I sometimes envy people their faith, that certainty or belief that there is something after life.

That. Yes.

Somehow, this link seems apropos of the religion conversation. [link]

It's so much easier for me to be agnostic. But I am really comfortable with not knowing and ambiguity, so that is where I naturally end up. It is obviously not for everybody, or even most people.

That's pretty much where I am. I've read the Bible, I've been to church and it just doesn't ring true to me. I believe there is a lot we just don't know about the Universe (or Multiverse), and I'm very comfortable with that. By strict definition I believe I'm an atheist, but I think agnostic is more in line with common usage. It seems to me that atheist is considered a definite belief that god doesn't exist rather than just not believing.

I sometimes envy people their faith, that certainty or belief that there is something after life.

Though that's not necessarily an essential part of faith; I know one practicing Buddhist (not Zen, but I forget which sect) who describes herself as an atheist.

My own (very devout practicing Catholic) mother has told me that she feels both reasonably confident of some kind of afterlife and not at all concerned about it; she's sure of God in this life, and even if this is all she gets that's enough of a gift for her.

Somehow, this link seems apropos of the religion conversation. [link]

::facepalm:: Oh, state. Why so wacky?

I will note, as I think I have before on the board, that Asheville is a weird mix of hippies and freaks, retirees, and rednecks.

I consider myself religious. Not having particular beliefs about the nature or existence of God or afterlife or what have you hasn't gotten in the way of practicing. It does make it more challenging to talk about religion, because what is in my head attached to the topic is often very different from what is in other people's heads, and finding the words to bridge that gap is hard. Conversations like today's make it a little easier, even if only by showing me what y'all have in your heads a little bit.

After a long and mindbending conversation with a devout catholic friend of mind, I finally came to the concept that my comprehending his ability to believe was as unfathomnable to me as him comprehending my inability to believe. We weren't going to convince each other of anything except what we didn't share. It's not an indictment or critique, just is. It's not there for me. It doesn't play a role in my life.

Fuck. Rib slipped out again. I hate this.

It's something I've been watching my husband struggle with, the whole Higher Power question. That it's a struggle is outside my experience, so getting a little taste of other's experiences is helpful.

That sounds painful, Hil.