I have been feeling a lot of existential dread lately

[_malaise]

Mormonism and other religions might depress you, but at least when you are part of a religion you can shield yourself from the pointless nature of reality with pretty lies. When I first decided that there were no good arguments for any religion (and become an agnostic atheist) I was ecstatic because it meant all the Mormon doctrines that troubled me were made up, but lately I have become more and more nihilistic. I go through periods like this sometimes, but they usually end fairly quickly...Not this one. Hmm, should stop reading Zapffe.

[_Dr. Shades]

Mormonism and other religions might depress you, but at least when you are part of a religion you can shield yourself from the pointless nature of reality with pretty lies. When I first decided that there were no good arguments for any religion (and become an agnostic atheist) I was ecstatic because it meant all the Mormon doctrines that troubled me were made up, but lately I have become more and more nihilistic. I go through periods like this sometimes, but they usually end fairly quickly...Not this one. Hmm, should stop reading Zapffe.

What's wrong with nihilism?

[_malaise]

What's wrong with nihilism?

it's depressing and horrible

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Hello Mr/Ms (?) Malaise,

I understand perfectly what you're experiencing. I'm a soft Atheist who went through a Blue Period. I think that's a natural event, akin to discovering Santa Claus isn't real and your parents were lying to you when you were a child. Certainly the shock and disbelief wear off quickly when you're a child, however the implications of giving up an existential reality full of utopian rewards for one with pointlessness is a bitter pill to swallow.

That said, if you're able to develop meaning within context of your existential reality then you can determine if that meaning has value and possibly find a measure, whatever measure, of happiness you deem appopriate.

For example, I've determined for my life I want to do a certain career because the short-term rewards are more pleasing to my existential reality than if I choose another path. Within that context I choose to eat right & exercise, not so much because I enjoy those things, but because not doing those things brings me greater displeasure than doing those things. I've determined that I want to experience living because the desire to live comes more naturally to me than the desire to die, or to suffer unnecessarily due to sloth or, say, criminality. In this manner, I think I've become more deliberate and conscientious in my behavior than I ever was when I was attempting to follow a prescribe plan for living. I feel like I awoke to a dystopian reality, but once confronted with what I perceive to be the Real I simply had to make a choice to live or not to live. Once I made the choice to live (which was the easy part) I had to determine how I wanted to live (that was the hard part). It's touch and go from there... ;)

V/R
Dr. Cam

[_Quasimodo]

I go through periods like this sometimes, but they usually end fairly quickly...Not this one. Hmm, should stop reading Zapffe.

Zapffe was a bit of a pessimist, I believe. Maybe you should give him a pass for a while.

For what it's worth, I think it's better to admit that you don't know about the nature of reality as apposed to believing someone else's narrow view.

Your opinion is just as valid (maybe more so) than someone who has not given it as much thought as you obviously have.

From my point of view, admitting you don't know is closer to the truth than pretending you do.

[_CaliforniaKid]

Did you experience bouts of melancholy back when you were religious? It could be depression, in which case ideology isn't the problem.

Personally, I find that life is fun no matter what your religion. However, it's having friends to share it with that makes it fun. Leaving a religion can cut you off from your network of friends and leave you feeling lonely and contemplating the absence of meaning in life. If this sounds like you, then my advice is to find a club, meetup, Unitarian church, or some other gathering of like-minded people that you can join.

[_mikwut]

Malaise,

‘Unfortunately, I cannot help you. All I have for facing death myself, is a foolish smile.’

regards, mikwut

[_Hades]

I have become more and more nihilistic.

That must be exhausting.

[_The Nehor]

Give a coin to the hangman, throw a jest to the crowd, and die with a smile on your face.

[_Dr. Shades]

What's wrong with nihilism?

it's depressing and horrible

No, it's wise and enlightening.

You're going off what someone else has told you about nihilism. Once you evaluate it on its own merits, you'll find how peaceful and satisfying it is.