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Theme Changer

 Topic: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?

 (Read 4368 times)
  • 12 Next page « Previous thread | Next thread »
  • Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     OP - May 23, 2010, 11:03 PM

    I have been an atheist for a decade now, but yesterday something strange happened to me. I occasionally suffer from sleep paralysis which I was told, when I was a Muslim, is a work of Satan . While I was taking a nap on the sofa, I had this creepy felling and tremendous fear, then I find myself reciting some verses from Quran believing it's Sheytan again. When I woke up I started laughing at myself for doing that, I really don't believe that Iblis, Jiin, Satan, Allah, ghosts or whatever do exist but I'm curious why my subconscious doesn't get it yet?   

    man created god in his own image
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #1 - May 23, 2010, 11:26 PM

    I've just read through your previous posts, it seems your registered last year, but haven't posted much.  Anyway, welcome back. hugs

    Thanks for sharing your interesting experience.  It wouldn't surprise me too much.  All the duas Muslims are taught since childhood, to recite in different circumstances, are firmly embedded in your brain and could come out instinctively, even several years into apostasy.

    "Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so." -- Bertrand Russell

    Baloney Detection Kit
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #2 - May 23, 2010, 11:29 PM

    I have been an atheist for a decade now, but yesterday something strange happened to me. I occasionally suffer from sleep paralysis which I was told, when I was a Muslim, is a work of Satan . While I was taking a nap on the sofa, I had this creepy felling and tremendous fear, then I find myself reciting some verses from Quran believing it's Sheytan again. When I woke up I started laughing at myself for doing that, I really don't believe that Iblis, Jiin, Satan, Allah, ghosts or whatever do exist but I'm curious why my subconscious doesn't get it yet?   

    well i think thats what people do in these situations of fear and panic. in lack of something better we often turn to a higher power for help.
    its like the final option, i mean even a hardcore atheist might suddenly start praying to god if he was in a plain crash or something!
    its just something that the brain does in order to feel safe and to keep hopes up instead of a possible mental breakdown, which really wont do
    you any good in a bad situation! were not in total control of our minds even if we think so.

    ive had sleep paralysis once myself, and indeed you get the feeling theres something very evil present at the time. and your just laying there helpless
    unable to scream or move.. fucking horrifying  Tongue
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #3 - May 23, 2010, 11:39 PM

    Thanks for sharing your interesting experience.  It wouldn't surprise me too much.  All the duas Muslims are taught since childhood, to recite in different circumstances, are firmly embedded in your brain and could come out instinctively, even several years into apostasy.


    Totally ... I've been close to do it too. Have to say to myself "Don't! Don't think that!". Unlearning these duas is a learning process in itself, a bit.

    @Nuppar: If you're condition continues, I'd suggest to see a doctor and I would hope that a logical explanation will be accepted by your subconscious.
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #4 - May 23, 2010, 11:48 PM

    I have been an atheist for a decade now, but yesterday something strange happened to me. I occasionally suffer from sleep paralysis which I was told, when I was a Muslim, is a work of Satan . While I was taking a nap on the sofa, I had this creepy felling and tremendous fear, then I find myself reciting some verses from Quran believing it's Sheytan again. When I woke up I started laughing at myself for doing that, I really don't believe that Iblis, Jiin, Satan, Allah, ghosts or whatever do exist but I'm curious why my subconscious doesn't get it yet?   


    European mythology has it that incubi or succubi are responsible for sleep paralysis. I don't know. Maybe you had one of those 'night terror' things or something.

    But yeah. People can be programmed to react in a certain way to certain situations. It's just a result of something being fixed in your subconscious.
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #5 - May 23, 2010, 11:59 PM

    Nuppar! i advice you to avoid sleeping on your back if you want to reduce the risk of these paralysis. there seems to be a connection between
    sleeping on the back and sleep paralysis state, as well as having nightmares while sleeping on your back.

    "European mythology has it that incubi or succubi are responsible for sleep paralysis."

    yes this is because when your in this condition you are very like to feel that someone is sitting on top of you, and that your soul is being sucked out from your body. it is a very weird feeling, but it has somethig to do with breathing difficulties while paralysed! this might also lead up to terrifying hallucinations due to the fact that your brain doesnt get enough oxygen.
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #6 - May 24, 2010, 12:30 AM

    Thank you guys for the advice, I have realized that I get it mostly when I sleep uncomfortably, i.e on sofa. I try not to sleep on my back.

    man created god in his own image
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #7 - May 24, 2010, 08:15 AM

    I still say Alhamdulillah, inshallah, Allah ibarek. When I put a baby in his bed, I always say bismillah so that he won't wake up. When I exhale deeply I always said astaghfirullah. I can't see these things going away anytime soon.

    He's no friend to the friendless
    And he's the mother of grief
    There's only sorrow for tomorrow
    Surely life is too brief
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #8 - May 24, 2010, 09:33 AM

    Thanks Nuppar i never knew its called sleep paralysis..
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #9 - May 24, 2010, 09:47 AM

    I heard about that too, but I was taught that if you sleep in front of the door (if the bed is directly in front of you as you enter) then you are in the Jinns path and they'll attack you, sit on you, or whatever it is they do.
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #10 - May 24, 2010, 10:48 AM

    what i was told about this when i asked a sheikh once was that if you are not a good muslim and you do not pray then to every man their is a Jinn Female who if good will do this to you to take you to the right path.. i was 15 when i asked anyways so maybe he was making it up .. not sure
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #11 - May 24, 2010, 01:00 PM

    I had this condition when i was a kid too, my religious brother told me that it's Jinns who are trying to eat the left over in my mouth and they can also suffocate me to death. You can imagine how terrified I became after that, this is a good example why we should Keep Hadith out of reach of children.  Smiley

    man created god in his own image
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #12 - May 24, 2010, 01:14 PM

    I still say Alhamdulillah, inshallah, Allah ibarek. When I put a baby in his bed, I always say bismillah so that he won't wake up. When I exhale deeply I always said astaghfirullah. I can't see these things going away anytime soon.


    LOL, it's just like when an atheist says "OMG" or "Jesus" or something similar, perhaps: "Holy Crap", or "Holy Shit". Afro

    ...
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #13 - May 24, 2010, 01:15 PM

    Don't think you'll get over it (the word stuff) tbh. "OH MY GOD" is my every other sentence to be honest. I never say "Alhamdullilah" and all that stuff because I've never actually used them that often.

    "If intelligence is feminine... I would want that mine would, in a resolute movement, come to resemble an impious woman."
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #14 - May 24, 2010, 08:33 PM

    I wouldnt worry about it , it just harmless meme echos. Like saying Bless you when someone sneezes. You probably say goodbye at least once a day but you dont actually mean May god be with you , which is its true meaning . and as you say it was in a non awakened state you experienced this in and as soon as you were fully concsious you laughed. Much the same as me when I dreamt I refused to give in to the sexual demands of Uma Thurman , except on that occasion when I woke up I cried


    as to the question in your threads title my answer would be to never wipe  religion out of your head , it will serve to remind you what a pile of steaming shite it is

    According to the polls only 1.6 % of Americans are athiests. So what gives you the right to call the other 80% morons?'
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #15 - May 27, 2010, 12:24 AM

    Wow this is pretty interesting, I don't have this problem because I haven't been deeply religious so its not really stuck in my head!
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #16 - May 27, 2010, 12:29 AM

    I say alhamdulillah, bismillah, all the time, and it used to drive me a bit nuts. Now, I'm kind of at peace with it, I mean, there is no harm in saying these words.
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #17 - May 27, 2010, 12:43 AM

    that reminds me, what does "alhamdulillah" actually mean and when do you say it? heard it a lot of times
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #18 - May 27, 2010, 12:51 AM

    that reminds me, what does "alhamdulillah" actually mean and when do you say it? heard it a lot of times


    It means "all praise is due to Allah" and you say it after you sneeze because Adam sneezed when he was first created. I guess there was a lot of pollen in Heaven.

  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #19 - May 27, 2010, 02:08 AM

    You also say it after a meal as a thank you to Allah.
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #20 - May 27, 2010, 09:07 AM

    My early childhood was filled with sleep paralysis.  Instantly being awake (always on my back for some reason), unable to move or breath.  But I always knew that if I could just move a finger or a toe a tiny bit then I was in control of my body, and that small movement would be followed by a slightly larger movement, and more, until suddenly I'd jolt upright and my lungs would burst open and fill with air.

    Your verses work because you are moving, you could just as easily be reciting humpty dumpty Smiley

    Will it get out of your head?  Here's another story from my life Smiley

    I went to see a stage hypnotist. He hypnotised a group of us, sending back people he said had not been hypnotised. I sat there on a chair with everyone else with my eyes shut. He told us when we woke up we'd see giant killer spiders all over the floor.  The rational part of my brain was saying "Nah, you are just hypnotised" but the irrational part of my brain was saying "But what if you see them?"

    When I woke up I saw everyone else shitting themselves.  I couldn't see any spiders, but I believed they were there somewhere just out of sight so was looking for them.  At this point he decided I wasn't hypnotised and told me to go back and sit down.

    I started to have nightmares where I would suddenly wake up looking for alien killer spiders. I could swear I had just seen it, but sitting up had scared it into hiding, so I'd be climbing all over the place looking for them before waking up a couple of minutes later. I've even saved my wive's life on a number of occasions from mutant flying spiders crossed with a poisonous wasp Smiley

    TEN YEARS later I was thinking back to the hypno-show and realised that how I felt + my actions during the show were exactly the same as those I had been experiencing in my sleep.  I went to a hypnotist and had the suggestion replaced with one of my choice.  She said the spiders would float away in bubbles, I thought that was bollocks so I told myself instead I would just look at them and see how beautiful they are (I am not scared of spiders in real life.)  After a few nights of waking my wife up to show her the beautiful spiders it all came to an end.

    Ten years my brain was fucked up for just because of a single suggestion on a single night.  Hypnosis is a good tool for helping your conscious mind to plant instructions into your subconscious mind. It might help you to deal with this situation differently, but that's if you experience it often enough to be bothered by it.

    I don't come here any more due to unfair moderation.
    http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?topic=30785
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #21 - May 27, 2010, 09:13 AM

    My early childhood was filled with sleep paralysis.  Instantly being awake (always on my back for some reason), unable to move or breath.  But I always knew that if I could just move a finger or a toe a tiny bit then I was in control of my body, and that small movement would be followed by a slightly larger movement, and more, until suddenly I'd jolt upright and my lungs would burst open and fill with air.

    Your verses work because you are moving, you could just as easily be reciting humpty dumpty Smiley

    Will it get out of your head?  Here's another story from my life Smiley

    I went to see a stage hypnotist. He hypnotised a group of us, sending back people he said had not been hypnotised. I sat there on a chair with everyone else with my eyes shut. He told us when we woke up we'd see giant killer spiders all over the floor.  The rational part of my brain was saying "Nah, you are just hypnotised" but the irrational part of my brain was saying "But what if you see them?"

    When I woke up I saw everyone else shitting themselves.  I couldn't see any spiders, but I believed they were there somewhere just out of sight so was looking for them.  At this point he decided I wasn't hypnotised and told me to go back and sit down.

    I started to have nightmares where I would suddenly wake up looking for alien killer spiders. I could swear I had just seen it, but sitting up had scared it into hiding, so I'd be climbing all over the place looking for them before waking up a couple of minutes later. I've even saved my wive's life on a number of occasions from mutant flying spiders crossed with a poisonous wasp Smiley

    TEN YEARS later I was thinking back to the hypno-show and realised that how I felt + my actions during the show were exactly the same as those I had been experiencing in my sleep.  I went to a hypnotist and had the suggestion replaced with one of my choice.  She said the spiders would float away in bubbles, I thought that was bollocks so I told myself instead I would just look at them and see how beautiful they are (I am not scared of spiders in real life.)  After a few nights of waking my wife up to show her the beautiful spiders it all came to an end.

    Ten years my brain was fucked up for just because of a single suggestion on a single night.  Hypnosis is a good tool for helping your conscious mind to plant instructions into your subconscious mind. It might help you to deal with this situation differently, but that's if you experience it often enough to be bothered by it.


    Very interesting, anymore stories you would like to share from the book of TheRationalizer  Tongue
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #22 - May 27, 2010, 09:15 AM

    Very interesting, anymore stories you would like to share from the book of TheRationalizer  Tongue


    hehe, there's usually something in my life that relates to something, because I was quite reckless as a kid and also spent a lot of time thinking about stuff.  However I always need something to trigger the memory, so I can't really list them out for you Smiley

    Funnily enough my sleep paralysis started as the result of watching a film about an astronaut in space who gets hit in the face by some kind of white light (looked like a star), which gave him glowing eyes and super powers.  It was the pilot episode for some shitty series in the 80's.  My first dream was that I was in a completely black vacuum and the same white star hit me in the face, which instantly woke me up paralysed.

    I'd like to know what that pilot was, I'd love to watch it again. 
    TheRationalizer googles

    I don't come here any more due to unfair moderation.
    http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?topic=30785
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #23 - May 27, 2010, 09:21 AM

    Did you freak-out the first time you were paralyzed? At first I would be like... wtf is going on!! HELP!!
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #24 - May 27, 2010, 09:27 AM

    Got it, I think they even show the "star light" bit just before they write "Northstar"
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Z4xpjmQ9A

    Sorry, don't mean to threat hijack, focus on the hypnotherapy Smiley


    Did you freak-out the first time you were paralyzed? At first I would be like... wtf is going on!! HELP!!


    Damn right I did. According to my research I would have been about 12, but I do remember an earlier scenario where I woke up and there was a giant steel ball the size of the room in the corner of my bedroom. It was floating in the air and moving really slowly towards me, as it got closer it got smaller, until eventually (for some reason) it would stick into my thumb.  The thought of high mass of that ball moving slowly yet with so much inertia still freaks me out.  It just did as I wrote this Smiley

    Waking up unable to breath is a very scary feeling.  Nuppar's parents simply played on his fear in order to get him to pray to Allah, that's how religion works - The God Virus talks about this kind of thing, it's a very interesting book.

    I don't come here any more due to unfair moderation.
    http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?topic=30785
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #25 - May 27, 2010, 02:08 PM

    I still say Alhamdulillah, inshallah, Allah ibarek. When I put a baby in his bed, I always say bismillah so that he won't wake up. When I exhale deeply I always said astaghfirullah. I can't see these things going away anytime soon.

    This is true for me as well. I even go so far as to say 'maktoob' (it is written) after every unfortunate situation, even when I don't really believe that. Tongue
    Yet for some reason, I've unconsciously started to replace 'alhamdulilah' after sneezing with 'Jeez', 'fuck', etc. :/
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #26 - May 27, 2010, 02:12 PM

    Force yourself out of it.  Put the baby to bed, smile at it, and be grateful that this baby is going to be spared.  Say something lovely to the baby, and as you walk off say to yourself "Fuck you Allah".


    I don't come here any more due to unfair moderation.
    http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?topic=30785
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #27 - May 27, 2010, 02:14 PM

    This is true for me as well. I even go so far as to say 'maktoob' (it is written) after every unfortunate situation, even when I don't really believe that. Tongue
    Yet for some reason, I've unconsciously started to replace 'alhamdulilah' after sneezing with 'Jeez', 'fuck', etc. :/

    Islam is like a bad habit that began 1400 yrs ago.

    My Book     news002       
    My Blog  pccoffee
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #28 - May 27, 2010, 02:45 PM

    I was never even really a Christian and I still say things like 'Jesus Christ Almighty' or 'good God.'

    It's a cultural thing.
  • Re: Is it possible to wipe religion out my head?
     Reply #29 - May 27, 2010, 02:47 PM

    I was never even really a Christian and I still say things like 'Jesus Christ Almighty' or 'good God.'

    It's a cultural thing.


    I say "Oh God" when I have sex Smiley  Actually I used to feel guilt for it, to get over it though I just had to keep pointing my finger at the sky and saying "Fuck you god, you utter fucking bastard" and stuff like that.  The way to get over it is to address what you fear.

    I don't come here any more due to unfair moderation.
    http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/index.php?topic=30785
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