[Sammydemon]

(Original post by Zaki)
How are you chemically different? And why is that significant? And how can you call others "shallow" if you openly and shamelessly confess that your life has no intrinsic meaning or value?

Are you suffering from a psychological illness? Do you think that a rock has the same chemical makeup as a human being? I'm simply stating that that is what sets us apart from the rock, which is simply a reply to the question that you asked.

You are shallow becuase you probably feel worthless unless you life has some kind of fantastical "meaning". You need to get realistic and admit that you are here by chance and the work of nature and are just a small worthless speck in the grand scale of the universe and time. Get over it.

[justanotherindigo]

(Original post by Rational_Pi)
I am an agnostic atheist and lately, I've been wondering what the point of life is. Here are a couple of questions for you all

1. What is the meaning of life to you? Life will end someday and everything will disappear. Is there a real point in living?

2. If you are the type of person who 'fears' death, how do you cope with this uncertainty?


Merry Christmas!

Well basically, you are alive for a purpose. You are not created for nothing. You were created to accomplish something you were practically born to do. However, everyone will die someday, no-one lives forever. Some people believe that there is life after death and some people just think that that is a superstition. I will leave you to decide on that. About death, I used to fear it, but not anymore, because you just have to realise that death is inevitable. That is how I personally coped with it. Though it doesn't necessarily mean that you die when you become really old, there are a lot of young people dying aswell.... Anyway, just to end, just cherish life, coz you only live once

[Parle à ma main]

(Original post by Zaki)
So why can't you bring yourself to say that life is about enjoying your life to the full - whatever it is you mean by that? Why do you atheists wish to always reduce everything to the level of meaninglessness? Why do you love meaninglessness so much? Is it because you loathe being held responsible for what you do?

I'm weary to give it any kind of "objective" label like that because for some people living life to the full might involve rape/murder, and that would justify it.

[Schemilix]

(Original post by Zaki)
A make-believe life is just as meaningless as ANY OTHER meaningless life.

People who don't fear death are the psychological equivalent of lepers who don't fear pain - because they can't experience it - owing to necrosis of their flesh. These are people to be pitied - not admired by any means.

Objectively yes, but if one lives life with a false belief that gives them hope, and it lends them the feeling of meaning, then that is meaning. There IS no meaning but what the individual imposes. Thus the only meaning is what the individual makes of it and, thus, the most important thing.

As for your waffle on the second paragraph, that doesn't even have anything to do with what I said, take it elsewhere.

[Banishingboredom]

Hmm I think statistically the odds of humanity being created by random chance are quite high given the scale and lifespan of the universe and therefore we don't have any real purpose other than existence. I think it's stupid to try and make wild unjustified assertions as to a) explain why we are here and b) claim some part of us will exist forever.

I also think that the way generations of people have been coerced by scaremongering religions into following their rules (under the threat of bad things happening in the afterlife) is cynical and exploitative.

By all means someone disagree with me, I'd be interested to hear some other arguments.

[Zaki]

(Original post by Banishingboredom)
Hmm I think statistically the odds of humanity being created by random chance are quite high given the scale and lifespan of the universe and therefore we don't have any real purpose other than existence. I think it's stupid to try and make wild unjustified assertions as to a) explain why we are here and b) claim some part of us will exist forever.

I also think that the way generations of people have been coerced by scaremongering religions into following their rules (under the threat of bad things happening in the afterlife) is cynical and exploitative.

By all means someone disagree with me, I'd be interested to hear some other arguments.

What is "random chance"? Does it even exist? And why do you think it has such great power as to be able to create intelligent - and even human beings? Or do you think that humans are no more than a toss of the dice? Isn't that an absurd way of thinking?

[Zaki]

(Original post by Schemilix)
Objectively yes, but if one lives life with a false belief that gives them hope, and it lends them the feeling of meaning, then that is meaning. There IS no meaning but what the individual imposes. Thus the only meaning is what the individual makes of it and, thus, the most important thing.

As for your waffle on the second paragraph, that doesn't even have anything to do with what I said, take it elsewhere.

Meaning cannot come from ANYTHING false! Make-believe meaning is not meaning at all. It's just as meaningless as anything else that is meaningless. One should seek out genuine meaning and not give up out of laziness or cowardice because one is finding the task difficult; substituting with a counterfeit one thinks will do. That's just self-deception - and most deplorable! We can be CERTAIN that meaning exists - otherwise NOTHING could exist at all. It is life's task to bravely and diligently seek it out. Not try to substitute it with junk.

[Hogwartz]

Your like the muslim version of ideas4life.
Except he uses colours in his writing.

[Zaki]

(Original post by Hogwartz)
Your like the muslim version of ideas4life.
Except he uses colours in his writing.

What are you waffling on about?

[Hogwartz]

(Original post by Zaki)
What are you waffling on about?

I'm waffling?
I'm giving you answersand advice and your the one who is NOT replying bakc which shows you have lost the argument! Your 25 years old and youstill haven'tlearnt the basic principles of how to debate formally.

[Zaki]

(Original post by Hogwartz)
I'm waffling?
I'm giving you answersand advice and your the one who is NOT replying bakc which shows you have lost the argument! Your 25 years old and youstill haven'tlearnt the basic principles of how to debate formally.

Don't be silly! You're doing nothing of the sort. You're just waffling.

[Eileen_]

(Original post by Zaki)
What is "random chance"? Does it even exist? And why do you think it has such great power as to be able to create intelligent - and even human beings? Or do you think that humans are no more than a toss of the dice? Isn't that an absurd way of thinking?

Forgive me, but I think it is extremely selfish and ignorant to say such a thing. I don't believe mankind is that special, and I think our so-called 'intelligence' will one day destroy us. It doesn't make us better than other animals, it doesn't give us more rights. Our 'intelligence' not only causes us to destroy ourselves in the end, but also our earth, the planet we live on, a simple rock orbiting an ordinary star.

Look at the vastness of the universe, it truly is infinite, I don't think any living creature can imagine its infiniteness.. Do you really think we are special, that we are the only intelligent creatures around, and that someone actually cares, that we actually have a destiny? I don't think so.

And again, look at it! Isn't it gorgeous that it exists, that we exist, simply exist, without any reason and therefore with the fullest right to make the most out of our lives? The right to set our own goals, the endless possibilities.. We are not limited by a destiny, by a meaning of our life, that's what I believe, and I think it's wonderful and exciting.

And 'meaningless'; we live, beautiful music is made, people do amazing things, incredible discoveries, wonderful art is made.. Isn't that all even more beautiful when you realise it was never meant to be, but it's thanks to nothing more or less than the own choices of those people?

(Original post by No Future)
That was nice to read, thanks

Thanks

[maturestudy]

(Original post by Rational_Pi)
I am an agnostic atheist and lately, I've been wondering what the point of life is. Here are a couple of questions for you all

1. What is the meaning of life to you? Life will end someday and everything will disappear. Is there a real point in living?

2. If you are the type of person who 'fears' death, how do you cope with this uncertainty?


Merry Christmas!

Meaning is that which is intended to be communicated between two entities. So asking 'what is the meaning of life?' necessarily infers the existence of another entity (other than yourself) that is conferring some meaning to you, presumably through 'giving' you life or otherwise being involved in its mechanisms.

For an atheist, such as yourself, this question is invalid since you do not accept its underlying assumptions. It is the same category of question as 'have you stopped beating your wife yet?' For more information see 'Loaded question'.

This shouldn't bother you because generally when people ask 'what is the meaning of life?' the question they actually want to answer is 'how should I live my life?', or 'what should I do with my life?'. These questions, which aren't as loaded with baggage as the original, are possible to answer without appeal to divinity and are therefore much more useful to the atheist and, I would argue, to the theist as well.

Fear of death is a natural biological and psychological process, without which we would probably not survive childhood. I am not sure what the 'uncertainty' you talk about is, for death is without doubt the one certainty in life.

[Zaki]

(Original post by Eileen_)
Forgive me, but I think it is extremely selfish and ignorant to say such a thing. I don't believe mankind is that special, and I think our so-called 'intelligence' will one day destroy us. It doesn't make us better than other animals, it doesn't give us more rights. Our 'intelligence' not only causes us to destroy ourselves in the end, but also our earth, the planet we live on, a simple rock orbiting an ordinary star.

Look at the vastness of the universe, it truly is infinite, I don't think any living creature can imagine its infiniteness.. Do you really think we are special, that we are the only intelligent creatures around, and that someone actually cares, that we actually have a destiny? I don't think so.

And again, look at it! Isn't it gorgeous that it exists, that we exist, simply exist, without any reason and therefore with the fullest right to make the most out of our lives? The right to set our own goals, the endless possibilities.. We are not limited by a destiny, by a meaning of our life, that's what I believe, and I think it's wonderful and exciting.

And 'meaningless'; we live, beautiful music is made, people do amazing things, incredible discoveries, wonderful art is made.. Isn't that all even more beautiful when you realise it was never meant to be, but it's thanks to nothing more or less than the own choices of those people?


Thanks

This is just a glorification of ignorance and meaninglessness - and a reviling of intelligence. If all you want to do is "just exist" you're of no more worth to and in the universe than a dumb rock lying on the ground. Giving that, I don't know how you can have the gumption to accuse anyone of ignorance. ONLY intelligence is capable of elevating one to a higher level than the rock lying on the ground - providing one uses it diligently and honestly. Failure to use it or a perverse use of it will bring about a fate worse than that of the dumb rock.

[Eileen_]

(Original post by Zaki)
This is just a glorification of ignorance and meaninglessness - and a reviling of intelligence. If all you want to do is "just exist" you're of no more worth to and in the universe than a dumb rock lying on the ground. Giving that, I don't know how you can have the gumption to accuse anyone of ignorance. ONLY intelligence is capable of elevating one to a higher level than the rock lying on the ground - providing one uses it diligently and honestly. Failure to use it or a perverse use of it will bring about a fate worse than that of the dumb rock.

I don't think my life means anything to the universe at all, the universe won't care whether I live or not. I don't mean more or less to the universe than the rock.

However, the thing that sets me apart from the rock is the fact that I love, I love my life, my family, my friends, my animals.. I genuinely love all persons around me and I want to share that. And the fact that I recognise my life is in a way insignificant is to me a reason to set my own goals and to aim to change something within my reach. I have dreams, hopes and goals for the future, and even though I don't think it will actually matter to the universe as a whole, I think one can make a difference, but only on a very small scale.

[Zaki]

(Original post by Eileen_)
I don't think my life means anything to the universe at all, the universe won't care whether I live or not. I don't mean more or less to the universe than the rock.

However, the thing that sets me apart from the rock is the fact that I love, I love my life, my family, my friends, my animals.. I genuinely love all persons around me and I want to share that. And the fact that I recognise my life is in a way insignificant is to me a reason to set my own goals and to aim to change something within my reach. I have dreams, hopes and goals for the future, and even though I don't think it will actually matter to the universe as a whole, I think one can make a difference, but only on a very small scale.

Ok, I take it you've consulted the Universe about all this, have you? Or is it all just based on gut feeling? You want to live an ANYTHING GOES life IN the Universe and think it has no right to hold you to account? Get out of it! How would you feel about microbes inside your body deciding they can do whatever they like in your body? What happens when your body lets them? Think! If you still can....

[Eileen_]

(Original post by Zaki)
Ok, I take it you've consulted the Universe about all this, have you? Or is it all just based on gut feeling? You want to live an ANYTHING GOES life IN the Universe and think it has no right to hold you to account? Get out of it! How would you feel about microbes inside your body deciding they can do whatever they like in your body? What happens when your body lets them? Think! If you still can....

Sure, Universe has an opinion and we talk things over every Wednesday.

Seriously, what would change if I would die? What would change if you would die? If someone else would? Except from the obvious mourning and sadness it would cause (on a small scale!) the earth really won't stop turning, the sun won't stop shining, or whatever. It just doesn't matter that much.

I'm not saying anything is possible, one is simply limited by one's possibilities, but only by that. We can see the consequences of our decisions everywhere around us, can't we?

Also, thanks for assuming I can't think.

[Kabloomybuzz]

(Original post by Zaki)
Ok, I take it you've consulted the Universe about all this, have you? Or is it all just based on gut feeling? You want to live an ANYTHING GOES life IN the Universe and think it has no right to hold you to account? Get out of it! How would you feel about microbes inside your body deciding they can do whatever they like in your body? What happens when your body lets them? Think! If you still can....

Well the microbes in our body don't exactly have conscious choice like we do. They do what they're genetically programmed to do. Sometimes that makes us sick.

That just seems like a bit of an empty point.

As for the original question.

The meaning of life is whatever you make it. We create our lives through our decisions and experiences and interactions with the world around us.

I do not fear death, I see it as the same as not being born, and I don't fear that. Death is one of lifes few certainties. I fear dying as an act of living rather than death, dying alone, or in pain, or without any dignity.

[confusedexcited]

As an athiest, I'll give this a go.

1. I think meaning is such a subjective concept that to lay down some kind of transcendental 'true' meaning is a wee bit presumptious. Even declaring an enternal individual meaning, a kind of universial raison d'etre seems rather silly because it is probably going to change. But, meaning derived from the understanding the perspective of something in terms of the greater whole. I have 'meaning' in a democracy because I can vote, etc. Once the context is removed, so is that meaning. So our internal meaning is always subject to our perspective on our role in the greater whole. Which doesn't answer the question. Never mind! Personally, I've no idea where I get my 'meaning' from. Possibly chocolate.

2. Of course I fear death. If you don't fear death I think you're a wee bit strange. It's the idea of finality, the hopeful part of me wants something beyond, the logical part of me strikes that down. Think it's time for pascal's wager!

[Najeeb.B]

(Original post by Hogwartz)
You a very aggressive individual i must say, calm down please. And also, please may i ask for you NOT to use the boldening and italicising too often, as it disrupts the flow of my reading.Thankyou.

Thats science, also may i ask whether your veiws are similar to that of a muslims?

Silly, that's a wrong judgement, what's Islam got to to with this... I must say you have lost it, god help u