Atheists: Why procreate?

Question

You don't believe in a God, so everything in life in meaningless. That means that if you bring a child you hope that he/she will have a good life (otherwise, no point of having one, right?) Well, statistically speaking, there are far more people SUFFERING in this world than PROSPERING. Only a small fraction of people leave with a small amount of suffering and great happiness. There is oppression, diseases, natural disasters, poverty, starvation. So why take the risk, knowing that the odds are against your possible child having a good life?

(I'm just using the idea that more people suffer than enjoy in this world, and if you don't agree with this premise you should learn to read and start educating yourself).

Question number two: Why do you thumbs up people even if their answers are stupid just because they are atheists?

Look at answer #1. Totally irrelevant and rather stupid, but it gets thumbs up.

BILL W: I AM THE EDUCATED ONE HERE, NOT YOU. YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY INCOMPETENT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T READ THE QUESTION. I SAID THAT THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOUR CHILD HAVING A GOOD, FULFILLING LIFE. THEN YOU ARE TELLING ME THE OPPOSITE. YOU KNOW OTHERWISE?

ANYONE ELSE AGREE WITH HIM?

Answer 1

Maybe my *meaningless* child will help change the world we live in, perhaps he will be one of the many children in the future who will make this a better place for all.
All the things you listed Oppression, Diseases, Starvation, etc.. do exist but if more people would focus on changing these things instead of being so self-absorbed and obsessing over their ticket to heaven... if they focused on humanity life would be richer and fuller and all the more meaningful for everyone.

Answer 2

"You don't believe in a God, so everything in life in meaningless?"

HELL NO. Don't know where you came up with that. Not everyone needs a god in order to be happy. I don't, and I love life and nature.

"That means that if you bring a child you hope that he/she will have a good life (otherwise, no point of having one, right?)"

Well..DUH! If your child is going to suffer, then it's better not to have a child at all.

"Well, statistically speaking, there are far more people SUFFERING in this world than PROSPERING. Only a small fraction of people leave with a small amount of suffering and great happiness. There is oppression, diseases, natural disasters, poverty, starvation. So why take the risk, knowing that the odds are against your possible child having a good life?"

Here's where you're wrong.
People can help their child prosper a good life. Am I going to let a tornado or starvation kill my child? What are the chances? Let's say you're rich, would oppression, diseases, natural disasters, poverty, or starvation be a problem?

"(I'm just using the idea that more people suffer than enjoy in this world, and if you don't agree with this premise you should learn to read and start educating yourself)."

I disagree. Statistics, please.

"Question number two: "Why do you thumbs up people even if their answers are stupid just because they are atheists?"

I don't give other atheists thumbs up, just because they're atheists. I give them because of their answer.

Answer 3

Yes, it may possibly. My spouse was once having quandary preserving her second youngster - discomfort a couple of miscarriages. She used the web - which was once invented by means of people - and discovered a scientist - who found out from people - who had invented a process for serving to females hold their infants. As it seems, no longer all people had been intelligently designed to procreate. Some females - while fertilized by means of a few guys - should not have biologies that effectively discover that they're pregnant, and as an alternative feel that the object within is whatever to void, they usually miscarriage. What the scientist did was once take my blood, and switch it into an injectable antidote for my spouse with extra technology invented by means of people, in order that her frame would not misread the difficulty, and that the egg I fertilized must be allowed to stick. Needless to mention, the technology that was once invented by means of Dr. Beer of the University of Chicago allowed us to procreate, when you consider that there particularly is not any such factor as shrewd layout. Without Dr. Beer, folks could or else say "God's will," and hug every different and pray or do whatever else that may not aid them have their youngster. Stupid dull folks. ADD: DRINK to the thumbs down fairy! It's overdue, however getting razzed for this takes the cake. I desire a drink.

Answer 4

Millions are indeed suffering; millions of others are not. Most of those suffering live in third world countries. Children born in the United States to atheists have an excellent chance of living a good life. Your argument would also fit everyone else and not just atheists.

As for your statement that only a small fraction of people don't suffer, please tell me how it is that people in developed countries are suffering? The millions in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Japan, and much of Europe are living good lives. Natural disasters, while horrifying, don't mean a lifetime of suffering. Many diseases can be cured. Poverty and starvation aren't big issues in most developed countries. And because I don't agree with your statement does not mean I can't read or am uneducated. It simply means I don't agree with your assessment of the amount of suffering taking place on this planet.

Answer 5

Life isn't meaningless from a lack of faith, because the meaning of life is inside each person. As far as I know this time is all I have so I live with the purpose of trying to make a difference. Meaning is something we build into our lives as individuals not as a group. We create our corner of the world from the focus we choose and the work we set ourselves to. Doing the will of others will not lead to fulfillment. You can kid yourself, but unless you are very shallow, you will feel empty eventually. At some point you must choose to do somethings for yourself based on what you deem important for you.

Answer 6

Well, you need to realize that humans are just clever animals. And whats an animals job? HAVE AS MANY BABIES AS IT CAN BEFORE IT DIES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE SPECIES!! YAAYYY!! Keep in mind that lots of those unhappy people are in places like third world countries where they dont have that good birth control, and that many women are raped 'round the world year round. Basically, 'accident children'. Humans may have developed a sense of reasoning, but that doesnt hinder their need ta breed, baby!

So, its not because of the athiests 'religious' orientations, but rather their natural instinct for them to have children, just like any other creature, say a wombat, to recreate. The wombat probably doesnt believe in god, but it has babies cause its programmed to have babies. Also, take a sea turtle. Only one or two babies out of a nest consisting of upwards of a hundred will survive. I use the turtle because you mention greater suffering than happiness in the 'human world'. The turtle still has offspring despite the fact most of its kids will die. Granted, the turtle probably isnt aware of this, but humans have MUCH better chances than turtles at surviving. Keep in mind that its almost unpossible (heh heh, 'Simpsons') for a human to not survive in almost any stage of its life. Obviously a baby dumped in the garbage or something cant do anything about it, but children can go to orphanages, grow up, get a job, live some form of a life. Nothing else can do that. Humans, although I despise them above any other animal because they never helped anything and just made things worse, have it FAR better than animals when it comes to survival

Answer 7

First, it is a shame you feel that your life would be meaningless without an imaginary supreme being to believe in.

Atheists are less likely to do jail and prison time than are Christians. Atheists are more likely than Christians to excel in science and higher education. Atheists have lower rates of teen pregnancy, STDs, and divorce than Christians.

Based on the behavior and life-success of Atheists and Christians, it appears that Atheists are better adapted to life and provide a more positive contribution to society than Christians. It would appear, therefore, that it is Christian reasoning and logic that needs to be explained.

If you have a problem with millions of starving and suffering people, take it up with those responsible. The Catholic Church might be a good place to start since it encourages procreation and poverty (not to mention pedophilia).

Answer 8

You clearly haven't even bothered to find out what atheists think they get out of life, and the conclusions they draw, or you wouldn't have started with that opening statement.
Its ironic a theist would accuse an atheist of being illiterate and ill educated given that your theological point of view leads you down a blind alley from the word go. As a theist, you believe their is one true god, your god, and that the fact you utterly believe in it makes it true. Straight away your completely failing to acknowledge the fact that as a human being, you can be completely convinced of something, and turn out to be completely wrong. I don't need to cite examples, any human being, without exception, has their own unique set of them.
The reason most atheists raise families, and lead civilised, moral lives is because we appreciate the value of these principles in and of themselves - we do not need the words of a greater deity, the promise of reward, or the threat of punishment to see the value in adhering to them. Suffering is not something you can scare an atheist with, I'm afraid- if threats of eternal suffering for disobedience didn't work, the idea of essentially telling us 'its too hard, give up' isn't likely to work either. You'll find, given we went for the less appealing, but more rational and open point of view, we don't get swayed much by the idea that life is meaningless if it is uncomfortable.
You gimp.

Answer 9

Im actually atheist, and I totally agree with you. Why should we create life that we might not be sure that they will have a better life? If I knew that bringing a child into this world that was full of corruption was not the best thing for them then I wouldn't. There are people out there who make so many children and they can't even support them. And when we need the support from government agencies, we cannot get our hands on anything. Because while there are people starving, homeless and in need of medical attention, there are obviously more important things like fighting wars. As an atheist I feel procreation should be questioned

Answer 10

Yeah, whatever.
Life is what you make of it. Believing in some sky-fairy doesn't guarantee you any better life than anyone else. How many "god-fearing" christians got flooded out of their homes in New Orleans? Did their prayers keep the water out?
I'm am happier since I woke up from the delusion of religion. All I'm doing here is trying to shake a few others out of it if I can. Life is beautiful and happiness is not dependent on false beliefs.