Atheism and the meaning of life - what drives you?

[Astreja]

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.

I disagree, Klorophyll.  There is nothing superior about tricking oneself, and at the level of the unconscious mind I feel that this is a recipe for disaster.

I would rather deal with unpleasant realities up front, in the open, than pretend they aren't there.

[The Architect Of Fate]

Lies are not pragmatic

[Deesse23]

Lies are not pragmatic

Oh, come on..
When you had cancer, didnt you pretend you were ok in order to feel more comfortable? So much more pragmatic than taking chemo, radiation or deal with the fact that you better reconcile with your enstranged spawm, isnt it?

[The Valkyrie]

Lies are not pragmatic

Oh, come on..
When you had cancer, didnt you pretend you were ok in order to feel more comfortable? So much more pragmatic than taking chemo, radiation or deal with the fact that you better reconcile with your enstranged spawm, isnt it?

Yes, I certainly did that.

Hell, I'm doing it now.

[Fake Messiah]

Klorophyll goes on the street saying to homeless people that they should imagine themselves to be Bill Gates to endure their hard situation easier.

[Alan V]

Suppose the real question is what really gives meaning to life apart from reproducing ? Any ideas? 

I haven't been motivated to reproduce, but I do enjoy a nice lunch at a restaurant.  

However, I am motivated to learn.  Largely, my life has been about learning one thing after another.  That gives my life something of a coherent story, if that's what you mean.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

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

I disagree, Klorophyll.  There is nothing superior about tricking oneself, and at the level of the unconscious mind I feel that this is a recipe for disaster.

I would rather deal with unpleasant realities up front, in the open, than pretend they aren't there.

 There's the rub.

This sounds truer with each passing year "if ignorance is bliss t'is folly to be wise."

The one thing I'm sure of is from experience; that if I have my druthers I'd druther be miserable and reasonably well off than poor and miserable.

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

I disagree, Klorophyll.  There is nothing superior about tricking oneself, and at the level of the unconscious mind I feel that this is a recipe for disaster.

I would rather deal with unpleasant realities up front, in the open, than pretend they aren't there.

[Ahriman]

Let's not pretend like suffering is the same for everyone.......most people don't suffer very deeply, so their suffering is trivial compared to someone who suffers deeply. No matter what afflicts most people, they can take it, because their threshold for suffering is very high. So all this reference of, "But what about AIDS, ebola, malaria, cancer etc." is just stupid.

[arewethereyet]

Let's not pretend like suffering is the same for everyone.......most people don't suffer very deeply, so their suffering is trivial compared to someone who suffers deeply. No matter what afflicts most people, they can take it, because their threshold for suffering is very high. So all this reference of, "But what about AIDS, ebola, malaria, cancer etc." is just stupid.

There is no reason that you can determine the amount a person suffers. You can perhaps determine how much you can stand but you have no way of knowing what others can.

[Astreja]

Let's not pretend like suffering is the same for everyone.......most people don't suffer very deeply, so their suffering is trivial compared to someone who suffers deeply. No matter what afflicts most people, they can take it, because their threshold for suffering is very high. So all this reference of, "But what about AIDS, ebola, malaria, cancer etc." is just stupid.

You don't get to judge other people's suffering, Ahriman.  Pain is pain.  It isn't a fucking contest.