, RELIGIONS are evil foreign psychotic mass murderous mental illness and an ADDICTION to being LIED TO, an ENFORCED PSYCHOSIS, and, of course, written orders from their evil handbooks for their customers to automatically instantly HATE, HURT, and MASS MURDER everyone
Yes, and why would that be? Perhaps because the "crazy story" is actually true?
Yeah lmao
there's many places to get spiritual fulfillment, not just religion
I think art and music are very underrated for that. Lots of people throughout history have derived meaning from art. You don't have to join a church.
Maybe I will try to emulate my life around some Greek myth of ancient heroes overcoming overwhelming odds and being triumphant in the end.
I have been married 2yrs but i do miss the kind of solitude i had when i was single living at home with my dad.
Definitely feel you there
Of course.. you need self-care time. Can't you discuss this with your spouse? I am sure they have similar needs also? Work it out together :D
@@truthliberty5695 Great advice!
Marriage is a religion that all men eventually resent. Why? It goes against nature and biology. I bet any Married man would feel better being free to do what he chooses and with who he wants. Not sexual monogamy but polygamy or something of that sort. Peace and freedom
@@killaB215 I peacefully disagree.
It's not lack of religion, it's lack of direction and a personal narrative, which as you point out - many people find in religion.
Organised religion is primarily a means of controlling populations by installing ultimate wuthority in a conveniently absent parental figure who has left instructions with his trusted generals - who happen to be influential men. It makes good use of basic human drives - to gather, sing, tell stories and share ideas and moral imperatives, but its aim is always to coerce and judge.
Personal religion is much more useful in terms of mental health, whether that's a favourite small community prayer group or just a personal conviction that someone's with you, but it still requires you to embrace lies because they make you feel better, and that's immensely destructive to wider society.
I have no quarrel with people finding meaning in patterns, whether that's tarot cards or bibles, but I do have a problem when poeople start believing that's genuinely true and try to enforce that view of things on the world around them. When you trust feelings more than reality, then you're making yourself so vulnerable to being misled and manipulated.
So i am an atheist. This does not mean my life is meaningless. Ibelieve in bettering oneself through physical training and education. Be good to your family and contribute something beneficial to the world. Help people whenever possible. You can find so much meaning in life just following these basic concepts. Also don't give in to greed
I think what the video is trying to express is the immense knowledge and meaning in the mythos of our past and traditions is fact as much as any other.
Only weak people rely on religion for salvation
Then you die, then get buried under six feet of dirt, then forgotten while you pass through the gut of a worm. THE END.
Here's the real meaning to life: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” -Westminster Shorter Catechism
There is no real good without God. Even one of your fellow atheists, Dr. William Provine, admitted as much:
“Let me summarize my views on what modern evolutionary biology tells us loud and clear, and I must say that these are basically Darwin’s views. There are no gods, no purposeful forces of any kind, no life after death. When I die, I am absolutely certain that I am going to be completely dead. That’s just all-that’s gonna be the end of me. There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning in life, and no free will for humans, either.” -Dr. William Provine
“Atheism doesn’t take away the pain. It takes away the hope.” -Pat Boone as "Walter Wesley" in God's Not Dead II
@@brianmatthews4323 it's not necessary to use the theories n remarks of others to cement or push through our beliefs n values.
Even more dangerous is overindulgence in religious theories n dogmas n believes that one's religion is superior n holds all the answers to the worlds problems.
If having faith in God lead to greater wisdom, morales n principles, why did the Christians in the US choose to remain silent to the endless conflicts, crimes n atrocities committed by their criminal nation abroad.
@@yaoliang1580 Are you telling me the truth? Or just NARRATIVE that sounds good?
As for the truth-claims you posited.....WHO SAYS?
And your "If" question is wholly unworthy. I hope you can see that.
Asking "what is the purpose of life?" is implying that life exists for a purpose, rather than life exists because of physics.
It is like asking what is the purpose of nuclear fusion in a star? Nuclear fusion is simply a consequence of physics.
Purpose of life is nothing more than survival and replication, everything else is BS. It's only until you've lost everything, you're free to do anything. Happy days.
The real question is “What makes humans even ask the about the meaning of life?”
@@jamespope7669 you'd be surprised by how much dogma that sentence contains. I'm an atheist/non-spiritual but I'd urge you to re read it and see if you can point out areas where you're philosophically/factually incorrect. I see 3. @ me if you want clarification
@@claude2571 life is life, we're not special. People need to know, not fear, that one day they're going to die. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Of course it is, and the laws of physics they exist because???
Probably my favorite video you've created because you're spot on throughout its entirety. I was raised a Lutheran and attended church regularly, I always had doubts about its basis in reality but continued to go for the community/comradery. Around age 18 I began to seriously question the teachings, and ended up renouncing my faith. I became nihilistic as my understanding of reality and my personal narrative was torn apart, and as a result began to pursue "things of this world", but all have been unsatisfactory. In my early twenties I was dumbfounded how my coworkers were so happy, because none of them were religious and had no definitive meaning or purpose in life. But like you've alluded to, the mass psychosis brought on by nihilism is just beginning to occur, because technological advancements have kept humanity distracted and content from reality. My coworkers were consumed by Instagram, Facebook, Netflix, etc. which kept them content and distracted with alternate realities or skewed perspectives of our own, but you take these things away and force them to contemplate reality and their place in it, and I think they'd be entirely different people. I think the world is becoming increasingly unnatural, and human nature is far less malleable then we'd like to believe for us to keep pace. I remain hopeful that western civilization as it exists today, the material-consumer society will be abandoned and instead people will pursue experience and relationships, in a sort of post-material world that's far more "spiritual" or humanitarian. Maybe that's something we should consider striving to acheive.
Well all you and I can do is be outstanding citizens who raise moral offspring! We can fix it by individually doing the right thing,
as a teen, you were on Christ's side, while the church served Mammon.
you were right to eventually deny those hateful lies.
there is literally no such thing as a right wing "Christian"
those folks are Paulines...Paul's message is "Believe = Saved" which contradicts Jesus' message.
you're doing fine....great, for what you've been through.
Just realize religions create vastly more mental illness than anything... this guy is a gaslighter...
For we Americans, RELIGIONS are evil foreign psychotic mass murderous mental illness and an ADDICTION to being LIED TO, an ENFORCED PSYCHOSIS, and, of course, written orders from their evil handbooks for their customers to automatically instantly HATE, HURT, and MASS MURDER everyone
🤔 I think that having imaginary friends as an adult is a sign of mental issues.....
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What do you do in life ?
@@RamiSehili-r3q I also believe imaginary friends as an adult is a mental illness. This need for there to be something greater is a fool’s errand. Exist, be good to others, do what makes you happy, and die knowing you did those things as well as you could. I’m a teacher by the way.
I used to be a hard headed atheist and ironically enough it was reading evolutionary biology and psychology which made me rethink. "Can science be so sure there's no such things as the religious instinct?". Exactly. Looking at "Woke " etc indicates that even hard atheist movements evolve towards a quasi religious framing.
Same honestly. Humans have created religions since time immemorial; realizing that religious beliefs are natural and normal and that they tend to serve a population by increasing cohesion, helping to spread genetic material (via conquest and such) and stave off cultural decay made me a believer.
I always saw religion as a way of getting people to "Go forth and multiply" whether they wanted children or not. This may be why WN's hate atheism.
@@GearZNet You might take the next step and wonder why we seem to be hardwired for meaning and religion, and why we do so badly without it.
@@hurdygurdyman1905 We are pattern seeking mammals and that's why we created religions and gods.
You used to be a hard-headed atheist? You mean you used to be a realist and now you're playing with fairytale ideas? Fair enough.
After losing my faith and denouncing religion I fell into a huge depression which over the years I managed to climb out of.
Cheers to you!!! Keep up the good fight and know your life efforts for the good, no matter how small, hold tremendous value!!!😊
Hope you became normal, religions create vastly more mental illness than anything... this guy is a gaslighter...
For we Americans, RELIGIONS are evil foreign psychotic mass murderous mental illness and an ADDICTION to being LIED TO, an ENFORCED PSYCHOSIS, and, of course, written orders from their evil handbooks for their customers to automatically instantly HATE, HURT, and MASS MURDER everyone
When you lump all religions together and say that they are essential to meaning or understanding you create a mental swamp that traps its victims in a sticky goo of conformity. This isn’t meaning or life giving, it’s a prison.
This