I am an atheist too. I am just humble enough to admit that naturalistic atheism does indeed tend toward existential nihilism. Think about it, if the supernatural does not exist, then death is truly the end of all things. In the final analysis, it does not matter what you do for nothing matters. This is not a good notion for a proper society. Of course, you don't need god to do good, but it sure does help for weaker people. If you truly look at the facts, that our universe will die a heat death and nothing objectively matters. You can honestly find that nihilism makes some sense.
Some may say since objective meaning does not exist, what about subjective meaning? Lets say you give the universe a meaning and I give it another. Who is right? I think the obvious answer is none of us. Therefore, we can conclude that the universe doesn't really acquire a meaning if one subjectively gives it one. So "ultimately", subjective meaning does not exist either.
PS: FWI, me and Zora are talking now and she does not have 5 kids:)
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is there a question in that rant?
atheism does indeed tend toward existential nihilism... and?
Why does something have to come AFTER your life for it to have meaning? I do not understand this way of thinking. I have been an atheist for 30 years and I have never thought this way once. I think being an atheist makes one put MORE importance on the life you are living because you know it is the only one you've got. I try to be the best person I can be, not because I am trying to gain something after I die but because it is the right thing to do NOW. I can't mess up and get a pardon because someone died for my sins.
Yes, the earth will end one day. Does that mean we just throw in the towel now? Just stop trying to do good things while the planet still exists? Should we just do away with doctors and hospitals and health insurance because millions of years from now, people will not exist? Should we just shut down all of the cancer research centers because people are all gonna die anyway?
What kind of logic is that? Being free from God means you make the best of life NOW because this is the only shot you have. No do overs. No pardons. This is it so do it right.
what makes you think god isn't real would love to have a full discussion but i have giving up trying to convert people to Christianity just curious though if god isn't real than why is it that every people across oceans like the Hopi indians. then the Greek the Mayan and many others all have a record of a huge flood. also most seem to think that Christians think the earth is only 8000 years old or whatever i don't think that. Two facts for you the very first verse in the bible states "GOD CREATED HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. why the period well i will tell you because that is the the end of that statement. duh you say well how about this bit of info for you. the word that those idiotic translators put in there and the earth "WAS" void and without form. the word WAS isn't what the original text has in it really its correctly translated to BECAME. I could go on and tell the importance of the word Became and why it became void and without form and i could even tell you what killed the dinosaurs because there have been recent studies that disproves that it was a meteor and some believe it was disease but it wasn't it was something else.
Why are you so offended at atheists when you just keep posting the same thing about how your depressed and that atheists don't understand that some people need to believe in god because they can't except death is the end and everything has no meaning. We are living here and now and if you don't make something of yourself and have fun along the way, you wouldn't ever have mattered anyway. So stop ranting about being depressed, and we know people are weak and need to be comforted by an afterlife and a meaning for everything. So the only thing left to do is to try to make something of yourself, and overall, have fun, and focus on the here, and now.
I have no need for nihilism... and I don't honestly find find that it makes some sense. If you want to apply it to your life and feelings, go ahead, but it seems you make a lot of inferences based on assumptions that also mean nothing...
If a supernatural doesn't exist? What difference does it amke? The only thing we do know is that we die... anything after that is merely conjecture, faith and belief... how does that 'reaaly' affect anything?
I also have no need to give the universe a meaning other than it's there. What purpose does that make.
I've read a number of your questions and I don't find much meaning in any of it to be honest...
IMHO
You just said we give the universe a subjective meaning. How does that immediately lead to, "subjective meaning does not exist?" Yes, the universe ONLY has subjective meaning. Even all of the physical 'laws' we've found for the universe, like "gravity," are only subjective, because we have not been to EVERY part of this expanding universe to test everything, yet. Gravity might not exist elsewhere. We have no idea. It MOST likely DOES exist, but we have no absolute proof of that, not having gone to check.
My life experiences include having died, temporarily, on the operating table after a car crash. I saw no afterlife. Live now, while you still can.
You live in the moment!
Hello... Just because my actions will not have eternal influence, or meaning, and I cannot create anything that will last forever, it doesn't mean my actions, and thoughts are worthless.
This is an extreme goal oriented view. It can be used just as 'bluntly' against the religious. Would I not be doing all the children in the world a favor by killing them before they are of the age they are accountable for sin?
I mean, if you take things to the end result, without examining everything in the middle, you get into some pretty strange moral landscape.
--not superstitious
I agree on a few points.... religion and the belief in the supernatural is a good way to keep people in check and I think this is the primary directive of most religions. However, this doesn't make this correct. I suppose I'm more agnostic anyways, and from your question I think you have agnostic leanings as well. The meaning of the universe will always be a mystery.
Logic flaw at "if the supernatural does not exist, then death is truly the end of all things"
You fail to support your assertion. Keep in mind that my deeds will transcend my lifetime. My genes have also been passed to future generations.
In essence, you are saying there is no point in watching a movie because it will eventually end, and I am saying I enjoy movies sometimes.
you're just being silly !
if you don't do well in life you have no pleasures. It's that simple. If you run around doing harm you're just selfish.
morality comes from empathy... empathy comes from nature.
the meaning of the universe (I'll pretend for you there is one... for the sake of argument)
has NOTHING to do with your life... how important you must think one little planet in billions is !
I find it funny, so many people need this importance to be happy.
it is what it is.
Who cares if nothing matters in the long run?
I'm worried about the here and now. This life. Loving those that I love now. Sure, maybe that won't matter in a hundred years, but the love i have now matters NOW.