This is something I actually struggle with a lot. I read something that strikes me as profound, and that I agree with, but as soon as I try to explain it it’s all gone, and I’m left with bits and pieces that don’t make much sense to anyone else.
I’m not sure if this is a failure on my part to understand, simplify an idea, or explain it.
I’m Valerie, 23 and a brand new atheist. I was directed to LW on a (also newly atheist) friend’s recommendation and fell in love with it.
Since identifying as an atheist, I’ve struggled a bit with ‘now what?’ I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me and there is so much out there that I didn’t even know existed. It’s a bit overwhelming, but I’m loving the influx of new knowledge. I’m still working to shed old patterns of thinking and work my way into new ones. I have the difficulty of reading something and feeling that I understand it, but not being able to articulate it again (something left over from defending my theistic beliefs, which had no solid basis). I think I just need some practice :)
EDIT: Your link to the series of posts on why LW is generally atheistic is broken. Which makes me sad.