Scientific Atheists

[Brian37]

I hate that last option. Every aspect of our lives, no matter what job we have, involves science. When you turn on your TV that invention is a product of science. When you drive to work that invention is a product of science. If you cook for a living that is based on the science of time and temperature and measures. If you use a pen or pencil at a desk those devices are made by machines invented because of science. If you use a cell phone to call a business partner you are using the science of microwave technology.

We are always surrounded by science, even if we don't realize it. Our existence is based on evolution itself.

[Ryantology]

I believe human existence has no more or less meaning than any individual wishes ascribes to his or her own life. There is no greater meaning behind human existence as a whole, nor does there need to be.

[Welsh cake]

I would say, and so would quite a few people, that existence is void of meaning.

Reality is chaos.

[killybob]

As far as meaning (as in purpose) goes, we honestly have none. BUT we have evolved with the inbuilt drive to propagate and survive for as long as possible, so why can't people be content with that? Let's just spread our seed and have a good time along the way.

[Sedna]

I plan on studying physics next year. I've always been big on science. If not that, geology and linguistics are high on my list too. As far as the "meaning" thing... there's something I find very comforting in knowing that only I create meaning in my life. I don't really know what to say as far as what meaning I've actually designated for myself- but this is my consciousness and I'm going to try and make the most of it because as far as we know, it's all I've got.

[Faith No More]

Raised by a scientist to be a scientist, but...not a scientist.

[PaleoHuntr]

I am a paleontologist, and a paleo-functional morphologist. I also work in a virtualization lab that specializes in creating 3D models from historical specimens (paleontology, anthropology, archaeology, etc...) for research and archival purposes.

As for meaning in my life, I find it very rewarding to recreate past lives last moments and sharing them with the world. No one lives forever, but knowledge is timeless.

[AthianGuildmaster]

So far, the results have been fascinating. For though a majority of you chose option 2, the percentage who chose option 1 is certainly magnitudes higher than the population at large. Scientists or aspiring scientists certainly do not make up anywhere near that portion of the population. This may not be a scientific poll, but I think it has, in whatever limited way, shed some light on atheism-related internet trends.

[Brian37]

I would say, and so would quite a few people, that existence is void of meaning.

Reality is chaos.

No, reality is both order and chaos based on the context of complex factors and natural law. Reality is not an either or proposition.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I'm a PhD student but not in a natural science (political science). That said, I regard myself as scientific, mainly because I attempt to live by the scientific method.

I'm also engaged to a scientist (microbiologist, who is also an atheist), and most of my friends are scientists of some sort (from doctors to physicists), so I pretty much live in a household that regards 'science' above most other things.

+ science is so fucking cool. So I voted the last option.