Would most of us be able to cope with the finality and loneliness of it all?

Question

If we knew for certain there was no God, no afterlife, nothing. Once we died that was it; the end. Our only purpose was to reproduce and die.

Answer 1

we all choose our destiny--like buying airplane tickets-some go to the north pole some go to Hawaii--some go to China etc---we all have different destinations--Atheist don't want God so they go to a lonely void place--others do good deeds and go to heaven for millions of years--some are evil and go to hell -some develop their inherent love for God and actually go to His beautiful wonderful world--we all go where we desire and God lets us do and believe or not believe as we wish--that's the nature of love---He loves us all but at the same time He gives us free will--most the atheists are just plan ignorant and too lazy to try to find out if there is God or not--If they tried they would see unexplainable miracles in their life constantly!

Answer 2

If you are an atheist, you are probably able to cope with it. I am an atheist. I just try to make the most of each day because I know that this is all there is. You can still have purpose in your life by helping and loving others. Perhaps many people cannot cope with the finality of it all, and that is why I believe atheists should NOT try to spread their beliefs. Let those who need a placebo have a placebo.

Answer 3

I don't know if there is a god or goddess or afterlife.

What I do know is that I am not lonely. I share the earth with billions of things. I share the cosmos with even more. Some of these things I get to interact with, you know, air, seasons, food, plants, people, my children, my family, friends, lovers, the wind, the river that runs near my house, the dragonflies, my dogs...many of these things I love so much. There is so much in our lives that can be achieved and experienced by just opening our eyes and minds.

And sure, I believe there might be a spiritual side too, which could be equally enormous or immeasurably more unknowable than the physical/emotional life we experience with our other senses.

I believe music touches our spiritual side, and nature itself, our brothers and sisters in all living things, which are all a part of each other's place here. Sometimes I get glimpses of what I believe could be an afterlife, when I am alone in nature, and very peaceful. But it may be just my wishful thinking. I don't know, during those moments I feel as if I have lived before, and forever into the future, and feel as if my spirit flies like a bird, somewhere just at the edge of perception these things come to me.

But it is mostly when away from other people and alone in nature. Again, it could be my imagination, or a desire to be immortal or more free.

I would feel very lonely indeed if I had to invent a make-believe daddy who watched over me and punished me like a child because I fell for his tricks. That's just creepy.

Answer 4

I cope quite well..

I believe there more purpose than reproducing and dying.. For instance raising my children to contribute to society and better mankind.. Contributing to society and bettering mankind myself.. Etc...

I do not find the belief that there are no deities or afterlife lonely at all.. Yes there is a finality to death as it's the end but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy now..

When you are watching a movie are you thinking about the end of the movie or enjoying the movie as it unfolds?

When you are eating a meal with friends are you thinking about there being an end to the meal or are you enjoying the conversation and food of the meal?

When you are having sex are you enjoying the now or thinking about when it will end?

I view life in the same manner I enjoy the now, when the end comes I hope to be able to look back and think " Wow!!!!!What a ride!!!!" If I spend my time now worried about death and the end am I fully enjoying now?

Answer 5

Well, reproduce and die, that's basically what all species on earth do. Everyone must find their own purpose in life. To enjoy life, to make other people and myself happy, to give a helping hand when needed, and so forth, gives a lot of meaning to life for me. Also, what you leave behind, ie. the effects of your actions, the physical remains of your life, the influence you had on others, the memories those that still live have of you, now that's life after death...

Answer 6

I feel sadness and also chilled at all you atheists! And at one time I was one til near suicide, I reached out to the one who died for me that I might live forever with Him.

There is life after death for every person ever born and for aborted babies. You can jeer and live in denial but the day of your death will hold horror for you because the decision we make now affects us for all eternity.

No matter how much health and wealth you may have, you will always have a feeling of emptiness when you stop spinning your wheels and realize it is all vanity. Read the book of Ecclesiastes written by a great king who had it all but in the end realized he had nothing apart from God.

We are not put here just to live our life cycle here on earth but on into eternity with God who would not have any to perish but have everlasting life but He forces no one-we choose and in choosing to reject the gift of salvation through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus-we condemn ourselves. Think of the 2 thieves crucified with Christ and the one who acknowledged Him as the Savior was told by Jesus he would be with Him forever (I paraphrase).

Answer 7

I'm an atheist who is coping just fine. I have added my own purpose and meaning to my life that are fulfulling to me. What others think of it is immaterial. I don't do it as some suggest to get praise. I do it to make the world better for myself since I am part of the larger society and for our future generations which my own children will be a part of it. Selfish motivation? Well, what is worshipping something in exchange for the idea of eternal salvation? I am not lonely as I have friends and family to love. We all have blue days but I think most of us are able to cope with out imaginary friends.

Answer 8

If this was truely the case, then the large majority if not all people would live every day like their last, selfishly, greed, loveless. The earth would come to an end very fast giving people free will without any conscious.

BUT people do live their lives with love in it, therefore God exists !

Answer 9

hmmm, personal opinion on this. We would see ALOT of change in the world. For one, people are willing to put up with issues like poverty and misrepresentation here in this life because they are taught to believe they will be rewarded in the next. You know its similar to a problem i have never been able to answer for myself, which is: If religious people truly believe in an afterlife why are funerals such somber sad teeth gnashing clothes rending affairs? Shouldn't it be a celebration? Yay, this guy no longer has to put up with the crap of this world, and when its my time i will get to go to the paradise he is in now and we will be reunited. So its either a subconscious fear that the believer is wrong (or not good enough to enter paradise) or it is pure selfishness (i cant believe he left ME). personally i don't care either way, my dad taught me to keep my eye on the ball, not on the outfield where you want it to go, so i am content to worry and live this life. Answers about what comes next can wait (and yes even if that means i end up in some religions hell, I'm fine with that)

Answer 10

Humans have amazing capacity to adapt and adjust.Human mind shall always be able to chart a course of life and devise ways and means to diversify,modify and alter to strive for and work in ways which keep him occupied.amused and in search of new frontiers of knowledge and skills.Life is much more than the sum total of it's parts ie reproduce and die.What happens after death is not known to any body and it really doesn't matter,as far as living a life is concerned.