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Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by tnvaught on Thursday May 17, 2018 @05:27PM (#17096070)
>3) Look at your spiritual life...

This can not be overemphasized in my opinion. The natural result of Atheistic Naturalism is, to me, nihilism and its accompanying depression, so I would encourage an honest examination of your worldview and an openness to faith that provides a sense of purpose.

Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by adamc on Monday May 21, 2018 @04:56PM (#17121760)
You don't have to believe in God to have a spiritual perspective -- see, for example, Buddhism.

As it happens, I do believe in God(dess), but what is needed is not religion so much as spirituality -- see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality

Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by krapp on Thursday May 17, 2018 @05:38PM (#17096168)
>The natural result of Atheistic Naturalism is, to me, nihilism and its accompanying depression,

This is a view of atheism which seems predicated on a common theist belief that morality and "purpose" can only exist through belief in a divine being. Yet there are plenty of atheists who are neither nihilistic nor depressed - and plenty of theists who are.

One can believe that life has value, and that life can have a purpose in the context of humanism, and one can even have spirituality without embracing a belief in the supernatural or the divine. As Douglas Adams said, isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?

Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by emodendroket on Thursday May 17, 2018 @09:53PM (#17098037)
I don't think there's any harm in giving it a try, even if you decide it's not for you.
Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by BrandoElFollito on Friday May 18, 2018 @06:34AM (#17100288)
Same goes for trying out atheism.

Which of course makes no sense because this is not a brand of coffee.

Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by emodendroket on Friday May 18, 2018 @07:00AM (#17100414)
If you're already an atheist there is no need to "try it" because you are already familiar.
Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by BrandoElFollito on Friday May 18, 2018 @09:11AM (#17101136)
I know, I was suggesting to try out atheism for someone who believes in something else.

All this to say that such suggestions do not make sense, a belief or lack of is not something which someone can "try out". I can imagine that following some major life events, for someone who is inclined to such a change, "trying out" is an option.

Having had all kind of dramatic events in my life I never felt the need to invoque a superior being. YMMV.

Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by emodendroket on Friday May 18, 2018 @09:54AM (#17101432)
That's false though. You don't have to start out committed to anything. You can simply pick up a religious book or attend a religious service and see if it speaks to you.
Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by BrandoElFollito on Friday May 18, 2018 @10:59AM (#17101981)
Are you a believer? Do you think it is enough to just say "I do not believe anymore for the next 2 weeks", really meaning it? If so, it means that the faith was not very strong.

Except for some specific cases, one usually grows with a religion or non-religion and this deeply forges one's perspective.

Re:Getting close to 40, mid life crisis, depression, and fin... by emodendroket on Friday May 18, 2018 @11:34AM (#17102285)
I'm an adult convert. So what I'm telling you is, I didn't have to start out believing; just curious. Obviously atheism is different because there is no particular doctrine or liturgy to involve yourself in, but you could certainly read atheist polemic.