A few questions for Atheists

[MrAmerica]

I can understand why some people might get turned off by religion. There are a lot of good reasons to doubt. But I am just curious about what it is about being an atheist that makes sense to you. Life is short. We are here for 70 or 80 years if we are lucky, and the time is always ticking away.

What is your philosophy about life and death?

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?

Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

[green lantern]

good questions. i believe in god, and i would certainly hope that there is something else after death. if there is not, it would make our existence kind of pointless.

[Thermopylae]

-Below is a reply I made to another member, Vanessa, I don't think she ever read it, but still, I think it expresses my opinion pretty well.

As a fellow atheist, I myself am beginning to believe that minds never die. Now, I'm not saying heaven exists or anything, but I think that there are so many damn unanswered questions regarding how minds come about in the first place, that it is insane. No one knows where the matter that formed the Big Bang came from, but likewise, no one knows how minds are formed either, sure, the logical people in our world will tell you of how humans evolved from acids and minerals, but that still doesn't explain why my mind is not your mind Vanessa.. or why my mind even exists in the first place. The mere fact that my mind came out of nothingness is an idea as great and mysterious as the Big Bang itself. It just seems strange that minds can come about in such an amazing way and then just dissappear forever.. and I am beginning to wonder if that is logical either. I'm not moving anywhere near religion, but I'm applying the science that I know to make my own theory.

[marv]

MrAmerica,

I have no problem with religion, that is unless someone wants to kill me in the name of their god. Religions that I have any knowledge of are, for the most part, good. They're a principal mechanism for the transmitting a sense of morality from generation to generation. I accept the morality, reject the theology and prefer to think for myself.

What is your philosophy about life and death? I have no philosophy about life except to live it as decently and within accepted norms as I can. A philosophy about death is meaningless to me.Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?Certainly. Why should life be limited to "hard knocks"?If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?Life isn't some gift that might be squandered. But it is a happenstance that might be useless if we don't try to make something of ourselves.Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?Ayn Rand states it best in her philosophy of Selfish Objectivism. The better I treat others, the better they will (generally) treat me. That's being selfish in Ayn Rand's philosophy.If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?I have four dogs. They all show the consciousness and emotion any human can. Their's is just at a lower level. The difference between me and my dogs is only a matter of degree.Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?It's the choices we make in our lives and what we do with ourselves that make the difference.

I don't try to convert theists to atheism; to each whatever they may feel most comfortable with.

BTW, my wife is a Southern Baptist. This December we celebrate our 25th anniversary.

[marv]

Another way to look at things.

If something of you remains after death, where was it before you were born? Every night, when you go to sleep, you taste a little part of death.

[Dallascaper]

I can understand why some people might get turned off by religion. There are a lot of good reasons to doubt. But I am just curious about what it is about being an atheist that makes sense to you. Life is short. We are here for 70 or 80 years if we are lucky, and the time is always ticking away.

What is your philosophy about life and death?

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?

Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

Good questions. I'm not atheist, in that I am not anti-god. However, I doubt there is a god, or gods, or an afterlife.

"What is your philosophy about life and death? "
Life is for living, and death is a natural part of life. Everything that lives, dies.

"Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?"
Of course, there's children, friends, Texas high school football, chicken wings at Chili's...

"If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?"
Well, 150 years from now, short of one of us committing an atrocity or becoming President, everyone we know and everyone who ever knew us will be dead. That said, life is not in vain. We continue the species, passing our DNA and experience to the next generation, as has been done for millions of years. I am certain that my life has not been in vain, I have hope that there is something after life.

"Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?"
Because the life, love, fun, pleasure, hope, assistance, and everything good we bring to each other's lives is real. We are alive today because of the generosity of someone in the past, and we continue that tradition to the future.

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?
Why do we feel depressed, anxiety, euphoria? Why do animals feel emotions? These are questions best answered by experts in Human physiology. Unfortunately, we know more about the moon than we do about the Human brain.

"Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?"
A sense of "fairness" is probably one of the driving forces behind religious belief, in my opinion. The idea that Hitler and Mother Theresa are in the same place - nowhere - probably bothers the hell out of people. The fact is that life is not fair, and it probably never will be. If believing in an afterlife where one will get their just reward is comforting to people, then so be it. Unfortunately, the concepts of Hell and Heaven seem too convenient, a little too made-up, a little too much of a "Human" concept to be real.

Hope this helps,

Dallas

[Fasdf]

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?
No.

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?
Hope would indicate that it being in vain would be a bad thing. The question doesn't really apply to me.

Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?
I think its best to work towards the progress of society. If everyone did that my life today would certainly be better.

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?
Chemical reactions in the brain. If we were spiritual beings, why can your emotions, conscience, and whole personality be altered completely through various methods?

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?
Who said that was fair? That's something you ask theists.

[Duo_Maxwell]

Technically I'm not a atheist, just anti-organized religion.

What is your philosophy about life and death?

To live a good life and to find the purpose of life. Death is simply part of the life cycle. Why justify, modify, theorize what comes after? You're going to die, live with it, but don't expect any "God" to save you after. Play as the cards are delt and the dice are rolled.

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?

Yes, much, much, much more, but it doesn't revolve around giving up rationality.

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?

Not exactly sure what you mean. Everyone contributes something in their lives and everyone is insigificent. What we do here means much to those around you and nothing to the universe. Vain, what do you mean?

Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?

Why live?

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

Because our ancestors, who didn't have religion or a God had them and we genetically or pyschologically learned/took them. Primitive primates, even the ones that exist now have sorts of consiences as well as many emotions.

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

Because life's a b*tch and then you die. :lol: Like I said, we are all insignificent. What we do means nothing in the grand picture.

[Craig]

"If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?"

It's a good question, but no, this is not all in vain. It reminds me of a thread on another forum where a Christian (Triple R, I believe), asked how atheists could possibly find meaning to life without an afterlife. I thought about this for a while. It's a paradox of atheism that many atheists will still answer that life is meaningful, even though many are aware that what we do today will probably be virtually meaningless 10,000 or even 5,000 years from now. We'll be long dead and forgotten, and that's the way it goes. But how then could one possibly find meaning in a life so seemingly meaningless?

Ah, but you see, that is the mistake, thinking that it is meaningless. For whatever we do in our life to help each other, to make the world a better place and to contribute positively, these remain true forever. We might die, we might be forgotten, the universe and everything might come to an end- but nothing can erase the fact that we did these good things, with our limited power and mortal existence. And to me, that is profoundly powerful, much more so than even a God and an afterlife. But, it means that each second is precious, and that we must strive to do meaningful things like those that I have described at all times. So, if someone were to die tomorrow, I hope they would not look back upon their life as a vain existence, but rather cherish each action and step they took to better things in this world, even if it was a work in progress.

[Craig]

Oh, and Duo, I have not forgotten our little discussion. I have been lazy of late however. Perhaps tomorrow. ;)

[mataj]

What is your philosophy about life and death?Life is not fair, and neither is death. Get used to it.
Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?It can be, but not necessarily. It depends on you.
If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?Purpose of life has nothing to do with knowing of exact time of death.
Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?We evolved into social beings, because that was the condition of survival of our specie, and it still is. Had we behaved otherwise, we wouldn't be here right now.
If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion? Emotion is something chemical. Conscience looks like some sort of data processing happening in our neurons, but we can't be sure, until we find out more about it.
Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?As I said before- life is not fair, and neither is death. If there is a God, is has fangs. I don't know if God exists or not, but if it does, it should look like this. (http://www.hplovecraft-fr.com/galerie/atkinson/original/rampage.jpg)

[DeathMonkey]

What Dallas said.
Also, I am shocked to find another Selfish Objectivist here, marv, lol.
Life to me is MORE meaningful without an afterlife. This is it, kids, and I for one will go screaming and raging. I know I will be forgotten, but I still want my life to mean something to ME, while I am here.

[logic85]

MrAmerica:

What is your philosophy about life and death?

We have no purpose in life, we are here by chance. When we die we rot into the ground and that's the end of it all.

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?

Basically it's your way of saying "do you think life is meaningless?" Well, I certainly don't. Just because there's no God doesn't mean I have no meaning to my life. To me, watching my children grow up is meaningful. Getting a good job and being successful is meaningful. Living a happy and successful life is meaningful. You don't need God to make your life worth living.

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?

Of course, but it would be wishful thinking.

Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?

Because I have a conscience...generally if I don't like something done to me, I won't do it to other people...

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

It's called evolution of the brain...why is a conscience or emotions "spiritual"?

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

I have never said it was fair..anyway, if you believe in God then you believe it is God who has caused this great social division...

Dallascaper wrote:
Good questions. I'm not atheist, in that I am not anti-god. However, I doubt there is a god, or gods, or an afterlife.

You really need to learn some basic facts. Atheist means you don't believe in God. Therefore, you're not anti-God, because there is no God to be "anti" - if you doubt there is a God, then YOU are an atheist, although if you're not sure then you're an agnostic.

[mataj]

We have no purpose in life, we are here by chance.I think you are wrong about this. There is a lot of purpuse around, in fact, we have a hyperproduction of purpose lately. Life's purpuse hyperinflation, so to speak. Christians, Islamists, Hare Krishnas, Jehova's withesses, 1000 of more or less obscure cults- everyone has a purpose for you. Even your employer occasionally hires a psychologist, or motivation specialist to ram his purpose down your throat.

Purpose is pretty much like a mobile phone nowadays. It's a nuisance, but alas, it's next to impossible to be without the goddamed thing.

[logic85]

I am not born with a purpose. I am here by chance, it is chance that I was born. There may be a purpose I need to fulfill some time in life because of the way events "span out" but that's not the sole purpose of my life...

[Fasdf]

I think the believers are the ones who aren't sure as to whether they have a purpose on this world or not. They're so unsure they need to make up some story for themselves so that they can sleep at night. Had no one ever introduced them to their religion, I dare say they'd be a wrek.

[logic85]

Lol quite a nice analogy Fasdf.

[Ronnieraygun]

This isn't the question I expected, but it's just as good a question as any.

I would have asked why an athiest would spend any time at all in a religion forum? If you don't believe in God, and don't want to be bothered with the 'bible thumpers' then why come here at all?

This isn't intended to be a mean spirited question, I am truely curious as to why some of you want to talk religion when it isn't one of your beliefs.

[marv]

Question...I would have asked why an athiest would spend any time at all in a religion forum? If you don't believe in God, and don't want to be bothered with the 'bible thumpers' then why come here at all?Answer... A few questions for Atheists

[crawfish]

I would have asked why an athiest would spend any time at all in a religion forum? If you don't believe in God, and don't want to be bothered with the 'bible thumpers' then why come here at all?

This isn't intended to be a mean spirited question, I am truely curious as to why some of you want to talk religion when it isn't one of your beliefs.

Wow. That is the single best question I've seen asked on this board.

For a group that doesn't believe in preaching, they sure spend an awful lot of time going out of their way to try and convince us that what we believe is rot. :)

[logic85]

I would have asked why an athiest would spend any time at all in a religion forum? If you don't believe in God, and don't want to be bothered with the 'bible thumpers' then why come here at all?

Just because I am an atheist doesn't mean I am not interested in religion. For example, I am not an Israeli, or a Palestinian, yet I still debate on the Israel/Palestine forum on this website. Just because religion is a load of nonsense, doesn't mean it isn't important. It has affected the lives of millions, and carries a lot of influence in today's society.

Furthermore, it annoys me that so many people are wasting their lives believing in something that quite clearly just doesn't exist.

[marv]

For a group that doesn't believe in preaching, they sure spend an awful lot of time going out of their way to try and convince us that what we believe is rot....and I said...I don't try to convert theists to atheism; to each whatever they may feel most comfortable with....and so your point is...?

[MrAmerica]

Thanks to all. I did not start this thread in order to debate atheism vs religion, I really wanted to know your philosophy.

Personally, I can't imagine life without the hope of eternity. Time and the universe are endless, but yet one single human life seems more valuable than anything, and yet we live maybe 70 years? It just dosen't wash. I am looking forward to spending millions of years learning more and more about life and about God. If I am wrong in that, then it makes no difference what I believed before death.

A lot of you said that emotion is just a chemical reaction. But when my kids come running to me and say "I love you Daddy," it sure seems to be more than that. The thing about God's love, is it is not limited to close family and friends. God's love includes every person on the earth, good or bad, beautiful or ugly, rich or poor. THAT is the mystery that is going to take many milleniums to understand, so I'm going to need eternity.

[Fasdf]

Millions of years? Woah nelly. Do you intend to stay sane?

[mataj]

I am not born with a purpose.Nobody is. But that doesn't mean, that a purpose can't be shoved up your *** later.
The thing about God's love, is it is not limited to close family and friends. God's love includes every person on the earth, good or bad, beautiful or ugly, rich or poor. THAT is the mystery that is going to take many milleniums to understand, so I'm going to need eternity.The question, whether god(s) exist or not, is pretty much irrelevant to me. "Why would I have to rack my brains with this" is far more essential. Why would be question of God's existance more important that question of Loch Ness Monster's existance? Because He is about to fry me alive after I die? Not good enough, as far as I'm concerned.

[crawfish]

...and I said......and so your point is...?

Perhaps I'm not speaking to you,then. ;)

[crawfish]

Furthermore, it annoys me that so many people are wasting their lives believing in something that quite clearly just doesn't exist.

I guess I am speaking to this guy... :rolleyes:

[logic85]

And...

[mahayana]

I am not an athiest, but very few assertions by theologists make sense to me.

I'll ask again, does anyone here have evidence that "spirits" or souls exist? I am curious.

[Strel]

I can understand why some people might get turned off by religion. There are a lot of good reasons to doubt. But I am just curious about what it is about being an atheist that makes sense to you. Life is short. We are here for 70 or 80 years if we are lucky, and the time is always ticking away.

I am not an atheist. You can call me a Hopeful Agnostic. One cannot logically argue to proof the non-existence of anything, so there is no way to prove the God does not exist, for example. So there's always the possibility of God, but precious little proof. Personally I would prefer that there be a Supreme Being, hence the Hopeful Agnostic.

What is your philosophy about life and death?

A rather broad question, don't you think? Life: live it well, don't forget to play but do try to work hard at something useful. Try to leave the world a little better place than you found it. Death: who knows. There is no point in formulating a philosophy about something we really know nothing about. I'll decide when I get there.

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?

Yes, but why should there be? Perhaps death is just the end and nothing more. Perhaps not.

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?

Yes, but hoping doesn't make it so, does it?

Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?

Good question. [Loads shotgun, takes pull from whiskey bottle. Shoots neigbors dog that has been crapping in yard]:lol:
The short answer is that living for others is to your advantage for social animals, sometimes. I think an Ayn Rand fan already explained that above.

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

Because we evolved that way. Why do birds have wings? On the other hand, why do men have nipples? Why are kangaroos marsupials and we are not? The answer to all of these questions is the same: evolution. Then again, most people don't understand evolution, so it doesn't serve well as an answer by itself. We have emotions that are similar to those in other primates and mammals in general. They are a chemical reaction. In the old days we would have reacted differently, because in the process of becoming civilized, we have attached significance to things that weren't important when we were living in the trees. Back then, we felt "fear" when a lion crept too near the tree. Now we feel "fear" when we are speeding and see the cop hiding behind the roadsign up ahead. The emotion is the same - we just found new things to apply it to.

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

Because "fairness" is an artificial concept created by humans to try (vainly) to make sense of things.

[Redheat]

Maybe it's just me but I don't live my life on the premise that there should be some reward at the end of it or why bother.

When I see questions like:

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?


If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?

it makes me wonder how someone who is a "Christian" would think in terms of what's in it for them. What would my life be in vain of? If I live life to the fullest and strive to be the best person I can be, then isn't that about all I can do and if there isn't a heavenly utopia waiting am I to believe it was all for nothing? I'm sorry but I don't think of my life in those terms. I do what I believe is right because it's right not because I expect some moral reward for it except the one I'm able to give myself.

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

It's not fair but what does that have to do with being an Atheist or not? Some good Christians live awful lives and some phoney Christians lead rich lives. Reward and living life to the fullest have nothing to do with having
"something".

I wonder why people have to suffer so greatly in nations like Africa or any other third world country. Why they must live in fear because a few men are corrupt and those men lead rich lives full of power while the others live in fear and hunger.

These are the kinds of things that remind me how blessed I am. Again I don't think in it in terms of "why me" You make your life what it is, that can be founded in religion or not. Either way the control is in your hands and if you ever think you have it bad well just look around. Robert Kennedy said it best
with " I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet"

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

Spirituality IMO doesn't reside as much in the conscience or emotion but in the soul and the heart. Compassion, tolerance, and capcity for love are all part of our Spirituality and that can come to us in many forms be they with "God" or something else.

[mahayana]

"I am not an atheist. You can call me a Hopeful Agnostic." Strelnikov

Optimistic Existentialist is my self-description. We don't ask to be born, we don't know the hour of our death, and what's in between is the human condition. I'd like to think that there is something beyond all the "lifes of quiet desperation", that things are improving, that there is some meaning to it all.

I think a lot about Job (the pawn in the bet between God and Satan), and poor Sisyphus (eternally pushing his boulder up the mountain, only to have it roll back down when he tires). Eternal life may be real, just not for individuals (again, tell me why you believe in spirits). Like Redheat, I view religion is a positive, to the extent that it alleviates suffering, promotes compassion. However, the answers it supplies are no better than the premises it bases them on, which tend to be silly and unsubstantiated rumors.

Now, what's the good news?

[Gale_Force15]

What is your philosophy about life and death?

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?

Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

1. Death is the End. Total nothingness.

2. Yes, helping humanity forward.

3. Yes, because I would change the world without worring of death, seeing as I knew it wouldn't be happening until tommorow.

4. Becsause only a rat eats the meal and skps the check. We all have to do our part to help the whole.

5. Because if we didn't we would slaughter each other by the thousands. Kindness is a survival trait.

6. It isn't, but nobody said it would be.

[MikeD4o7]

I think Gale Force pretty much hit the nail on the head.

What is your philosophy about life and death?

I believe my existence after my death will be very similar to my existence before I was born.

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?


Making the best of it... life is not all hard knocks, it's what you make of it... for yourself and for those around you.

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?


I'd say that if the way you're living your life makes you feel that it's in vain, even without a belief in an afterlife... then you need to change how you're living your life. Do theists think that their eternal existence would make it any more important? What great things do you suppose you're going to accomplish in heaven that make IT not in vain? If you don't feel like your life here on earth is important, I don't see why you think yours in the afterlife would be.

Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?


Because they're not taking that dirt nap now... nor are you. You're alive, you have the ability to empathize with other human's needs and wants... and you have the potential to do something about it. All we can strive for is the happiness and well being of humanity... I see that as a far more noble goal than spending your life trying to save yourself from punishment or seeking some ultimate reward.

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

You call it spirituality, I call it the inevitable byproduct of intelligence. We have the ability to understand our situation, and what makes us happy... and we have the ability to understand others situations as well and what makes them happy... we understand our pain and we understand others' pain. That's why we care... it's the best ability that our intelligence gives us... and it also gives us great responsibility towards each other.

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

The universe is massive, unpredictable, and indifferent towards us. We can and should strive for humans to be kind to each other... but to ask the universe to be nice to us is like asking a plastic bottle for a favor. It's unfortunate and sad that so many live such hard lives... which is why we should try to help our fellow humans as much as possible to reduce that as much as possible. We won't be able to completely eliminate pain and suffering obviously... but we should do what we can.

[DRMIZER]

What is your philosophy about life and death? To live the best I can, mentally and physically. To treat others as I would like to be treated. Death is the unknown.


Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?
I'm a bit more altruistic than that. Life has hard knocks but it also has, or can have, a great deal of fulfillment as well. Dirt nap? I hope for the best.


If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?
Sure. I would like to believe I contributed a bit to family, friends, and a legacy in children to help lighten the load of a tired old world.


Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?
Well, none of us know "the rest of the story." But, since I don't know does not make a selfish person of me and destroy hope of more to come.

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion? We are a higher, more profound, complicated being than other inhabitants on this planet. This is not to say that we are NOT spiritual beings as well.


Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?
In many, many cases, we make our own hell because of the decisions we make. Those who manage to eventually break the habits which bound them find the freedom they always wished for. Guess it's just called life!

[Queshank]

I can understand why some people might get turned off by religion. There are a lot of good reasons to doubt. But I am just curious about what it is about being an atheist that makes sense to you. Life is short. We are here for 70 or 80 years if we are lucky, and the time is always ticking away.

What is your philosophy about life and death?


Where were you 100 years ago? Was it all that bad? What's the problem with where you'll be in 100 years then?


Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?


There is everything to be experienced in life. Love. Family. Friendship. Anger. Loss. Satisfaction of a job well done. Joy. Grief. Parenthood. Pain. Pleasure.


If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?


What is the big concern about "in vain"? I have made the most of my life. When I go, cest la vie. My only regrets will be that I have so much left to do and experience.


Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?


Because we are rewarded here and now for doing so. Love is reciprocated. Goodwill is reciprocated. Friendship is reciprocated. All of these are positive fuzzy feel good emotions. Anger. Hatred. Spite. These are not healthy feel good emotions. These have a negative influence on your day. Why feel them? Why not work to feel Love. Happiness.?


If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?


What do they have to do with each other? I'm trying to think of an answer here for you but the question itself makes no sense.


Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?

What does fair have to do with it? I want a full and rewarding life. Therefore I will work to lead a full and rewarding life. Even those with the fullest and most rewarding of lives are not immune to pain and sorrow. Friends die. Family members die. Earthquakes destroy beautiful homes on a hillside.

Who lives a full and rewarding life? And by whose definition? My life is more full and rewarding than most. I am able to do what I love to do for a living. Yet is it from another's perspective? Doing what I love to do has made it necessary for me to make certain sacrifices that many would see as negatives. But those are not high priorities for me. Doing what I love makes it all worthwhile.

You see the difficulty in that question?

Queshank

[Queshank]

This isn't the question I expected, but it's just as good a question as any.

I would have asked why an athiest would spend any time at all in a religion forum? If you don't believe in God, and don't want to be bothered with the 'bible thumpers' then why come here at all?

This isn't intended to be a mean spirited question, I am truely curious as to why some of you want to talk religion when it isn't one of your beliefs.

Maybe because I'm still waiting for one of you to convince me that your beliefs make any sense at all :)

Or it could be that as atheists we have spent our entire lives explaining ourselves and our positions as they've been twisted, misrepresented, demonized and taken out of context by those around us. Sometimes we just want to set the record straight.

Queshank

[Vic]

I can understand why some people might get turned off by religion. There are a lot of good reasons to doubt. But I am just curious about what it is about being an atheist that makes sense to you. Life is short. We are here for 70 or 80 years if we are lucky, and the time is always ticking away.

i would rather call me an atheist. Even though i tend to doubt God existence, i am not sure about it. i don´t know it.
my motto on this subject is: either i know or don´t know. yet i don´t belief.


What is your philosophy about life and death?

this is one reason why i don´t see a real sense in life. death kind of sucks, makes you sad ....etc
basically i tend to believe that humans are just some very complicated machines that just turn off when they die.

Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?

don´t know

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?

i think life itself is totally in vain. You are born to die....

If we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?

as i said before, i think we are just very complicated machines, with 4 senses that let us perceive the world around us. Based on the experiences we have along our lifes, we build up a unique conscience. Emotion is also a product of our experiences. Before you can even have a emotion you first need to "know", to "realise" what an emotion is. you also have to learn what "realise" means.
but there are also some preprogrammed abilities of a new born baby. Hunger or pain makes the baby cry, that is a unavoidable reaction by triggering the senses the human has (eyes, ears, feeling or tasting).
without those senses a human would die without pain and without even knowing that it has ever once existed.

Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?
no it´s not fair and they end up the same way probably because they are also humans just like us rich people.

the difference is that we often have a more pleasent death than those who suffer every day.

[julierep]

I am not born with a purpose. I am here by chance, it is chance that I was born. There may be a purpose I need to fulfill some time in life because of the way events "span out" but that's not the sole purpose of my life...


How can you have a purpose if you are just here by chance. There would be no purpose if you were just an accident.

[Vic]

i would rather call me an atheist. Even though i tend to doubt God existence, i am not sure about it. i don´t know it.
my motto on this subject is: either i know or don´t know. yet i don´t belief.



damnit? where is the edit button???
i wanted to say i am a "agnostic"
not an atheist

[Darwinist]

I can understand why some people might get turned off by religion. There are a lot of good reasons to doubt. But I am just curious about what it is about being an atheist that makes sense to you. Life is short. We are here for 70 or 80 years if we are lucky, and the time is always ticking away.
That makes a difference?


What is your philosophy about life and death?
Short and sweet: We live, we die. Happens to everyone; no one gets out alive. The only thing you have any measure of control over (and even that's only partial control) is HOW you live - the sort of person you choose to become. If you want to become a selfish, amoral jackass, that's within your power to choose. If you want to live a life of nearly-pure virtue, that's within your power to choose too. Most people - religious and not - choose to live somewhere between those two extremes.


Is there more to this life than just a few hard knocks and then a dirt nap?
Why does there need to be? ...And there are pleasures too, don't forget - not just "hard knocks."


If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you have any hope that all of this was not in vain?
What makes a life one lived "in vain?" For 99.999% of us, no one 3 generations hence is going to know or remember we lived, except MAYBE as a brief notation on somebody's genealogical chart someplace. Because the vast majority of us will never find a place in the history books, does that mean we lived in vain? ...Odd criterium for measuring the worth of a person's life. Yes, I know you're not talking about becoming a part of history; but how else do we measure the "worth" of someone's life - ultimately by how long they'll be remembered, right? But if it wasn't for histories and legends and myths, no one would be remembered beyond 3 generations. So without records - the minutiae of someone's life set down on paper - how else to measure "worth?" By the lives someone touches? Everyone touches lives. Is it a counting contest, then - who touches the MOST lives gets to be the "worthiest," and the losers all lived in vain? No. So before you can ask IF someone can live in vain, you have to establish and define WHAT a "vainly lived life" IS. ...And then wait to see how many people agree with your definition. (Not that that validates it logically, by the way.)


Why live for others if they are just going to take the same dirt nap as the rest of us?
Why not? What kind of life we live is a matter of choice, largely. Why would a person (or perhaps I should say, a majority of people) choose to shun his fellows rather than seeking the pleasure of their company? Humans are biologically NOT solitary creatures: we live in troops, gangs, clans, villages, towns, cities, societies. For us to reject the company of our fellow humans is aberrant behavior. Since we ARE naturally hard-wired seek each other, it simply stands to reason that we would not do so (because it would confer no benefit or advantage) with the ultimate intent to screw each other over. It's in our own survival and reproductive interest to "get along" with each other. That comes, in part at least, from the biological fact that humans have no set mating season. Since we can reproduce ANYTIME, we have to be able to "get along" ALL the time.


f we are not spiritual beings, why do we have a conscience, why can we feel emotion?
Emotions help us "get along" with each other - pleasureable emotions keep us associating with people that "get along" with us. Disagreeable emotions condition us to avoid people who don't "get along" with us. Of what need is "spirituality" in this (admittedly behavioralistic) context? The "spiritual feeling" is simply an extension of our emotions to "the unknown." ...The "spiritual being" is an extension of the "emotive being," not the other way around.


Why is it fair that some people live full and rewarding lives, and some have nothing but pain and sorrow? But yet they both end up with nothing in the end?
Who said life is fair? Fairness is a subjective human idea; it's all in the eye - and mind - of the beholder.