Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

What is the point of life? (atheists only please)

Scroll to see replies

Why does there have to be a point? If you don't believe in God, then there's no bigger picture for life to be a part of, and so have a point.

Reply 81

Veil of Maya

I don't think life has point or meaning.

And that does not bother me in the slightest. 'What is the meaning of life' to me is a very strange question, bit like asking 'what is the meaning of matter', it just is. What is just is and there isn't always anything else about it...

Reply 82

Planto

lazzarus

If you believe there is no god, then presumably you believe there is no heaven... what then is the point of life? If there is no moral reason to do or not do anything, and most desires are instincts to perpetuate this seemingly pointless phenomenon, why then do we bother?

Sorry, but you've gotten this completely wrong. Not believing in God or Heaven does not, in fact, deprive us of "moral reason" to do things but, completely contradictorily, means that we actually do follow a genuine moral code, rather than acting in such a way for no other purpose than that we have been told that we would be rewarded if we do.

In fact, if a moral code is based on the belief in God or Heaven (and your post states that one implies the other) it isn't really moral at all.

Atheism is cause for accepting life at face value. Such is the beauty of life, that it is validated within itself. There is no reason why one must submit to the futility of life and merely hope that it leads onto something more worthwhile in order for it to "have a point".

Reply 83

R.F.

The more i progress through my life the more I ask myself this question. Why do we exist? The Moral code we have in practise today is one which derives itself in a formalised manner from religions as a whole. We are unable to differentiate which occurred 'pre-religion' and post religion. Following Darwin theory we are and exclusively and instinctively animals which should in theory mean our behaviour is intrinsically selfish. Then why do we heed to a moral code? But we are the only visible species which can make conscious and(unconscious) higher order decisions. This is a gift and curse which must have been endowed to us but where from? To me purpose is important in anything I and we do. We learn for the purpose of bettering ourselves, we socialise for the purpose of relaxing and we eat for the purpose of satisfying our hunger. Our natural instincts were placed for a purpose and therefore we as a species must 'be' for a reason. Religion to me gives a purposes, I wish I was more religious as the most content of the people I have met have been those who are religious. They ooze a real sense of calm something which I lack. Religion provides the basis for the ultimate goal of perfection in character. Is not perfection a pursuit in our genetic structure?

Mortal life is intrinsically tragic, death lurks in every corner. Our life is limited and our limits predefined.

Its a subject for debate and will not yield any tangible results. The question which I think we in society need to ask is what is the point of my life? What do I want to achieve? An absolutely honest answer is very difficult but one which should be looked for.

Reply 84

AntoineUK

I guess that its to get into the University you want. We wouldn't be here otherwise right :biggrin:

Reply 85

HumanNature

This question has been in the back of my mind for a long time now. I do things and then think "what is the point in this?" and then when I get happy or sad I think what is the point in this because we're all just going to die one day and it doesn't matter what people think of you when you're dead.

I can't explain but I know what I mean.

Reply 86

will1989

HumanNature

haha that's a good attitude. mine's always : there's a lot of blackness before life, may well be a lot after, so I don't care what people think, and I'm not going to waste any time, smoke.. etc..

that should be seen in the positive way btw lol.. :biggrin:

Reply 87

R.F.

HumanNature

I can totally understanding that feeling. In recent past these feeling have grown consistently stronger. I could never gauge the idea for some peoples desire for eternal life but when I think about the point above then I think maybe i can see why people dream of it. I think life is a constant struggle to manage our life as we live it but still have a perspective on death.

Reply 88

TruckBear

I think everybody assigns their own meaning/s to life. A lack of a collective meaning does not mean that there shouldn't be individual meaning.

Reply 89

will1989

IeuanF

I think everybody assigns their own meaning/s to life. A lack of a collective meaning does not mean that there shouldn't be individual meaning.

plz explain, coz i dont really understand

Reply 90

goats

the point of life= getting paid and getting laid.

Reply 91

Cities

will1989

plz explain, coz i dont really understand

"Life is what you make it"

Reply 92

R.F.

IeuanF

I think everybody assigns their own meaning/s to life. A lack of a collective meaning does not mean that there shouldn't be individual meaning.

I think he means that their is not a need to follow or for religion where the masses follow a pre defined goal (so heaven in most cases). Individuals may seek to fulfill their own meaning which may not represent the collective meaning provided by religion.

I may be totally wrong but thats what I thought it meant.

Reply 93

TruckBear

will1989

plz explain, coz i dont really understand

Just because there isn't an over-arching god-given meaning to life, doesn't mean we can't strive for goals of our own.

Innit.

Reply 94

R.F.

Innit.

Like the 'innit' pushes home the message. (even though I am a theist)

Reply 95

Invictus_88

n1r4v

"Life is what you make it"

This would make the prosecution of rapists quite difficult.

"Sorry, guv'. It's like, a lifesyle choice, innit."

Reply 96

Invictus_88

IeuanF

Just because there isn't an over-arching god-given meaning to life, doesn't mean we can't strive for goals of our own.

Nor does it mean you should give up on seeking a general meaning, and limit your considerations simply to your own existence.

Reply 97

TruckBear

Invictus_88

This would make the prosecution of rapists quite difficult.

"Sorry, guv'. It's like, a lifesyle choice, innit."

That's kinda irrelevant. If he raped somebody he may have achieved his own goals. That's no reason not to prosecute him, though. Putting him behind bars lessens the chances of yourself or someone you love being raped. Most people would agree that that ain't a good thing, so part of what most would strive for would be to put dangerous criminals out of harm's way.

Reply 98

Invictus_88

So you don't believe the purpose of life is what the individual makes of it, but is in fact what a civilised majority makes of it?

Fair enough, but that's not what the other chap was suggesting.

Reply 99

TruckBear

Invictus_88

So you don't believe the purpose of life is what the individual makes of it, but is in fact what a civilised majority makes of it?

Fair enough, but that's not what the other chap was suggesting.

Not so much a civilised majority - just a bunch of individuals who think similarly. However, that is only what the point of life is for those who are a part of that group; not those, like the rapist, who are outside it. The civilised majority just happen to have the power to decide what is to be done with such a person, because they have a majority consensus and the institutions to back that up.

And the other guy was paraphrasing me, or attempting to - hence my attempted defence of it.