A question for Atheists who believe in nothing.?

Question

If you believe in no diety nor life after death (thus believing that everything ceases to be once your mortal body dies), then what is the point of trying to do anything? What motivates you to live from one day to the next? Why not just act completely on impulse regardless of consequences since it won't matter in the end anyway?
This is not a lecture of any sort. I am honestly curious.
Thank you.

Answer 1

the curiosity to search through life and enjoy it while it lasts

Answer 2

"Why not just act completely on impulse regardless of consequences since it won't matter in the end anyway?"

So in other words, if you found out that there was no God, that's how you would act? The ONLY reason you do anything good is because you think there will be a definite consequence for bad things in the afterlife? You don't ever do good things just for the sake of doing good things, with no reward or punishment in mind? Not to judge, but that's what it sounds like you're saying.

Answer 3

I am not an Atheist, but my boyfriend is and this is what he says:

"The question is fundamentally unintelligent because you're basing it on the assumption that the only reason to act is because there are some sort of supernatural consequences behind the actions. This does not stand to reason whatsoever, nor is it in keeping with human behavior. Humans, like animals, are fundamentally motivated by self-interest and self-preservation due to our evolutionary history and cultural conditioning. With that said, humans have evolved to the point of developing rationality. This rationality enables us to make conscious actions towards our own happiness, and so our fundamental motivation to act is our own happiness. Whether or not our actions succeed in achieving our happiness is immaterial because our source of motivation doesn't require that we fulfill it. Humans are motivated to do what makes them happy and the reason that you don't simply act on impulse is because we have the forsight to recognize that not all of our impulses will result in our happiness or benefit, though we may act to the contrary at times. (Atheists pursue the good just as much as any irrational believer beyond the evidence, "faith.") The distinction is simply that we don't buy into the fact that human beings have told us (although God was allegedly involved in telling them) that there is a specific way to be happy. Thus, Atheists are motivated no differently than anyone else except that we don't have preconceived notions nor set conclusions pertaining to how we ought to act toward that end, our happiness. In closing, we may even act for the benefit and happiness of our fellow human being for it is likely to lead to our own happiness. Hence, the existence of altruism, even among Atheists.

Hope that helps! Haha.

Answer 4

How many times must I answer this question before it sinks in?

I live from one day to the next because I like living. It's as simple as that. I do not behave completely on impulse because there are consequences to stupid or criminal behavior...not nessecarily secular law either. Real life is far more complicated than the black-and-white version you try to pretend it is.

Why do you assume that atheists are somehow amoral or even immoral because they don't believe in a bunch of fairy tales from a long-dead society of desert Bronze-agers? Do you really have to have an invisible sky-daddy staning over you with a baseball bat labeled "Hell" to make you behave?

This is not a lecture of any sort. I am honestly curious.

Answer 5

1. Atheists do not necessarily "believe in nothing." I know what you mean, but it grates me when people say that. I believe in lots of things - love, friendship, and so on. Though many atheists do not, an atheist can believe in an afterlife.

2. The point of trying to do anything is that you only have this one little ride on the blue and green ball. You gotta make it count. Life is MORE precious when you see that it's all you get.

3. There are consequences - where do you get that there are no consequences? Jail, people not trusting you, and general destruction in your life are not fun things.

4. Morality is explained by evolution and game theory. Read up on that, you'll see what I mean.

Answer 6

Sometimes questions like this absolutely amaze me. It's almost as if those who ask them forget that love, music, art, beauty, personal accomplishment, the quest for knowledge, pleasure, nature, literature, good food, sport, theater, self-exploration, and any number of pursuits can give meaning to a life.

And in spite of claiming religion at the core of their being, most religious folks will find their greatest pleasure in exploring these exact same areas of interest.

Of course consequences matter! This is the only life we have! Secular consequences matter more to an atheist than to a religious person. (Perhaps that's why there are so few atheists in prison, in comparison to the Christians.) Morals are really based on internal, logically consistent ideas, and the basic ones have been shown to be universal, in spite of the religion or lack there of in the studies' subjects.

Here's the bottom line. Ultimately, we all hope for connection to others and a good passion or two to capture our individual attention. And in order to follow these goals, we need to cooperate with one another. This is the basis of joy and ethics.

Answer 7

Atheists are not nihilists, for one thing. For another, why can't we say that since theists believe in God and that they are in the end going to heaven, why do they bother to do anything here on earth and just live from one day to the next?

Well, you can see that atheists don't in fact whine and mope and that they are motivated to do things and don't just act completely on impulse, etc. Is it not more to be admired that a person, knowing he will die and be gone and done with, lives his life fully and responsibly and contributes to the world, as so many do, rather than that he does this only to avoid some kind of punishment and to gain a nice spot in some kind of heaven?

Answer 8

Do you only what you believe is right b/c you want to earn afterlife points. Sometimes you do the right thing b/c it feels right to you. I dont neseccarily do it b/c god says to i do it b/c i would want someone to treat me that way. My goal is to enjoy what i do have here, bc maybe just maybe it is all over when i die. We all do different things for one feeling only and that is happiness. If volunteering and treating my fellow citizens with respect makes me happy, then that is what i will do. I don't do this b/c i want points for the afterlife. I realize i have to live life following the laws b/c if it is my last days ever, i don't want to spend it in jail. The best feeling in the world is helping someone because you can see the joy or the respect they have for you after doing the right thing, not because you believe it will get you into heaven. Isn't that the ritous thing doing whats right by your fellow man b/c that is how you want to be treated or because you are trying to make a deal with the man upstairs.

Answer 9

I'm a agnostic (but that doesn't matter in the eyes of the hardcore Xtians). We do not need any motivation from G-d for we learned to depend on ourself. The ability to do good is not given by G-d, but is found in everyone.
As a Chinese, I've been brought up to learn to be fillial to parents, understanding to friends. I also learn that as a parent, we must equip our children with the best abilities that would make them a pillar of society. Given all those requirements, do you think that we need motivation.
It is because we sincerely care for those around us, so it does not matter if I won't go to Heaven. But more importantly, my life has made a difference in somone else's.
That, is what I call Free Will.

Answer 10

It's plenty motivation. Knowing that this life is your only chance to live is motivation in itself to live your one chance to the fullest. And believing in no God or whatever doesn't mean that you have no morals or no idea of right and wrong. It just means that you decide for yourself, instead of going by the rule book of a religion. I can almost answer your question, with a question. Is your belief in a God the only thing that keeps you from acting on impulse? Because painting a pretty picture on the outside, doesn't make the internal you..the real you..any prettier. Going to church and chanting the chants isn't what it's about.

Answer 11

With respect, what is YOUR motivation to live from one day to the next, when all the rewards for your actions only come after death? Why not die sooner, to be with the God that is your ultimate goal? What is the point of trying to do anything when everything that happens is "God's will" and makes no difference?