That happens to me.  Just because I don't believe a supreme being created it, doesn't stop it from being beautiful.  It also doesn't stop me from being in awe of nature.

To me, it's more amazing that these things exist at all.  Attributing them to some unprovable hypothesis of a god doesn't improve these experiences at all.

There is the inexplicable and the highly improbable.  In the case of the improbable, well, sometimes we beat the odds.  It's that simple.  In the case of the inexplicable, we don't always have explanations.  That can be very hard to accept, but I personally prefer no explanation to a bad explanation.  I think no explanation is far more honest.

I suppose some situations might be easier if one believed in an afterlife.  But I tend not to change what I believe based on what I wish was true.  Given the lack of reasons to believe in an afterlife, I don't believe in it.

At times of loss, I am thankful for the time I had with the person.  I am thankful for their profound impact on my life, my memories, and my personality.  That's enough for me.  I think that introducing "God" into these thoughts cheapens them. 

I think that loss is sad.  No argument here.

Thanks for your thoughful responses chansen. 

Somegal, from my perspective, let me see how I can answer your questions.  To me giving thanks, prayers of thanksgiving etc. - I sense that I can (and do) pray whenever, wherever to express that gratitude for the presence of these things, people or experiences in my life.  That's a bit more of my focus, rather than necessarily thanking God for specifically providing them - so I guess maybe I'm a bit more of a generalist in that regard, or maybe just at a different point on my faith journey.  I definitely share chansen's sense of amazement for much of what exists!

I don't really believe in an afterlife, in the sense of reunion etc.  So for me that's not part of the picture.  I am grateful for all who are and have been part of my journey (including YOU!) - and memories of them remain with me, even after the physical person is long gone.  Naturally there is grief and mourning of  loss - its a healthy part of being in relationship, being human. 

Sorry to hear you're feeling sad ... glad you're sharing.  I look forward to reading other responses to your questions.

Somegal, while I'm not an athiest, this video does explain how science makes me feel:

(Starting around the 7:30 mark, if you're not interested in the whole thing).

While I do believe God put the mechanisms into place, I'm not too sure about every little change.  Just the fact that an enzyme exists is pretty amazing to me.  The mutations that had to occur to get something working that synthetically, we're very far behind.  Life itself is huge exponentially steps away from that one little enzyme.  While I do thank God for creation, I can feel a sense of gratitude, amazement, wonder and awe to many many many extremely small probablities of occurance actually occuring without that gratitude being directed to anywhere but nature itself.

Chansen, Carolla and Chemgal - thank you for the thoughtful and thought-provoking replies! Keep them coming folks!

I'm also in awe that these things exist. I feel lucky that I live in a place where I get to experience this awe at will. Every day I get to see vistas that include forests, the ocean and beautiful snow-capped mountains. They all take my breath away.

I was thinking about things that are, at least at this point in history, completely inexplicable. I was thinking, for example, about something that happened to me a couple of years ago. I was involved in a minor car accident in an area of town that was not close to where I live or work and I didn't think I knew anyone who lived in the area. The next day, a client came up to me at work and said that she had seen what had happened and that, if I needed it, she would back me up as a witness. Fortunately there was no damage to my body or vehicle, so I didn't need her help. All of those things put together, for me, constitute a miracle - a car accident with no injuries, no damage and a friendly face who just happened to be at the scene.

And for me, introducing God into these thoughts enriches them.

My prayers of thanksgiving tend to start off with specifics and then get more general. I might start by saying thanks for this specific mountain, for example, but then move into a more general thank you for all mountains and the life-giving forces on and around them.

I am also greatful for you Carolla - and for all of the folks on the Wonder Cafe (even those who I might not like all of the time). I agree that it is important to hold on to the memories of folks who have passed on. This may sound weird, but I do like to "talk" to people even after they have gone. It helps me to work through my feelings of grief and loss and it helps me to maintain a sense of connection with the person who has died.

Today I am not feeling as sad. I am also really looking forward to reading more responses.

I don't actually think it's 'weird' to talk to people after they have gone.  To me, it's kind of thinking out loud, wondering what they might think or advise on matters,  imagining the humour they might find in our situations, wishing for guidance ...  Now, if you hear their voices answering you ... well, that's a bit of another matter!

chemgal wrote:

Somegal, while I'm not an athiest, this video does explain how science makes me feel:

(Starting around the 7:30 mark, if you're not interested in the whole thing).

While I do believe God put the mechanisms into place, I'm not too sure about every little change.  Just the fact that an enzyme exists is pretty amazing to me.  The mutations that had to occur to get something working that synthetically, we're very far behind.  Life itself is huge exponentially steps away from that one little enzyme.  While I do thank God for creation, I can feel a sense of gratitude, amazement, wonder and awe to many many many extremely small probablities of occurance actually occuring without that gratitude being directed to anywhere but nature itself.

I really enjoyed that video Chemgal (I did watch the whole thing). I believe similarly to you in that I believe that God put the mechanisms into place, but am unsure about all of the changes/mutations. This is connected, also, to my belief in free will. I don't believe that God necessarily has a plan for each of us, but when we need help making decisions, we can go to God, through prayer, and we will get advice. Because God can't actually talk to us, the message comes through in other ways and may not be immediately obvious. We may not like the advice given and can choose whether or not to take it.

I'm glad to hear you don't think it is weird! No voices answer me back, thankfully - I think I'd jump out of my skin if they did!

i still talk to my boi -- when i'm going for an overnight stay somewhere else i tell him where i'm going and that he can come with if he wishes and that he can do anything now

Awww... that's so sweet Inanna!

Some people don't believe in what's abstract ... sort of a Shadowland that many avoid ... not knowing what's buried there as treasure ...

That's Legion ... into the drink again ... like Thor in the cups ... Kohl ... dark intoxicating? Some just don't have thirst ... not warmed enough to rise to the call of the other side ... what's denied as de Luce idioms ... flyte words? Is that vulgarism ... or just too common to be mean as a medium without a care?

Extract the powers ... bring eM to their knees! Infinite ... when there's nothing else ... that's all there is tuit! Must be observed explicitly ... exterior vision ... OBI? Get oud wit cha ...

Can the surrounding power sap am'n ... that's UR! In Jinn process ... all comes back at cha ... careful where yah goes ... always skett ...

Thank you Waterbuoy - you have such a poetic way with words.