Posted by TheHermit on January 3, 2003, at 9:07:45
In reply to Re: Distance from Christ: AD, posted by Dave1 on December 28, 2002, at 1:44:08
> Hi,
>
> I was really religous when I was younger. When I started taking science courses in college I seemed to start losing my beliefs. I don't think I really believe in Christ as much anymore, but I think I believe in God. Before it was so clean cut about my beliefs. I believed.
>
> Regarding the meds I didn't realize that could effect my beliefs. Thanks for the heads up.
>
> DaveHmmm, sadly, folks, in my many journeys through depression and revelation, purity, chemical re-programming through SSRI's alcohol, MaryJane or whatever, I have come to accept that humans have a great facility for getting together in groups of two or more and making themselves beleive a huge variety of group fantasies. There is no 'god', just a little cluster of cells somewhere in the middle of our hypothalamus that is desperate to belong. Probably we inherited it from the lizards! Different chemicals enable you to emphasise or de-emphasise certain species of beliefs, e.g., LSD: "I can fly!"; Alcohol: "I am very attractive to women."; Cocaine: "I have the most brilliant mind in the universe and everyone in the pub is desperate to hear opinion about the flaws in their character." Religion: "I love these people and they all love me and we are all safe in a beautiful world where everything has a meaning but only Great One knows so I don't need to worry." SSRI's: "Well, I seem to have become a zombie but I can't remember the advantages of not being a zombie (except maybe I used to get laid once in a while) so I guess I'll just carry on taking them and . . . slowly . . . . . sinking . . "
Sorry to burst your bubble guys but, much as I'd like to run and snuggle into the bosom of the Big Guy, it's easy to see once you start taking responsibility for your biochemistry that that's all it is - so when you tweak the chemicals to do with basic cosmic insecurity, hey presto, suddenly you don't have to go grovelling at the feet of idols so much. So, our challenge in this age is to find a way to live together in this crazy mechanical universe without having to beat the other tribes over the head with our gilded crosses, gilded elephants, or Golden Arches! Good Luck Guys - it won't be comfortable, but at least it's real!With Love, TheHermit - Seven Years on SSRI's, three generations of family crushed by religious ignorance, long-time victim of cults and whacked-out pseudo-psychic belief systems. The Buck Stops Here!
poster:TheHermit
thread:1468
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/1503.html