People frequently like to ask atheists, "If you believe in a pointless existence devoid of God, why don't you just kill yourself?" or something of the like. And we all know the range of answers, most of them seeming to be appalled at the question. I wasn't sure if this sentiment was directed at the disrespect in the question or suicide itself, so I'm curious about your personal thoughts on suicide. Inherently wrong? Should be strongly discouraged but people should have a right over their lives? Nothing at all wrong with it?
I know this kind of question invites hateful responses telling atheists what they should think about suicide, but I'm hoping to be proven wrong and impressed.
2007-03-17 08:07:56 · 4 answers · asked by Phil 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To Firekitty- As an atheist who knows the depths of severe depression, I can tell you that sometimes you have to wonder if a miserable existence is better than no existence, even though there's potential for improvement as long as you're alive. You say that since we only live once so enjoy it, so how would you adjust that sentiment if you couldn't enjoy it? That's the reality of depression. In that state, you're only living for the chance that you might be able to feel joy in the future. The value of that potential is not to be disregarded, but if the current situation has been bad enough for long enough, you have to weigh that uncertain prize against the difficult journey to it.
2007-03-19 12:17:04 · update #1
I'm an atheist, and I see suicide as a horrible mistake. It is a completely selfish act, because it traumatizes the people left behind. They once did a survey of people that had survived a suicide attempt by jumping off a bridge. They asked the people what the thought was that went through their heads as they jumped, and started to fall. Every single person said that the only thought that went through their minds was that there was nothing in life that couldn't be fixed--EXCEPT the fact that they had just jumped off a bridge. In my opinion, suicide is definitely wrong. You should definitely give life every chance you can, because once you kill yourself, that's IT. There's NO going back. You CAN'T change your mind.
The only exception to this is when someone is suffering terribly from a terminal illness. They should definitely have control over how and when they die.
2007-03-18 15:40:47 · answer #1 · answered by Jess H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suicide is tragic for atheists or theists. whilst atheists do no longer have faith in heaven or hell, some do have faith in some form of afterlife, at the same time with reincarnation. comprehend that there are non-theistic Buddhists, etc. As an atheist who assumes this life is all there is, i've got faith this life to be of the utmost magnitude, so it rather is greater tragic while it rather is thrown away than for people who have faith this is in elementary terms a speck of life while in comparison with our eternal lives. even if it rather is "merely over", it's going to be like till now we've been conceived. we will not go through, we will not exist, we can have not got any know-how to adventure our non-life. If there is something while we die, it's going to be an adventure another human who has died has been on, and that i will cope with it as quickly as I get there. the two way, it's going to be fantastic. yet, except suffering some terrible, painful, incurable ailment, i might never rush to be sure. Suicide is an enduring answer to what's usually a non everlasting project. ~Agnostic atheist; ex-Christian
2016-10-18 22:37:04 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an Atheist. I have been my whole life. I believe that when you die, that is it. There is nothing. No heaven or hell. No reincarnation (which I think would be cool, if it were true). So why then, would I rush out and kill myself just because I live a pointless existence devoid of god? A pointless existence is better than no existence.
I am not afraid to die. It happens to everybody. But that does not mean I will kill myself. I'm trying to enjoy what little life I have, even if it is pointless. That's why I believe you should have a job that you enjoy, even if the pay is small. You should treat yourself whenever you can. You should also be nice to other people. It makes you feel better about yourself and helps other people enjoy their pointless existence. You only live once, so enjoy it. Don't end it.
Suicide is a selfish act. The person does not think about who will be affected. But thats because that person is so depressed, that it has taken control of their life. All that person can think about is how depressed they are. And the only way to make it stop, is to kill themselves. You first have to know everything about depression, before you can even understand suicide. And one of the only ways to truly understand depression, is if you once had depression.
Most people who believe in god think that all Atheists will go to hell because they do not believe in god. They also believe that people who commit suicide wilI go to hell. I think that one of the reasons people say "If you believe in a pointless existence devoid of god, why don't you just kill yourself?" because they think we are going to hell either way, why not make the trip there a little quicker. To them we are already doomed to end up in hell.
2007-03-19 11:15:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No answers from atheists yet, huh???
2007-03-17 10:35:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋