For those without religion

[coccinelle]

Do you have faith in something else? ie I find by staying positive it helps me get through some very hard situations and I push all negative thoughts (and people) away. I ask for this positive force to help me in my everyday life, which is in fact a kind of god. I've noticed positive attracts positive and negative attracts negative. What do others have 'faith' in outside of religion?

[mike11111]

Your observations run strictly contrary to the laws of physics!

[China Doll]

I believe that thinking positively is better as I believe if you are negative all the time then you put out a negative vibe which people can sense even if they don't realise they are doing so. But that's just human nature and not a 'force' as far I'm concerned. I have faith in myself and other people I'm close to but that is based on what I know about myself and friends and family and nothing external to that.

[naomi24]

I have faith in me - and I do believe negative thinking is destructive.

[Zeuhl]

I believe the power of the universe continues in all its infinite and mysterious glory

Nobody should worry about human beings' inability to understand, explain or find meaning in it

And the rejection of human constructs (ie religion) does not equal a lack of spirituality

[joggerjayne]

Faithless ...

>>>

[Zacs-Master]

Real Ale. Ish my bes fren. Hic.

[naomi24]

//And the rejection of human constructs (ie religion) does not equal a lack of spirituality //

I agree. That is does is a popular misconception.

[naomi24]

Sorry, that should have been 'that IT does'.

[coccinelle]

I do not have that strength of having faith in myself as I don't know how I could react in some situations. However, I have surprised myself many times. I agree that lack of religion doesn't mean lack of spirituality; quite the reverse as it's your own spirituality rather than one which has been doctrined into you.

[jake-the-peg]

Are there unicorns involved in this positive force?

[coccinelle]

Come again jake-the-peg?

[naomi24]

This is probably going to sound quite controversial to some, but I often think that many atheists, and certainly many Buddhists, who don’t adhere to the God of Abraham have a greater empathy with, and a finer appreciation of, man’s innate spirituality because they are not constantly focussed upon themselves, and on that particular God, and upon all that glorification of him entails.

[jake-the-peg]

I would imagine there's about as much evidence for Unicorns as positive forces for good helping people through their lives.

Funny isn't it when people talk of positive forces and energies it sounds deep and profound?

When they talk of Unicorns it just sounds silly.

Positive attracts positive and negative attracts negative


Again sounds very deep and profound

Do you mean that optimists and pessimists prefer their own company?

I know that doesn't sound as good but it iss I think you'll agree a touch clearer

It's not really surprising though is it - for the same reason that people of a particular political persuasion prefer their own company.

Nobody likes being told they're wrong.

I know I'm being rude aren't I?

We're all meant to respect people's feelings and not challenge people's "religious" beliefs.

Thing is once you start with positive energies and this sort of stuff before you know it you're into Astrology, crystal healing and people end up taking Homeopathic water instead of seeing a doctor.

So I'm sorry but I rate positive life forces in the same bucket as carpenters that rise from the dead and angels giving dictation to people they bump into

[naomi24]

Jake, I don't think there's any doubt that a positive attitude helps people through life. Walking about with a constant gloomy rain cloud dripping over your head is not only weak, but it smacks of a victim mentality - and hence, it is destructive.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes Naomi - that's simple pschology

But we don't all talk to our positive forces and ask it to help us do we?

[naomi24]

Ah, I see what you're saying, Jake. No, we don't. Having said that, there are times when I have to encourage myself to do things I find difficult - but I don't ask myself to help myself - if you see what I mean. :o/

[coccinelle]

This positive force isn't in me it's around me, just as negative forces are. What I ask is that though there are negative things going on that the positive stays near. I must admit I was brought up going to church, to a Cof E school, Sunday school so may have replaced some of this doctrine by that.

[naomi24]

I can't say I experience that, coccinelle. Any positive forces I experience come from within me. I think you're probably right in saying the remnants of your childhood religious experience has remained with you - even though you are now not looking towards the same entity to help you.

[jomifl]

coccinelle, I can understand to some degree what you are saying about a positive 'force' in that having a positive attitude does help solve life's problems more readily. However claiming that there is some kind of external 'force' that people can use sounds just a bit too 'alternative' to me. If you are going to propose an idea such as that you ought to supply some kind of reasoning and /or evidence for it's existence and perhaps suggest how it works.

[naomi24]

I can understand experiencing some sort of connection to the immensity of the universe and the power of nature, and I can understand, say, watching the sea, or immersing oneself in the quiet magnitude of the mountains in order to gather and arrange ones thoughts, especially in times of sadness, or trouble or turmoil - but I can't say I ever imagine that anything within any of that and outside of myself can help me in a practical way or on a personal level.

Please tell us more, coccinelle.