When you don't have "god" what do you turn to for comfort?
An Internet firm specializing in crystal balls, tarot readings, I-ching and horoscopes is raking in business as Japanese seek reassurance about the future in the midst of a global financial crisis. Fears of job cuts and an economy in meltdown have boosted business at Zappallas Inc, which operates Japan's largest network of fortune-telling websites, including "Your Future in Three Months" and "Certain Fate." http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20081201/wr_nm/us_japan_fortunes_net
Knowing many here are agnostic/atheist I was curious what (if any) superstitions and activities we may partake in to comfort ourselves in hard times.
Personally, I immerse myself in creative things (music, writing, filmmaking) which is in a way meditative and do more charitable work (maybe subconsciously believing in a karmic recipricosity?)
I recently planted a navel orange tree, and started an organic garden in the backyard.
There is a spiritual side to this- the sacred act of promoting life.
There is an emotional/physical side to this- gardening is great exercise, and sunlight is the best anti-depressant on Earth.
There is a practical side to this- I expect to be selling this stuff on the side of the road next year ;-)
I also agree with your view on charity/karma, but believe the best charity is anonymous (lest it become an act of pride).
I myself am kind of a cynic-romantic. I would like to believe in karma, but come on. Anything that people believe that makes them feel good feels highly suspect to me in regards of it being real, but at the same time I take emotional pleasure on simple things like some music or a properly done movie. I do HATE cheesy crap, though. When I say romantic, I don't mean Julia Roberts movies.
I have never cried in my adult life or teen years, despite having had deaths of people very close to me. I did do and say really stupid things though, which is probably what I do when I'm emotionally moved. So now I just keep quiet whenever something bad happens to me and those around.
Movies that move me more like any Will Smith melodrama are ones like Takeshi Kitano's Hanabi or Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors or Broadway Danny Rose (the scene where Danny and all the other "losers" are having frozen instant turkey Thanksgiving dinner stuck with me). Not one tear is shed by any of the dry characters in Hanabi, but it's one of the saddest movies I've ever seen.