maybe i'm just a dumb atheist, but the way i see it, my life has all the more meaning because it's all i have, because it's up to me to make the best of it, because it will be over someday. and because i don't need someone else to provide that meaning.
my options are: life as a person endowed with the power to change (part of) the world, in control of my destiny, without looking to a higher power for approval of my every step OR life as a pawn in some higher power's chess game, only as free as this god will allow me to be, with nothing to look forward to but the hope that i have been a good enough puppet that he will want to have me around for all of eternity, worshipping the cloud he floats over as he magically provides me with eternal bliss
which life has more meaning?
2006-06-29 22:25:39 · 13 answers · asked by gwenwifar 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Fully living "in the moment" as you describe, not only demands that you participate maximally because 'this is all you've got,' but it also demands that you take full responsibility for your actions and thoughts. If you are a 'puppet' then you can always blame the puppeteer. Thus the great opiate of religion: it's not you, you're not responsible, it's "god's" will....so you don't have to worry.
If, on the other hand, it's just you and the decisions you make are yours alone, you are creating your world one decision at a time. Thus, anything that goes wrong is most definitely your own doing and you have to step up or step out.
Conversely, grabbing each moment by the balls and sucking it's juice out till it runs down your chin is the life of the atheist. Fully present, 'cause this is ALL I get and I only get one shot at it and there's no Big Father balancing, judging, commanding, etc, etc.
I believe in life BEFORE death.
2006-06-29 22:38:09 · answer #1 · answered by bootothead 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Faith give you satisfaction. You as individual are not endowed with power and have no control over your destiny.Is whether you believe in God that mighty being who controls that universe whether you like it or not.Well it is not a matter of approval. God gave you free choice you just ask his help to help you by giving you wisdom to choose which step to take so that any step you take will be best for you for he is able to see your destiny. If you feel you are a pawn that is too bad. Everything in life has no value without God's blessing his grace will come by continuous prayer strong faith in him he does not want you to be around the clock for eternity under his command but to pray not to fall in trials and help you pass dangerous situation or steps you take.Rest assure you are free .As a creator he should make us slaves poppets but he wants us to follow him voluntarily free will is granted to do anything we like but you use reason and faith through the holy spirit that live within us will lead our way.You worship the creator whom you can't see not the clouds.You will feel happiness if you accept Jesus as your Savior and then you see that life has more meaning than the material life you think of
2006-06-29 23:05:32 · answer #2 · answered by Xplorer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you're dumb, but perhaps ignorant. I am an atheist myself (and a strong atheist, I might say). Orthodox Christian (not Calvinist) morality essentially boils down to two principles: one, the idea of good and evil (that some actions are good and some evil), and two, the idea of free will. (Calvinism only has the first principle.)
If you don't believe in a higher power from which morality springs, you must agree with me that there is no such thing as objective (universal) good and evil. Good and evil are just value judgments made by men.
Moreover, the law of cause and effect (which is a model, i.e., a simplification) demands that every action or event (and in this model, every action *is* an event) is caused by another. This means that every one of your actions, however "deliberate" you may think them to be, is conditioned by many factors.
From this it follows: that there is no such thing as free will (though there is the *feeling* of freedom of the will, which is perhaps essential for (human) life; but it is an illusion); and that there is no such thing as evil.
As for meaning, your argument that you can provide that meaning must collapse with the pillar of free will. You may create (the illusion of) a meaning or you may not, but in any case this creation is *not* an act of free will.
2006-06-29 23:17:23 · answer #3 · answered by sauwelios@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's rather self-contradictory to claim that we're made by a god with the gift of free will, but that we cannot then exercise that free will in deciding our own meaning and purpose in life - That we have to be, as you say, the pawn in a deity's chess game, and follow *his* meaning and purpose rather than our own.
So, it's the very fact that we're actually the product of an unthinking, godless universe which allows us to have true meaning in our lives.
2006-06-29 22:37:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is many views surrounding this kind of topic. Sure, people view that faith is what we live by, and for many, that's the way they have to live, because it's what they have. Without it, they are lost, and they don't have any form or way of going on with life. Those that view life that you can do what you want without having to think about another one to answer to, that's the way you go with it. You already have something that you want, and that's why you go on without having to rely on faith. Sure, faith is something great that many people have, but those that need it to give their life meaning, need something else in their life.
2006-06-29 22:31:43 · answer #5 · answered by Gabe 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People need a reason to live more then the simple things..i woke every morning for a month straight questioning why i havnt killed myself yet..i seeked god..i seeked all that crap. but what i was missing..was life itself..waking up to see the wind blowing the trees is reason enough for me to have a meaning for life...its all so beautiful..people are scared of not having a meaning..thats all..plus some are just psycho.
2006-06-29 22:30:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i totally agree with you the life of having to look to a higher power for the approval of your every waking move.. is just plain out stupid.. i will believe in god when i see him...and untill then i will just believe in nothing.. i don't believe that a stupid spirit could make all of us and if so, how the hell are we all different colors?? and if he creates our lives and destiny then why did we have slavery? and why did/ do we have so much hate in the world? i say fuc.k something that i have no proof of.. i am a dumb athiest and i am damn proud of it and fuc.k all you ppl that try to shove your damn religion down my throat i don't try to change your beliefs so why should you change mine.. f.u.c.k.i.ng hippocritical christians!!
2006-06-29 22:40:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in Jesus and in my understanding; God has given me Irrevocable Freedom. So I have freedom to do, to chose or to believe anything. I thank God for the salvation and I always try to give meaning in my life simply as an expression of gratitude to my God.
2006-06-29 23:03:42 · answer #8 · answered by Michael D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Partly brainwashing, partly fear of dying. but I'm jealous, I'd like to be one of them, deluded by some idiotic faith, firmly believing in things like heaven and the immortal soul. Unfortunately I can't, it's just too dumb - and childish.
2006-06-29 22:29:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'm afraid that God is too kind to not provide you with faith........
2006-06-30 10:58:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋