Deidre Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 I was watching a "Christmas in July" special on QVC ...lighted trees and what not. I've gone through a few Christmases now as an atheist and I still celebrated the gift end of things. Xmas is a beautiful season, filled with celebrations and glitter and fancy foods. I'm past the religious part of it all but watching that show. I dunno, it made me sad. I've been weepy ever since. And it's not that time of the month. :/ I'm happy as an atheist but I can't explain why I felt weepy watching that dumb program.
Vigile Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 I am moved by movies all the time. It doesn't have to have anything to do with god. It's just being human. We aren't robots, even if we are the logical types. 3
bfuddled Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 I think I get what you mean.. There's times that I get what I can only describe as being sentimental when I think about the times in my life that I was so "sure" about things. Being an atheist is living with questions and doubts and reality, which isn't so fun and/or comforting a lot of the time. It's like thinking back to how fun Christmas was when you were a kid and believed in Santa. You wouldn't necessarily want to go back there, and you obviously can't recreate that wonder/excitement/belief as an adult but there's a certain nostalgia and longing for the days when life seemed so simple and uncluttered. 1
Deidre Posted July 21, 2014 Author Posted July 21, 2014 I am moved by movies all the time. It doesn't have to have anything to do with god. It's just being human. We aren't robots, even if we are the logical types.I read this yesterday, and have been meaning to comment since. I love how you put this, it's really true. Thanks for this. I think I get what you mean.. There's times that I get what I can only describe as being sentimental when I think about the times in my life that I was so "sure" about things. Being an atheist is living with questions and doubts and reality, which isn't so fun and/or comforting a lot of the time. It's like thinking back to how fun Christmas was when you were a kid and believed in Santa. You wouldn't necessarily want to go back there, and you obviously can't recreate that wonder/excitement/belief as an adult but there's a certain nostalgia and longing for the days when life seemed so simple and uncluttered.Yes, that's it, you completely nailed it! Nostalgia. And much of that nostalgia was built around my family of origin, much of who has dispersed, or we don't connect anymore, some have passed away. I come from a large family, and Xmas and all the trimmings was a big ''event.'' And the religious part was a big aspect of it. I think I was just caught off guard when I saw that program. I'm feeling better having read your comments here. I'll hold them dear should I feel like this again. Thank you both! 1
Deidre Posted July 21, 2014 Author Posted July 21, 2014 You could be feeling a resurgence of postpartum depression. Leaving the Christian faith, and the belief in having a real relationship with a real being, has the same effect psychologically and emotionally as suffering the death of a loved one. What do you think drew you to watch the show? I was watching a "Christmas in July" special on QVC ...lighted trees and what not. I've gone through a few Christmases now as an atheist and I still celebrated the gift end of things. Xmas is a beautiful season, filled with celebrations and glitter and fancy foods. I'm past the religious part of it all but watching that show. I dunno, it made me sad. I've been weepy ever since. And it's not that time of the month. :/ I'm happy as an atheist but I can't explain why I felt weepy watching that dumb program. hi human i think i was just surfing through the channels, nothing in particular. i like to look at hsn and qvc every now and again, and it said christmas in july. it wasn't something that hit me right away, and i didn't spend long on the channel, but i guess it just started me thinking back to a time when all i knew was my religion. i lived my religion, i can honestly say looking back. even after a few holiday seasons being an atheist, i guess it still trips me up at times to live 'differently' now. i'm happy and at peace, but it'll be nice when i no longer think about my religious past at all.
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