So a lot of you on this site have no religion, or alternative ones. I am a Christian (but not an evangelical obnoxious one), and this gives me hope in the absolute worst times of my life. I believe God loves me and is watching over me. I believe we are meant to suffer because ultimately this life is short, and the real life starts when we die.
If you do not believe in God, what keeps you from just wanting to shoot yourself when something horrible happens? How do you have hope when life hands you crap?
2006-10-27 09:57:42 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
And yes, thank you, I honestly do want to know. And as for "alternative" ones I mean if you don't believe in a higher being. There are lots of religions.
2006-10-27 10:03:45 · update #1
Life is a mixed bag of happiness and sorrow. I am not saying it is all "bad", and I have never been suicidal. Everyone suffers at some point in their lives. I was just curious as to your mind set in bad situations if you don't believe in a higher being. That is all!
2006-10-27 10:15:38 · update #2
By enjoying every beautiful moment of my life, because I know that there is nothing after death. I do not believe that suffering is a part of life, and do not accept negative occurrences as a given. A positive outlook is key to a happy and fulfilling life, no one knows what will happen tomorrow. Make each day count, that is enough of a reward. There is no such thing as an afterlife, we all turn to dust.
2006-10-27 10:04:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Survival instinct makes most of us want to live. Do you honestly think your metaphysical beliefs are the only thing keeping you from blowing your brains out every time life hands you a bumb deal?
If you view life as having no grand plan, then there is no-one to blame when bad things happen. It's just the nature of nature. Should I really curse the weather when it floods, when the weather is simply a nonsentient chaotic system? "why" presumes there is some grand purpose for everything. If you don't start with that assumption, then "why" goes away and is replaced with "just is" instead.
On the other hand, if/when life really does become unbearable and hopeless, I actually am free to kill myself. I won't have the fear of some angry metaphysical superhero to stop me. That's freedom I suspect you don't have, and the very thought of having such freedom appears to terrify you based on the tone of your question.
2006-10-27 10:14:41 · answer #2 · answered by lenny 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They will in a few sort, even though they're going to be compelled to conform. It would possibly look surprising that in spite of it being an discovered truth persons might try to disclaim evolution this present day in want of a devout rationalization, however for a century or so after it used to be learned germs can motive disorder the equal factor occurred. Nowadays, deniers of germ thought are only a few and some distance among due to the fact technological know-how has compelled the faith to vary and adapt to fact. Religions evolve through the years. As discoveries are made reports of religions will likely be discarded or altered, and ever at times new ones is also further.
2016-09-01 03:37:22 · answer #3 · answered by sykes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What makes you think because some of us are without religion or a deity that life hands us crap? You have the same chances of life going to crap as anyone else. Life is what you make of it. I don't need religion to have hope. The choices I make, the way I deal with things, and the fact that I don't let the negatives in life eat me alive are what give me hope. My BELIEF is in my HOPE. You say that as if life is impossible to live without religion. I hate to burst your bubble but humans were around looonnnngggg before religion was even a thought.
2006-10-27 10:03:39 · answer #4 · answered by Maureen B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't measure my life by a religious belief. My yardstick is what is there to get out of life and how can I make things better. What can I learn, what is new out there, what can I do so that life is better for me and others? I feel that a true athiest will try their best to not commit suicide because they feel that life is a one shot deal. You finish it and it is over. Nothing else. When times are bad, they will get better. Mix in a bit of optimism. "Hey, life is rough now, but the sun will come out tomorrow!" You can bet your bottom dollar on that.
If you believe that a person who does not believe in a diety of some sort has nothing to prevent them from suicide (or any other terrible act), then you have very little faith in mankind.
2006-10-27 10:09:31 · answer #5 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a fair question. I get the sense that you are honestly wanting to know.
I know that time heals all wounds. If you just grit your teeth and hang in there, things will improve. I know this because life is a mixed bag and change is the only thing that's certain. These are my thoughts.
As for the emotional side, I don't know the answer. I just feel hopeful.
2006-10-27 10:01:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Life is absolutely wonderful. I work very hard and I'm lucky because I work in a job I love (though it took hard work and an absurd amount of training/education to get it), I have a beautiful family and I don't want for much. This last is mostly owing to having very modest needs and enjoying simple things - excess is usually the result of perpetual disappointment. When I'm dead the lights will go out and it will be as if I had never been but I'd like to touch the few people around me in their short lives in ways that please them as much as they please me. I do not fear death and I hope for nothing afterwards. Realizing that this brief spark is all we get is all the motivation I need to enjoy every moment. I wish you peace.
2006-10-27 10:16:32 · answer #7 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do I need a deity to have hope? Your assertion is that lack of deity implies suicidialness.
In my experience, my bad days have been followed by good days, my good days by bad days. My life has had it's ups and downs. I'm pretty sure I have already lived the worst day of my life (had to beg for a meal and ended up in an empty room, face down, twitching, with my mind entirely numb and thoughtless due to complete stress overload). So I can say every day after that is going to be a good day, purely by experience. No need for a deity to have hope.
2006-10-27 10:02:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some of us enjoy life. Some of us excel at living.
Most of us are not so fragile that life beats us down beyond redemption.
Horrible things happen and then they are over. People who love life...and love themselves....and love others are capable of experiencing the miraculous in all aspects of life.
We also take responsibility for our lives. When "life hands [us] crap", we either give it back-saying, no thank you-or turn in into something better.
2006-10-27 10:05:35 · answer #9 · answered by limendoz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hahahaha WOW!.
you believe man is made to suffer? wow....so youre here to sufer? your purpose is to be in constant pain or strife? thats pretty sad. sounds to me like you enjoy bearing that cross....or any cross for that matter.
what keeps an animal from jumping off a cliff? what keeps them from coming to the surface to catch some air before diving back into the ocean?
survival. were animals. of course im sure you dont beleive that but we are. were bred for survival. just look at the fight or flight instinct.
if a magical man i nthe sky is keeping you from "shooting youself" when something horrible happens...you need some serious help. those who dont beleive have th ability to (apparently) deal with rough situations when they areise. perhaps were mature (mentally) to cope with troubling situationslife doesent hand me crap. when it comes ideal with it, i dont curl into a ball and whimper, hoping an imaginary man in the sky will help or protect me.
grow up.
2006-10-27 09:59:12 · answer #10 · answered by johnny_zondo 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋