Atheists, what gives your life meaning?

Question

As somewhat of a nihilist (not "annihilist," but rather believing that there is no objective meaning, purpose, good, bad, right or wrong), sometimes I struggle to find the point in continuing to exist. I've tried the god thing (Christian Tormentist) and came to realize that it only bastardizes what meaning life DOES have (it was the darkest time in my life). Through it all, I've found many things to help me through the dark, bleak times, and I was wondering about my fellow atheists, nihilists, etc., (and what better time to ask than when most of the theists are away?).

So what gives your life meaning?

Answer 1

What, if we're just "A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage."
and life is "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing"?
(One of my favourite Shakespeare passages!)

Then we have our hour on the stage, to enjoy, and to pass something on to those who come after.
The war poem "In Flanders Fields" is often used without being fully appreciated. The last verse in particular.

"Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields."

To carry the torch and pass it on. What else can a person do?
Be the fight for culture, environment, education, technology, as well as for family, and friends, or real war.

Answer 2

I'm agnostic, but that's close enough. I live to write. I write like my life and others' lives depended on it. I write to give hope. I love rain and sun. I go to the beach and marvel at how each wave is different and how there are millions of tiny stones on the shore that are beautiful all alone, each one. I live to think of solutions to the world's problems. I try not to worry if there's nothing I can do about them because my worrying won't make any difference. If I can't think of what to do, I wait for the "one" who will have some answers, like Al Gore, for example, and then help spread the word in my writing. Flowers give my life meaning, as do dogs, mighty trees, streetcars when I ride on them, going to or coming back from somewhere, saying something to a sad looking person that will make them smile, doing little dopey things that I think will make the world turn differently tomorrow. Being happy with what I have and fixing what I don't like instead of hanging around acting like a victim. It's a complex but beautiful world. .

Answer 3

My work.. I volunteer at the neo-natal ICU cuddling and rocking babies who's family's can't get there everyday to do so.. Studies show premature baby's who get cuddled, rocked etc. do better than those who don't...

I also volunteer at the local food bank distributing food, teaching clients to budget, coupon clip and shop sales to stretch their food dollar..

I am also "The Sex Lady" at the local high school, I go in a couple times a year and talk very frankly with the teens about what it's like being a teen parent (I had my first at 17) I don't sugar coat anything I tell them about the sleepless nights, the missed parties, the loneliness, the feelings of being trapped etc. the Thursday before they get their "Think It Over" babies for a weekend (I have heard many kids call the "Spawn of Satan" baby after the weekend.. LOL) ... I go in the following Tuesday and we discuss birth and disease control (or as I call it "Ways To Avoid Getting a Non-Returnable Baby") .. I have found the kids are far more receptive to listening and not cracking jokes after a weekend of crying, feeding, diaper changing and sleepless nights... :) It's all in the timing

I started talking with the kids 6 years ago when my oldest daughter mentioned to her teacher "I don't want to have kids early, my mom did that and I saw how hard it was for her.".... The teacher called me and asked if I would talk to all the kids about my experience no sugar coating..

http://www.solutions-site.org/kids/stories/KScat3_sol72.htm


My family/friends and the interactions I have with them give my life meaning....

There is not one single huge stand-out thing that is the meaning of my life it's an accumulation of little things...

Answer 4

I live my life with the idea that nature runs its course with or without my existence (and often times I argue my own existence, but rarely come to any conclusions). I find that with no specific meaning I am content, because the meanings can be innumerable or there could be no real meaning to life at all.

I enjoy copious things, but none of them can explain my existence, I will just have to accept that my life has meaning because I live it. I live it surrounded by people that give me words to speak, thoughts to think and feelings to feel. That's enough for me.

Answer 5

For the simple reason that I'm alive. Even in my down moments, I still feel a sense of gratitude that I continue to be a sentient being. I no longer look for "meaning" and "purpose." That's a waste of time. I just try (and usually succeed) to live in the moment and enjoy all that life has to offer. I'm a great "believer" in the quote from a Beatles song: "All you need is love."

Answer 6

Now? I would have to say my fiance and my children are what gives me a reason to go on... But my reasons prior to family are still relevant as well, as they have not been replaced as reasons to go on or even as priorities... They have just shifted to a somewhat lesser priority.

Those reasons are a quest for the truth and absolute knowledge. I have always been obsessed with knowledge and truth which is why I also turned to religion at one time, and came ultimately, to the same conclusion that you did. I will not be happy until I can say that I know the absolute truth and possess absolute knowledge, so no matter what other reasons may exist, that will always be there to drive and compel me.

Answer 7

As an atheist does that mean that you believe in the big bang??? I could never get my head around that, i mean if you put a bomb in a room and it went off how much order do you think there would be? So if something as complex as the universe started with a big bomb boom how come there is so much order as in planetary alignments, tilt of earths axis right distance from the sun any closer and we would cook and further would we freeze I just don't get that part of it.



I'm not hear to get on your nerves or say that I'm right and you are wrong but clearly if believing in nothing can make you this un happy what do you have to loose by believing in something?? I don't go to church I used to not anymore, I believe in what you are saying that they are all hypocrites and some of the worst atrocities have been committed in the name of god.

As religion was a huge part of my life when i decided that it wasn't for me anymore i felt really down not really knowing where to turn, however what i found was even though i chose not to believe in that religion I found that my angels and my guides stuck with me never let me down, and helped me through one of the worst most major depression bouts I now think that yes its helps to believe in a higher power but most important to believe in you, and what you want have integrity to you and this will help you not to focus on the negativity. I also wanted to say to you that i think that you do want to believe in something just sometimes its so hard to change after not believing in anything, because when you start to believe in something you will find issues that need to be dealt with that you can no longer ignore as it causes you to feel and this for you i think is daunting anyway good luck pls cheer up

Answer 8

Life

Nature

Giving

living

loving.

The total awe of existence and diversity and space.

Family.

Friends.

Entertaining my body and brain.

Nourishing my spirit.

Teaching (in work and play)

Music

Laughter

Dance

Study

Family

Friends

My son..

etc...etc...I could go on all day...

I do rather love life, which I realise can be quite irritating to nihilists. Yet nihilism, for it's part, also irritates me. It just seems so self-absorbed and insular.

Answer 9

Human life has no inherent meaning, we are just animals like an ant or dog.

Fortunately we have the capacity to understand the situation we are in and we are able to create our own purpose in life.

For many people this is the pursuit of happiness. For me personally this means setting and achieving challenging goals, raising my kids to be good people, enjoying the wonder of the natural world and my personal relationships.

Call me simple but this is enough for me, I dont need to embellish things by bringing in an imaginary sky friend.

Answer 10

I'm not atheist or nihilist... but I am pure agnostic in that I'm okay with any outcome.


I give my life meaning, by living in the moment.

I hate to sound philosophical but I don't know how else to put it. There is joy in experiencing the "now." I picked this up from Taoism (and all kinds of self-help books) awhile back.

I am truly happy.