atheists: are you happy being an atheist??

Question

most see atheists as being very nihilistic and a depressing way of living life. however i do not see it that way.

so why is life as an atheist not sad or depressing or meaningless to you?

Answer 1

We atheists are nothing like what the church leaders are fond of charicaturing us as. We are freethinking individuals who are able to see the Big Picture without the blinders of religion. We do not live in despair, quite the contrary; freethought is incredibly refreshing, liberating, and empowering. We are not nihilists, but lovers of life who see it as all the more precious because there's no eternal afterlife. We do not need the bribe of heaven or the threat of hell to be good people, we believe in being good for its own sake. Through science and reason, we know more about the true nature of the world we live in than your religion could ever hope to offer.



The fear of death is a natural thing, which is why you need to think hard about living your life for the moment. We are not the enemy of christians and other theists. Our quarrel is with irrationality, wishful thinking, superstitions, intellectual dishonesty, and all other forms of thinking that keep mankind mired in darkness, ignorance and hate. Sometimes i do get depressed over our utter death and annihilation, but it just renews my zest to make the most of this life.

Answer 2

Believers like to create an enormous fictional drama around us. They make grandiose statements about what we think, what we feel, how we live, what we do, etc. etc, and then pat themselves on the back thinking they are very clever. Just about every single thing they say is completely made up. We're just normal people who live normal, and probably pretty boring, lives. I'm a devoted wife and mother. I love my family, I love my friends. I love my life. I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. I've never even had a speeding ticket. I do volunteer work, and I give to charity. My hobbies are cooking and reading. I'm happy, and wouldn't change anything about my life. I cherish every minute of the time I have, because I believe once we're gone, that's it. I think that not believing in an afterlife makes me see the here and now much clearer. I'm not always looking to something else as if that "something else" is going to be better than what I have. :-)

Answer 3

The simple fact is that pessimists actually have a better grip on reality. One only has to look at the world around them to see that if humans continue to pursue self destructive goals it is indeed a bleak outlook. This coupled with the fact that no rational human being can believe religion's pathetic attempt at explanation of our existence tends to give the atheist a depressing view of the future. But as the atheist tends to be more intelligent, they would never trade true knowledge for a sugar coated fantasy that would require self imposed ignorance. This is the plight of the atheist.

Answer 4

I see it this way- without the restraints of religion checking my every move and thought, i am never constantly paranoid about whether I'm doing 'the right thing' or not. I am my own referee when it comes to morals, values, behavior, and actions. Many religious folk control these things with thier end goal being heaven or salvation of some sort, while my goal is my own well-being staying intact.

Sometimes I wish I could have grown up beleiving in a higher deity or ethereal plane like heaven, but no matter how much I try it's difficult for me to truly convince myself that is the truth. I'd say, if you beleive in it, then don't doubt yourself; if you don't beleive, then at least have faith in yourself, because you know for a fact you do exist.

Answer 5

Well,I'm an agnostic,but I lean to atheism.Yes,I am pretty happy.I enjoy experience in life,and taking it as an opportunity rather than a curse.When you think about it,many religious people see this existence negatively.When you really look at many of the popular thinkers that were atheistic,you will see that they were generally happy.Friedrich Nietzsche being one,even with a difficult life,and realizing the truth about the human condition,he was still optimistic.

Answer 6

As an atheist one is not bound by all the dogma and restriction of the organized religion.
An atheist can do as he pleases without worrying about "eternal damnation in hell" and thus can live his life to the fullest.
Sure an atheist realizes that he will eventually die for "keeps" but this is no reason to be depressed, on the contrary it is an incentive to live the best live you can, as you know that you will not get another.

Answer 7

On average the iq of an athiest is 20 pts. lower than that of a religious person (regardless of what religion). Also I have a question to a so called athiest. What if you are wrong? I know I am right that God exists but if I was wrong it will have no consequences when I die. An athiest if they are wrong it can have dire consequences when they die. I do however believe that God is a forgiving God and very few people go to HL. If I was you I still would be worried about being wrong. Not believing in God just does not makes sense. Did we just happen to come about without the help of some Supreme Being that we can'y understand. I feel sorry for you. Hopefully uyou will ask God for forgiveness. I feel sorry about your life when you are 100 years old and near dth and have nothing to look forward to. You may still go to Heaven (God only knows that) but since you do not believe in God you will think your life will just end. Please contact your nearest Roman Catholic Church and find out about how God still loves you. What can you lose. I know that God exists and I know that the Roman Catholic Church is the true Church but you can be any religion and still go to heaven. Maybe even athiests go to Heaven but you owe your Creator more than just getting into Heaven because you are you.
God Blesses even athiests.
To the poster who thinks her life is good just because she has a family and gives to charity. You're wrong!. Deep down you probably believe in some power. Ever asked yourself? Can I be wrong? What happens then? Will God just let me become ashes in the wind as I now believe or will I go to some place and suffer forever. Remember eternity is eternity. Maybe God will forgive all athiests (God only knows) but I would not want to take the chance. Another question I must ask. Why does religion seem to bother athiests. Why does the word God on coins or in certain places bother you so much? I would consider not having the word God on a US coin as the gov't endorsing the atiest religion.

Answer 8

I had a huge guilt complex when I was religious. My faith slowed the process of getting over obsessive compulsive disorder down. I slowly rejected my faith, and then god altogether when I was in middle school. Now I'm much happier, and while I know some people may find joy in religion, it's not for me. I still have spiritual beliefs, but none of them involved a god, they all mostly involve my beliefs about humanity.

Answer 9

Because meaning and happiness is where ever I chose to find it in every discreet moment, and when I chose to find it in helping other people who suffer, it's like a bonus and helps carry the momentum of that compassion. Life is great! And the best part is, who knows what happens next, but we all were able to find a way to exist once, why not again?

Answer 10

I don't enjoy my life, happiness is far away from me, but it has nothing to do with me being an atheist, It's my temperament, I was born that way...but I do prefer to live in painful sober than happy drunk........