As an agnostic I have often been asked by people of faith how I bear the notion of the ultimate meaninglessness of my life. I reply that as I do not suscribe to the view which most faiths seem to promote of mankind being seperate and superior to all other animals I do not consider my self any more or less valuable than a Sparrow whos purpose they are happy to accept is merely to procreate. This fear of meaninglessness suggests to me that their faith is simply a security blanket for them to cuddle up to whenever thay think of going through that door into the unknown which awaits us all. Views Please!
2007-09-23 11:50:13 · 17 answers · asked by TheEnemyWithin 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some good answers from both sides of the debate..thanks. I don't agree that agnostics are merely lacking in the courage to say "there is no God". I accept that I simply cannot know. A much clever man than myself once wrote "there are more things in Heaven (universe) and earth Horatio than are dreamed on in your philosophy". Whilst I accept the right of others to believe what gives them comfort and though I lean toward atheism rather than faith to me they are two sides of the same coin..an unwarranted certainty.
2007-09-23 23:01:44 · update #1
I really enjoyed your take on this. Myself, much the same as you, do not seperate and/or think of myself superior to animals. In fact, my view on that is, this world ( in my opinion) belongs much more to them as any human. I have found that many people with a strong faith-religion is that they tend to be highly hypocritical and condescending. Does procreating in itself not hold any value? Any signifigance? One persons ideal of what is meaningful or not can be very different from that of another. Who says that just because you may not believe in a "God" that your life holds no meaning? Who is anybody to say anothers life is "meaningless"?
2007-09-23 12:08:23 · answer #1 · answered by Fox In Socks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You seem to enjoy engaging people into a dialogue with you on the subject of GOD.Why?
Is it because you are and want to be in an in-structural role for the rest of your life? If you are an agnostic then be assured that questions arising in your mind ,reaches out to me as well.As an agnostic you must experience times when you have faith. You only need to think back on those times and know what triggers your thoughts in the opposite direction.
I am very comfortable, though not rich . I love and enjoy life to the full. Prayer from me is just a series of Loving thoughts and a raising up of my Heart to someone on high.I would like to feel his holy presence more often so i hope my thoughts become prayers to the love of my Lord Jesus Christ. I wish I could tell you how ,but I do feel all the better for such a brief communion of my thought with The Almighty.It is a nice experience when you can think back over the time.Hope you find such an experience in your life.
2007-09-23 19:28:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everybody needs a framework to hang their life on, but because everyone is different, we tend to find some people's ideas a little radical compared to our own point of view. Everyone requires a sense of duty, responsibility and to feel needed in life, like they have a purpose. Those that do not fall apart. This is why people who follow a religion swear by it, because it gives them this wonderful sense of hope and meaning. The truth is, everyone can find their haven no matter what it is. We'll never really know the true path until death, but why don't we cross that bridge when we come to it? Happiness is all that is real here, so let's embrace it =oD
2007-09-24 07:09:43 · answer #3 · answered by Fireʍɐʇǝɹ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist I think you're a chickenshit.
An agnostic is an atheist without the courage to say what he really feels (that's a quote from somebody) but I agree with what you say.
I do know what will happen when I'm dead. I'll be dead,a lump of dead meat like my dead forefathers and ancestors. Humans invented god and an afterlife because they couldn't handle reality. Sheer egotism. Many acknowledge Darwinism but would say that monkeys don't get to heaven!?
P.S. Ever notice that the christian idiots you want to scream at don't permit any contact.
Courage of convictions my ar*e!
2007-09-23 19:32:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Meaningless is relative.I choose not to believe in god nor follow a religion and if there is meaningless in my life(which there often is)it has nothing whatsoever to do with being a non believer.I believe it is because i am a non believer that i cope with my moments of meaningless.I look to no-one but myself to change what i like when i like and how i like and always with the absence of a god.I find great comfort in finding my own solutions to my own problems and god does not have a place in my thoughts.If my life is meaningless it is not a problem for me and i refuse to accept that it is because i don't beleive.I will not be told by anyone that MY life is in the hands of god.
2007-09-23 20:20:54 · answer #5 · answered by Niamh 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Meaninglessness (is that a real word) is usually based on someone else's notions of things.
Those of faith feel that since you have no faith, you life is without purpose...from their viewpoint.
You have remarked that you are just as valued as the sparrow and you may be in a better position to render help and assistance to your fellow people and may even prevent that sparrow from becoming extinct.
Value is whatever you make your life to be. If I cannot see it, then that it my tough luck, not yours
2007-09-23 18:57:08 · answer #6 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm Agnostic too. Even though I don't follow the whole heaven/hell/after-life thing. I do not think that any life is meaningless. Everyone has an impact on the Earth while they are alive. Whether someone dicovers a cure for a disease or just simply makes someone happy, we all make an impact.
2007-09-23 18:54:56 · answer #7 · answered by Megegie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no way...i am not a bird..i am a human being and i know that i have a soul that will with a lot of hope and giving may receive the gift of eternal life..a security blanket certainly is not what it is mate..to be honest the thought of nothing being there when i die sounds great in a selfish way as i could do whatever i like without any consequences..but i know i have someone to answer to and a place to go when my soul leaves my body and if i live selfishly I'll be left out in the cold and i really don't want that
2007-09-23 18:56:11 · answer #8 · answered by ♥cozicat♥ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Life creates meaning.
Ever see a deliriously happy dog, because it gets praised for doing a trick?
Ever see a baby's face while it's nursing?
Ever look at how happy a butterfly must be, flitting around without a care in the world?
Life creates meaning, for itself and for other lives. I'm a dedicated agnostic, so I don't derive any meaning whatsoever from twisted stories about killing sons or being grateful to an unseen, unprovable entity that wants me to pay LOTS of money to its pimps, er, earthly representatives.
2007-09-23 19:24:01 · answer #9 · answered by nora22000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No life is meaningless. All life has meaning. Some people just have to knock each other down (in the name of God or "nothing") to feel better about themselves. I'm a Bible studying Christian, I adhere to no denomination and I have never found any reference in it that calls any life meaningless. It is what we honor in life that makes that distinction. Each of us has the choice.
Darling, the Blanket joke was silly. You cry over what they assume about you, then likewise enjoy ridiculing them.
2007-09-23 19:29:21 · answer #10 · answered by ENGLASS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋