Existential Moments

Quite often, I will have to deal with existential moments. In that, I have to reassure myself that my life is not an illusion of meaning, but rather, it is an objectively meaningful experience. The episodes that pop up every so often are the most difficult struggles that I have ever dealt with. I have noticed that every time I endure the pains of existentialism I pity those who have adopted these views. Moreover, I pain for those who believe that there is meaning in life, but no god. I feel that these people are just creating the illusion of meaning in life. Yes, helping people or the environment appears meaningful. But what gives these things meaning? To me, the only explanation is religion. Otherwise they are nothing more than illusions. Now, this does raise the question of whether religion is simply an illusion to tell us that there is meaning to our lives. I suppose this is what existential or post-modern people believe. I will not even argue over that right now. I am merely commenting on those atheists that believe in meaning in this universe. If there is no god, then there is no meaning. There is only the subjective illusion of meaning. It is a sad truth for atheists, but a true one if you are to adopt the atheist worldview. Religion is the only thing that can justify meaning in this world and it is my religion that keeps me going and pushing through these existential moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9NlRKJBKt4

I really did just ramble on. For I am currently having an existential episode. Leave comments if you need justification.

9 Comments »

  Brynn wrote @

Remember the conversation you had with shamelessly atheist about realism vs. naturalism? well of course i had to give my opinion, haha, and the post i left really ties in with this idea on purpose and why religion has so much meaning and importance to me. check it out.

  zachagoff wrote @

yeah, I just read it. It’s a very good point and I really agree with it. I suppose the only problem that I have with that is that you can’t necessarily trust just your feelings. Because religion could be nothing more than illusion to deal with the existential realities of life. So logic and reasoning is quite necessary to make a decision for whether or not religion is true.

  Brynn wrote @

True, but i really think that emotion and feelings are a big part of logic. After all, if fact and calculations were all that we could base truth on, then we would never get anywhere. Everything starts with a strong feeling, the investigating comes after that. Believing is seeing. I recommend the book The Shack by William P. Young. It’s the best book Ive ever read.

  zachagoff wrote @

An interesting point. And I’ve already read the book, its one of my favorite. I still have a problem with that (remember that finding God is an extremely personal journey, so people take different paths. there is no objective path that God takes you down to find him.) for example, a person commiting suicide is basing his decision off of feelings. So, personally, I first look at the logic then approach the actually being of God. I suppose our processes are simply the exact opposite.

  Brynn wrote @

hmmm. Ive never thought about it that way. Ive never personally been suicidle, but i do have some experience with it. A friend of mine said that he was thinking of committing suicide because logic didnt matter anymore. When it came down to it, his heart overpowered his brain. I totally think this is different for everyone though. I think God shows himself in so many ways for different people. I know that God convicted my heart before i had a chance to figure everything out logically. The book defending christianity helped me out too! haha. How did you happen find the logic in religion first?

  zachagoff wrote @

well, typically atheists would respond to feelings as you just being delusional. I don’t at all think that is a justified response, as a christian. but, I had people telling me that, so I had to set my ‘feelings’ aside and look objectively at the problem at hand. So, I found that logic can provide sufficient evidence for one to have faith in a god. (don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against feeling that there is a God.) However, if you are talking to an atheist, they will not grant that your feelings are justified.

  Brynn wrote @

True. I do believe that the first thing you need to explain is the logic of believing in God, but eventually, after the debate is finished and the atheist understands the Christian logic, conviction needs to happen. Conviction, for me is something completely personal that happens in the heart. All of a sudden religion doesn’t seem like just an answer anymore, it becomes something emotional. A way of life. I feel that explaining in logical terms is the better way to prove the significance of being Christian, but overall “feeling God” in your heart is the only way anyone can become a strong believer.

  zachagoff wrote @

yes, this was exactly my point

  Brynn wrote @

haha! sorry! i suppose we agree then!;)


Your comment

HTML-Tags:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>