FOR ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS ONLY: What in your opinion, the meaning of life?

Question

Please be honest.

Only answer if you are an atheist or agnostic.

Please no silly remarks.

The point of this question is not to offend anyone it is to purely see what someone without a religion sees as the meaning of life.
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If I have offended anyone I am truly and deeply sorry.

Please indicate if you are an Atheist or an Agnostic.

Please indicate if you are an Atheist or an Agnostic.

This is in no way meant to imply anything it is a simple, honest inquiry as to the beliefs of a certain group of people.

Honestly people, I don't think anyone, or at least not as many, would be offended if I said BELIEVERS ONLY. So please keep your comments of how miffed or offended you are, to YOURSELF.

Thank you,
FuturePhysicist

Answer 1

because a christian couldn't possibly have any idea, hu?


since i can't answer again, i have to edit my original answer. yes, i was offended, but i'm sorry... it just seems that there are so many people who refuse to even look at anything disagreeing with what they think. they refuse to listen to anything(it's called being 'closed-minded,' and drives me nuts...) i didn't realize that that wasn't the intent.sorry.

Answer 2

The meaning of life to me, an atheist, is to have faith in something. Faith that was so important to you that you saw a need to pass it on to the future. I have faith. I am a spiritual Atheist. I believe in the great things individuals can do. Religion can give people faith to do terrific things... Religion is an amazing thing... however, when it abused, it is not. I do not believe in God but that doesn't mean I can't change the world as an individual. I would like to take the word 'Atheist' and make it a positive representation of a group of people that share a religious belief. I do not judge, it is not my place to. I just wish that we could come together as individuals and look past religious prejudice. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted us to join as humans, not to be judged as racial beings. I hope that some day we can all join in the same spirit and treasure each persons beliefs as being what makes us all unique.

Answer 3

Being an agnostic here is what I believe religion wise:

I believe in something, but because of the feeble human brain capacity I also believe I will not be able to find out what that "higher power" is until my death!

When people ask how can I be agnostic or why I don't believe in one god, I always tell them "your right, too" I believe everybody is entitled to their own opinion and everyone may be right. I am an agnostic, I cannot judge, each idea that someone brings up may be the true "higher power". Even if they say "aliens farted us out onto the earth." Hey I have no proof against it, although highly unlikely, it is still possible.

Sometimes I even get ridiculed for that answer, so lately I even add "rankings" to what I believe is most right in my mind currently. Currently I believe in Big Bang/Evolution as the most likely, with Christianity a not too distant second. However, Hinduism, my third choice makes people laugh. But I always remind them, that Hinduism is the second largest religion in the world, only recently beaten by Christianity, so they must have something right!

I am not too worried about it, I love listening to religious discussions, because it always helps to learn more about religions. Maybe someday I might make a choice on one, but until then I will study and listen to all opinions!


The meaning of life is a completely different answer. I don't know why we (collectively) were put here on earth. But I believe that each individual person should be allowed to come up with the one reason he/she believes is the meaning of life. Some may believe it is to serve God, or some may believe it is to make money, or raise a family.

My belief is that I am to have as much fun as I can every second of everyday. Because if I am not having fun I must ask myself" "why bother" and I then I stop doing it, and move on to something that is fun. That is my meaning of life to have as much fun as I possibly can. Now "fun" is a very general term, and my "fun" may be different than others. I enjoy sleeping, watching movies, hanging out with friends and family, surfing the interney, playing video games, fooling around with my TiVo, drinking and partying, etc... that is what I do and that is what makes my life meaningful. Yes, I know, that can be seen as selfish, but oh well, it is what I feel is right for me.

Answer 4

Just thought I would throw something into the mix here...an agnostic can be defined as someone without knowledge or who has made no decision about his beliefs. This doesnt mean an agnostic is dumb - just undecided or without opinion.

I am a christian who was recently agnostic. After reviewing what I believe to be true, I found that the doctrines that support my beliefs best are christian.

As for a creator? I still am not comfortable with the whole God thing but do believe something powerful created everything.

As for the meaning of life, if you will permit this christian to answer, I think the creator has a firm belief in the power of goodness and may have created us to spread his love not much differently than a new mom welcomes a newborn. Doesnt matter to her, what the baby looks like or what he will be later in life. A new mother holds the purest form of love for a new baby and wants what is best for the child - always...this is why I think we were created - from love for love to love and be loved.

Answer 5

I'm either Atheist or Agnostic. I'm not sure. I don't believe in God but since no one really knows for sure I accept the possibility that I'm wrong. As for for the meaning of life, there isn't any. We're here because we're here. We live because we live. We do because we die. You can choose a meaning for your life if you want to, i.e. set a goal to accomplish, find a question to answer, etc. but there is no inherent meaning.

Answer 6

The meaning of life is dying. Its the only thing EVERY living creature experiences.

I'm an atheist and in my opinion it is the best outlook on life. You have to treat life as if it where to never come again. When christians die they will never realize that they spent their entire lives fantasizing about an enternal bliss that never came. I feel that an atheist perspective on life forces one to admit to the real beauty of life and how precious it is. Isn't life better when we admit that this is it and this is all we know.

You can believe in Santa all your life and tell yourself how magical it is---or you can grow up and realize there is no Santa, and the gifts were actions of your parents love. And isn't that more magical in itself?

Answer 7

I don't have the answer. But I have an opinion.

From scientific point of view, existence is for the continuation of the species. We grow, survive and reproduce and die. That's all to it.

To add some flavor to it, I will say I can make my existence more meaningful but exploring live, humanity, science etc. I want to know more about the universe we are in, hopefully find some answers that puzzle people generations ahead of me. Meanwhile, I will do some charity to help the needs and make someone else's life one day better at a time.

I am not trying to do anything to appease any supernatural beings. I am just there to do something that I think benefit me and other people whom I can get in touch with. I will live one day at a time.

Answer 8

I believe in living my life to the best of my abilities, to enjoy life as it is all that I know, believe and trust. I think at the end of my life I will see if I am wrong and also that apart from my greiving loved ones who will get on with their lives as you do I will not know any more of it but then we will see. I dont scoff at others beliefs as theirs is based on no more proven facts and truth than mine.Peace and acceptance to all

Answer 9

I don't know if my response will end up shedding some light on my idea of the meaning of life or if it will simply uncover certain precepts of sorts that I believe to be cause/consequence of my agnostiscism. Nonetheless, here goes.

I attempt to go about life avoiding anything and everything that will molest my constant attempt at uninterrupted reverie; that means anything and everything ranging from such large-scale things as strong emotion to petty things such as loud noises. I avoid all things extremely fulfilling, as well as of course anything extremely unpleasant. You may read this as a description of a barren life, or as a description perhaps atune in some bizarre analogical sense to a long dreary wait at the bus stop. Well, I don't believe to be leading a barren life, so I encourage you to opt for the bus stop gimmick, those times when you'd be blissfully and almost even lavishly alone were it not for the fact that you're sharing the stop with an extremely unpleasant person of your same sex who carries themselves with the demeanor of someone who could force you into a brutally commonplace conversation at any given time. So be it, that nasty fu*cker is life as far as I am concerned, always eager to engage, engage, engage. Sometimes I joke about how my life gives meaning to my father's lack of enthusiasm with the practice of using condoms (I put it forth much more rudely when in confidence, of course).

In any case, if I had to sum it up in a few words -and I really must; after all, your question was clear enough- I believe that, given the ciscumstances, the meaning of life (or purpose of it, I should say very much in spite of your question) is to take advantage of and manipulate other(s) in order to achieve the goal of constant quietness during the long wait for death.

However, I also feel that 'meaning', 'purpose', etc., exist only because through language we uphold these notions as licit in the abstract, unsustained by any truly unquestionable or undeniable substrate/agency outside language; thus, all in all, these things are weak, utterly meaningless and devoid of any weight.

Answer 10

Here is just a small sample, the maeaning to life would require many books to write down completely but I think you will be able to understand this.

To spread me genes to the next generation. While doing that I get to meet a lot of interesting people, do interesting things and try make the world a better place for that next generation.

Answer 11

I am Agnostic, for I am still undecided. The Meaning of Life for me is to find the truth in everything and, if possible, teach what I know to people. If I know for sure it is the Truth, of course. But...like in Plato's 'The Allegory of the Cave' this is quite hard to do because many refuse to believe in the truth, they would rather believe in what they know, something that's much easier to believe in.

But I think it is my duty to at least try. (Much like the Christians in spreading their doctrine, if you think about it).

That's not the only thing, though. Love and Friendship is very important to me, Knowledge is very important to me, and Physical Health is very important to me as well. Pursuing my dreams as well, almost forgot that one.

^.^