Escaping God is actually extremely easy once you no longer believe.
That’s true, but one cannot stop believing in what they believe and see evidence for, not anymore than an atheist can start believing in a God they see no evidence for.
In any encounter I have where "God" is brought to bear, I maintain an understanding that it is the human that stands before me that is invoking Him. God never invokes Himself, in other words. There is nothing to escape from at that point - except the foolish humans who keep talking about God as if they were doing it for Him. And there is obvious evidence that displays that these humans are NOT speaking for God - most of it boiling down to these humans getting all sorts of things wrong, making all sorts of foolish assumptions, and not being able to argue their case well AT ALL.
You have a legitimate point there. Many believers believe that can speak for God as if they know what God is “doing” by reading their scriptures. These believers make all sorts of foolish assumptions, and they are not able to argue their case well AT ALL.
If God were truly behind these endeavors to convince others, would there be so much mess in it all? Given the state of affairs as we witness them here on Earth - God Himself would have to be entirely inept if He allows Himself to be represented by the people I have borne witness to, honestly.
God does not get involved in what people say and do on earth because God gave humans free will to choose. That is why things are in such a mess. God allows Himself to be misrepresented because God does not interfere with human free will.
I accept that there is no one and nothing to blame when suffering finds me in life (unless, of course, my suffering is directly tied to another person through their actions - though this happens far less often than things that are not), and from what I have witnessed in those around me, versus myself, this is a MUCH healthier mindset to adopt. When others around me suffer who "look to God" or "look for reasons", they are far slower to pick up the pieces and move on. They allow the suffering to knock them down fully, and they cavil and complain, and their spirits are dashed. While I, myself, start the clean up process immediately, without any delay. That delay, and taking those moments to contemplate the issue and "who is responsible" are completely wasted in my opinion. And I remain much, much more contented in my life than any of those around me who are to be found casting around for reasons or scapegoats. Hands down.
I agree that looking for reasons or blaming other people or God is a waste of time. It is also a waste of time to blame myself and feel guilty
unless it is my fault. I used to try to find reasons for what happened but I don’t do that anymore. What’s done is done. Rather than dwelling on the event that caused the suffering, I start to pick up the pieces right way and find solutions that will ameliorate the suffering. It is others who have put these ideas in my head about God sending me tests, and it is kind of an indoctrination that I am trying to shake off. They don’t know what God is doing so I consider that rather arrogant, but they are so attached to their beliefs and so sure they are right that they cannot see it any other way. I have found that it is best not to talk to those people because they have a pre-recorded message waiting of me and it never varies.
All that said, I do analyze my life situation and try to determine what is causing me to feel hopeless or what s keeping me stuck. I have a pretty good idea what that is but I cannot do much if anything about it so I try to go with the flow and accept it, hoping for better days but not expecting those either. It will be whatever it will be and there are so many things we have no control over so I have found that adjusting is the best way.
It can certainly be much a matter of perspective on your suffering. If you view it as a personal affront - then you will be insulted - and you will likely play the insult over and over and over in your mind - or try to figure out how you can seek vengeance against what you feel insulted you. If, however, you understand that things simply happen that may not be beneficial to yourself, and that this time was one of those, and you assign no further meaning to it, then you are not affronted - you are not insulted. You simply move on, and leave that crap where it belongs behind you.
That’s true, and as I said above, I have left them and their crap to themselves. I try to have no ill will towards them even though they hurt me with their words, which really are understated insults, even though they cannot recognize them as such wit their religious blinders on. These kinds of people cannot view anything from a non-religious perspective so they are the ones who look down upon atheists even though they don’t
usually come right out and say it. I have no use for such prejudice. I always try to accept everyone for who they are, not for what they believe or disbelieve.
Another interesting observation here - I very often find that I am even much more contented in my life than those who believe in things like an afterlife as well.
I have been thinking about this lately and I understand the reason. Whereas I am comparing this life with what I believe the afterlife will be this life comes up short. I don’t think all believers compare,
it is just something I do, and obviously nonbelievers don’t compare at all. I mean if there is no afterlife you are going to make this life the best it can be since it is the only life you have. I by contrast sincerely believe in what Jesus said because I believe that eternal life trumps anything we can find in this life, which is fleeting by comparison.
John 12:24-25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Moreover, I used to live for my life in this world during my non-religious period, so I have experienced all the worldly things and I can compare them to the spiritual life I have now so I have no desire to go back.
I honestly believe that thinking that there is "something better" waiting for you literally provokes you to see things in a worse light here in "this realm" (current/real life). That is, if you think something so much better is waiting, then everything that happens here is (as you stated) just another reason to get moving and get on to that next realm. It is unhealthy to believe this, because it, again, gives you the perspective that things here are "just so terrible", because it gives you some "understanding" (to my mind, a false one) that it "can be so much better."
It
could have that effect upon people but it does not have to have that effect. It all depends upon how they view this world vs. the next world. I highly doubt most believers think like me, and they probably wouldn’t if they have a good life they are happy with, and that is the case for most people. The reason I do not have such a life is NOT because I look forward to an afterlife, even though knowing there is an afterlife gives me hope. It is not like I sit around thinking of the afterlife. I do the best I can to better my life in this world but as I said before there is only so much I can do given my life circumstances, psychological issues, and genetic predisposition, which are all against me. What I do have in my favor is my physical health, my mental functioning, and my financial situation, all of which are much better than most people have at my age.
As for the
false understanding that it could be so much better that is only a matter of what you believe vs. what I believe.
Interestingly, in the Baha’i Writings the reason given for why we are not told more about the afterlife is because if we knew what it was like we would not want to remain one more minute in this world, so you are correct in saying that we should not be comparing this life to the afterlife for the reasons you gave.
"Bahá'u'lláh says that were we to have the proper vision to see the blessings of the other world we would not bear to endure one more hour of existence upon the earth. The reason why we are deprived of that vision is because otherwise no one would care to remain and the whole fabric of society will be destroyed."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 22, 1932)
But the flip side if that is this:
"In His Tablets Bahá'u'lláh says that were we able to comprehend the facilities that await us in the world to come, death would lose its sting; nay rather we would welcome it as a gate-way to a realm immeasurably higher and nobler than this home of suffering we call our earth. You should therefore think of their blessings and comfort yourself for your momentary separation. In time all of us will join our departed ones and share their joys."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 13, 1932)
(Quotes from
Lights of Guidance (second part): A Bahá'í Reference File)
My mind is primed to understand that it doesn't get any better than this. And so... this life is "the best" there is to experience. And the good in it is prized as something GREAT! Instead of the "good" in this life still falling short of the "glory of heaven" or whatever crazy assumption one has made about their "next life."
I am glad your life has gone this well. You are truly fortunate. By contrast much of my life has been a holy living hell in spite of the fact that I have fought it tooth and nail, never giving up. Most of that time I never even thought about the afterlife, as I was just struggling to get through one more day. I had serious addictions and then I had major depression and generalized anxiety disorder for most of my earlier adult life. I was cured of those conditions after many, many years of treatment but I still have PTSD and life circumstances outside my control.
I cannot even imagine what it would be like to feel GREAT, and there is no way in hell I am going to take any more drugs in an effort to achieve that mind state. It simply was not my destiny and I try to accept it.
Glad you stopped by my thread. You are one of my favorite atheists.