Something dawned on me....

[Altfish]

Atheism isn't about the physical world anyways. It's not even a philosophy or whatever silly idea that theists come up with.

It's just a response to theism itself.

Correct, as has said before it is a bit like having a hobby of not collecting stamps.

There are branches of atheism that add meaning - look up Humanism ... "Humanists are people who shape their own lives in the here and now, because we believe it's the only life we have. We make sense of the world through logic, reason, and evidence, and always seek to treat those around us with warmth, understanding, and respect."

https://humanists.uk/

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Correct, as has said before it is a bit like having a hobby of not collecting stamps.

There are branches of atheism that add meaning - look up Humanism ... "Humanists are people who shape their own lives in the here and now, because we believe it's the only life we have. We make sense of the world through logic, reason, and evidence, and always seek to treat those around us with warmth, understanding, and respect."

https://humanists.uk/

Yeah, and that is a version of natural religion.
"Religion, human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. It is also commonly regarded as consisting of the way people deal with ultimate concerns about their lives and their fate after death. In many traditions, this relation and these concerns are expressed in terms of one’s relationship with or attitude toward gods or spirits; in more humanistic or naturalistic forms of religion, they are expressed in terms of one’s relationship with or attitudes toward the broader human community or the natural world. In many religions, texts are deemed to have scriptural status, and people are esteemed to be invested with spiritual or moral authority. Believers and worshippers participate in and are often enjoined to perform devotional or contemplative practices such as prayer, meditation, or particular rituals. Worship, moral conduct, right belief, and participation in religious institutions are among the constituent elements of the religious life. ..."
religion | Definition, Types, List of Religions, Symbols, Examples, & Facts

 

[ChristineM]

But a spiritual practitioner is letting go of the ego, not boosting it.
Understanding there is something bigger than the self

In the imagination. Its interesting that gods agree so ready with what god believers believe.

 

[VoidCat]

But a spiritual practitioner is letting go of the ego, not boosting it.
Understanding there is something bigger than the self

what makes you think a religion can't be about boosting the ego? Left handed paths are religions. What makes you think they are not and they are also can be very spiritual depending on the practice.
Some left handed practices don't believe in a god some do. Most if not all worship the self.

 

[ChristineM]

What If God is not "A being" but a state of consciousness?

Consciousness is in the mind so that justifies my thoughts, thanks

 

[Spirit of Light]

In the imagination. Its interesting that gods agree so ready with what god believers believe.

I can not speak for other people
If the teaching I practicing is true, it means it get me closer to the purest consciousness. and then the "me" consciousness would become similar to the "God" consciousness

 

[ChristineM]

So no annual holidays? No festivals, no decorations, not even carol services?

Anything you want so long it there is no belief in god.

Annual holiday, how about Yule and other non religious winter holidays so easily adopted by religion.

 

[Spirit of Light]

what makes you think a religion can't be about boosting the ego? Left handed paths are religions. What makes you think they are not and they are also can be very spiritual depending on the practice.
Some left handed practices don't believe in a god some do. Most if not all worship the self.

Again only speaking from how I understand it, @Conscious thoughts do not believe in self.(ego) it is not the real consciousness

 

[ChristineM]

I can not speak for other people
If the teaching I practicing is true, it means it get me closer to the purest consciousness. and then the "me" consciousness would become similar to the "God" consciousness

If that's your belief then fine..

 

[Spirit of Light]

Consciousness is in the mind so that justifies my thoughts, thanks

Can not existence be consciousness? does it have to be within a body?

 

[Altfish]

Yeah, and that is a version of natural religion.
"Religion, human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. It is also commonly regarded as consisting of the way people deal with ultimate concerns about their lives and their fate after death. In many traditions, this relation and these concerns are expressed in terms of one’s relationship with or attitude toward gods or spirits; in more humanistic or naturalistic forms of religion, they are expressed in terms of one’s relationship with or attitudes toward the broader human community or the natural world. In many religions, texts are deemed to have scriptural status, and people are esteemed to be invested with spiritual or moral authority. Believers and worshippers participate in and are often enjoined to perform devotional or contemplative practices such as prayer, meditation, or particular rituals. Worship, moral conduct, right belief, and participation in religious institutions are among the constituent elements of the religious life. ..."
religion | Definition, Types, List of Religions, Symbols, Examples, & Facts

If it makes you happy, it can be a religion. We can then get the same tax breaks as religions do; maybe we can put 24 unelected representatives into our second chamber.

btw Humanism has no rituals, prayers, meditation is something some do.
Humanists UK do organise meetings but they are optional and usually involve alcohol and a scientist or philosopher.

 

[ChristineM]

Can not existence be consciousness? does it have to be within a body?

Show evidence of such...

Neuroscientists believe that, in humans and mammals, the cerebral cortex is the “seat of consciousness,” while the midbrain reticular formation and certain thalamic nuclei may provide gating and other necessary functions of the cortex​

Consciousness: a brief review of the riddle.

 

[VoidCat]

Again only speaking from how I understand it, @Conscious thoughts do not believe in self.(ego) it is not the real consciousness

Ok sure. That's fine. But someone else's religion might be about the Self and embracing it. This is actually a great thing in my book but I'm a little bias. And you are correct it's about the material world the here and now but doesn't mean there's not a spirtualness to left handed paths. Specially with the whole you are your own god thing. Of course left handed paths are very diverse there's no unified doctrine to being on a left handed path. Some believe in God or gods, or spirits, among other things. Some don't. Some are atheists.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

If it makes you happy, it can be a religion. We can then get the same tax breaks as religions do; maybe we can put 24 unelected representatives into our second chamber.

btw Humanism has no rituals, prayers, meditation is something some do.
Humanists UK do organise meetings but they are optional and usually involve alcohol and a scientist or philosopher.

Yeah, ain't sociology of religion fun? We are special, because our social practices are special.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Show evidence of such...

Neuroscientists believe that, in humans and mammals, the cerebral cortex is the “seat of consciousness,” while the midbrain reticular formation and certain thalamic nuclei may provide gating and other necessary functions of the cortex​

Consciousness: a brief review of the riddle.

Not sure you can show consciousness as a physical evidence, it is just there.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Anything you want so long it there is no belief in god.

Annual holiday, how about Yule and other non religious winter holidays so easily adopted by religion.

Are the mince pies any good?

And what about hot cross buns? Could be an ideological issue there perhaps…

 

[Spirit of Light]

Ok sure. That's fine. But someone else's religion might be about the Self and embracing it. This is actually a great thing in my book but I'm a little bias. And you are correct it's about the material world the here and now but doesn't mean there's not a spirtualness to left handed paths. Specially with the whole you are your own god thing. Of course left handed paths are very diverse there's no unified doctrine to being on a left handed path. Some believe in God or gods, or spirits, among other things. Some don't. Some are atheists.

This thread is not an attack on people who believe differently

 

[ChristineM]

Not sure you can show consciousness as a physical evidence, it is just there.

.

 

[VoidCat]

This thread is not an attack on people who believe differently

I'm not saying you are attacking me and I'm not trying to attack you. Im informing you. There's a difference. I know you don't know much about left handed paths. So I'm explaining left handed paths are religions. Just not the same kind as other paths.

See you have a very orthodox view of religion. Left handed paths are not very orthodox.

 

[ChristineM]

Are the mince pies any good?

And what about hot cross buns? Could be an ideological issue there perhaps…

I don't know about mince pies but Eostre buns are ok. And we all have to eat.