Religion - it is a difficult concept. It is not logical.

But .... you mean you Vulcans knew all along the ultimate secret....and didn't tell anyone.

That will cost you your Katra, my friend.

Of faith I have an abundance.  In religion I have no faith.

That was nicely put. And I resemble that remark as well.

Indeed...I like the cultural stuff more than the ritual...but both have their place. Finding the balance (which changes with time and circumstance) is the trick.

I am spiritual. I find that suites me much better than religion, and someones intrupretaion of God's laws and rules written in another language, from ancient times, which, in turn, were them selves inturpretted as to what the meaning was, or, how it was made to fit their ideals and strictures. So, I believe as I do, and that is that.

Religion***they all have to much of their church doctrine weaved into what they are about, I don't have any use for them.  Like prayiong to saints and confessing my sins to a priest just to name a few.  Where does it say that in the bible, either old or new testement.   Enough said before I piss people off.

There are times I wish I could believe again.  Being atheist is lonely.  I have no church to attend, no people I can rely on, no "fellowship."  I really miss that.  Sometimes hearing hymns still makes me cry.  

I lost my faith because I got too close to the inner workings of the "Faith Machine" - the system of religion.  I was married to a pastor, I attended seminary classes with him, I helped him study, and in the process I saw how it all came to be, and how it was being applied, and I saw the seamy underbelly of it all.  The child in me (the child-likeness that we all need to have faith) saw the betrayal...like watching Santa Claus take off his beard and make lewd gestures at the elves, or finding your parent in the middle of an adulterous moment, it was painful, awakening, shocking, and a thing that can't be undone.  I'm assuming it would be like being a congressman in our government, and then losing the position and having to pretend for the rest of the citizenry that you respect this form of government again.  I ate the red pill, I've been expelled from the garden, I'm on my own now, but I am no longer vulnerable to that kind of betrayal again, either.

I don’t believe in religion but I do believe in Christianity. I don’t think they necessarily have anything to do with each other anymore.

See, this is why I am spiritual. I was never that deep into religion, though I can say I am Lutheran, I really am not. I don't believe in the workings for religion, never really have, but I believe there is a greater deity, whether it be God, Alla, Budda etc....it is a shame the humans can ruin something beautiful. But we can take those ruins and be better for it by just being kind to others, paying it forward, and respectful.

k10w3, I feel for you, and know that you are not an outsider, you have all of us here;) and we support you very much.

You believe in yourself don't you?  You believe that your friends here have faith in you don't you?  You have faith that if you are in need of someone to talk to you can find them here don't you?.....You are not an Athiest if you believe in any of these.  I believe there is something bigger than ourselves, call it what you will, but I believe that spark is in all of us and can be shared with those in need.  No doctrine involved, no rules, just love for one's fellow man (person).

 I'm not going to say what I'm thinking, because I wouldn't really wish this condition on anyone.  (BTW, Buddists don't believe Buddha is a deity, he was just an example of how to master the world).

Not always.  I kinda feel like I have to hide who I really am, or I'll end up austracized.  It's not that hard to do online (shield the unacceptable parts of my personality), but in real life, I don't have any friends.  I don't have anyone except my husband and my kids who will help me out with things, or go out to eat with me, or watch a movie with me, or visit me if I ever end up in the hospital.

I don't want this to come off as whining.  I don't mean it as a pity party, I just know that when I belonged to a church, there were people who would help us move, and people who would bring over food when I came out of the hospital after my kids were born, and now I'm on my own.  I suppose I could pretend I believed and join a church and go through the motions, but I just think that's wrong.  It's not in me to fool people like that, especially having seen how much they're being fooled from the top to begin with.

Look for a Universalist/Unitarian church in your area.  Look them up online and look at their open doctrine.  Anyone is welcome.  It just might be what your looking for. 

Well, I for one would never ostracize you. I would however support any group that did. 

You know I was joking...I hope.

This is getting entirely too serious!

Lighten up, bretheren! This thread was meant to make folks happy and to make them laugh, remember? You'd better! There's a quiz later!   

We support each other and what we believe (on our own) is best kept private anyway.

It is enough not to act towards others as we would not have them act unto us.

I will support my friends (and others) here as best as I can without the hope of exceeding Zubaz's karma level  (LOL...as if that were possible for mere mortals).

OK, BACK to the party!  "They....tried to do something to us, I'm not big on the details, and it was a big deal, we survived it, LET'S EAT!" (Doc, hope ya don't mind I took your saying and altered it to fit my own personal needs).

Karen....guess what? I support you!

I'm grateful for your support

Me too Karen

I feel really lonely most of the time, like nobody exists that feels the way I do.. if that makes any sense, sometimes I wonder if I really exist

Of course you do! People write responses to you and think about you....If someday you manage to overcome your agoraphobia, you'll see how many say hello and smile to you!

I know Doc, but my level of anxiety is so high, my own Doctor dumped me as a patient because he said he can't help me lol, maybe scientists should study me   and the insomnia hehe, it's 1am, and I bet I don't sleep til about 5 am, that's when  it's REALLY lonely and you truly feel like you are the only one that exists.. or is awake anyway