atheists, without factoring in religion, do you find the human condition somewhat bleak?

Question

i am a skeptic of course, but when i think about human existence, i think it is a damn shame god doesn't exist.

sure, many people are happy.
some are rich or have just what they need in life in order to be content.
i guess some poor people and those with little are even happy.
but the fact is that a lot of people will never have nothing, they will never be happy, and when they die there will be hundreds of millions of people just like them just waiting to be born into crappy existences.

I know that all the other skeptics here are quick to point out that they are happy without a god existing, but can't you admit it is a shame that he doesn't?

Answer 1

Yeah, and it's also a shame there's no Santa Claus (especially in Africa).

It's also a shame that Superman or Spiderman do not exist.

It's a damn shame I can't fly or that I'm not hung like a porn actor.

But REALITY is all there is to play with, and there's no other go.

Answer 2

It would be nice to reduce the world to a series of moral parables, in which every part of the human experience contains some evidence of a universal order, and in which there is eternal life, justice, and peace for all people, as the result of a benevolent god.

Unfortunately, reality doesn't work this way. We have to make do with limited circumstances, in a grand universe that often seems beyond our comprehension or concern. Sure, death is the end, we're one planet of billions, and the human species will undoubtedly go extinct in the future (hopefully distant). But let's make the most of time now, and try to help others. Not all of existence is crappy. Far from it. I'd rather savor my experiences in this life, than wish for things that are not possible.

Answer 3

I do not see anything bleak in the human condition. In fact, I am constantly glad that I am human, because unlike other living things (and this is my assumption because i have never been anything other than human), we can control our feelings by changing our perspectives, we can control our destiny to a large extent. Think about dogs or chickens or other animals that are at the mercy of humans and we are at the top of the food chain. As for unhappiness, discontent, etc, change your perspective and change your feelings and situation. I don't wish there was a god. A deity is an unncessary and unwanted factor in the equation of life. Because, say i need to pass an exam, i can study from dusk to dawn and have a high chance of aceing it. If i fail, and i tried my best, i can look for how to imporve my chances or decide to move on to something else. All without involving a god who supposedly i am in the mercy of and who has his/her own will and agenda that i am not privy to. Very unnecessary, very unwanted and i am glad he/she/it doesn't exist.

The more life experiences you have the more you realize the fact that you have control over your feelings, your situation and what perspective you choose to adopt in life:happiness vs unhappiness; satisfaction vs discontention etc.

I don't feel the human condition is bleak, quite the contrary, I am glad to be of the human race

Answer 4

"It was the best of times , it was the wost of times "
In the long run , if people followed the atheistic model of being a good person the world would be a better place today . That is : Do good and charitable things , not bad and selfish things , because when you do you help all of society and society is where you live .( Do onto others ...) This is now becoming more evident as we reach a world society as opposed to local societies that used to be more likely to act in their own self interest . Religions are more of selfish individual "belife in a particular god(s)" society and not in the best interest of the world society . If we could elimate the cost and destruction of war and defence we could quickly eliminate the "worst of times" for most of the people on earth . Unfortunately most of the conflict of societies is now belief based . Muslims vs Jews , Christians vs Atheists , Islam vs non-Islam , White Supremists vs Free thinkers , Right to lifers vs women's right to choose , North Korea vs reality ,and so on . There are still places where personal wealth vs the interests of the people continues to exists such as in the Sudan , and sometimes , despite efforts to prevent it ,in the United States .

Answer 5

I do not think that the human condition is bleak in the least bit. The human race has done some horrible things, but we also have done things no one could have imagined we could have ever accomplished. We are awesome, and while we will always have our faults and ups and downs, we will continue to do great things.

I couldn't be happier to be part of humanity. I also believe one day humanity will achieve world peace and prosperity. It most likely will not be in my lifetime or yours, and it may get worse before it gets better, but we will achieve this goal. We must in order to survive.

Answer 6

Not at all. The human condition is neither bleak nor joyful. It merely is. What people make of their condition is another matter. In a world full of things to learn and discover, full of beauty and adventure, life can be quite a delightful experience.

The awful truth is that each of us, as far as we are capable, is responsible for making our lives meaningful and joyful.

Answer 7

Yes, most people depend on an invisible friend which does nothing to help them. That's very bleak. If people relied on themselves instead of a made-up god I think the world would be a better place.

Answer 8

The biblical god isn't one I'd like to see exist in any warped universe.

I have to agree with Richard Dawkins on this one:

"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."

Flying Spaghetti Monster might be cool, though.

Answer 9

The fact that humans strive to be better than what we are now proves that there has to be something greater than us. If not then life is bleak for those that lead poor lives, or have debilitating diseases.

I know atheists make a good point but just like the theists that so easily doom people to hell because they think they are perfect, its easy for atheists who have decent lives to make claims of a non-existent afterlife.

Answer 10

Sure, I'd love some mystical guardian to watch over my shoulder and love and protect me.

But I'm not able to believe in God just because I want a St. Bernard. :D

Wishful thinking is nice, but not productive. I'd rather DO something to improve the human condition.