IF we just " happened " then we have no purpose and are just bits of random matter in the universe. If you believe that, then do you believe you yourself are insignificant?
2007-03-01 12:35:41 · 17 answers · asked by The Angry Stick Man 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, we are nothing in the grand spectrum of the universe. A mere speck on a fleck on a dot on another speck on a pinpoint that is the galaxy in this vast cosmos. If a gay gets married, or a fetus gets aborted, it makes no statistical difference in the universe.
HOWEVER, we as organisms in this small ecosystem have the duty to propagate genetic material like our single celled brethren, and how do we do that?
-Getting jobs to impress people so we can sleep with them or their sisters.
-Treating others with respect so we might have sex with them or their sisters.
-Treating the environment with respect so that after we have lots of babies they can carry on the cycle in a safe environment.
And WHY? Because we have evolved in such a way that if we DON'T do things to achieve our goal of propagating genetic material in a safe environment, we get painful reminders from our own body (depression, worry, guilt all stemming from chemical imbalances) that tells us to get a move on. In our own little egomaniacal universe (while having no influence on the "real" universe outside our planet) we are king, and we have to keep the king happy.
2007-03-01 12:42:35 · answer #1 · answered by dmlk2 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the greater expanse, I am insignificant.
To my friends and family, I am important. That is sufficient for me.
The fact that we are all here is just a coincidence. Life has no meaning, no real purpose.
We should maximise on this opportunity to use this one and only life we will get to benefit ourselves and, if possible, society itself.
Despite any beliefs to the contrary by religious freaks, we are ALL much the same, a mere speck of life, which, in too short a time, will expire and be largely forgotten. The youth will fill the gap and, hopefully, do a better job of looking after this planet than their predecessors.
2007-03-01 20:54:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that if you look at how big the Universe is you would find our whole galaxy insignificant. With us just an insignificant spec in it.
Just because you have these grand idea about what we are, doesn't make it true. The average ant probably feels the same way.
2007-03-01 20:44:02 · answer #3 · answered by Alex 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are as significant or as insignificant as you want to be. The more good you do in this world, the more significant you are. The more you live and love your life to the fullest, the more significant you are. The more love you bring to those around you, the more significant you are. If you waste your life, or bring misery to others, then you make yourself insignificant.
2007-03-01 21:08:47 · answer #4 · answered by Jess H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grouping atheists together like this is like grouping people with red hair or who are 5'9" - it's a ridiculous over simplification.
However as a PERSON, I think we are hugely insignificant to the universe, but can be the whole universe to a few other people. Odd.
2007-03-01 20:41:45 · answer #5 · answered by All hat 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nope, I am just here to live my life the best I can while I am here. Atheist's believe the only significance is the life we are living now. There is no "eternal life", or heaven, or some other form of afterlife. This life is what we have, so we make the most of it.
We don't need the thought of a "higher power" to feel significant. Just being is significant enough.
2007-03-01 20:41:14 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Significances is relative, I might not be important to most people. However from my view point I'm the center of the universe.
2007-03-01 21:31:19 · answer #7 · answered by jetthrustpy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Significance" is a subjective evaluation. I am significant to myself and to my loved ones. I don't need an imaginary friend in order to make me significant; I don't need one in order to give my life meaning or purpose; and I don't need one in order to find happiness, love, or beauty in this world. if I did, I'd be in real trouble. Fortunately, theists don't need that either. They can feel loved, happy, meaningful, special, etc. even without God, through the words and actions of their fellow human beings. God might be a great "extra", for those who want him, but life is not an infinite dark void of hopeless sorrow without him. It's just life. Brutal, short, and absurd--and beautiful and precious beyond all reckoning.
2007-03-01 20:41:02 · answer #8 · answered by Rob Diamond 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe we find our own significance by the life we lead. I have no need to be significant to the universe itself.
2007-03-01 20:39:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe we are all empty of inherent existence and here due to causes and conditions, but then I'm also Tibetan Buddhist, not just atheist, so I'm not nihilistic in my philosophy. Hope this helps.
_()_
2007-03-01 20:43:09 · answer #10 · answered by vinslave 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋