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    1. #1
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      Atheism and Dream Recall

      I have a question: Do Atheists have less dream recall than religious people?

      It sounds like a strange question and I don't want to offend anyone, but I am a Christian and have always been able to remember my dreams. However, my girlfriend and her brother are Atheists (they are also from Vietnam- so maybe culture has a big deal to do with dream recall) and they can only remember about 1 dream per month. I always thought that everyone was like me (in terms of dream recall) until I met them. A lot of religious people I know dream quite frequently and can remember there dreams.

      They are the only atheists that I know, so I was just wondering if there were any Atheists on here that could relate to them.

    2. #2
      Nothing is true Altair's Avatar
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      I am an Athiest and my dream recall is 1-2 dreams per night but I often get talked to right as I awake so I often forget one dream. Sometimes I have a few days where I cannot remember anything but that is generally because I am not trying. Religion makes no difference and doesn't the Church teach that everyone is equal so it shouldn't make a difference in abilities.

      (no offense meant in any of that)
      Work Hard, Play Hard, Dream Hard, Lucid Dream Well

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      No offense taken. I didn't want to offend anyone in anyway. I don't want people to think that I am saying that religious people are better at dream recall. I was just curious as to why they couldn't remember their dreams. The only two differences between us are that they are atheist and I am Christian and that I am American and they are Vietnamese.

      Thank you so much for your input, though.

      And yes, all people are equal .

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      However, religion or lack of religion should effect dreams or at least the dreamer's interpretation of what they are seeing.

      All Christians should basically have slightly similar dream experiences due to what we were taught growing up.

      Likewise, Buddhists or Atheists should have dreams similar to others of there religious background.

      What do you think?

    5. #5
      Generic lucid dreamer Seeker's Avatar
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      I don't think that a persons religeous (or lack of) beliefs should have any affect on recall.

      The main thing affecting recall that I can identify is the amount of effort you put into it.
      you must be the change you wish to see in the world...
      -gandhi

    6. #6
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      Thanks for the reply.

      Do you think that a person's religious beliefs or lack of them effect their dreams or atleast the interpretation of the dream?

    7. #7
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      I'm an atheist and I can sometimes recall 2-3 dreams a night, most ever was like 7 or 10



      I wanna be the very best
      Like no one ever was
      To lucid dream is my real test
      To control them is my cause


    8. #8
      on-and-off LD hobbyist innerspacecadet's Avatar
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      I'm atheist, and I recall at least fragments of 1-2 dreams per night if I give myself a chance to write them down, or if not, then I at least remember *that* I had a dream.

      I would guess your friends' low dream recall is related to how they conduct their mornings, their sleep patterns, and their level of interest in dreams. All of those may be culturally influenced. Perhaps their eating habits affect dream recall or lack thereof as well. Some people here talk about using Vitamin B6 as a dream drug for more vivid dreams, and say that it works by helping you metabolize tryptophan, an amino acid (protein component) associated with good sleep. So if their Vietnamese dietary habits give them low B6, low Tryptophan, or both, that might affect their dream recall.
      -LD Count since rejoining in Dec. 2009: 21

      No dream goals at the moment...just flying and letting stuff happen is kinda fun, and it's hard to motivate myself to try LDing lately.

    9. #9
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      Quote Originally Posted by LucidDreamGod View Post
      I'm an atheist and I can sometimes recall 2-3 dreams a night, most ever was like 7 or 10
      Since your an Atheist do you find that your dreams are different in their context from those who are religious? Like if an Atheist saw a light at the end of the tunnel he or she might think, "who left the light on?" If a Christian saw a light at the end of the tunnel they might think, "Did I just die?"

      Also, thanks for your reply.

    10. #10
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      Quote Originally Posted by innerspacecadet View Post
      I'm atheist, and I recall at least fragments of 1-2 dreams per night if I give myself a chance to write them down, or if not, then I at least remember *that* I had a dream.

      I would guess your friends' low dream recall is related to how they conduct their mornings, their sleep patterns, and their level of interest in dreams. All of those may be culturally influenced. Perhaps their eating habits affect dream recall or lack thereof as well. Some people here talk about using Vitamin B6 as a dream drug for more vivid dreams, and say that it works by helping you metabolize tryptophan, an amino acid (protein component) associated with good sleep. So if their Vietnamese dietary habits give them low B6, low Tryptophan, or both, that might affect their dream recall.
      Very good argument, thank you. I know that they eat extremely healthy and natural foods (as compared to the American diet) they also put an extremely big emphasis on getting a good night sleep and always go to bed at the same time.

      Thanks for the reply.

    11. #11
      Nothing is true Altair's Avatar
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      As I said before, I do not think religion would effect recall at all. I think being in the same religion as someone would only makes it slightly more likely that you will have similar dreams because unless it is all you think about then you are probably unlikely to dream about it. I tend to dream about things I am currently obsessed with (don't know about anyone else). So in my view unless you are devout then it won't make much difference. This is only my interpretation though, and I am sure part's of my views are wrong.


      Extremely sorry once again if I have caused offense.
      Work Hard, Play Hard, Dream Hard, Lucid Dream Well

      Dream Goals: Increase Lucidity!! Become aware of my senses, use the elements; fire, water, air, earth, fly some more, talk to DCs, find out DCs names, take dream drugs :p, ask a DC when I will die, get into a Matrix fight with hundreds of enemies like in Reloaded, get a Dream GirlFriend and have Dream Sex!

      Dream Goals Achieved: 2: Have a Lucid Dream and Fly in it!

    12. #12
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      Quote Originally Posted by Altair View Post
      As I said before, I do not think religion would effect recall at all. I think being in the same religion as someone would only makes it slightly more likely that you will have similar dreams because unless it is all you think about then you are probably unlikely to dream about it. I tend to dream about things I am currently obsessed with (don't know about anyone else). So in my view unless you are devout then it won't make much difference. This is only my interpretation though, and I am sure part's of my views are wrong.


      Extremely sorry once again if I have caused offense.
      You're probably right, my father is a minister so I've grown up around church all my life. However, I can't think of a single time where my dream was religious in anyway.

      By the way, since you are an atheist, what are your views on astral projection? I've never been taught that it was possible, but it seems (from this website and from others) that people do have these experiences, I don't know if they are just really vivid dreams or if someone's soul does leave their body. I've never had a lucid and I've never had an AP.

      I was just curious to what you thought about the whole thing. My girlfriend is atheist, but I don't want to argue with her about these topics (and hurt our relationship), but if you could tell me your point of view on the topic it would be really appreciated.

      Thanks a lot

    13. #13
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      I am atheist myself and find it somehow hard to remember my dreams. But I don't htink it is related to religion, sicne I had a catholic education, and only when I was around 14 I turned atheist.

      I think our beliefs do indeed affect our dream, just like any other characteristic of ours: knowledge, traumas, personality and so on. Just like people take different decisions, people dream differently.

      About APs: I don't believe in soul (I'm atheist heh). So the whole concept of AP or OBE turns false to me. I suppose they are just lucid dreams. If you are lucid in your dreams, what you expect to happen will happen. So if you believe you are experiencing an AP (in your dream) it will sound like so. But those are only my beliefs: other atheists may think differently.
      ~Kromoh

      Saying quantum physics explains cognitive processes is just like saying geology explains jurisprudence.

    14. #14
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      I too believe remembering dreams depends on who you are. How you interpret those can do with religion. My boyfriend and I are both agnostic (I'm a little on the atheist side as well), and he's never been able to remember dreams whereas I always have.

    15. #15
      ex-redhat ClouD's Avatar
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      OMG OFFENDED.

      Your lack of basic theology is pure ignorance.

      I think that's a bit disgusting eh?

      I am trying to restrain a bit here... but no...

      You foolish blind preacher. You want to fall into the ditch and down to self induced hell?
      Be my guest.

      How can you be so utterly ignorant? Yuck.
      Last edited by ClouD; 11-08-2007 at 01:10 AM.
      You merely have to change your point of view slightly, and then that glass will sparkle when it reflects the light.

    16. #16
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      Quote Originally Posted by ClouD View Post
      OMG OFFENDED.

      Your lack of basic theology is pure ignorance.

      I think that's a bit disgusting eh?

      I am trying to restrain a bit here... but no...

      You foolish blind preacher. Fall into the ditch and down to self induced hell.
      THAT KID JUST GOT OWNED!!!

    17. #17
      Living Dead Girl DeadDollKitty's Avatar
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      -_- this is what happens to a religious freaked world
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    18. #18
      I has a bucket suttsman's Avatar
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      I am very offended. How are Christians superior to Atheists in Anything?! (vice-versa as well) You can't make a thesis off of a fricking coincidence! Could you research before you make assumptions?

      Signature skilled by ClouD
      Quote Originally Posted by Oscar
      ...so you went to italy and you didnt even see the eiffel tower?

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      I am a Catholic, and have been practicing all my life. Before I started trying to LD and before I kept a DJ, I had horrible recall. It's still not very good, but much better.

      I would say that being religious or not ordinarily would have little effect on dreams. However, I would also say that maybe for those who are extraordinarily religious (think saints), the content of their dreams might be different. But that goes for any person who thinks about one particular thing all the time. Just like if you think about and do RCs all day, they work their way into your dreams. If you think about God (or a lack thereof) all day, it might spill over into the dream-world. But I don't think it would effect recall.

      Quote Originally Posted by Altair View Post
      Religion makes no difference and doesn't the Church teach that everyone is equal so it shouldn't make a difference in abilities.

      (no offense meant in any of that)
      My Church (the Catholic Church) doesn't teach that every person is equal in abilities. It's obvious that we are not all equal in ability. What the Church does teach (just in case you might be interested) is that we are all equal in dignity because we were all made in the image and likeness of God for the same end: eternal communion with Him.

      -Lux

    20. #20
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      Quote Originally Posted by suttsman View Post
      I am very offended. How are Christians superior to Atheists in Anything?!
      They're better at lying to themselves. I mean, OMG OFFENDED

    21. #21
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      Quote Originally Posted by suttsman View Post
      I am very offended. How are Christians superior to Atheists in Anything?! (vice-versa as well) You can't make a thesis off of a fricking coincidence! Could you research before you make assumptions?
      It has been researched that the average Agnostic has higher SAT scores than the average Christian .

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      Quote Originally Posted by suttsman View Post
      I am very offended. How are Christians superior to Atheists in Anything?! (vice-versa as well) You can't make a thesis off of a fricking coincidence! Could you research before you make assumptions?
      I do not agree with the idea in the first post, but I think if you'll read it again you'll see that it was formulated as a question. Hapkidoman saw an apparent correlation, and then he came here for more data to confirm or deny the apparent correlation suggested by his personal experience.

      I think it is fairly obvious that his idea was ill-reasoned, but he didn't make an assumption--he came here to research the matter.

      By your own logic you should praise him for doing exactly what you said he ought to do: rather than assume that Christians have better recall than Atheists, he asked the Atheists if that was the case.

      -Lux

    23. #23
      ex-redhat ClouD's Avatar
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      Quote Originally Posted by LuxAeterna View Post
      I do not agree with the idea in the first post, but I think if you'll read it again you'll see that it was formulated as a question. Hapkidoman saw an apparent correlation, and then he came here for more data to confirm or deny the apparent correlation suggested by his personal experience.

      I think it is fairly obvious that his idea was ill-reasoned, but he didn't make an assumption--he came here to research the matter.

      By your own logic you should praise him for doing exactly what you said he ought to do: rather than assume that Christians have better recall than Atheists, he asked the Atheists if that was the case.

      -Lux
      The way he "asked" the question, was extremely implicative of his intent.

      Blindly ignorant, actually.

      I checked out, and most of his posts are in this indirectly offensive format, assuming ridiculous statements, through pseudo-pretentious methods.

      If i were to say, "No offense, but do black people have better dream recall, because they get shot at all the time?", there would be an uproar. It's ridiculous, and unfounded.

      You wouldn't say, awww he's just trying to find the answer to a question.
      Last edited by ClouD; 11-08-2007 at 01:56 AM.
      You merely have to change your point of view slightly, and then that glass will sparkle when it reflects the light.

    24. #24
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      Quote Originally Posted by ClouD View Post
      The way he "asked" the question, was extremely implicative of his intent.

      Blindly ignorant, actually.

      I checked out, and most of his posts are in this indirectly offensive format, assuming ridiculous statements, through pseudo-pretentious methods.

      If i were to say, "No offense, but do black people have better dream recall, because of the way they are brought up?", there would be an uproar. It's ridiculous, and unfounded.

      You wouldn't say, awww he's just trying to find the answer to a question.
      It seems at least possible that the way he asked it is not because he is trying to insinuate something, but just because of ignorance or naivety. If the latter is the case--and it seems we should extend the benefit of the doubt--then the proper way to respond would be calm, collected correction, not angered objection.

      Your analogous question is faulty because being black or white is an innate, inborn trait that has nothing to do with upbringing or chosen beliefs. Being Christian or Atheist, however, is completely upbringing and/or personally formulated, chosen beliefs. And, since dreams are made up of our experiences, and our recall often the product of how we look at dreams, it is at least very marginally possible that this might effect dreams. But I don't think it would in any significant way.

      -Lux

    25. #25
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      I'm not an atheist, I'm a Darwinist.

      I have awesome recall if it was an engrossing dream. Otherwise, i just forget about it.

      -VF

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