think about it.
in your opinion, we came from apes and monkeys and icky bacteria and worms (are these our great+ grandfathers/mothers?). which means that in your opinion you may think that we are no greater than the cockroaches in my neighbors house.
but since you have no faith, what exactly do you have to hold on to? dont say family, because in the end, we are all alone (except for those who DO believe in a supreme being).
My father is on drugs and is in jail right now. My mother is very sick and diabled. i have been poor most of my life and lived in crime ridden places nearly all my life. i basically had nothing to turn to but my faith. so far it has kept me out of trouble and away from things. when i didnt have faith before, i was constantly confused and in trouble over things, until i found something that made life have a meaning.
So atheists, is life meaningless to you?
2006-12-07 12:37:05 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, I don't believe we "came from apes and icky bacteria". Humans and apes evolved from a COMMON ANCESTOR.
I do believe we are "greater than cockroaches" in that we have the capacity for abstract thought and sapience.
Why shouldn't I say family? Why shouldn't I say knowledge? Why shouldn't I say music and dancing and singing? Why shouldn't I say compassion? Why shouldn't I? Just because you don't put any value on the temporary doesn't mean I shouldn't.
I truly am sorry that you have such hardships to overcome. I never like to hear about people suffering or struggling. But that still doesn't change my mind on God, religion or faith. Just because something is comforting doesn't mean it's anything more than a self-imposed delusion and defense mechanism. I can certainly understand why people would cling to whatever gets them through the night, but that doesn't mean it's healthy or based on reality.
NO, life is not meaningless. Life means much more to me than many believers, I'm sure. For many Christians, this is limbo. This is the "middle" time... in between the time when their deity created them and when they can rejoin their deity in whatever form and whatever place their religion and/or holy texts describe.
I know this is the only existence I get. I'd better appreciate it while I've got the chance, right?
2006-12-07 12:38:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 13⤊ 2⤋
I'm agnostic, not really atheist, but I can tell you that without faith, life is still meaningful. Some people need religion to find meaning in life I guess, some don't. I hope that their is some kind of afterlife, really I do. I just can't say that I know there is.
What do you mean what do we have to hold on to? Why isn't family something to hold on to?
I also believe if you spend too much time overanalyzing everything, you are bound to be miserable. People in the world right now are suffering and dying for no good reason. People are miserable because their loved ones dies tragically. It could happen to any of us, at any time (our deaths, or death of someone we love). If I sit here and think about that constantly, I'm not going to be a happy person. So I don't think about it constantly - I live my life, help people as best I can, take pleasure in the the little things, make jokes, and keep busy. And I'm happy - I have too little time in this life to mope around thinking about the probability that there is life after death and being miserable.
2006-12-07 12:41:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I DO NOT believe that we came from apes. Nor am I sure there is a God. Just because I don't believe there is a God, it does not mean my life is meaningless. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful baby, and 4 amazing siblings. Does this life sound meaningless to you? I had not so great parents as well, but life is what you make of it. In the end you are only alone if you choose to be. You turned to God, that's fine. Don't assume my life is meaningless because I choose to make it more than just smoke.
2006-12-07 12:49:29 · answer #3 · answered by Amanda D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
~~~ Zone 3 ,,,We have no Religious Faith, which is entirely different from your own. You are bound by rules and regulations which is called Dogma. In your 'world', just as every other person on earth, is most likely to assume The Beliefs of their region, culture, family. If you accept a religion's point of view, then fine. Utilize all the power it may give you. ,,,However, You make many erroneous presumptions about atheists which are way off the mark. You are responsible for your proclamations you put out there, even if they come from Ignorance,,,ie; Lack of Knowledge. In your case Philosophy in general, Atheism specifically. I have yet to encounter a fellow atheist who considered "life meaningless."
2006-12-07 12:50:45 · answer #4 · answered by Sensei TeAloha 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Life is without meaning. As far as creation is concerned, I'm worth no more than those cockroaches. If anything, after you and me are made extinct by whatever stupid thing we do to finish off our ecosystem, those roaches will still be scuttling through the ruins, so they probably have one up on us.
While we're alive life is what we make of it. We find things to do to fill our span here and if possible we should find ways of doing them that cause as little harm to others as possible. You don't need a religion to tell you what causes harm to people, you know because you know what causes harm to you. So faith is meaningless too. If it works for you then pleased for ya, but don't assume it's the only way of finding meaning. And my family means more to me than anything. What have you got to argue against that?
2006-12-07 12:46:09 · answer #5 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First, srry bout ure old man and lady. I just want to say that life is not meaningless because since I am not under the restraints of "god" i feel that i have my own choice. That leads to the question of fate. Do you believe that god predetermines your destiny? Or do you have control of what is to happen. Yet maybe i get more comfort from answers and definites rather than rediculous(no offense) stories created in the past. So, even without faith, life is very meaningful
2006-12-07 12:41:37 · answer #6 · answered by jdog33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looking at this from a logical perspective, we can see that for relgious people essence (or meaning) comes before their own existence. God created laws and rules etc that are eternal and were around long before he created me.
An athiest is the other way around, it is existence that occurs before the development of essence or meaning. There is no overlying set of universal morals and therefore one's meaning in life can only be created after he/she is brought into existence.
It would be wrong to say that life has no meaning for an athiest, as an athiest gives his/her own life meaning. But there are such groups such as nihilists or absurdists that believe in absolutely no meaning.
Such meaning, or moral values, maybe include empathy for other humans. Resulting in a respect of life type attitude.
While I am sorry to hear about your family, I am sure when you have children they will be a great joy in your life and give you purpose and meaning, this is also true of athiests. Infact if you want to try and bag evolutionists for having no meaning in life, reproduction would perhaps be its core as without evolution cannot occur.
It is up to the individual to find what makes them the happiest in life, and they should try to seek this out wherever possible. I am sure any God would not disagree with this view, as long as it does not interfere with other individuals rights to do the same.
Atheism can in my opinion offer even more meaning to this life that anyone of religious convictions. While believers see life on earth as just some small part of a greater picture, the athiest sees that they are incredibly lucky to be in existence at all and that because there is nothing else, save this short life in the scheme of things, people should live their lives to the absolute fullest instead of wasting their days in mediocrity waiting to go to heaven.
You do not need God to have meaning.
2006-12-07 13:02:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
*sigh* Who instructed you we have confidence existence is meaningless? that is not what we have confidence. the only element that unites all atheists is that we do not have confidence in gods. because of the fact that while does 'existence is what you're making it' equivalent to pretending you have meaning on your existence? in case you do stuff to grant your existence meaning, you have meaning, until you're making a dazzling mess of it. Suicide? No thank you. If that's the only existence i'm getting, why might I decrease it short? I also have a tip for you. Use the quest button in the previous you ask questions like this. you will possibly learn some thing.
2016-10-17 23:17:33 · answer #8 · answered by reus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life is about trying to live with others,just like they are trying to do.Being a decent person motivates an atheist,even though we don't have a fear of god.I believe atheists know there is some degree of purpose,otherwise civilization would crumble if we all did what we want.I don't believe anybody trully knows anything.I agree people believe.These two words believe and knowing are so set apart.Ya I'm not wealthy either,but i don't need alot so I'm happy.All I want is piece of mind,no stress,which I've accomplished.
2006-12-07 12:49:10 · answer #9 · answered by moaistatue 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not. I do not feel the type of disgust for other creatures that you apparently do. I am part of something large than myself: the universe. I am a minute part of space and time, but I share my space and time with many other creatures. My own little piece of reality is not much, but it is much bigger when I share it with others around me. And it is just that - SHARING - of one's life, one's love, one's space and time, that makes life meaningful.
Isn't even Christianity supposed to be about humility? Why do so many Christians feel that because they were created in God's image that they should be disdainful of and disgusted with his other creatures? Aren't you, and the apes, and the bacteria, and the cockroaches all just creatures of the same God? Why do you find it necessary to hate the things God made in order to feel better about yourself?
If your faith has helped you stay out of trouble, then hang onto it. But for Heaven's sake, don't use it as a tool of hatred. If we are all alone, then reach out, and keep reaching out even when others turn away. Isn't that the message Christ supposedly brought down to God's creatures?
Seek connection with others, and your life will have meaning. Seek to feel superior to others, and your life will be hollow.
2006-12-07 12:48:16 · answer #10 · answered by magistra_linguae 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋