(May 31, 2012 at 3:45 pm)StatCrux Wrote:

(May 31, 2012 at 3:39 pm)Panglossian Wrote: "Make it count" basically means to leave a positive impression of yourself after you're gone i.e. create/do something memorable, fight for a cause you passionately believe in, affect and treasure the lives of those you love, and your life will have meaning, purpose, however you wish to label it. Constructing a deity to do all that for you is a cop-out. Your sense of worth should come from who you are as a person, not what you believe in.

But how do you define "positive impression" in a meaningless universe, any action you take is neither positive or negative, its just a meaningless neutral action.

You are so funny. You want us sooooo badly in your mind to be the pessimists but it is YOU, that is the pessimist.

How do you define "positive impression" in a meaningless universe?

Really? You have to ask that question?

This reminds me of when I was a kid and didn't get what I wanted.

My mother would say, "You can sulk about it and be miserable, or you can move on"

Adults accept reality the way it is, not the way they want it to be. I can spend my life crying over something I cannot change, or I can enjoy the time I have while I have it.

THAT is how you define "positive impression". I wasn't around a billion years ago and felt no pain then because I didn't exist. I am not going to be pessimistic about the fact I am finite. I have no choice but to move on or be miserable.

Life is no mystery. You are born, you live, then you die, THAT IS IT. What you do in between can only be up to you. Facing that fact doesn't make life less worth living.

Here is some awesome religiously inspired art, but I doubt this is what the OP had in mind...

(May 31, 2012 at 4:01 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Adults accept reality the way it is, not the way they want it to be.

So, correct me if I'm wrong here.

1.Atheists see no meaning in life other than one you give it.
2.Adults accept reality the way it is, not the way they want it to be.

So, assuming the atheist in question is an adult, the meaning each atheist gives to life is reality the way it is.

You spot the obvious problem here?

"reality the way it is" implies an objective truth to reality, that conflicts with finding your own meaning to life, so which is it?

(May 31, 2012 at 4:11 pm)StatCrux Wrote:

(May 31, 2012 at 4:01 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Adults accept reality the way it is, not the way they want it to be.

So, correct me if I'm wrong here.

1.Atheists see no meaning in life other than one you give it.
2.Adults accept reality the way it is, not the way they want it to be.

So, assuming the atheist in question is an adult, the meaning each atheist gives to life is reality the way it is.

You spot the obvious problem here?

"reality the way it is" implies an objective truth to reality, that conflicts with finding your own meaning to life, so which is it?

Atheists are only people who do not believe in god. Atheism does not beget existentialism, although I found it to be the logical answer.

Wow, as an artist and musician I find StatCrux's earlier points mildly retarded. I know I may be back tracking the discussion slightly, but fuck it.

Inspiration can come from literally anywhere. Usually it is just other art that inspires me, but occasionally there will be something else that does. I have found inspiration from some strange things, but it is inspiration nonetheless. You saying that religious folk are more likely to be creative is complete nonsense and slightly degrading to art itself.

(May 31, 2012 at 4:14 pm)Annik Wrote: Atheists are only people who do not believe in god. Atheism does not beget existentialism, although I found it to be the logical answer.

Have you ever read any Teilhard de Chardin?

(May 31, 2012 at 4:14 pm)frankiej Wrote: Wow, as an artist and musician I find StatCrux's earlier points mildly retarded.

And with one massively understated sentence, Frankie shows off his awesome potential for subtle yet devastating putdowns.
I shudder to think what would happen if he used this as inspiration for a song but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see it happen.

(May 31, 2012 at 4:19 pm)RaphielDrake Wrote:

(May 31, 2012 at 4:14 pm)frankiej Wrote: Wow, as an artist and musician I find StatCrux's earlier points mildly retarded.

And with one massively understated sentence, Frankie shows off his awesome potential for subtle yet devastating putdowns.
I shudder to think what would happen if he used this as inspiration for a song but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see it happen.

I'll write you a song if you want.

(May 31, 2012 at 4:00 pm)StatCrux Wrote:

(May 31, 2012 at 3:43 pm)RaphielDrake Wrote: er... yes? Science operates on what it *can* prove.
Is that a system thats not quite up to your standard?
Could you give me an example of one that is?

Did you even listen to the clip? Science operates on assumptions.

You couldn't pay me enough to listen to that douchebag. Reading his bullshit is bad enough.

Yes, science operates under assumptions - assumptions which if not assumed, would make any search for knowledge meaningless. The assumptions made are that reality exists and can be observed. I defy you to make any meaningful claim to knowledge without those assumptions.

(May 31, 2012 at 4:19 pm)RaphielDrake Wrote:

(May 31, 2012 at 4:14 pm)frankiej Wrote: Wow, as an artist and musician I find StatCrux's earlier points mildly retarded.

And with one massively understated sentence, Frankie shows off his awesome potential for subtle yet devastating putdowns.
I shudder to think what would happen if he used this as inspiration for a song but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see it happen.

Thus perfectly demonstrating any lack of ability to determine great works of art..A song inspired by calling people names, musical genius..