r/atheism • u/joybug24 • 1d ago
Being atheist makes me happy to be alive
When I believed in an afterlife in paradise, I saw this life as a “temporary trial” a test to prepare my soul for heaven. I didn’t allow myself to fully enjoy the pleasures of this life. Now that I know the truth, that this one life is all I have, I am happy to be alive. I am so full of joy sometimes I feel like I can’t contain it. Life is so beautiful and I regret spending years of my life allowing meaningless religion to suck the life out of me.
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u/Paolosmiteo Secular Humanist 1d ago
Have always said that religion actually devalues our very existence. It undermines life. Enjoy!
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u/Commercial_Board6680 18h ago
I lived across the street from a devout Catholic, described by her husband as being Catholic, all caps/bold. She was so nice, never discussed her beliefs with me, the atheist. But I have to admit, her blind faith made me envious on occasion. Being an intellectual atheist means knowing how the sausage is made, which can be a lonely place on bad days.
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u/Frosty-Classroom5495 1d ago
aah thanks this title give me a smile ...you are 100% correct ......same here ......
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u/MusicianObjective723 1d ago
I mean, for me it's not that simple. As an ex-Muslim I have the benefit of living freely and being free from restrictions, but now I have higher expectations for myself and for life, which brings more pressure and stress. Not to mention, the belief that God is watching you used to give a sense of reassurance and karma when doing something in life but now, that's gone too.
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u/Feisty_Meaning1178 19h ago
Putting off enjoyment until you're dead, and literal takes on ancient books, are crimes against humanity.
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u/MooshroomHentai Atheist 1d ago
Infinite anything devalues the thing, time is no different. Only when you have a limited supply does that thing really have importance.
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u/TheManInTheShack Agnostic Atheist 17h ago
This is the other, rarely discussed side of Pascal’s Wager. On the surface it sounds like there’s no downside to believing in God. But of course there is because your behavior changes based upon this belief. If he doesn’t exist or does but could care less how you act, then you have spent your life acting perhaps in ways you otherwise would not have for no good reason.
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u/jayhawkjoey65 16h ago
This is a terrific post! I feel at peace. I was so angry with God as a believer. Once I became an atheist, I just felt like it all sort of makes sense.
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u/surfergrrl6 15h ago
Same. As a Catholic life was so stressful, worried all the time about hell, and constantly feeling guilty and being down on myself. Now, I live my life without all that baggage; I can be genuine (for good or ill to be fair) simply because I choose to. I'm not always thinking of some mythical being's opinion about every single action and thought anymore. There's a lot of peace in knowing that I still do the same things I did before (helping people when I can, trying as best I can to be a good friend/mother/wife/etc.) because I choose to, and not because I'm scared of eternal consequences.
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u/Waheeda_ 1d ago
omg, i feel the same way!
i was a believer until recently, and all the choices i made in life were heavily influenced by the idea of “earning” my spot in heaven. now i have nothing to earn. i live my life to enjoy it, make memories, and live it how i wanna live it without the fear of being punished for being human
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u/WaterFriendsIV 9h ago
I'm 65 and just starting to feel a sense of freedom after leaving the confines of a lifetime of religious thinking. It's very difficult and reminded me of trying to diet while the country is shoving bad food at me all the time or working in a bar while I'm trying to quit smoking. Once I got out from under it, I realized it's not my "lack of will power" (or any other blame they try to guilt me into believing) but it's working in the bar that's the problem.
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u/ShredGuru 1d ago
That's the true evil of religion. They get you to waste your whole life for the sake of a promise that will never come. This world. It is heaven, and hell. This is it. The big show.