Atheism and the meaning of life - what drives you?

[Ahriman]

How would I know that?

How would you know any of the things you say you know about God?

My intellect can't discern everything. There are some things I'll never know.

[The Grand Nudger]

What you don't know is far less interesting than the things you claim to know, which is what people are asking you about.

So, granted, there are things you don't know and may never discern - but what you do claim to know is a bunch of stuff about gods. Some people may want to know more about how you've derived your god knowledge...but, in light of this being a thread about the meaning of life and your previous statement (also something you claim to know) that the existence of a god is irrelevant to life's meaning and wouldn't matter either way....it seems as pointless as some throway comment about not knowing undescribed and unmentioned things.

Have I missed something?

[Ahriman]

What are you even asking me?

[The Grand Nudger]

Some people might doubt that everyone does, in fact, get what they deserve.  That certainly doesn't seem to be true with reference to life.  In that context, does observed injustice harm meaning or somehow run afoul of satisfactory meaning?  What do you do, to be a part of this relationship with justice which forms the basis (or part of the basis) for your meaning?

Those who live righteously will be rewarded in the next life, as well as in the heavenly realms. Those who do not live righteously, will find themselves living a less-than-ideal life next go around, and they will be consigned to the hellish realms. But even Hell isn't bad, although Heaven is much better. I live righteously, so I know my next life will be even better than my current life. That's justice.

What am I asking you?  Consider the exchange above.  I asked you what you did to be a part of this meaning, and..ofc, was trying to get you to explore it in previous questions - but you told me some silly shit about the particulars of the fairy kingdoms..instead.  Even though you don't believe that their existence or non-existence is relevant to meaning.

That's a meaningless response to a question about meaning.  Bravo.

[Ahriman]

I'm gonna have to say I just don't care about "meaning" as much as you do. My future is secure with or without "meaning"

[The Grand Nudger]

Is that really true? Your sense of meaning not only exists independently of whether any gods or fairy realms exist...it clearly informs your ideas about those gods and that fairy realm.

It's doing alot of work. I think you care..and..for what it's worth, the subject of meaning is explicitly about things that..you know..matter to us?

You told us justice was the thing, or a component of the thing. Don't really care about justice? Then why claim it? Does your life lack meaning, but possess a future...and what would that say about a meaningless future? My life has future as well - the sun will rise tommorrow and I'll be there for it. Meaning, however, pertains to what we intend (or at least could) use that future to engage with.

What is that for you, if anything? What do you do to be a part of it or in relation to it, as you must be for it to qualify in the first place? What does that look like day to day, as every future sunrise unfolds?

[Ahriman]

Well I take good care of my dachshund. You could say she's my connection to the divine.

[The Grand Nudger]

Your daschhund, then, (and not justice?) is the meaning of life as you're willing to comment on it, as you apprehend it. You're a very serious person, very seriously responding to these questions..in seriousness, is that it?

Buddy, you're gonna get banned unless you put in more effort.

[Spongebob]

Your daschhund, then, (and not justice?) is the meaning of life as you're willing to comment on it, as you apprehend it.  You're a very serious person, very seriously responding to these questions..in seriousness, is that it?

Buddy, you're gonna get banned unless you put in more effort.

  

All I can say is that a tree stump provides better conversation.

[R00tKiT]

You know life is better with magic beliefs right?

That's true. An atheist tricking themselves into believing in a comforting afterlife, for example, is pragmatically superior than any other coping mechanism.