Atheists; Without a belief in an afterlife, what do you hope for?

Question

That's a fine assertion Black Bird, but uh... what wo8l.d those things be now? That was kinda the question.

I think I kinda agree with you DawnUSA. Thesse all seem like pretty good answers. I hope for the same things; Long life, to leave something important behind, a painless death, a good life for my family. I just have all of this in addition to meeting my maker some day to look forward to and the knowledge that God is looking out for me.

Even if I got all of those material things, I just don't think it would be enough for me. I see hope in the now and hope in the distant future well beyond my years. That gives me peace. It makes my life meaningful.

Honestly that's WHY I am a believer.

Answer 1

Since I do not believe in an afterlife, or that any other form of supernatural rewards are comming my way when I check out, I believe it is critical to make the most of this life, to not waste the limited time that I have here, to not tolerate injustice, and ensure that everyone around me is happy and content.

We dont know what happens when we die, but we do know for that we are here, on earth, right now, so you should make the most of it, and try to leave the world a better place for others than it was when you found it.

Answer 2

Actually some atheists do believe in an afterlife of sorts. The only thing atheist means is a lack of belief in gods.

What do I hope for? To be happy, to have fun, to be loved, to help make the world a better place for future generations and the people around me. I would love to do something good so that my memory would live on.

I have no desire to live for eternity, so the notion of an everlasting afterlife doesn't appeal to me much. I do admit that I would love to see my loved ones who have passed away again. In fact, I'd almost give anything to see them again. However, I don't believe that is a good reason to justify me believing in god(s)...just so I could see my kinfolk again when I died. I cannot force myself to believe in something.

Answer 3

You can't prove death, yes as you know it - but It might as well be the beginning and not the end. Same way you can't prove God exists, I'd say we don't hope for things, we don't wait for things to happen - We make them happen, thats how the world works. Believe in science, which will always have an answer to your interrogatives. For everything else, the man made God, so other (lesser, to me) minds could have something to hope for and depend on.

Answer 4

Hmmmm....if it's hope you're looking for...

There are the more "grand-scale" type things, like:
I hope to leave the world a better place than it was when I found it
I hope to make people happier than they were before I came around

Then there are the more "everyday" things, like:
I hope she feels the same way about me that I do about her
I hope I find the time to write my paper for logic class
I hope I can find someone to cover for me at work for the weekend between Christmas and New Year's

What else would you like to know?

Answer 5

To make a difference in this world, for the better, of course. What else? What do you hope for? An eternity of sitting around in heaven? That would get old pretty quickly, you know.

Answer 6

Some atheists believe in an afterlife but just not Gods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_immortality

This is based on the idea that our identy is not the physical brain but the programming that the brain performs. If the universe is an infinite multiverse then that programming may be duplicated elsewhere.

Answer 7

I don't hope for death, i mean who would? It makes me want to live my life to the fullest 10 times more. I don't need to go to some sort of afterlife to be happy with my life now.

Answer 8

I think that Atheists take themselves to edge of logic then take a leap of faith. This is a respectable commitment to a single belief without scientific basis. An atheist believes in nature and in the order and natural rhythm of the world, as such they hope the world continues and that they can contribute in some small way.

Answer 9

not all atheists think alike. not all of them don't believe in the afterlife. i don't believe in a higher order, but i do believe i will reincartnate, not because of some god's will, but because that's just what happens. no more divinly ordered than the spin of the earth.

however, if i am to reincarnate (no one can know for certain what happens when they die), my memory of my past life would not come with me, therefore it would be as if my current life will end, with nothing after it. so i live to make the most of my life right now, with no inhibitions. enjoying every day like it will be your last will make your days so much better, so why not attribute that to life itself?

Answer 10

You have to admit, David, these are all good answers. Basically the same Christians want to strive for but we want God involved and I have the joy of meeting Him afterwards and hopefully being together again with my Christian friends and family!