Question for Atheists

[Mudhammam]

I have a powerful desire to know why the universe exists and our purpose for existence as individuals. I don't see science as a way to discover this. Do atheists search for the same thing and, if so, what is their source or method? I think most atheists don't see any purpose at all.

I wake up everyday and think to myself, "What do I want to do or learn about today?" And I decide without deluding myself into thinking that someone with holes in his palms is looking over my shoulder with a creepy approving smile.

[max-greece]

I have a powerful desire to know why the universe exists and our purpose for existence as individuals. I don't see science as a way to discover this. Do atheists search for the same thing and, if so, what is their source or method? I think most atheists don't see any purpose at all.

The trouble with the my initial response to this question - which is why should there be a point is that it is usually interpreted as some kind of nihilist response - it isn't, at least not for me.

I find the idea that there is a specific point to all of this to be demeaning in that it would, by definition, reduce the value of things deemed to be "not the point."

I suppose if the point of our existence is "to be the best that we can be," or some other generic, pap phrase it wouldn't impinge too badly but on the other hand do we really need some third party to tell us this?

Christian, and other religion's, view appears to be that the point is to praise God. Well that's super and dandy but what of other aspects of life? What of music, art, sculpture, sciences, literature, medicine, philosophy, love, passion....hell anything not on point - gardening, movies, shopping, sports...... its an endless list.

For any given individual any of the above (and a whole lot more) may be a dominating factor in their lives - is that wrong?

Surely the lack of "a point" is freedom by another name. Why do I desire someone, or something, else to determine the point of my existence?

If that applies to me, and I am comfortable with it, then why not the universe? Can't it just be?

You want a point to your life? Then choose one and as long as it is not harming others have at it. Change your mind at some later date? Focus on something else instead. Be free.

[Ryantology]

I have a powerful desire to know why the universe exists and our purpose for existence as individuals. I don't see science as a way to discover this. Do atheists search for the same thing and, if so, what is their source or method? I think most atheists don't see any purpose at all.

I neither need nor want any external agent to define my purpose as an individual. The universe has no purpose, and I see no reason for there to be one. It's here and I live in it. I'd love to know more about how it works and what led to its existence. 'Why' implies an agency behind everything, but that just leads to more 'whys'. Why did God create the universe? Why does God exist? It doesn't take long before there are no answers. Assuming the existence of God doesn't actually answer 'why'. It just ends up tacking on a few more questions, but you run out of answers just as surely as we do.

[Alex K]

I'd go so far that there cannot be an ultimate purpose on logical grounds. This would lead to a similar infinite gregress as in the origins discussion. There is no possible answer to this question that cannot be undermined with a "and why would we want that?". You can say that your ultimate purpose is to serve God, but then, why is that a sensible ultimate purpose that cannot be questioned?

[houseofcantor]

I think the theist simply does not like the answers science offers. The purpose of my life is to love Gwyneth Paltrow (triumph through absurdity, if you will), and the purpose of the universe is to be the stage upon which this love is acted.

Science theorizes that "love" is merely "chemicals in the brain," but that does not diminish me. I cannot help but think the theist too egotistical to accept and find comfort in these conclusions.

[Rayaan]

I believe that everything in the universe has a single intrinsic purpose behind them, which is: to praise and glorify the Creator, and especially to remember Him. In Islam, simply the act of remembering God is considered to be an act of worship, and one of the most virtuous/rewarding types of worship.

This single purpose to our existence has already been programmed inside each and every human being, but, unfortunately, it's just that many people are not able to bring it to their full awareness. To these people, the Quran rhetorically asks the question:

"Then did you think that We created you in vain (with no purpose) and that you would not be returned to Us?" [23:115]

Not only humans, but everything in the heavens and the earth are engaged in the act of glorying the Creator since the moment they came into existence. The sun, moon, trees, rivers, oceans, birds, insects, animals, the mountains, the stars, galaxies, your cells, DNA, etc. are all already fulfilling this ultimate purpose, which is to praise God and to remember Him, but we are just not able to understand how they are doing this (as the Quran says):

"Do you not see that everything in the heavens and earth prostrates to Allah: the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and the animals? So do many human beings, though for many others punishment is justified. And he whom Allah humiliates - for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allah does whatever He wills." [22:18]

"The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving." [17:44]


One might ask: "Why does Allah need any of this worship at all? Doesn't the Quran say that Allah is self-sufficient?"

Yes, and the Quran says: "O mankind, it is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is the One Free of all wants, worthy of all praise" (35:15), which means that Allah doesn't actually "need" nor "want" any of our worship, except that it is we who are in need of Him and that he is simply worthy of worship just by being who He is.

[max-greece]

Rayaan,

So according to what you've just written the whole point of life is to praise and glorify the creator - who doesn't need it.

How pointless is THAT life!!!

Could you just run by me again why we need it? I seem to have missed that.

[Ryantology]

I believe that everything in the universe has a single intrinsic purpose behind them, which is: to praise and glorify the Creator

Maybe it's just me, but the idea of the universe having no point seems a great deal less existentially depressing than the idea that the universe exists just so a bunch of pretentious apes can be threatened into assuaging the obviously crippling insecurities of some cosmic, sociopathic jackass. It's actually really pitiful and sad, as if some fat, pimply virgin sat down and wrote a computer program designed to constantly tell him that he isn't a loser and someone will eventually be tricked into have sex with him.

[KichigaiNeko]

I believe that everything in the universe has a single intrinsic purpose behind them, which is: to praise and glorify the Creator, and especially to remember Him. In Islam, simply the act of remembering God is considered to be an act of worship, and one of the most virtuous/rewarding types of worship.

This single purpose to our existence has already been programmed inside each and every human being, but, unfortunately, it's just that many people are not able to bring it to their full awareness. To these people, the Quran rhetorically asks the question:

"Then did you think that We created you in vain (with no purpose) and that you would not be returned to Us?" [23:115]

Not only humans, but everything in the heavens and the earth are engaged in the act of glorying the Creator since the moment they came into existence. The sun, moon, trees, rivers, oceans, birds, insects, animals, the mountains, the stars, galaxies, your cells, DNA, etc. are all already fulfilling this ultimate purpose, which is to praise God and to remember Him, but we are just not able to understand how they are doing this (as the Quran says):

"Do you not see that everything in the heavens and earth prostrates to Allah: the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and the animals? So do many human beings, though for many others punishment is justified. And he whom Allah humiliates - for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allah does whatever He wills." [22:18]

"The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving." [17:44]


One might ask: "Why does Allah need any of this worship at all? Doesn't the Quran say that Allah is self-sufficient?"

Yes, and the Quran says: "O mankind, it is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is the One Free of all wants, worthy of all praise" (35:15), which means that Allah doesn't actually "need" nor "want" any of our worship, except that it is we who are in need of Him and that he is simply worthy of worship just by being who He is.

Your god does NOT deserve you Rayaan.

[Ben Davis]

I have a powerful desire to know why the universe exists...

Events can be traced back to the singularity but no-one knows why it expanded. That said, enough is known about the 'why' (in the context of the completely naturalistic, current state of the universe) for us to posit naturalistic hypotheses.

...and our purpose for existence as individuals.

That's entirely up to us (within certain physical parameters).

I don't see science as a way to discover this.

Why not? I mean, it's not the only approach but it's certainly one of the most informative: without a decent scientific underpinning to your knowledge (i.e. a working knowledge of reality and how it functions), how can you possibly apply other tools (e.g. philosophy, ethics) with any veracity?

Do atheists search for the same thing and, if so, what is their source or method?

Many do, many others are happy with not knowing.

I think most atheists don't see any purpose at all.

As you can see from the responses, the majority of atheists do but for wildly different reasons. Your stereotyping is indicative of limited understanding.