Why live...for what...doesn't it seem like a TOTAL waste of time...to just exist? Live for 80 years or so, survive, buy a house and car, give a few dollars to the poor or volunteer a few times, go lay down on sand in the sun, bring more offspring into a dying world...what is the point? Please someone, with minimal sarcasm, please tell me...WHY LIVE?
2006-10-25 03:45:03 · 32 answers · asked by Matt 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First...this is for discussion, please don't assume what I am thinking. I am simply interested to hear your answers...these are obviously questions that you just can't talk about in daily life without getting people upset...here you can do it, most of the time, in a friendly manner.
Back to the question...so, the main answer is for enjoyment or because you just do?!?
To the guy/gal who wants me to kill myself, I love my children, and unlike me, my son will have a father in his life for as long as God allows...but, thanks for your kind words.....
2006-10-25 03:57:19 · update #1
Animals do not know any better....why were WE given (or accidently acquired) the ability to think or to have the ability to stay alive if we want to?
2006-10-25 04:08:49 · update #2
Thanks "Gringo"- to my fellow hispanic...I almost did, but I am still needed here ....
2006-10-25 04:11:18 · update #3
Wow!!!!!!
This is unbelievable!!! You guys are great!!! Your answers are terrific...by the way, I love life, love it....I love Jesus, Yosemite, NYC, Europe (lived there for 4 years), dogs, snakes, macaws, Billy Joel (most of his work), Toronto, Chuck Taylors and AF1's, the USAF........I love my sons and daughters, I am working on loving my wife more! I love life...the question is a question to see what you think because I don't see life like you and I want to know how you feel....I love you guys!!!!!
2006-10-25 04:20:34 · update #4
is ur question really to atheists? or existentialists?
Put it as simple as this, "Sustain the existence of two-legged intelligent animals who can think rationally & react"
2006-10-25 03:56:50 · answer #1 · answered by Jasee J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right...well, turning down my sarcasm to minimum, it's a good question for human beings generally. What is the point in being here, striving, achieving anything. We know we're going to die, so what's the point?
As you address the question to atheists, I hope you'll forgive me for assuming you have a belief structure of some kind. That being so, I would further assume that you see this belief structure as giving some meaning to what is otherwise, as you say, a fairly animalist and ultimately pointless existence.
Good for you, truly. Whatever the motivation, and whether or not the belief system in which you have faith has any basis in fact, the chances are it charges you to be a "good" person. It probably gives you instructions to help make other people's lives better - not killing them, maybe, not stealing from them, not stealing their husbands or wives.
While if your faith is based in fact, you may get some sort of supernatural reward for all this effort, the idea of being a good person still DOES good - it makes the journey along our decades easier - whether or not your faith is actually justified.
That means one does not actually NEED faith to have the purpose of being a good person. Of living well, and having fun, and making the business of being here, alive and now, generally better for everyone you encounter. Because while the world may indeed be dying, it's not dying at anything like the rate that human beings are, so for all logical purposes, we might as well do our best to be nice to the other people we find here at the same time as us.
Yes, the grind of life is potentially a little interminable - work, sleep, holiday, possessions, it's all ultimately pointless in the big scheme of things. But no-one, ultimately, lives in the big scheme of things - we live in the litttle world of the people we know and meet, the things we do, and the impacts we have on each other and the future during the time that we are here.
Ensuring those impacts are more often positive than not, while giving us enough fun and pleasure while we're here to make us happy for another day, is a reason to go on living another day, becasue once we stop, we lose even that small illusion of power and control, and can only hope we've taught those who come after us enough to help ensure it all works out OK in the end.
2006-10-25 04:28:22 · answer #2 · answered by mdfalco71 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Life is a wondrous thing. There are so many amazing things to do and see and think about. You can give comfort to others and be comforted, you can learn and teach. You can fall in love and spread love. You can see a child take his first steps and see an old couple kiss on the sidewalk. You can see the sunrise and the sunset. You can eat warm peaches in the sun. You can reach out and pull another back from the brink. You can bring a homeless person into your home and feel like a parent watching first steps. You can lay by the fire on a cold night. You can read a book or discuss philosophy with a friend or stranger. You can enjoy this world because you are a part of it.
I'm shocked that you can see this incredible thing that life is (to you, a gift from God) yet you think of it as nothing more than garbage. You profane your "gift" by denying its wonder and profundity. To me, life is not just a test or a burden to get through with the right answers so I can get something better - it is the something better. I have suffered greatly in this life but it only helps contrast with the sweet.
I do not just exist, I LIVE. Living is altogether different.
I do not pray because I do not believe, but I am thinking of you in this difficult time and I sincerely hope you learn to find joy in life.
2006-10-25 04:00:18 · answer #3 · answered by catalamity 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would ask the opposite question - if you believe in the after life why not just sit in the street, collect nickels, do as little harm as possible, and wait for your eternal reward? Why work to do anything if you think this life is only temporary?
As an atheist I know this is the only shot at experience I will ever get. So I want to live a full life - I want to see things, explore ideas, challenge my mind, and work to better my community. This is the only life I will ever get and so I am working hard to not only enjoy my existence but to leave the world a better place so that others may enjoy it.
2006-10-25 03:48:58 · answer #4 · answered by texascrazyhorse 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I, myself am a born again christian and I understand why many of you find the question antagonistic. I especially liked the answers from Jen, Southpaw, and Wassana L. Perhaps this wasn't conveyed well but when a christian is obeying God and truly enjoying the life that's been given to them, they can't imagine any other way to be. Some have been regenerated since a young age and know no other way. Yeah, this has been a good exchange for me.
2006-10-25 04:05:01 · answer #5 · answered by bumclown7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do I live? Well lets see, Giving pleasure (I love sex and I love to see my mate in pure ecstasy) Helping others just because I can, I have the resources that I can't use and since they are siting and wasting it needs to be put to use. To try and improve the environment for any potential off spring I may have, To enjoy nature and simple things as sipping coffe.
every thing has meaning and I tend to enjoy the simplest of things due to the fact that I know this is the only life we get thus I must not waste it, Live to the fullest.
2006-10-25 05:43:07 · answer #6 · answered by Ponylover54 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you an existentialist? Being an atheist for me is life affirming before(i came to this realization) there were to many questions to many ways to blame and a great deal of sadness connected with the religion of my childhood, now things are clear . I know that it's the works of people that make the good and bad in this world and every day I spend with my husband and children are the gifts that I allow myself to have because I know that nothing is permanent and death is normal. I'm rambling but I hope I've Made my point clear.
2006-10-25 04:51:36 · answer #7 · answered by D'Arcy P 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't be sad.You may have a mild depression.I've asked myself that question a million times,I still don't have the answer.But I believe that theres a purpose for all of us no matter colour or belief.Take time out and see what has disheartened you so much.Change your circumstances that are causing you to feel that there is no reason for anything.Take a walk in the rain and buy yourself an ice-scream walking barefoot.Let everything go that makes you so sad.Theres people that really care and need you without you realising it.
2006-10-25 03:50:12 · answer #8 · answered by PROPHET 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the joy of life itself - only the mentally handicapped live for a fantasy after life. Evolved people live for the real and now. Our existence is actually the most valuable because we exist in the present. We do not live out of fear of punishment or phony groveling trying to suck up for a future reward. Our lives are genuine and recognizing our potential in art or science or whatever, we pursue it and accomplish much.
My life is fabulous. (especially since I dumped those feeble mental crutches)
And even stranger is to watch all those theists killing each other with all their wars !
I am so proud to be Buddhist, especially on this planet that is being trashed by all the followers of the god of Abraham. (Cs, Ms &Js)
2006-10-25 03:54:29 · answer #9 · answered by kate 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why don't animals kill themselves? They obviously sense no purpose in life, not beyong merely surviving, right?
Let me ask you: If I could this moment 100% prove there is no God would you shoot yourself on the spot? Of course not!
And btw, I saw a post from an atheist the other day wondering why this cliched question is repeatedly asked. The Christians all denied they'd ever heard it before!
2006-10-25 03:51:03 · answer #10 · answered by Wassana L 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Life itself.
It seems - to me anyway - a little ridiculous to have to invent/accept a mythology which displaces the true "purpose of life" to an "afterlife" in order to justify your existence.
That said, I'm not an "atheist" in your sense of the word.
Consider this: if we all seriously believed that everybody goes to heaven when they die - or hell if their wicked lives have deserved it - there could be no rational objection to murder, since heaven is by definition a nicer place than earth (and as for the wicked, we're simply expediting justice). It's this type of thinking, which you seem to believe is preferable to simply accepting life as it is, that leads people to fly planes into buildings.
2006-10-25 03:47:58 · answer #11 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋