Which do you think is more life-affirming: theism or atheism?

Question

I say atheism, because theists tend to take a "well, this life is just passing through" attitude. I think that gives them license to not only discard value in this life, but also take other lives. It's one thing to just advance someone's journey to hell/heaven, it's quite another to take the only life they'll get.

On the same token, I think atheism makes us more contemplative and thankful for the life we have. Because know that it's all we'll get. And after that, we won't notice that we're dead so we'll be okay. We'll live on in the form of our children and those who knew us. As Mark Twain said, "I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it."

What do you think?

Answer 1

Atheism. We know this is our only chance, so we make it the best that it can be.

I've heard many Christians say that they look forward to being in heaven. They seem to waste a lot of time on something that doesn't even exist. I think it's very, very sad.

Answer 2

Now see. You're Mark Twain quote could be a disclaimer for everything else that you have said. "I had been dead, and not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it"

Doesn't that seem to imply that he had an existence prior to this one.

I think theism is the more positive path. It holds the possibility that there is something, and I would rather hold the door open than knock it full shut.

Also, if you really believe, you will understand that you are accountable for what you do, at least in a Karmic kind of way, and no matter what deity you believe in, you would not want to rack up debt against yourself of that kind.

I understand atheists have strong beliefs and morals also. I do not doubt that.

This is just an honest attempt to render up another side of the coin.

Answer 3

The question to believe in a creator or nothing?

To believe that there was and is a creator with design and purpose to all that is. To believe that there is value in life that was handed down from the creator. To believe that man was created in the image of that creator, with great purpose, meaning by design.

To believe on the other hand that things just happen to fall in to place. No rime, no reason a great universal accident. It all came from nothing and returns to nothing. No purpose, no design, no meaning. It just happened.

Both take faith, but for me to believe that there is no creator takes a great deal more faith. I look at it very simple, I see a building. I never meet the builder, never saw the design work, didn't see the building process, yet the building is still there. Do I say because I never saw the builder then there must be no builder? I never saw the plans, the materials, the work in progress, so then there must be no builder? No the building is evidence of the existence of the builder.

So it is with creation, I didn't have to see how it was done to know that some how it was done. Building = builder, Creation = Creator. Too much design for it to be a accident. A building was never created by an explosion. Both a building and creation take creative design. To believe otherwise take more faith than I am willing to believe.

How one believes then become the real issue and how they live what they believe. It is the actions of the believer that will affirm their faith or those actions will condemn them. That is what is for a Holy God to judge and not mire me.

Answer 4

I think atheism for many reasons. If you look at polls they are more anti-war, anti-death penalty, etc. In addition, the atheists I know both on line and in my "real life" have all been very concerned about their role in "making a difference" on the planet. Most volunteer and work to make the earth a better place.

In addition, since we live for NOW, we don't put any stock in waiting for the hereafter - as you said. We only have this one shot of (hopefully) 80 some years and we'd better make it count.

Answer 5

I think you're right about the attitude concerning theists. That is the attitude Nietzsche took in his book "Thus Spoke Zarathustra". Saying that, I'm inclined to think atheism is life-affirming. I'd rather not believe that i have no choice to do anything other than what was predestined for me, or that there was a man thousands of years ago who was the son of god, and died for other men.

Answer 6

Personally theism has HELPED. Wow people yes I said helped. I do not think that this gives us the lets say voucher to get "pass through" this life. No it make you work for this life. I see that atheists will work harder as well as believing in nothing after death. They want to make the most. Well I want to make the most as well. Also for me I believe I want that smidgen after death to be equal to how hard I created my life. I work(ahh try I'm lazy sometimes) to do good things I try to forgive (which is harder than nails). I think theism helps me.

Answer 7

I think you are entitled to that opinion.
Mine is the opposite, I have peace in this world knowing perfection awaits in the next. Little things dont bother me...or big things. Its just the earth, not my home.

I would die for a good cause, as thats not the end. I would die to save you if I could.

Blessings,
David

Answer 8

Thiests, we tend to live life as well as we can, out of fear of judgment is regardless.

look at all the achievments of man throughtout history, you will find the vast majority of them had theism behind it.

Answer 9

Depends on if you want to delude yourself or not. How could it be worth it? Theists are deluded.

Answer 10

I agree, also, Plenty Christians think the world will get worse until Jesus comes. So, what's the purpose of making it better?