What was it like being an atheist?

[Joel]

I have to say that I've actually felt a lot happier since losing my belief.
The world seems to be a much more beautiful place and I even treat people better than I did prior to being an Atheist.

[FallentoReason]

I used to listen to music 20 or 30 hours a week. It felt like everything was so meaningless, so empty. Everything seems like a joke, everything is absurd. I think that is what hell is like, feeling like that, everything is a joke, there is no sense of respect attached to anything, there is no sense of love, everything is like a joke.

Everything is like a joke, because philosophically that is the condition of a world where nothing is intrinsically valuable, everything is hollow. That is the post modern condition, a sort of hallow materialism, a reflection on a reflection of nothing.

Honestly, it sounds like you had chronic depression or something. Maybe even slightly suicidal if you truly thought your existence was meaningless (from what I can gather).

[thesummerqueen]

I think its fantastic. Beauty everywhere. I wander round with a grin just because its so awesome.

SRSLY.

[Nine]

SRSLY.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0rLfkvl8BI

[jstrodel]

FallenToReason you don't think that atheism entails existence is objectively meaningless?

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Atheism is so dreary intellectually, there is no beauty or joy, you have to make everything up. Atheism is so painful.

Materialism is so painful.

I think its fantastic. Beauty everywhere. I wander round with a grin just because its so awesome.

What is beauty? How do you distinguish beauty from carnal self gratification?

[Darkstar]

FallenToReason you don't think that atheism entails existence is objectively meaningless?

Sure, but so what? Why would a god think that their own existence was objectively meaningful, aside from arrogance? Ultimately, there has to be some definition of "meaningful", and regardless of whether it comes from god or humans, it is still objective. Wouldn't it be better to discover a purpose, than to have a one-size-fits-all meaning thrust upon you?

[Joel]

Atheism entails a disbelief in a God. That is all.
I think that existence is not meaningless at all: we exist. We have no choice in the matter. It should be made the most of for ourselves, everyone around us and the generations to come.

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Beauty is subjective.
For example, some people think septum piercings are beautiful: I do not.

[Mystic]

FallenToReason you don't think that atheism entails existence is objectively meaningless?

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I think its fantastic. Beauty everywhere. I wander round with a grin just because its so awesome.

What is beauty? How do you distinguish beauty from carnal self gratification?

You know Ibn Arabi would say God is not Worshipped better but through howa (desire/passion). He also said that everyone who follows their passion is unknowingly attracted to the divine, and are worshipping the divine but don't know it.

I say if this is true - let Atheists enjoy their sex and movies and art, and then they'll find out they been worshiping God all along.

[festive1]

Why is carnal self gratification inherently bad? Cause it isn't... Not all the time anyway. Anything can be abused religion, TV, drugs, food. Doesn't make them bad, only when you indulge in something to the point of excluding everything else does it become bad, IMO.

[jstrodel]

FallenToReason you don't think that atheism entails existence is objectively meaningless?

Sure, but so what?

Spoken like a true "critical thinker"

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Atheism is pain and frusteration and emptiness