A question for the Athiests/Agnostics....

[EdipisReks]

i'm an Atheist of the second kind, and a secular humanist. i find life to be quite nice and hopeful, thank you.

 

[Rob9874]

Originally posted by: godmare
I believe in a 'god' of sorts, though I voted agnostic. I've been involved with many religions over they years, and really haven't found anything to which I can relate. At this point I'm just content to wait and see

Don't you think that if there is a god, it exists independently of your decision? I don't think you can just choose a god to relate to. There is either truth, or not. Seek the truth.

 

[sciencetoy]

I'm not an athiest and I find your question offensive. Let me get this straight. You belong to a religion where the sole motivation is that if you do what they tell you you'll have a good afterlife?

You don't think that is WEIRD?

And you can't even IMAGINE that there could be other motivations?

That's the kind of thing that makes people crash planes into tall buildings . . .

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: Rob9874

Originally posted by: godmare
I believe in a 'god' of sorts, though I voted agnostic. I've been involved with many religions over they years, and really haven't found anything to which I can relate. At this point I'm just content to wait and see

Don't you think that if there is a god, it exists independently of your decision? I don't think you can just choose a god to relate to. There is either truth, or not. Seek the truth.

Yes, that is of course true. I mean to say that I haven't found anything to relate to, and the idea of 'worship' is inverse to me.
The truth regarding this matter will come to me when I die, as I do know something is there for us.. actually, the pagan concept of 'Tierna Nog' is appealing. Though, in that case, I won't find anything I didn't expect
Religion is not forefront to me, and I don't take it into consideration when making decisions, etc., I follow what I believe to be right.
With regard to truth seeking, if I don't agree with what I find to be the truth, I wouldn't go against myself to worship.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: datalink7
I have a quote that explains my view (I am an atheist):

"I don't think we're [here] for anything, we're just products of evolution.
You can say 'Gee, your life must be pretty bleak if you don't think
there's a purpose' but I'm anticipating a good lunch."
-Dr. James Watson, Nobel laureate Biophysicist,
co-discoverer of DNA

Works for me; I could use something to eat right now too actually.

And as an Anandtech'er you should know your purpose in life - to further enhance your computer. Duh.

But basically...we just are here, so let's make the best of it. And yes, I must post a quote from Star Trek; it's short though. Picard said it in First Contact - "We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity." Sure our causes may not be quite as noble just yet; I mean, I keep the checkouts stocked with candy and other "impulse" items at Walmart - that's helping humanity, right? When you want that Hershey's bar, someone had to put it there. Be thankful.
Hope too - I'm also hoping that I can find a good deal on some fine computer hardware reeeal soon. My computer is aware that I have birthday money available. It wants new components.

why bother spending your life to further the species? You won't be around to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Yeah, but it was because of other people's work that we have the world we have now...say what you will about it. There's plenty of good here, and it was because we strive to improve ourselves. We just want better things - is a TNT2 enough when there's a Radeon 9700 out there?

 

[MikeO]

I don't need religion, god or afterlife to find hope in life. I'm happy just existing and living my life.

 

[Fencer128]

I focus on the life I have. I don't worry about what I can do nothing about i.e. dying. As far as I'm concerned I have nothing to "hope" for when I die. So long as in my estimation I lead a good, happy life - I have no problems.

Andy

 

[xospec1alk]

i live for the moment

 

[ConclamoLudus]

I try to lead a good life, make others happy, make myself happy, if there's an infinite, good-natured, being up there, I doubt he's going to piss all over me on judgement day for not being sure that he's there.

 

[yowolabi]

Realizing that it's a distinct possibility that this is all there is to life and humanity actually gives me more reason to live.

I find it sad that anyone believes that life on Earth is some sort of punishment, and that the good times come only after you die. That defines hopelessness to me, and is the exact thing that suicide bombers believe.

Instead, believing that every breath on Earth is all the paradise I'll see actually gives me more hope. It connects me to other people and to the world in general. When I focus on the present and live as if this is all there is, it motivates me to want to be a positive force in this world.

 

[3L33T32003]

My question is, how do you find hope in life?

My question is, why do you have to believe in "Santa Clause for adults" to find hope in life?

 

[mpitts]

I find hope in everyday life.

I don't need to prospects of an afterlife to excite or inspire me.

 

[iamwiz82]

hope has nothing to do with religion. When i was a practicing catholic, i did not have hope for the future. I dreaded making a mistake that "god" would find offensive and i would be thrown out of where ever. Having to tip toe around various sins for a place in an afterlife i do not even know to exist seemed a wee bit strange to me.

I am much happier now. I dont look to see what others consider a sin, rather i look to myself to determine what i feel is right and wrong.

 

[datalink7]

There was a really sad point in my life, and it is perhaps my Atheism that kept me alive and well. If I had believed in an Afterlife, perhaps I would have chanced that one for this one. But because I believe that this is it, there was nothing I could do but suck it up and go on

 

[Alternex]

I have hope in my future because I have faith in myself. I don't want to rely on a god to always be by my shoulder to guide me. I live my life the way I want and whatever direction that takes me I only have myself to blame or thank. If you work hard and focus, good things will come to you and there is no need for hope - I don't try to pass off my responsibilities to others, especially a divine being that may not exist.

I don't deny the existence of a god/creator being though - I believe that as human beings we know very little of the universe and it would be arrogant to dismiss the possiblity just because we see no evidence. I don't practice any religion because I have no evidence that any of them is the "right one" above all the rest.

Anyways just because I don't believe in a god doesn't mean I'll go day to day depressed thinking there is no meaning in life. I'm as happy now as I've ever been - I recently graduated from the college I always dreamed about, am happily married, and I have a job I abolutely love.

 

[0roo0roo]

is it better to be a content dog, then an unhappy human? is ignorance truely bliss?

 

[Geekbabe]

I find my hope by looking for and trying to see the goodness in others and myself.

 

[SuperTool]

I think life is tougher as an atheist. Mainly cus you have to maintain your own moral compass and create your own roadmap for life and your own destination and goals.
I think it would be easier as a believer, because thing would already be written down, and you have explicit rules to follow. Unfortunately, it's not so easy to all of a sudden wake up as a believer, because I am skeptical of the whole thing.
Most atheists still follow current religion based morals even if they don't believe in God.
I don't think there is a God, but I think my life would be easier if I believed there was one.

 

[Wallydraigle]

See the last line of my sig. Truer words were never spoken.

 

[OS]

The better question is, if religion didn't explicitly forbid suicide, would the religious off themselves in mass suicides in a bum rush to get into heaven? :Q

 

[ultimatebob]

I feel that we should all do our best to further the development of humanity, so that one day we can discover what "God" truly is. It's obvious that SOMETHING created the universe a long time ago, and we should give more effort to finding out exactly what it was.

 

[crisp82]

so anyways, how do i find hope?....finding the right girl, being successful...hanging out w/ my friends...having fun..smile, get drunk.....life in the modern age throws all kinds of challenges that we love to accept......

Without a doubt the best way to live life. It is short, and to be honest I have had enough of life craping on me to sit around and ponder the possible existence of something that may or may not. Too many late nights, too many headaches and too many questions for me at this point in my life.

 

[OS]

But to answer the somewhat fallacious question, to the true atheist, life is more precious than it will ever be to the religious because this is the only experience you will ever get to see. You only have one chance to see, feel, love and experience.

 

[SWScorch]

Originally posted by: kleinesarschloch


is life only worth living if there is an afterlife, or a god? that would be a pretty sad state of affairs. i find plenty of reasons to keep me going through the day.

Exactly my philosophy. I dont necesarily thing there is a "point" to life. We're here, so why not enjoy it? I actually think people who look forward only to going to heaven are sad, because they cant and dont enjoy being on this wonderful world. I dont need to anticipate any great afterlife, because I am perfectly content with my time on this earth, limited as it is.

Think about it; whetehr or not god exists, the universe is a marvellous place, whether you believe it was created or merely happened by chance. Either way, there is so much to learn and enjoy about it. How can one be tired or dreary of life when humans don't even understand a tiny percentage of what there is to know?

 

[Jugernot]

I personally don't believe in heaven or any other afterlife.... but I do think Life is worth living for the feeling and not for what comes after it's over. Religion is the biggest security blanket mankind has ever known... not that there is anything wrong with that. Sometimes people just need a reason to do things, religion is a reason to live your life.