Atheism and the meaning of life - what drives you?

[The Grand Nudger]

I don’t have any trouble seeing grand narratives in life. Perhaps there’s no actual allure of atheism, Neo, but if there were- that hardly seems like one of them.

Just like I dont believe in gods, I don’t believe the religious who swear that none of this would have meaning, absent gods. Frankly, I don’t see atheists as the ones denying grand narratives and meaning in this exchange.

People who genuinely feel the need to posit fairies to give their life that sort of meaning are both wrong and unwell.

[Ranjr]

Two chicks at the same time.

[Spongebob]

One thing I think of when I heard Christians pose the question of the meaning of life to atheists is this. To Christians, shouldn't the meaning of life be essentially static? Shouldn't the main purpose of a Christian living in 5th century Rome, 10th Century Constantinople, 15th century France, 18th century Germany, 19th century America and today all be very close to the same thing? Well they aren't, not even close. Just read a little history and you'll be astonished at the various "purposes" that Christians have devoted themselves to over the centuries. They are wide, varied and sometimes contradictory. So lets stop pretending that Christians know some secret that no one else knows. Its nonsense.

[Neo-Scholastic]

I don’t have any trouble seeing grand narratives in life.  Perhaps there’s no actual allure of atheism, Neo, but if there were- that hardly seems like one of them.

Well, there was a time in my life when I deconverted and felt a great deal of relief, like a burden had been lifted. From what I read on AF it's not a universal experience for new atheists but common enough...especially those of us, like me, that grew up in intellectually toxic church communities.

[Ahriman]

One thing I think of when I heard Christians pose the question of the meaning of life to atheists is this.  To Christians, shouldn't the meaning of life be essentially static?  Shouldn't the main purpose of a Christian living in 5th century Rome, 10th Century Constantinople, 15th century France, 18th century Germany, 19th century America and today all be very close to the same thing?  Well they aren't, not even close.  Just read a little history and you'll be astonished at the various "purposes" that Christians have devoted themselves to over the centuries.  They are wide, varied and sometimes contradictory.  So lets stop pretending that Christians know some secret that no one else knows.  Its nonsense.

When have they ever claimed this?

[Spongebob]

One thing I think of when I heard Christians pose the question of the meaning of life to atheists is this.  To Christians, shouldn't the meaning of life be essentially static?  Shouldn't the main purpose of a Christian living in 5th century Rome, 10th Century Constantinople, 15th century France, 18th century Germany, 19th century America and today all be very close to the same thing?  Well they aren't, not even close.  Just read a little history and you'll be astonished at the various "purposes" that Christians have devoted themselves to over the centuries.  They are wide, varied and sometimes contradictory.  So lets stop pretending that Christians know some secret that no one else knows.  Its nonsense.

When have they ever claimed this?

All the time.

[Ahriman]

When have they ever claimed this?

All the time.

Yeah no. It's atheists who act like their group is some kind of secret club. Christians have always been infinitely more open and inviting.

[Spongebob]

All the time.

Yeah no. It's atheists who act like their group is some kind of secret club. Christians have always been infinitely more open and inviting.

Nope.  I don't claim to know anything that isn't right out there for everyone.  All you have to do is learn.  Christians are plenty open and inviting to get people to join them but then turn on anyone who refuses, but they always believe they have something special that no one else does.  We all know it's just bullshit.

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What is going on on this forum that's secret?

[Neo-Scholastic]

One thing I think of when I heard Christians pose the question of the meaning of life to atheists is this.  To Christians, shouldn't the meaning of life be essentially static?  Shouldn't the main purpose of a Christian living in 5th century Rome, 10th Century Constantinople, 15th century France, 18th century Germany, 19th century America and today all be very close to the same thing?  Well they aren't, not even close.  Just read a little history and you'll be astonished at the various "purposes" that Christians have devoted themselves to over the centuries.  They are wide, varied and sometimes contradictory.  So lets stop pretending that Christians know some secret that no one else knows.  Its nonsense.

With respect to Divine Providence, it is sufficient for believers only to trust that there is a plan, rather than needing to know what that plan is or specific details of it. That isn't interesting to me. What does interest me is how there can be any "meaningful" relationships in the sense of warranted correspondence between our semiotics-based understanding of the world and physical reality.

[Spongebob]

With respect to Divine Providence, it is sufficient for believers only to trust that there is a plan, rather than needing to know what that plan is or specific details of it. That isn't interesting to me. What does interest me is how there can be any "meaningful" relationships in the sense of warranted correspondence between our semiotics-based understanding of the world and physical reality.

I can accept the first part, but you must know that you are not speaking for all Christians on this.  There are plenty who believe to know what that plan is.  It's debatable whether they are being serious or willfully deceitful.

You're going to have to explain that last sentence for me to understand what you mean.

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I should add that Ahriman has stated that he knows god's plan, but claims to not be a Christian and not believe in the Christian god. But that depends on when you ask him. He lies a lot.