Life Meaning -- Atheists? Theists?

[_The Nehor]

On an unrelated note, I lost my ice cream scooper. Your prayers would be appreciated.

Sorry, my puppy ran away. After he comes home your concerns are next. Priorities!

I don't think you understand.....I have Blue Bell Hot Fudge Sundae Ice cream in my freezer as I type.

God wants us to help ourselves! Have you considered a spoon?

A heathen like you could never understand. ;-)

[_James Clifford Miller]

If you're an atheist what is the meaning of life for you?

If you're a theist what precisely in the belief of God gives you extra meaning beyond what you would have if you were an atheist? Or how precisely does the belief in a deity give your life meaning?

As an atheist, I've never understood how believing in a supernatural being gave ANYONE meaning in his or her life, particularly if that supernatural being acts like a monstrously demented, jealous, mentally-ill demon who delighted in torturing people commanded to worship him. While we're on the subject, why would any supernatural being need other entities to worship it?

Back on topic: I find that being a husband and a father has given my life more satisfaction, profound fulfillment, and meaning that I could ever have hoped. Who needs more than that?

James Clifford Miller

[_The Nehor]

If you're an atheist what is the meaning of life for you?

If you're a theist what precisely in the belief of God gives you extra meaning beyond what you would have if you were an atheist? Or how precisely does the belief in a deity give your life meaning?

As an atheist, I've never understood how believing in a supernatural being gave ANYONE meaning in his or her life, particularly if that supernatural being acts like a monstrously demented, jealous, mentally-ill demon who delighted in torturing people commanded to worship him. While we're on the subject, why would any supernatural being need other entities to worship it?

Back on topic: I find that being a husband and a father has given my life more satisfaction, profound fulfillment, and meaning that I could ever have hoped. Who needs more than that?

James Clifford Miller

I recommend meeting God. Clears up a lot of stuff.

[_James Clifford Miller]

If you're an atheist what is the meaning of life for you?

If you're a theist what precisely in the belief of God gives you extra meaning beyond what you would have if you were an atheist? Or how precisely does the belief in a deity give your life meaning?

As an atheist, I've never understood how believing in a supernatural being gave ANYONE meaning in his or her life, particularly if that supernatural being acts like a monstrously demented, jealous, mentally-ill demon who delighted in torturing people commanded to worship him. While we're on the subject, why would any supernatural being need other entities to worship it?

Back on topic: I find that being a husband and a father has given my life more satisfaction, profound fulfillment, and meaning that I could ever have hoped. Who needs more than that?

James Clifford Miller

I recommend meeting God. Clears up a lot of stuff.

By any chance, would this be the god of the Old Testament? The one who drowned babies and ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son? That god? If so, I think I'll pass.

James Clifford Miller

[_Moniker]

If you're an atheist what is the meaning of life for you?

If you're a theist what precisely in the belief of God gives you extra meaning beyond what you would have if you were an atheist? Or how precisely does the belief in a deity give your life meaning?

As an atheist, I've never understood how believing in a supernatural being gave ANYONE meaning in his or her life, particularly if that supernatural being acts like a monstrously demented, jealous, mentally-ill demon who delighted in torturing people commanded to worship him. While we're on the subject, why would any supernatural being need other entities to worship it?

James Clifford Miller

Well, I would think that most that prescribe to Christianity find the noble and moral aspects of it as giving them meaning. Yet, often, they speak of the afterlife as somehow bringing meaning to their life. I so wish that some that share this view would have shared, as I'm sincere in my inquiry to explore this.

How does the lack of belief in the afterlife strip away all meaning of the now?

Back on topic: I find that being a husband and a father has given my life more satisfaction, profound fulfillment, and meaning that I could ever have hoped. Who needs more than that?

That works for me. :)

[_Sam Harris]

Often I've been told that atheists (I'm agnostic but don't mind being lumped with atheists) don't have any meaning to their life. I usually reply with all the things in my life that I find meaningful and what I seek from the experiences that can be found in life.

I've often given lip service to a "meaning of life" when I speak of why theists hold onto their belief in God. Although, I'm not really sure what extra special meaning they actually get from believing in God. Yet, I've stated they do find meaning because they say they do, and I take them at their word.

Nehor says that atheists have no rational basis for meaning to their life. If he'd like to elaborate on that here that would be great!

If you're an atheist what is the meaning of life for you?

If you're a theist what precisely in the belief of God gives you extra meaning beyond what you would have if you were an atheist? Or how precisely does the belief in a deity give your life meaning?

Chiming in very late. I guess I'll put my mind to use today...

I like the answers WhoKnows and TD gave. I truly think that the meaning of life is to find happiness...and WK hit the nail on the head when it comes to most theists (and atheists). Well, me as a theist, I kind of don't want to wait to be happy, and perhaps that's why God and I don't get along sometimes...but my deity is a bit more lenient than the average Christian deity. Perhaps I created God in my own image. 8) Oh boy would that disturb my uber-mormon friends.

Onto the idea of the transfer of energy. Well, I agree with that, and I think that a lot of time should be spent on changing negative energy into positive. That goes back to finding happiness. But this takes so much more work sometimes than just wallowing in misery. Maybe that's why we see so many people settling for the negative.

I think that for me theism is secondary to meaning in life. That doesn't mean that my belief in God takes a back seat, but I guess I'm just trying to fit everyone and everything in. I don't know if I'm right, so I try to steer away from statements that claim my life would be void and empty if my spirituality changed. I'm reading a book now about Caroline of Ansbach, and when she was younger, she used to talk about philosophy with her guardian, Sophia Charlotte, Queen of Prussia, as well as with Liebniz, one of the philosophers of that court. They all agreed that faith required a leap in the dark, and that it was better to doubt and leave all options open, rather than to fix your mind on one precept and possibly be wrong.

I guess as a theist, my personal belief in a God of unconditional love is what ADDS meaning to my life. I've been writing on grace versus legalism for about a year, and the God I believe in is one who loves you where you are, and if you need to change something, that love is enough to encourage you and make you excited about the change...rather than shame you. I hate shame. This view of God puts a lot of meaning into my life, because a lot of what I have to do takes baby steps. The rigid, legalistic God of right-wing Christianity had me giving up before I even started.

[_BishopRic]

If I am asked "why do you read that fictional book?" (referring to an entertaining novel....), I probably respond with "because I enjoy it."

That would probably satisfy the questioner. Why can't we do the same thing for "life?"

I wake up everyday, and my circulatiing endorphins motivate me to "do things" throughout the day. Many things make me feel better, some worse. I've learned that, and I mostly do the things that make me feel good. I exercise, for many reasons. I talk to friends and family -- that makes me feel good. This whole natural selection thing has created an organism (humans) that have the ability to think and reason to do mostly good things while on earth.

I like life. It's entertaining. I hope to enjoy it tomorrow. That's my "purpose."

[_DonBradley]

I can tell you from firsthand experience that an atheist can find meaning in family life, companionship, personal growth, and helping others just as readily as a theist can. The only necessary difference is that an atheist doesn't see one overarching meaning to life provided by God.

Questions of "ultimate" meaning tend to be more complex for an atheist than for a theist (unless the "atheist" believes in some other transcendent framework that takes the place of God--e.g., as in Buddhism). Ultimate meaning would appear to hinge crucially on the future. If there ever comes a time that our actions no longer have a continuing effect on conscious beings (e.g., if humankind dies out), then it would seem that all meaning would cease--there would be no ultimate meaning.

Don

[_Moniker]

Chiming in very late. I guess I'll put my mind to use today...

So very pleased to see you GIMR! Never too late for you, my friend.

I like the answers WhoKnows and TD gave. I truly think that the meaning of life is to find happiness...and WK hit the nail on the head when it comes to most theists (and atheists). Well, me as a theist, I kind of don't want to wait to be happy, and perhaps that's why God and I don't get along sometimes...but my deity is a bit more lenient than the average Christian deity. Perhaps I created God in my own image. 8) Oh boy would that disturb my uber-mormon friends.

I suspect that God is created in the image of those who believe. I doubt you're alone in that, even though it may be denied by some. :)

Onto the idea of the transfer of energy. Well, I agree with that, and I think that a lot of time should be spent on changing negative energy into positive. That goes back to finding happiness. But this takes so much more work sometimes than just wallowing in misery. Maybe that's why we see so many people settling for the negative.

I think that for me theism is secondary to meaning in life. That doesn't mean that my belief in God takes a back seat, but I guess I'm just trying to fit everyone and everything in. I don't know if I'm right, so I try to steer away from statements that claim my life would be void and empty if my spirituality changed. I'm reading a book now about Caroline of Ansbach, and when she was younger, she used to talk about philosophy with her guardian, Sophia Charlotte, Queen of Prussia, as well as with Liebniz, one of the philosophers of that court. They all agreed that faith required a leap in the dark, and that it was better to doubt and leave all options open, rather than to fix your mind on one precept and possibly be wrong.

I guess as a theist, my personal belief in a God of unconditional love is what ADDS meaning to my life. I've been writing on grace versus legalism for about a year, and the God I believe in is one who loves you where you are, and if you need to change something, that love is enough to encourage you and make you excited about the change...rather than shame you. I hate shame. This view of God puts a lot of meaning into my life, because a lot of what I have to do takes baby steps. The rigid, legalistic God of right-wing Christianity had me giving up before I even started.

The God that I would like to believe exists (sometimes I pretend :) would offer love as unconditional. This is actually compelling to me, and I see many that gain a great deal of comfort and serenity by this belief. If we can, and do, create God in our own image he can be who we choose him to be -- and that works for me. I agree that stripping the shame (that is often found in Christianity) away from God can help some overcome difficulties they encounter in life. Yet, of course the shame aspect apparently works for others. I think we should each seek our own path (and if God is part of it so be it) to find the most meaning in our lives.

I'm a spiritual person and yet most of my life I've been hesitant to embrace it as it makes me acutely uncomfortable as I deny the existence of God. Or rather, I can't say I believe in God -- I can't make a call either way. Anyway, I think the two don't have to be mutual. Yet, when you do feel a presence or enveloped (as I've felt) it becomes difficult to determine where precisely that experience derives. I've lately been reading quite a bit about this and finding there are many answers in neurotheology and the answers work for me at some level.

Thanks for the reply.

[_Moniker]

If I am asked "why do you read that fictional book?" (referring to an entertaining novel....), I probably respond with "because I enjoy it."

That would probably satisfy the questioner. Why can't we do the same thing for "life?"

Ha! That's perfection! I love it! I don't know why that apparently does not satisfy some questioners??

I wake up everyday, and my circulatiing endorphins motivate me to "do things" throughout the day. Many things make me feel better, some worse. I've learned that, and I mostly do the things that make me feel good. I exercise, for many reasons. I talk to friends and family -- that makes me feel good. This whole natural selection thing has created an organism (humans) that have the ability to think and reason to do mostly good things while on earth.

I like life. It's entertaining. I hope to enjoy it tomorrow. That's my "purpose."

Yes, enjoyment is the purpose, is it not? I find which things cause pain and avoid them and seek the pleasurable. Seems fairly easy to me. :)