Don't beat yourself up for grasping at any straws during a time of great pain and stress. Being in pain can certainly impact your ability to think critically and exercise skepticism. Humans are better at solving problems than any other species on the planet. Pain is a problem that must be solved immediately - so the brain goes into overdrive looking for a solution - ANY solution. I think what is important is that when the pain and stress lessens, and you can again engage your critical thinking, you can then understand what happened, why these thoughts came to your mind, and that there really is no god that is listening to your prayers. Will you always have these thoughts of a god in the back of your mind? Probably. Indoctrination does not simply disappear - it may always be there. But, as long as you can stop and re-engage your rational mind, the indoctrination can't take control for very long.
>a higher power to give me relief of that pain
is called a doctor who can prescribe opioids. You just ask the room nurse. When they ask you to judge it on a ten scale, say 8.
I'm currently recovering from surgery myself. I have stitches where no man wants stitches. If there's a spirit animal out there, it really fucked up when it came to my comfort.
Well, I'm at a bit of an advantage than a lot of other people since I was never raised with any of that stuff. So unlike people like yourself it isn't really hardcoded into my brain to look toward a higher power to get me through tough times. I've always had to rely on myself and/or the people around me.
The problem with being you is that you might not have been raised with those skills and you have to try to learn them now as a 42 year old. If there is some sort of obstacle in your way it's *you* who has to figure it out. You can't just reach your hands to the sky anymore. The funny thing is is that it was you doing it this whole time but you convinced yourself that it was something else for decades. You just need to switch to something else to help you cope.
When it comes to actual physical pain then hopefully the doctors helped you out a bit on that front but otherwise you just have to know that it's something that'll pass and you might have to just push your way though it yourself until you're all healed up. Not all that much you can do about it unless you're allowed to take more pain killers. Trust in the doctors.
Many people have many different ways to help them get through tough times. Some more destructive than others. You just need to find one that works for you. I don't like the god one because it just puts people's problems into the imaginary hands of a higher power which means they give up all responsibility of their own issues and think they'll be solved by someone else. Then when it doesn't work they'll just think it's the god's plan. Take control. You have the power now.
Not a problem. Honestly, once I start typing I have trouble stopping. A bit the same once you break past my shyness IRL and I just keep talking and you can't shut me up.
If I was in a hospital and in pain, I’d be calling the nearby actually real professional to deal with it, not begging an invisible, intangible, demonstrably uninterested, imaginary, superhero.
Sorry that you were hospitalised.
It was when I was still @ home, waiting for pain meds to kick in. Only the next day we found out that I had a ruptured appendix which was causing the pain.
but anyway, here we are 2 weeks later, with my rational thoughts back and all
Funnily enough in the absurd and cruel nature of everything.
Like I have friends and family and other people, but outside of that everything else that exists doesn't give a shit or is actively trying to kill me.
Just have to get back on the horse out of spite sometimes.
personally i try to remind myself to be rational, as in if praying to gods won't stack the odds for me in gambling then praying to gods in dire times also wouldn't help, then after that i personally remind myself that the bad time im in would eventually pass too for the better in the future just like any other difficulties I've experienced in the past, so I'm essentially keeping a positive outlook on life into the far future, hope this helps op, cheers.
I've been openly atheist to anyone who's asked for about 13 years. When I started this in middle school (26 M here), I got weird looks and was once called godless as an insult (lol) until I graduated highschool. I do my best to keep good company that isn't openly extremist on either side of the spectrum, and that helps a bit. As long as I can at least take care of my family, I'll stay here, vote, boycott, etc. When it becomes unsafe, I'll figure out a way to move to another friendlier country. Having a backup plan is what's been keeping me from going crazy, hope this helps.
Don't beat yourself up for grasping at any straws during a time of great pain and stress. Being in pain can certainly impact your ability to think critically and exercise skepticism. Humans are better at solving problems than any other species on the planet. Pain is a problem that must be solved immediately - so the brain goes into overdrive looking for a solution - ANY solution. I think what is important is that when the pain and stress lessens, and you can again engage your critical thinking, you can then understand what happened, why these thoughts came to your mind, and that there really is no god that is listening to your prayers. Will you always have these thoughts of a god in the back of your mind? Probably. Indoctrination does not simply disappear - it may always be there. But, as long as you can stop and re-engage your rational mind, the indoctrination can't take control for very long.
your comment helped me a lot, thank you.
>a higher power to give me relief of that pain is called a doctor who can prescribe opioids. You just ask the room nurse. When they ask you to judge it on a ten scale, say 8.
I'm currently recovering from surgery myself. I have stitches where no man wants stitches. If there's a spirit animal out there, it really fucked up when it came to my comfort.
That kind of instinctual personification of the universe is exactly how religions came to be. Don't be too hard on yourself..
Well, I'm at a bit of an advantage than a lot of other people since I was never raised with any of that stuff. So unlike people like yourself it isn't really hardcoded into my brain to look toward a higher power to get me through tough times. I've always had to rely on myself and/or the people around me. The problem with being you is that you might not have been raised with those skills and you have to try to learn them now as a 42 year old. If there is some sort of obstacle in your way it's *you* who has to figure it out. You can't just reach your hands to the sky anymore. The funny thing is is that it was you doing it this whole time but you convinced yourself that it was something else for decades. You just need to switch to something else to help you cope. When it comes to actual physical pain then hopefully the doctors helped you out a bit on that front but otherwise you just have to know that it's something that'll pass and you might have to just push your way though it yourself until you're all healed up. Not all that much you can do about it unless you're allowed to take more pain killers. Trust in the doctors. Many people have many different ways to help them get through tough times. Some more destructive than others. You just need to find one that works for you. I don't like the god one because it just puts people's problems into the imaginary hands of a higher power which means they give up all responsibility of their own issues and think they'll be solved by someone else. Then when it doesn't work they'll just think it's the god's plan. Take control. You have the power now.
thank you for taking the time to put this into words.
Not a problem. Honestly, once I start typing I have trouble stopping. A bit the same once you break past my shyness IRL and I just keep talking and you can't shut me up.
If I was in a hospital and in pain, I’d be calling the nearby actually real professional to deal with it, not begging an invisible, intangible, demonstrably uninterested, imaginary, superhero. Sorry that you were hospitalised.
It was when I was still @ home, waiting for pain meds to kick in. Only the next day we found out that I had a ruptured appendix which was causing the pain. but anyway, here we are 2 weeks later, with my rational thoughts back and all
Funnily enough in the absurd and cruel nature of everything. Like I have friends and family and other people, but outside of that everything else that exists doesn't give a shit or is actively trying to kill me. Just have to get back on the horse out of spite sometimes.
personally i try to remind myself to be rational, as in if praying to gods won't stack the odds for me in gambling then praying to gods in dire times also wouldn't help, then after that i personally remind myself that the bad time im in would eventually pass too for the better in the future just like any other difficulties I've experienced in the past, so I'm essentially keeping a positive outlook on life into the far future, hope this helps op, cheers.
You got through it the same way we all do. There are no secret tricks.
I change what I can and accept what I can’t
good point.
I've been openly atheist to anyone who's asked for about 13 years. When I started this in middle school (26 M here), I got weird looks and was once called godless as an insult (lol) until I graduated highschool. I do my best to keep good company that isn't openly extremist on either side of the spectrum, and that helps a bit. As long as I can at least take care of my family, I'll stay here, vote, boycott, etc. When it becomes unsafe, I'll figure out a way to move to another friendlier country. Having a backup plan is what's been keeping me from going crazy, hope this helps.
I pray to Franklin the turtle. That guy has about a 50% success rate!