People often make claims that even atheists have “God-shaped holes” that they need to fill. I have never felt this way, and I have no visceral understanding of what others mean when they say that they do feel such a thing
From the other side of the spectrum: I pray to a god I know doesn’t exist, just because I feel a compulsion. Many atheists do not understand what the need to worship feels like. It’s not about being scared of life and wanting a sky-daddy to comfort you. It’s not about trying to outsource critical thinking. For some people, worshiping a god is just something you’ve got to do. Like taking a stretch after being cramped in an airplane.
Why: doing it feels good; not doing it feels bad. If I haven’t prayed for a while, either I get listless, nervous, and irritable, or I haven’t had the urge because I’m badly depressed.
What, from the outside: Being either alone or with other worshipers. Possibly using a focus (religious music, a picture, a rosary). Making a fixed set of gestures. Saying, whispering, or rattling off in my head prayers (usually a psalm, a mantra, or something outright silly like the alphabet). Sometimes, doing louder things like shouting, kneeling, jumping, dancing.
What, from the inside: As I pray, I start feeling relaxed (it feels deep, but actually doesn’t last). Then, if I’m lucky, I’ll start feeling a specific emotion—awe, reverence, loyalty, gratitude, things like that. I also sometimes feel it when looking at very beautiful things. I might also get strong feelings of joy, hence the shouting and dancing (psalm 117 is made of fun and party hats). Sometimes after praying for a long time I get visual illusions and auditory hallucinations, but that’s just me.
From the other side of the spectrum: I pray to a god I know doesn’t exist, just because I feel a compulsion. Many atheists do not understand what the need to worship feels like. It’s not about being scared of life and wanting a sky-daddy to comfort you. It’s not about trying to outsource critical thinking. For some people, worshiping a god is just something you’ve got to do. Like taking a stretch after being cramped in an airplane.
Were you raised in a religious family?
Data point: I do the same thing, and I wasn’t.
Can you elucidate why, and indeed what it is you’re actually doing when you pray/worship?
Why: doing it feels good; not doing it feels bad. If I haven’t prayed for a while, either I get listless, nervous, and irritable, or I haven’t had the urge because I’m badly depressed.
What, from the outside: Being either alone or with other worshipers. Possibly using a focus (religious music, a picture, a rosary). Making a fixed set of gestures. Saying, whispering, or rattling off in my head prayers (usually a psalm, a mantra, or something outright silly like the alphabet). Sometimes, doing louder things like shouting, kneeling, jumping, dancing.
What, from the inside: As I pray, I start feeling relaxed (it feels deep, but actually doesn’t last). Then, if I’m lucky, I’ll start feeling a specific emotion—awe, reverence, loyalty, gratitude, things like that. I also sometimes feel it when looking at very beautiful things. I might also get strong feelings of joy, hence the shouting and dancing (psalm 117 is made of fun and party hats). Sometimes after praying for a long time I get visual illusions and auditory hallucinations, but that’s just me.
I was. After reading Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids though, I suspect my god-shaped hole has more to do with genetics than how I was raised.