Even in your case, despite it being the happiest time of your life, you were somehow or other forced to return to the lower taste and give this life up. I don't say that to disparage you. I say it to illustrate how intuitive it is for us to fulfill our needs in the structure of some collective.
I had to return to the city to be with my father as he needed me.
I would not have given it up for anyone else.
And when he passes I will return...but with more telescopes ☺
Maybe it wasn't God clouding your mind.
To be clear I dropped out of religion in my early teens.
Never felt the need nor could I see that it was healthy believing in what I considered a fairy tale.
Love your neighbour as you love yourself
I try to do this, love others, in so far as I extend respect to others and try not to judge them.
It allows one not to get upset with folk who say cut you off in traffic. ..generally you can stay at peace..
I forgive others rather than seek revenge because with that approach one can maintain peace of mind and reduce the body count☺.
I hear the stories of down and out folk and when you hear how they reached that point you wonder if you could have even survived let alone keep some sort of sanity.
One guy I know..his mother has burnt down two of his houses and fraudulently mortgaged the third...he seems a little strange and no wonder...I think I would have slashed my wrists after the first..but others judge him with no appreciation for why he is a little different to them.
I respect this chap ... that he could somehow continue and others only see that he is strange.
where people say things like "All religions are ..." without having done anything remotely close to studying all religions or even history.
Well I am one of those people.
However I have studied the concept I bet more than so many folk who see themselves as religious.
I like tracing how religions probably developed..how the concept of christianity was a rehash of many earlier religions..how humans saw the Sun stars and Moon as Gods and then related themselves to these objects to claim Godhood.
If you limit yourself to the bible and the heresay that is supposed to be word for word what Jesus said you wont understand religion.
You may find good ideas for life..maintain positive emotions , dont waste time on revenge...practical stuff..but if you focus on worshipping some presumably fictional character as the Son of a mythical God you will sever all ties with reality.
I studied Law and appreciate where the concept of law originated ..from religion and there was need for what we see today as strange laws..how to treat your slaves seems terrible today but was back then no doubt very new age and unbelievably kind way back.
But it is now out of date. ..replace it with how to treat employees decently but please bring it into this era.
I appreciate the ability of religion to unite peoples to the status of a nation and to have millions of young men die happily on the battle field.
Its sad but where would we be without religion to create an us and them mentality.
Gosh there would be so many humans we would not be able to move.☺
The culling ability of religion through out history is very much unappreciated.
And if I were elected the world ruler,even as an athiest, I would not get rid of religion but use it to help control the populace and keep them content ...mind you if world leader I would create the perfect utopia obviously.☺ and everyone would be happy...such that they would not have to dream of a not existent afterlife.
On the contrary, I would argue that they have already been subject to too much editing (by unqualified persons)
By edit I actually meant throw the lot out☺and start from scratch.
If you are going to have a fairy tale guide your life I see virtue in making it at least up to date, to get rid of stuff that is simply wrong and get rid of moralities that are repugnant in this modern era...I refer to, but not exclusively to, treating slavery as the norm or to stone to death ones new wife if she is found not to be a virgin.
You really can make a list...but of course a preacher picks out the few good bits and most never read their bible to discovery it contains so much stuff that is nonsense or clearly immoral by reasonable standards in this era.
To defend editing such nonsense really suggests that you are a time traveller from the bronze age.
Take the book of relevations...the stars shall fall upon the ground..now what is wrong with that? Stars are the suze of Suns they cant fall on the ground...
So you treat a prophesy as in relevations as credible, it comes from an ignorant fool presumably drunk or high on something rambling what can only be said to be incoherently and not making sense....now just imagine you are sitting at the bus stop and some poor devil is sitting alongside you saying such stuff..talking to himself like the author of relevations....would you not then say that this is a crazy man rambling and high on drugs...think that thru please...
I ask what virtue is there in supporting something that is just simply hidiously incorrect and reflective of an ignorant fool ranting somwhat incoherently and having folk think he made any sort of sense.
Oh the beast means this and that represents this or that...no if it is to be treated seriously it should be clear and make perfect sense...but clearly it does not and is nonsense.
Defending such nonsense cant be pushed aside as claiming it faith or needs interpretation..its just nonsense and should be thrown in the bin...dont you agree?☺
There is a lot to be said for leaving the bible in the bronze age as it infects folk with ignorance in this age...they somehow think the bible is the word of God.
...well if we are to let the masses believe in some fairy tale at least cant we get it somewhat correct ..or leave it as it is and so it is used to cultivate stupidity and ignorance.
I think most of the flat Earth followers cite one holy book or another as authority for their delussion.
And the flood at least localise the event so we dont have a situation where we have a story that is just impossible.
Alex