im not religious so please dont criticize. im struggling myself for a better understanding and question my own beliefs. but if i honestly believed i had no creator and essentially amounted to nothing in the end i would probably end myself here and now. I mean what is the purpose of an atheist life?
2007-01-28 20:26:33 · 30 answers · asked by dan s 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
if find more peace in searching for the truth, moreso than i ever could believing in a lie. your purpose is what you make it, what drives you. personally i believe lending a helping hand to those in need is a damn good purpose. to give is the greatest gift in life. every life has an impact on this planet, it may seem small on the grand scale, but to those you help its infinitly great!
2007-01-28 20:35:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
There i no purpose... you are free to live your own life. Like the dolphin,the bear,the fish,the birds,the lions,the tigers,the trees etc
there is no reason.
If you mean that if death is the end whats the point, well then you have just asked the question many people have asked even King Solomon in the book of ecclesiastes. read it. I am atheist, but still read that book so you can see that even religion doesnt have an answer. He says "do what you can do and do it with all your might,eat drink and be merry. Dont be too good and dont be too evil"
Also, there is no gaurantee that you wont live again somewhere sometime. We got here in the first place without a God, surely life can do it again.
2007-01-29 04:53:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The meaning of an atheists life is exactly the same as that of someone who believes in a god except they don't waste their time wondering about something that doesn't exist. Instead they use their brains to be their moral compass.
Why waste your life trying to make yourself believe a lie when you can go out and enjoy it. Everyone can look forward to eating a great lunch, spending time with people you love, making sure your life meant something to those around you, you don't need to believe in some supreme being to do that.
The idea that religious people have that if they find out there is no God their lives would be meaningless and they would simply commit suicide is just that, an idea, probably imprinted into their brains by a well meaning elder while they were very young. Atheists aren't suicidal, they live the life they have because they know it will come to an end and therefore treats it as something precious.
2007-01-29 04:52:11 · answer #3 · answered by Rabble Rouser 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Eversince mankind on this planet, the Belief in God is one that has persisted up till now, by this alone, it's hard to come to rule out his existence especially as science unveils the complexicity and ingenuity in nature and beyond showing sign of intelligence design.
The concept of God is to its believers a resting place of our inner burden and a source of hope. It gives some a sense of security and comfort. This soothes the anxiety of what happens to us after death for instance (man is designed such that he needs explanation in order to be in peace with themselves otherwise he's restless; and God is one of the ways to do it).
Honestly, i would say that there must have been a creator, it's only the nature of that creator that remains a mystery; i mean it could be that the universe itself is the eternal creator; you mustn't forget that creation constantly takes place every second, stars are being born, some are about to die and dying! So If there is a creator (for sure), he's constantly creating.
You don't have to believe in a deity in order to be at peace with yourself, it probably depends on individual's experience and understanding of life (buddhism has no god yet buddhists are peaceful)
2007-01-29 04:54:45 · answer #4 · answered by Makaveli007 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm more of an agnostic and I question my purpose in life all the time. Religious people prefer to feel at ease with this question rather than struggle with it so they choose to accept what someone else tells them is their purpose. Whether it's following the lead of friends and family or religious leaders or even written testament of long dead PEOPLE (no God didn't write the bible). Often, the teachings/doings of various religious organizations are noble and good for society, but we have to be wary of groups which promote harmful behavior and then claim divine guidance when society complains about it.
2007-01-29 04:43:04 · answer #5 · answered by Sam C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes I envy other people who can convince themselves there's a god. I used to believe it. I just outgrew it I think. Like Santa and the Tooth Fairy, really. I focus on nature. I am part of a huge cycle that has been going on for a very long time and what I believe or don't believe will not change that cycle of nature. Death is a natural part of life. I hope there is some sort of awareness after death, like another level of understanding, but I cannot bring myself to actually believe in it without evidence. I am just comfortable with the process of nature. I will find out just like everyone else. I don't think religious rules will have any effect on anything. If believing in a god makes you feel better and you can convince yourself, go for it. Just please, don't claim it as a fact.
2007-01-29 04:41:37 · answer #6 · answered by Vlasko 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can only answer for myself, so please don't criticise me here:
I am an Atheist, but I was a Christian for three years. You ask 'how can you be at peace with no god". Why would I want to be at peace?
If I was at peace, happily believing that I was acting out God's plan and devoid of responsibility I would have removed myself from human nature. Humans are sucessful as a species because of our ability to question. We can ask 'why'.
Now, the discomfort that is felt when an answer doesn't quite make sence is what pushes us to ask further questions. For me to settle and say "The reason for this is God" is wrong. In fact, I can not achieve peace by following God because I know in my heart it is wrong. When I left the Salvation Army and decided I was an Atheist, THAT is when I was at peace. Now I am free to question things without the burden of the belief of God.
Now, I will accept that there will be people who feel in their hearts that God exists, and that is okay. As long as what you believe brings you peace. If you are unsure, but the idea of God brings you peace, then embrase that!
The purpose of an Atheist life? Why does there have to be a purpose? Unlike people who say 'I live for now', I live for my family. I am getting married in June and am hoping to have children about a year later with my beautiful wife. I am looking forward to teaching our children about the world, helping them to read, teaching them maths. I am looking forward to living for our children and for my family. Is that not purpose enough?
Is it not exactly the same purpose that all animals on the planet experience?
2007-01-29 04:45:00 · answer #7 · answered by Mawkish 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree with "Dr Brooke". You find peace by trying to live your life in a way you can be proud of, by doing what you think is right. There are so many religions, each claiming to be the only true one that you can't KNOW for sure which one is the real one. Even Christians vay--some are foregiving and loving but many seem to be the hellfire-damnation-condemnation type. God or no God, I think peace lies in trying to do the right thing.
2007-01-29 07:33:36 · answer #8 · answered by AnOrdinaryGuy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do so many people think nothing can have meaning unless it lasts forever? Are your family and friends meaningless because they will all eventually die? Our mortality makes our lives *more* precious, not less!
Atheists value reality over fantasy and consider religious belief to be cowardly and childish, frankly. Go ahead and believe whatever you want, but we really wish you would stop being so arrogant as to claim you have the ultimate truth - and using that certainty to persecute the rest of us.
Mark Twain was asked if he didn't fear death, and he answered that being dead for billions of years before he was born didn't bother him so being dead afterwards wouldn't bother him either.
2007-01-29 04:44:00 · answer #9 · answered by hznfrst 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Finding happiness. Finding love, beauty, and waking up and knowing you are a good person. Understanding the universe. Making friends. Simply learning to do something really, really well. Actually, I often wonder how God alone can be the only motivator for getting up in the morning...and I hope you don't shoot yourself.
We're all going to die in a permanent way, but I plan on being truly happy while I can.
2007-01-29 04:35:23 · answer #10 · answered by Mr. NoneofYourbusiness 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋