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Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

  • 12 votes
  • 17 votes
  • 0 votes
#atheism
sammidenver 4 Jan 9
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17 comments

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1

Level 4

How can it not when we stop believing in fairy tales?

1

Level 7

Of course a good joint gets me to a higher consciousness, but I don't think that is what you are talking about.

I'm not expert in the Eastern traditions but my understand is that there are a number of secular practices that have been established over a long period. In Confusianism and secular Buddhism for instance: [en.wikipedia.org]

cava Level 7 Jan 10, 2019
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2

Level 5

I think it IS higher consciousness, in that it is an evolved, existential self-consciousness, far above and more promising than superstition.

1

Level 6

If you allow it, it can break a religious tunnel vision POV (point of view) spreading out a lot of potential. However there are many other forms of 'tunnel vision' that we're all seceptible to. Mormons have a typically wtf religion but their eating and health habits are commendable and as such have many healthy people between 80-100. You can also still hold on to the best or worst of what you were brought up in. Accepting reality can be a fantastic experience and you can find out things you never thought of before but it can also cause serious depression in some. It depends on whether you turn the lights on or not I guess.

3

Level 8

What can lead to "higher" consciousness as I define it (greater self-awareness, objectivity, empathy and intellectual integrity) is skepticism and critical thinking, of which atheism is but one side effect. We must not confuse effects with causes.

0

Level 7

IF its "floating through time and space", no, but if it's just having more empathy, then yes.

1

Level 9

I have no idea of what you mean by "higher consciousness." Atheism does lead to a greater wareness of reality.

This is the way I understood the question, but I am often wrong. A greater awareness of reality is my interpretation.
0

Level 5

Or does higher consciousness guarantee atheism? (How did no one else see that opportunity to seem deep by answering a question with a question?)

3

Level 8

You need a maybe in your poll because I believe that maybe if atheists could stop focusing on religion then their minds would be free enough to elevate to a higher level consciousness

2

Level 8

I think you're struggling, here, if you don't provide a crisp, clear definition of what you mean by 'higher consciousness'

0

Level 7

there was a topic last week with the exact same question

2

Level 8

Only in as much in that when we free ourselves from a restrictive ideology are minds can have the time and energy to find deeper meaning. So maybe.

True, we are not distracted from learning to appreciate the natural world.
1

Level 9

Define consciousness.

0

Level 8

Immediately

3

Level 7

Nah, that's why god invented blow.

3

Level 8
  1. depends on what counts as higher consciousness, and higher than what. 2. atheism itself? i have evidence all around me that it does not. however, the things that lead to atheism may also lead to higher consciousness, dependent on what that is.

g

Perhaps just, we are not distracted from learning to appreciate the natural world.

@Fernapple well, i do not see that as a function of atheism. they can coexist but they're not necessarily related and they're certainly not related causally.

g

@genessa No, but my point is, which I could perhaps have made more plain. That if you are not distracted by religion and woo, then you can give more of your attention to the natural material world, and the gifts that it has to offer. If I go down the garden and look for fairies, then I miss the chance to look into the heart of the flowers and appreciate the elegant beautiful structures of their sexual organs for example. It is perhaps not atheism in a possitive sense but the distractions you leave behind.

@Fernapple lol look around this site. there are plenty of extremely distracted atheists here. it's only one distraction of many that gets dropped. i hear ya, but i really wouldn't put that much stock in it. i say this as an atheist of more than half a century (and not planning to start believing in any gods, either).

g

I'm not sure why I'm defending this post, but here goes. A higher consciousness simply means more aware than you were before. Different levels for different people. And by being atheist one isn't blocked from seeing (more) of the truth (if one looks).

@AstralSmoke okay, so that one thing is unblocked, but it can't guarantee that anything else will be. that's my only point. not actually attacking the post but i think it's an example of overreach -- like promising that if you lose weight you will get a better lover. it might represent one hurdle down but it doesn't touch any of the others, right?

g

@genessa I totally agree with what you are saying. Poorly worded questions can create some interesting spurs. Her question suggested it was possible to achieve a greater awareness of yourself and 'everything' if one was an atheist.

I just found the intensity entertaining.

@genessa Yes it is true that unblocking does not mean that you will follow the unblocked path. But the original post that we were asked to vote on, did say "can" not "does". However I do agree with you that, having seen a good sample of atheist opinion on this site especially, it does not seem by any means that there is an exceptional lot of higher level appreciation going on. I am easily set going on this issue mainly because I have had a couple of runs in with a woo pedlar/peddler on this site, over this point. So I will leave it at saying that while atheism may not lead to more appreciation of the natural world, religion certainly is a bar to it. RSVP since your comments are always interesting.

@Fernapple lol okay... thanks for saying so! i will quibble minorly with even the "can" but because it's not the atheism that leads to higher consciousness even if the latter occurs; the same thing may have caused both, but it's not a chain, right?

now i've been up since 4:20 this morning, having gone to bed at 2:30, and it's just after 11 now, so i think i want to indulge in some UNconsciousness now!

g

@genessa Good night.
0

Level 9

Maybe? I think there are multiple possible ways to a higher consciousness, but none are guaranteed.

which nine?

@CallMeDave ?typo fixed

@Beowulfsfriend Darn it all
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