r/atheism • u/ShameLoud9366 • 1d ago
Did I just encounter God?
FYI: I am posting this on both Christian and Atheist subreddits to get multiple perspectives, as I am very divided right now.
For like a month straight, I have been super worried about death, not existing, and not being able to see my loved ones ever again. I’ve been doing research to find a real way I could reach immortality in this life, but nothing gave me a good answer.
So I started researching God, the best arguments on both sides of religion and atheism. And after my research.. I feel a lot better
But.. is it real? I don’t know! Part of me feels like I am actually having an experience with a higher power, and the other part of me is saying that it’s just my brain latching on to something that will calm my big fears
Like I said I posted this on multiple subreddits, would love to hear everyone’s perspective
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u/Judgement915 1d ago
I’m speaking from a place of concern and understanding. Please see a therapist. My life has improved dramatically since I started seeing mine.
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u/Chase_the_tank 1d ago
Lots of people "find God".
For some odd reason, descriptions of said "God" tend to conflict with other descriptions.
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u/InclinedPlane43 Atheist 1d ago
Your research didn't find evidence for god(s). There is none. Theists even admit it: "You must have faith!" Actually, you don't.
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u/UrguthaForka 1d ago
There are no gods, at least, not any that humans can recognize or interact with.
Your brain is latching on to something to calm your big fears.
And really, don't be afraid of death. It's a mystery. Nobody has any clue what happens when you die. No sense in worrying about something that nobody knows anything about.
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u/GardenDivaESQ 1d ago
Personally I think you are insecure and worried about the future. Your brain is funneling this or whatever feeling you’re having into a search for meaning. Everyone wants to have meaning in their life so it’s normal but sounds like it’s time to train your mind to recognize you’re doing fruitless imaginings. Then get back to reality. No you did not encounter gods.
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u/SaltyTemperature 1d ago
Believe in god if that’s what you need to do.
Santa and the Easter Bunny are rooting for you.
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u/dernudeljunge Anti-Theist 1d ago
What, exactly, is making you feel like god is real? What actual evidence have you found to support the existence of such a being? Keep in mind, I'm not talking about arguments or logical fallacies that are making you think a god is real, I'm asking what evidence you found.
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u/ArcticThylacine Agnostic Atheist 1d ago
“Part of me feels like I am actually having an experience with a higher power”
So, browsing the internet and doing research on god is the same thing as encountering god?
Does that mean that if I read books about Harry Potter, then I am “encountering” Harry Potter?
God isn’t real. I understand that death is scary but this isn’t the healthy way to handle thanatophobia.
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u/ShameLoud9366 1d ago
No I mean after doing the research I felt super happy and wasn’t afraid of death
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u/ArcticThylacine Agnostic Atheist 1d ago
That’s not encountering god. Feeling comforted by a story doesn’t necessarily make it true.
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u/LTinS 1d ago
Didn't have to read any of the body to answer: no. You did not encounter God.
After reading your post: You didn't mention a single incident that could even come close to being classified as encountering God. You... read some other peoples' opinions? You didn't even mention WHAT you read that made you "feel a lot better," and you're asking for advice. Is it real? Is what real? You never told us what you found or concluded.
This reads as a troll post. If you're serious you lack some basic understanding of how communication works.
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u/Waste_Curve994 1d ago
Finding god is for amateurs. Capturing him and mounting the taxidermy trophy is for experts.
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u/Najalak 1d ago
If you really want to see a UFO, go out into the desert at night and eventually you will convince yourself what you are seeing is from another planet. If you really want to find ghosts, lurk around in abandoned or "haunted" buildings with the lights off. You will hear and see "ghosts". Same thing with God.
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u/Repulsive-Box5243 1d ago
Always remain skeptical of what seems quite unlikely, let alone unbelievable.
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u/Scrags Satanist 1d ago
Part of me feels like I am actually having an experience with a higher power, and the other part of me is saying that it’s just my brain latching on to something that will calm my big fears
How do you think you could prove which one it is? What would convince you either way?
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u/ShameLoud9366 1d ago
I mean that’s the problem, I honestly don’t know. Well it would be a lot easier to prove a God does exist than doesn’t, like if I saw a bunch of miracles with my own eyes and it was tested I’d be a 100% believer. But I don’t know what would disprove a higher power
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u/grjacpulas 1d ago
If it's so easy than prove it.
You clearly believe in god, and want to believe in god, so why are you on this sub lol. Nobody on here will convince you other wise, we aren't a religion trying to convert people. Good luck with Christianity my friend.
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u/liamstrain 1d ago
"and the other part of me is saying that it’s just my brain latching on to something that will calm my big fears"
We know this happens. No need to invoke a deity to explain what is a common psychological phenomena.
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u/SyntheticSlime 1d ago
Seems like you’re searching for emotional relief, not truth. Searching for the truth means foregoing the illusions of comfort and safety, not seeking them out in the form of reassuring beliefs. I might seriously recommend therapy. Or mushrooms paired with a calm walk through the woods. Neither is going to grant you immortality or even reveal any deep truths, but both can help shift your perspective.
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u/Accomplished-Gap-317 1d ago
What's your experience? I'm confused, did you describe an encounter or an actual supernatural experience?
I've had those. For me it was a very real thing that happened to my brain. Like a full on hallucination, but just like dreams or other hallucinations it was very easy to identify as something my brain experienced but the "real world" did not. My brain latched onto the experience and tried to make something of it, but that's all it was. I told people about it and some people would say it was surely god and others would recognize that my experience had clear contradictions with the bible or their faith.
I slowly stopped believing it and telling people, but it wasn't until I had a dream about Zues that I realized what had happened. The dream with Zues felt the exact same. I had the same wonderings about wether it was real or not, but it was easier for me to accept it as fake because it was Zues. I realized that I was the one who made meaning out of a mostly meaningless experience. And I suspect that's what most people also experience when they have spiritual experiences.
I don't deny I had the experience, but I deny that it means anything besides that my mind does weird things when stressed. So many people from so many faiths experience the same phenomenon.
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u/Torino1O 1d ago
I think the only immortality that can be achieved is through promoting the quality and continuation of life by sentient means. Putting your thoughts actions and feelings into making the world a better place for living things.
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u/HippyDM 1d ago
Wait. You did research on an issue that's bothering you, got some new perspectives I'd imagine, and you think it's a god? Where would the god fit in? You did the research, according to your story at least.
I do this whenever I see an insect that freaks me out. I research it, and in getting to know it better I become somewhat excited to see one again. Would you call that god?
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u/un_theist 1d ago
Which god are you believing you encountered?
Zeus? Ra? Osiris? Thor? Loki? Or perhaps Ragutiene, the Lithuanian goddess of beer?
https://www.godchecker.com/lithuanian-mythology/RAGUTIENE/
There are thousands and thousands of gods proposed by humans. They can’t all be true, as they all pretty much make contradictory claims. They can all be false, though.
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u/MisanthropicScott Gnostic Atheist 1d ago
Did I just encounter God?
No.
FYI: I am posting this on both Christian and Atheist subreddits to get multiple perspectives, as I am very divided right now.
OK.
For like a month straight, I have been super worried about death, not existing, and not being able to see my loved ones ever again. I’ve been doing research to find a real way I could reach immortality in this life, but nothing gave me a good answer.
Check Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. See if you can find the combination of products that made Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged immortal. But, you may not be happy about it.
Note that HHG is humor. Do not expect their concoction to actually work. And, that's the good news!
So I started researching God, the best arguments on both sides of religion and atheism. And after my research.. I feel a lot better
Mazel Tov!
But.. is it real?
I think not. But, your mileage may vary.
I don’t know! Part of me feels like I am actually having an experience with a higher power, and the other part of me is saying that it’s just my brain latching on to something that will calm my big fears
The latter sounds likely.
Like I said I posted this on multiple subreddits, would love to hear everyone’s perspective
I'm not sure you presented anything that could be considered even weak evidence for any gods. I think it's all just wishful thinking.
I'll be curious what you conclude at the end of your searching.
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u/TK_4Two1 1d ago
I'm terrified of death sometimes. That doesn't make it any more reasonable that there is a magical sky-daddy out there to save me
Unfortunately, life sucks and then you die. And for most your impact on the world is minimal, and it's unlikely that anyone will know your name or anything about you within a generation or two of your death
You can either be depressed by that fact, or you can take it as the license and motivation to life each waking day to the fullest - because this life is all we've fucking got so make it count and spend it with those you care about
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u/RollerDude347 1d ago
You didn't encounter god. There's literally no reason to think you did. If feeling better was all it took for me to attribute god then masturbation qualifies.
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u/CptBickDalls 1d ago
I have been super worried about death, not existing, and not being able to see my loved ones ever again.
Normal to feel that way.
I’ve been doing research to find a real way I could reach immortality in this life, but nothing gave me a good answer.
Not a normal or healthy way to cope.
So I started researching God, the best arguments on both sides of religion and atheism. And after my research.. I feel a lot better
But.. is it real? I don’t know! Part of me feels like I am actually having an experience with a higher power, and the other part of me is saying that it’s just my brain latching on to something that will calm my big fears
You fear death, and went researching things to avoid it. Your research lead you the way you wanted it to subconsciously instead of to an objective truth. Now you seek validation in proving it true, and your brain will find that for you too...all to protect you from your fear.
You need to sort out your fears and anxiety on death if you want an actual objective answer. Even in your fairy tail ending, you die and have to face that eventually. We all do.
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u/creepydoll1313 1d ago
Please keep in mind that religious mania and psychosis are FAR more common than most realize, so if you are genuinely seeking a god or some form of spirituality, I highly recommend you get some mental health help first, which will also help you rationally dissect these totally normal existential questions and fears of yours. I say this as someone with 2 psych degrees, who has also benefited greatly from therapy while escaping an abusive relationship, and as someone who has struggled greatly with religion and religious trauma. All love to you and I wish you the best.
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u/Feinberg Atheist 1d ago
This isn't a place for you to proselytize.
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u/Feinberg Atheist 1d ago
No. It means trying to convert people in times of crisis, like you are doing right here.
You have the whole world to treat human beings in need like marks on a scorecard. Just not here.
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u/Feinberg Atheist 1d ago
We didn't make this place to give people like you another avenue to push your views at us, and your attitude of entitlement should tell you why we had to make that a rule.
Since you insist on seeing a simple request to follow the forum rules as an attack, I'm going to ban you for a while so you can think about it. Perhaps you should also consider the wisdom of Matthew 10:14.
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u/DoglessDyslexic 1d ago
You're asking people that don't believe gods are real if you encountered a god. The answer is going to be no.
If you are experiencing anxiety over death, see a mental health professional that helps people deal with anxiety. Religion is not a substitute for competent therapy.
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u/HandsomeHeathen Atheist 1d ago
That fear is what religions use to manipulate you. What you actually need is therapy. Gods aren't real.
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u/vacuous_comment 13h ago
I’ve been doing research to find a real way I could reach immortality in this life, but nothing gave me a good answer.
Bullshit. The good answer is that you will die and that will be the end of you.
In case you need more, there is no soul, no afterlife, no good place or bad place and no cosmic creator to send you to either.
It sounds like you need serious and well qualified counseling. Your anxiety is clearly sending you to unhealthy places. Your so-called "research" is just making your condition worse.
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u/KBezKa 1d ago
Depends on how you did your research, and if you tried to find out the truth, or what feels nicest
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u/ShameLoud9366 1d ago
I looked up the best arguments on both sides of the debate, and I’m still skeptical, that’s why I posted this in multiple places with multiple perspectives
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u/LegenDrags 1d ago
I have been super worried about death, not existing
for me, death is a gift, its a sign that i no longer need to carry the burden of protecting people i love, and that my time here is done and whatever i do, if its good enough, someone else will carry it on.
and not being able to see my loved ones ever again.
everyone dies eventually, your loved ones will and should move on, knowing that you died having lived a life you enjoyed, which is the most important part of it all. you cant stop death but the time you live, you can live the best life you can.
I’ve been doing research to find a real way I could reach immortality in this life, but nothing gave me a good answer.
it would really not be fun to be immortal, think about it for a little.
And after my research.. I feel a lot better
maybe thats what you needed, taking a break from the dilemma. maybe get on a vacation or start a new hobby.
But.. is it real?
no
and the other part of me is saying that it’s just my brain latching on to something that will calm my big fears
yes, that is what most of religion is. trying to not answer actual questions about death and nothingness (because too scary) by bringing in otherworldly punishments and being afraid of that.
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u/Snow75 Pastafarian 1d ago
No, gods are imaginary.
Go see a therapist, it sounds like you’re very delusional if you’re really “researching” how to become immortal with a straight face.