Change from theist to non-theist; how???

[Munch]

A co-worker of mine recently lost an uncle who passed away in a hospice center.  Needless to say he suffered quite a bit before he died.  She is somewhat religious, although not a bible-thumper.  She came into my office to let me know that he had passed.  "I guess he's in a better place now.", she said.  I simple nodded, because I don't let anyone I work with know about my atheism.  "But what if he's just dead, and there's nothing.", she continued.  "Well, then he doesn't know or feel anything.  He's just gone and it's you who have to deal with his death." I said.  She then went on to tell me that he is with God and everything is OK.  She was afraid to believe that her uncle had passes into nothingness.  Afraid for him and afraid for herself.  Some people, maybe most people, want to believe that there is something after death.  Death is the greatest enabler for religion.  If you could overcome that, then more people would change.

I learned that today in a similar way with my mum. She isn't religious herself, but she still holds into certain beliefs, like an afterlife and spirits.
When it was announced that the new royal princess was born, and the name of the kid was told, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Diana being her grandmother, I said I thought it was nice given how William lost his mother in such a tragic way, and mum agreed... only to say she believes Diana's spirit might have reincarnated into the girl.

I had to hold back saying anything, because I realized how even now my mum believes in the same silliness the theists preach. And the only reason I don't say anything, is because I realize how much of a comfort believing that gives her. I really want to say it's all bullshit and their stories made up by cult leaders like everything else they say, but I love my mum to much to cause any kind of rift between us.

[Mike Cl]

I learned that today in a similar way with my mum. She isn't religious herself, but she still holds into certain beliefs, like an afterlife and spirits.
When it was announced that the new royal princess was born, and the name of the kid was told, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Diana being her grandmother, I said I thought it was nice given how William lost his mother in such a tragic way, and mum agreed... only to say she believes Diana's spirit might have reincarnated into the girl.

I had to hold back saying anything, because I realized how even now my mum believes in the same silliness the theists preach. And the only reason I don't say anything, is because I realize how much of a comfort believing that gives her. I really want to say it's all bullshit and their stories made up by cult leaders like everything else they say, but I love my mum to much to cause any kind of rift between us.

Well, Munch, you are a wise, wise man!

[Munch]

Mum lost a son before me and my brother was born, and believing in an afterlife pretty much was the only way she could go on. I would sooner never break that apart from her, given what she went through, and just haphazardly agree with her. Luckily she doesn't talk about God or heaven or any of that shit, just a casual belief in there being an afterlife

[Mike Cl]

Mum lost a son before me and my brother was born, and believing in an afterlife pretty much was the only way she could go on. I would sooner never break that apart from her, given what she went through, and just haphazardly agree with her. Luckily she doesn't talk about God or heaven or any of that shit, just a casual belief in there being an afterlife

Like I said, Munch, you are a wise, wise man. :))

[Aupmanyav]

In my case, it was readings from Bertrand Russell. Then science. Then Buddha. And then Sankara. I am a strong atheist but I have remained a Hindu because there is space in Hinduism for atheists. So, reason: reading. People who do not want atheism to make inroads should burn libraries and bookshops.

[Mike Cl]

In my case, it was readings from Bertrand Russell. Then science. Then Buddha. And then Sankara. I am a strong atheist but I have remained a Hindu because there is space in Hinduism for atheists. So, reason: reading. People who do not want atheism to make inroads should burn libraries and bookshops.

Most interesting--I had no idea that there was room within Hinduism for an atheist.  And it is interesting that you have gone the direction you did.  The usual path would have been Bertrand Russell, then science, then science.  Linking science to Buddha and then Sankara would not seem to be the logical next step.  But I do remember a time during and just after my divorce that I was looking for something 'more' and I wasn't sure what that would be.  I have always leaned toward atheism, but was also searching for 'more', which I translated for myself as a more spiritual path.  I found my way to Unity, which calls itself Christian, but is quite different than the mainstream Christianity.  What captured my interest was the Unity central idea of the Christ Consciousness--that each of us has a part of god within, and one approaches that god from within.  That when you 'let go and let God' you will be guided through your life.  I took that to mean that you are in control of your life and your choices, and that you have the power to make any and all decisions for your own best interest by taping your own inner power source, whatever that is for you.   Even when I was most deeply involved in that organization, I was still in essence an atheist in that I did not believe in God nor an actual Jesus. 

[trdsf]

Mum lost a son before me and my brother was born, and believing in an afterlife pretty much was the only way she could go on. I would sooner never break that apart from her, given what she went through, and just haphazardly agree with her. Luckily she doesn't talk about God or heaven or any of that shit, just a casual belief in there being an afterlife

That was the only hard part of transitioning from belief to non-belief -- really saying goodbye to my grandfather, my uncle, my great-grandma, my daughter, knowing that no, I won't ever see them again.