Atheists, what's the point?

Question

I'm no specailist on atheists, but I understand that you don't believe in a higher power or heaven or hell or whatever. But if you don't believe in the afterlife or god or anything, what is point of bieng here.

From me as a christian, the point of life is to be a tool for God. To enlighten others who want to hear the word, To live my life the way god would want me to, and if it is his will, for him to use me for whatever and ultimatly to go to heaven.
To atheists, What is the point of human life?
Why are we all here, and what is the reward for living your life morally correct.

I'm not trying to present myself as perfect christian /person or judge any one who doesn't agree with my lifestyle, I'm just asking for better understanding so don't get upset, and if this question offends anyone, just try to remember that you don't have to answer it.

Answer 1

I use to be a huge atheist. I'm not christian though, but i understand what you mean; Atheists, well I felt that Maybe life is just as it is. I didn't really feel that we had to have an afterlife because life is fullfilling in itself and i would be comfortable with just dying and ceasing to exist. I know that is hard for people to understand if they are christian, i'm sure they don't understand why we don't believe in heaven or hell; but atheists believe we are in control of our own life, or own actions and morals and that life is the reward itself.

Hope this helped :)

Answer 2

I'm not atheist, I'm agnostic(neither believes nor disbelieves), but I think your question pertains. For me, the point is to leave the world a better place than it was. I don't need a reward or punishment to do so. I don't need a god to tell me how to do so. I know that I want to live my life comfortably and happily, and that most other people would like the same. I am very empathetic, and I try to help others when I can. I also try to take care of myself.

It just makes logical sense to be a "good" person. Why cause suffering, when there is enough suffering without anyone trying? Why not work to alleviate the suffering of others? Being kind to strangers, working to help those in poverty, and other altruistic behavior is good for all of society. If people are happier and satisfied with their lives, there will be less crime.

None of these things are tied to religion. I don't worry about a "point" of living. Living is the point. The experience is the point. I don't need more than that. If there ends up being a heaven, and a god at the end of my life, that's great. If there isn't, that's okay, too. I aim to live my life in a way where it doesn't matter. I don't act out of fear of sin, or desire for heaven. I try to do kind things for the sake of making the world at least a little bit happier.

I hope this makes sense and helps you understand!

Answer 3

What is the point of human life?

There might not be one..!
Has it been ascertained that there has to be?
I know a good number or thinkers through history who have looked for that certainty and come up empty-handed.

"Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Shakespeare's Macbeth

To insist that being morally correct requires an external reward only applies to certain world views.

Why are we here? To question, to observe the universe in certain schools of thought.

Reductionists will take it that were are animals carrying on the evolutionary experiment of self-awareness. Would that be so terrible?

On the whole I'd prefer to lean on the truth, whatever awkward edges it might come with, than on a view of the world which I didn't think was true, however a comforting structure it offered.

Thomas Henry Huxley put it so much better than I can, and that while facing the loss of his four-year old-son:
"...what profit it was to have stripped myself of the hopes and consolations of the mass of mankind? ....truth is better than much profit."
Full letter below.

Answer 4

Why does there have to be a reason? Why can't we just exist as a matter of chance?

I exist to live and to love. To me, it's that simple. Love is all that matters.

Why should I live a moral life? Because it is in the best interest of myself and others around me if I do. Humans do not function well in chaos. Following just rules, being good to others, respecting others, it all comes back to it just being a good idea for people to get along. If you want to learn more, try studying ethics. Religion has nothing to do with living ethically.


(And thank you for asking a rude question in a polite way. That is actually very rare on here.)

Answer 5

For you it's a point of following God, for myself, it's a point of following myself.

The point if my life is to live.

The only difference between you and I is that I live according to my own goals and according to rules I set for myself(which are mostly developed by the society I live in).

I am no less moral because I lack a set of written rules above and beyond those set by lawmakers.

I am also no less valuable just because I believe my life will end and I will not go to heaven. I am still able to love, dream, hope, spread peace, and generally be good.

I suppose I never really question why I'm here, but rather I concern myself with making it worthwhile.

The why just isn't important. I'm here to be me.

Answer 6

The answers above are pretty close to my view. I'd like to focus on a different matter. This person's question seemed to me to be an innocent and respectful question, genuinely interested in learning something. I'm dismayed that so many atheists responded in such a belligerent manner.

That speaks ill of the supposed rationality and peaceableness we claim we represent. Perhaps she should have said an instrument of God's will but the cheap shots about "tool" are just pointless.

Answer 7

To answer your question fully would require WAY to much space than allotted here. But the absolute bare bones, in a nutshell explanation is: The basic purpose of life is to reproduce by any means necessary.
However, humans became self aware, throwing a whole wrench in the machine.
You believe the point of life is to be gods tool? Are wars and rape and murder and child pornography and theft and hate and bigotry and racism all part of that tool?

I am an atheist and, contrary to Christian belief, am VERY happy, secure and comfortable in my belief. I believe the purpose of HUMAN life is to live, love, smile and protect that which we depend on (environment).

Answer 8

Most christian religions believe that the soul is the exclusive domain of human beings. I have been told many times that animals do not have souls or even the ability to think (d'uh!?).

Therefore by your own standards the earth needs only righteous god fearing christians walking on the soil. What is the point of any life other than your own? How utterly arrogant of you. As for my reward for being a good person - people like me and love me here and now - is being pious garnering you any friends? I am not here to be used - I am here to live and love.

As someone (a baptist minister) here has said "It is not in God's character to create someone a unigue way and then condemn that person for that unique characteristic."

I hope that now you understand the point of being here.

Answer 9

I don't remember a purpose to life being a gurantee. Anyways, if you purpose is to serve good and to be a tool, that really doesn't make sense. If he didn't create people in the first place he wouldn't need others to convert people to his religion. I make my own purpose for my life. Who said you get rewarded for living morally correct? That's not a gurantee either. That's why you want there to be a god, so that all the good behavior you have and allt he **** you have happen to you will somehow be rewarded in the end. Makes it nice and easy for you. For the record I am a morally straight person and I am so because I personally don't like to hurt people or abuse others or myself. The reward for me is I feel good about myself and I get to see other prosper. If you are doing things just because you are going to be rewarded in the end, then you actually aren't a very moral person, you are driven actually by greed of your own selfish wanting of a reward. Shame on you.

Answer 10

OK, in my view, a 'point' or 'goal' is something that our very goal-oriented society has made us expect. Additionally, it comes natural to use as pattern-matching self-aware creatures to seek for a, well, pattern or meaning.

But nature doesn't work that way. And this universe, life, and everything is the result of natural process.

So, in the grand scheme of things, there is no real 'point' to life (save for passing on your genes). However, we are social creatures. We are born from parents who have sheltered us and loved us. We have siblings, perhaps, Lovers and friends. All these people knitting society together.

I include this last bit only to make it clear that my next point, which is "you are free to make any point to life you see fit", does include some constraints. I've noticed christians have a tendency to think "well, if there is no point, why don't you go off murdering and raping and stealing" which is frankly a bit disturbing.