Pletho: I doubt many atheists have denied that religion cannot provide comfort, or even that reading the bible can provide comfort to people. Atheists to not tend to argue that everything associated with religion is bad.

But the mere fact that it might be comforting for me to tell my wife that the reason that she's having an extraordinarily complicated pregnancy right now filled with unrelenting pain for now months on end, is that God has a greater plan for her, that doesn't make it true. What I tell her is that it will be worth it because at the end of the day we will have another child to bring her as much joy and love as our other two do. That's pretty darn comforting actually!

knowing some day it will all be over.

Not true Christianity but mainstream Christianity for sure, they worship a cross or a statue or something at times.

But remember there is a difference between true Christianity and mainstream Christianity. Mainstream is watered down and full of infiltrated errors that have crept into the doctrine because those who are responisible for teaching the people either do not care about accuracy and truth but more about traditions and not rocking the boat.

I agree you should tell a lie to comfort people but that exactly what mainjstream religion doesw and the majority of atheist, they believe a lie to comfort themselves but what can they do othere than that?

They do not have anything else to believe but what they already have accepted as truth.

I bet Pletho would do something similar to the Carmolengo in Angels and Demons if given the opportunity (and the necessary brain power to formulate it)

So him and his wife getting comfort from the joy and love their child's birth will bring them is based in a self deluded lie?

I personally am not comforted by the fact that I think my life will end. Comfort would be thinking I'd live in bliss forever.

'cause there's no love except for the love of Jesus, LDO.

$0.02
Did you make this post plethos just to harangue people for their 'wrong' sources of comfort? As in, seeking comfort from anything other than THE ONE GOD is blasphemy? Is the joy a birth can bring to a family but a false idol and that both mother and father should think first, foremost and only of god?

Music, quotes...I don't really discuss my issues with other humans often. My parents got divorced a few weeks ago and there were probably less than 5 people that I cared to talk to about it.

I usually just remind myself the cliche "lots of people have it harder" kind of stuff because I'm still really fortunate. I'm one of those people that avoids their problems (I don't think avoid is really the right word, but I don't show outward signs of it) and I try and keep living a normal life.

I like sitting quietly in nature (which kinda sucks if life throws a curve during winter)

EDIT: WTF, this thread was kind of decent before the mongering started

It occurs to me that Pletho may have left a word out, I've FHP. The sentence structure would make more sense that way. Pletho to clarify.

when i get sad, i stop being sad, and be awesome instead

CORRECT umundo, I was typing too fast......as usual....

Reason and myself comforts me. If something happens such as my friend dying I don't worry about it, there's nothing I can do about it so it's irrelevant. If im sad it means my friend was a good person (ie if i was glad he died he would have been a bad friend, so im happy im sad). But if i can do something about it, ie my friend is doing something mean or etc then I do something about it. I don't need anything other than myself and my reason.

Looks like you are heading to a buildup of emotions. I would try to experience a catharsis..

Pletho I agree with your sentiment that we all need some sort of coping mechanisms. But people like sociopaths may not.

That is an odd way of viewing the world and a bit scary if one thinks deeper about it. But we are humans and have these trifling things called emotions. I rather not have others influencing me, hence I try to get out of those moods on my own or in my own way. Although its nice that my bf tries.

I don't know what comforting means.

Eat the soup or leave the table but quit whining.

Nothing except the apathy of time.

By your definition,

placing money in a bank = gambling
buying a house = gambling
buying stocks = gambling
starting/investing in a business = gambling

Value can always drop. Therefore in the examples above, you are gambling.

Also... Regarding the post about hinduism etc. How do you know your religion is right? Hinduism could be the true path to light, maybe Islam. For all you know.. Christianity could be the one thing stopping you from achieving eternal life.

And... No atheists don't comfort ourselves by being rational. Rationality makes us experience discomfort because we have to throw all the ideas of eternal life and yummy buffet food in heaven out the window. Am I happy that I will probably die in 60 years? Not at all. That is not comforting.

times seems endless, millions, trillions, billions of years....

and somehow I'm around when Tiger Woods is alive! and i have a tv that i can watch him on (unlike all the kids that will die of starvation in the time it takes for me to write this)

i'm freerolling iyam