I am just saying--what do Atheists believe happens after death? Nothing? Well, then, what is the point of living? If there is nothing to live for, why live. Is the reason you don't believe in God because you don't want to acknowledge His existence, you don't want to change the way you live, or you resent God for something that actually roots back to other selfish human beings doing what they wanted for themselves? Please don't be offended, I am just trying to get to the bottom of your rejection of the Lord.
2007-04-14 10:02:22 · 46 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You're right, I ought to just kill myself. Tell my son that it's because you made SUCH a good point.
Why would you say "there's nothing to live for"? I enjoy pizza, lacrosse, reading, my son, Kool Aid, curly fries, napping, music, drawing, thinking, pondering, learning, growing, etc etc.
What do YOU live for?
2007-04-14 10:05:44 · answer #1 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 12⤊ 2⤋
There are far more important things to concern myself with than what may or may happen after death. An example? How about daily survival? You have to work so you can eat. Theorizing all day about the meaning of life will not put food on the table.
Frankly, I don't know what happens after we die. Neither do you. Neither does anyone of any faith. This existence or nonexistence of a life beyond is still not testable, and almost certain to remain so. We die. That is a fact. It just is, and can not be changed.
Nothing to live for? Live for your family. Live for your friends. Enjoy the time you spend with people. Enjoy what's around you. You don't need to glorify a deity in order to make life worthwhile. You don't even know if God, gods, or goddesses even exist. Go with what you know is there.
"Is the reason you don't believe in God because you don't want to acknowledge His existence..."
This question implies that we have knowledge that God exists and that we consciously and actively deny His existence.
"...you don't want to change the way you live..."
Are you suggesting that atheists live inferior lives to that of Christians? What makes you think our lives need changing? People can lead "moral" and "immoral" lives irrespective of religion. Faith, or lack thereof, does not intrinsically make you better or worse than anyone else.
"...or you resent God for something that actually roots back to other selfish human beings doing what they wanted for themselves?"
We can't resent something that we don't think even exists.
2007-04-14 11:32:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is the twenty-first century and democracy is now the prevailing form of human government. There will never again be dictatorial Kings or tyrannical Lords ruling anywhere on this planet. The point of living is to have children so that your genetic line is carried forward. When you die, you're done. That's it. Death is permanent and final. By definition, atheists are people who don't believe is God. Why do you perpetually expect people to acknowledge the existence of your silly non-existent imaginary deity? There is not one scintilla of credible evidence that your imaginary God ever actually existed, except in the minds of true believers. God is a concept, an idea, and he simply cannot exist anywhere except on a printed page or within a living human brain. I suggest you go to a secular college and get yourself a real education. It's the only know cure for Christianity.
2007-04-14 10:35:21 · answer #3 · answered by Diogenes 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am not living for death. I am living for life. When I first came to the conclusion that there is no god, I was actually, for the first time in my life, afraid of death. I thought life was pointless if there is nothing in the end. For a little less than a week, I thought nothing in life really mattered. But I started thinking about humanity. I thought, if there is no Heaven or Hell, I can do anything I want, and suffer no consequence, so why am I not compelled to harm someone else? I thought about taking someone elses life "It wouldn't matter, because it's just life", but that person would have family members, and people who love him. So it would matter. Even though his life ends, life as a whole, goes on. Oh, and please understand, when I say I thought about taking soeone's life, I don't mean I wanted to do it, I was just thinking about the consequence of it all.
I was thinking, why does humanity progress, if eventually, the Earth will be destroyed? Well, I figured it out, we progress because we are here to do so. Yes, eventually we will die, and we wont have any conscious thought about the life we lived, but while we are alive, we are here, and we need to enjoy every moment we can, because after this, you don't get a second chance to experience life. We are lucky as heck to be given the opportunity to experience life, and we need to take advantage. I am living for life, not for death.
2007-04-17 11:10:21 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok I will turn it around for you .
You believe in god - you will live forever - What is the point of your existence ? Why are you here ? Oh to glorify god right ? Ok mission accomplished you do that every day for eternity - what is the point for you ?
Why do I live ? Well for the same things you do . To experience life on the planet earth and be part of society
The difference being - I don't expect mine to go on forever you do
I don't think that it has to go on forever to be a worth while expierence
If you don't get to live forever I get the impression you'd jump off the nearest bridge
Why ?
When I help my nieghbor I am not doing it for fear of hell or want of a reward or to continue some sort of relationship with a god but because I believe it was the "right" thing to do at the time .
I have always been amazed that some people appear to need a god to tell them to be nice to each other
Right or wrong the question you ask seems to be able to be posed as such
If I can't find a wife/husband why live anymore ?
No god- lets all kill ourselves whats the point ? It seems the same point of view
2007-04-14 10:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Why do people play video games? Do the points and prizes you win, or the skills you gain, amount to anything in real life? We find ourselves, sentient, self-aware beings with memories, curiosity and the ability to think abstractly. Why wouldn't we want to live? The fact that our lives end means we'd better make the most of what we have now, since there isn't a judging and awards round afterwards for us to enjoy.
Granted, there are several ways of "making the most" of life. Some go for the points, the treasures or the accompliments, but when the game ends, those just become dry statistics. Others work on modifying the game, making it better for the players to come. There's only so much I can do about my own mortality, but I can surely contribute to the survivability of my species, by improving environmental sustainability, criminal laws, economic policies, food distribution and human rights, among many other things. Harmonizing and perfecting all these conflicting goals is a worthwhile challenge whether I live to see the ultimate result or not.
Life is not about winning and losing. Its about learning, loving and leaving things better than when you came. I don't need a supernatural bribe or a stick to convince me what is right. And I've seen too many believers who use their religion to excuse their lives rather than change them. As it is said, "We shall know them by their fruits."
2007-04-14 10:31:22 · answer #6 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You know, if I were a supream being, I think I'd have better things to do with my time then to create and monitor people. I am in no way trying to avoid acknowledging his existance. I don't resent anybody including god. I am in no way a selfish person and have made sacrifices for others so I don't know how I'm entirely living for myself. Who said there was a point to living. Why would god make people, just to have things worship him? Well that's kind of pointless on his part don't you think. Stop seeing the human race as the all important thing. We are not.
2007-04-14 10:25:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
What an idiotic question. Most people do NOT want to die. I can turn this around and say "what is the point of living if you are a christian?" If you all have eternal life after death then why not hurry it along and just kill yourself? Do you see how stupid that sounds? We live for the life we have RIGHT now. We do not worry about what comes after.
And I never "rejected" god. I was a christian for many years. I prayed daily trying to seek god and I asked god to hear my prayers, to answer me in some way. I never received an answer from god...that's because there is no god. I can't resent something that isn't there. And as far as the way I live my life? I follow the laws of this country. I try to treat others as I would like to be treated. I love my family and I love my friends. I have a great job and a great life. All the good and bad that has happened in my life I can attribute ONLY to myself.
2007-04-14 10:08:53 · answer #8 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I believe that I've been given an opportunity to pursue happiness in this life...regardless of what happens in the afterlife. What's the point of living life if you can't enjoy it a little bit while you're here? I'm not sure what's going to happen after I die, but I'm more worried about living a fulfilling life while i'm here than just hoping that I can live up to some external code of ethics until I die, and missing out on life as it happens. I wouldn't call myself an evil person, and if God is just then I can't see why he'd want to punish me for trying to be a good person in general. So i guess what i'm trying to say is that the point of living is whatever you want it to be. Why bother worrying about what happens when you die when no one really knows? Live a good life, and hopefully some people here will remember you for it.
2007-04-14 10:39:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is not about rejection. There is no evidence for a any god. I live life for its intrinsic value. I'm sorry that you see no value in life. You get no joy out of living, loving and learning? I do. I cherish every moment. I was a Christian for many years and actually I don't live my life any differently as an atheist. I studied the historicity of Jesus and textural criticism, which is the study of the origins of the Bible and its translation. And that was the end of my belief in any gods. The Bible is man's creation and represents a specific mythology. Morality has a basis in philosophy, social evolution, and law. I find your assumption that people who do not believe in a god lead a selfish life rather parochial. There are societies around the globe that do not believe in a deity and those societies are no less moral than the societies that embrace the idea of deity.
2007-04-14 10:21:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Here's the deal .
Christians believe that there life is like a test... to see if u get into heaven or not. That's THERE point of living. So basically, the only reason they're alive (theoretically, usually not true for most people) is so when they die they'll have enough good deeds to cover their asses so they get into heaven.
Atheists don't believe in god. Although that doesn't NECESSARILY mean that they don't believe in ANYTHING after death, but ill take your example. The point is to live their lives to the very fullest since their IS no AFTER.
Better yourself, do good for humanity , make life better for those who will follow after you (or your descendants).
The reason they don't believe in god, isn't cuz they dont want to "acknowledge him" that would be ridiculous. If u dont WANT to acknowledge someone, they that means u automatically believe that he exists. Its not that we dont wanna change our lifestyles, Put yourself in an atheists point of view. Maybe, WE think YOU dont wanna change ur lifestyle and that you are the one filling ur life with ridiculous things that have no proof.
Once again, please dont be offended. I just want u to see it from someone elses point of view, and answer ur question.
2007-04-14 10:11:50 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋