Atheists, do you ever feel disappointed with the belief, that 60-80 years on earth is all humans can expect?

Question

There are no right or wrong answers to this question. I'm trying to understand how an Atheist feels on this issue. Humans have great imagination, talent, social ability, and intelligence, so do you ever feel cheated or as if it's a shame, thar humans are here only to exist, survive, or live with the possibilities of ONLY 60-80 years for the average person? Even if it's longer, does an end disappoint you?

Do you ever ask yourself what is the point of researching and studying? Why? If we will all cease to exist, why study for the future? I can understand accepting living and dying for animals, but what are your thoughts on this for humans?

This question is only for people who do NOT believe in the Biblical God Christians such as Noah, Moses, and Abraham acknowledged. and people who believe that after we die, that's it. This question is not for people who believe in reincarnation and other Gods or ideas which offer a possibility for extending life, or returning to repeat life.

p.s. I can understand research to prevent illness or for reasons to make our lives comfortable while here on earth, but why invest the time and energy obtaining knowledge various other things?

Story if you're not an atheist, then it's not surprising the question makes no sense to you, because you may reason this question differently, which is why I directed it to atheist.

Answer 1

That is why you need to make every day count. Make this world a better place for yourself and others.

Answer 2

Yes, it is disappointing and sometimes depressing to think that this one life is all we get. Especially if you were raised with a belief in some form of afterlife, as I was. It's also true that, realistically, nothing we do matters in the long term (over the aeons). Some atheists seem to deny this, others see it as a reason to embrace nihilism.

However, I enjoy my life in the here and now. I am also a humanist so I try to make life better for others who are currently alive and in need of help. I find it more fulfilling and pleasurable to do good than not.

Not knowing what your beliefs are, I will add that the fact that we don't particularly LIKE the idea of our own limited mortality does not, unfortunately, prove somehow that a god exists or that we do have an eternal component (other than at the atomic level), despite the arguments of writers like CS Lewis. The evidence is very much against the survival of a disembodied intelligence...if you are curious you can read a good summary at the link below.

Answer 3

Knowing there is nothing else makes me live for the now alot more. I have christian friends who don't live there life to the fullest because they think they are going to heaven. Every day I think how lucky I am to be here and to be who I am. I used to be a christian and now I regret the things I missed out on because of my religion.
When I first realised that there might not be any God I started researching everything and learning everything I could ablout religion. I love learning, I love soaking knowledge up about everything. I can't wait to pass down everything I know to the next generation. That's what is great about being alive.
As for the living only 60-80 years. My great grandmother recently died. She was 96, in her lifetime was 2 world wars, electricity, television, internet, cd players, the list goes on. If I live till i am 90 and get to see so much history I will die happy.

Answer 4

I might be wrong here but with advances in nanotechnology that are coming around the bend its very possible that humans could possibly live to be as old or nearly as old as the universe itself... This of course would make your question of 60-80 years totaly meaningless. Im not an atheist but I def dont want to test my beliefs on the after life if I dont have to because honestly I just dont know if they are true or not untill im there. As for being cheated by life what reason does one who has no God to blame have for feeling cheated by life? Everything is fair because everyone will die the same way for them imo.

Answer 5

Well for me, I probably align more with atheists, but I don't believe that we just blank out after we die. Energy can not be created or destroyed. What happens to us? I don't know, but neither do you. You know what your religion says, but you have no first hand evidence (do you?) As far as "why study for the future?" The best answer that I can come up with is to make the world a better place. Do you want to revert back to the dark ages? Do you want to understand the motivation of atheists to do scientific studies? Well I'm sure that your life is greatly enhanced due to the studies of generations of scientists. Also, not all scientists are atheists. Your line of logic would also lead to asking "why would a religious scientist continue research when he/she is going to die and go to heaven?" I guess it boils down to a general curiosity and concern for the world around us.

Answer 6

Things just are as they are. If one accepts what is then there is nothing to be disappointed about. The secret is in the acceptance of how things are. That is something that most people just can't do, so they find comfort in believing those things that they feel they can live with like an afterlife or reincarnation, and it doesn't matter that those things can't be proved to be factual. I do not need either of those things. I'm happy with what is.

Answer 7

No, life is rough, I don't think I would would wanna live on this earth for a very long long time. As far as researching and studying...having knowledge is great, it will better your life. Also, why not help out future generations, just because we only live for a short time, doesn't mean that humanity will cease to exist when we die.

Answer 8

Not at all. And the point of research and study is so as to provide more concrete answers for the people who come after us. I don't think it's a shame that we die, or disappointing - we're lucky to be here at all to ask and answer things like this. It's totally by chance that any of our parents met and had kids. If your mom had met someone else, would you still be you? I find stuff like that fascinating, even if there are no answers. It's fun to try and find the answers. We have to do something with our time here - why not try to learn and pass that knowledge on?

Answer 9

It just carries an obligation to use our short time wisely . Cut out the Sunday School, it is nonsense that will waste your time. Every hour you waste praying in a religion is an hour you're not helping poor Black ghetto street kids -- think about it! If you don't have the protection of Atheism, the Atheist scientists of the future who DO apply themselves to real-world questions and develop Eternal Life won't resurrect you. You'll be judged religious and therefore too VIOLENT to be entrusted with Eternal Life.

Answer 10

I don't like the fact that people die. It's a sad fact of life. For me, it is very exciting and fun to learn and discover about my world, and learn just for the sake of learning. Humans are wired to think and explore their worlds. It helps us progress and make the world (hopefully) better for future generations. I don't believe in an afterlife, so I want to make each moment here count. Some religious people look forward to heaven so much, they wish away their life here on earth.

Answer 11

Most of the people in my family where and are able to live into their 100's. I hope to one day top that and I intend to top it in perfect health and happiness. I am an atheist and I do believe that once I die that is it. As a believer in science I know that their may actually be a way to extend the average life span of a human( I mean they just discovered that whales actually live longer than turtles. ) I intend to and am going to live a long and happy unfettered life.