Atheism and the meaning of life - what drives you?

[The Grand Nudger]

How do word?

mean·ing·ful
adjective
having meaning.
"meaningful elements in a language"
having a serious, important, or useful quality or purpose.
"making our lives rich and meaningful"
communicating something that is not directly expressed.
"meaningful glances and repressed passion"


in·con·se·quen·tial
adjective
not important or significant.
"they talked about inconsequential things"

Maybe you'll spot the problem, in the meantime. I don't know what human beings thinking that we're important would have to do with any argument about meaning. I'll refer back to something neo posted on page 7.

The meaning of a sign is found in the relationship between the sign and what the sign signifies. The meaning of a painting is not inherent in the canvas or colored globs; but rather, by reference to something external to it, i.e. the subject matter depicted. So when someone asks what the meaning of life is, he or she isn’t just looking to something within life that makes life worth living. Instead they are asking to participate in a relationship with something larger to which their lives refer

Do you see any requirement of importance here, such that....if we were not important, any of this would change? The notion of meaning as a relationship with things bigger and more important than you/me/the house cat is central to the idea of meaning to begin with. Isn't it? Isn't that the thing that keeps people on the tracks of whatever meaning they propose even when it doesn't turn out well for them, personally..even if it doesn't privilege them or raise their importance. Things like a cause. If not, what did you think we were talking about....?

Additionally, no god created me. I'm the mundane work product of two relatively unimportant apes fucking...and I bet it was a quick roll too, nothing earth shattering - and yet I found my way to meaning all the same. You can't seem to decide whether all anyone should be concerned with is enjoying life, or worshipping your silly god. You'll have to pick a lane on that eventually - the one might prevent significant barriers to the other.

Similarly, nothing about whether there is or is not some mandate to enjoy life has anything to do with gods, or whether gods care. In a wold of meaning or madate with a god or with no god..there is meaning or mandate, and in a world devoid of meaning or mandate with or without a god there is no meaning or mandate. Words. They work.