Atheism and Hope

[Reforged]

Alot of people will try to tell you that you just have to live.
They'll tell you about the joys of loved ones and family. How you can forge your own meaning. They'll use all sorts of flowery language to try and make your life seem like something beautiful and unique to be cherished. They'll tell you to "live life to the fullest", whatever the fuck that means.
I'm not going to do that. Thats all bullshit.

For most people life is pain, a thankless struggle. You are born screaming into this world and chances are you'll die the same way. Its inevitable. Heres the thing though; between those two points is a nexus of possibility. One of those possibilities is you, with tears in your eyes, taking a handful of pills and being some clean-up crews Tuesday night. They'll scoop up the remains with all the enthusiasm of someone who does this for a living, put you on a slab, determine the cause of death then with a weary, bored sigh dispose of whats left. I'm probably missing afew steps but thats basically the crux of it. Your lifeless remains being flushed down the toilet like the worlds most depressing goldfish.

Is that the best you can do? Is that seriously the best you can do? Is that really the best life and the best end you can picture for yourself? I'm really asking. If it is then you're the best judge. If it isn't then whats the deal? Not motivated? Not happy? Fine, then be angry, be active, be alive. Be whatever it takes to get in motion. Trying is living and living is trying.
Anything less is simply existing, you can be ignored and forgotten. You'll watch yourself decay day by day knowing that nothing you did had any impact at all. Every regret that drove you to that point will play over and over in your head until it dominates everything you are and everything you will ever be. And yes, eventually, you will die. Leaving behind nothing of worth.
Do not let that happen to you. Ever. Genes are not that unique but memes... memes can be. And their ripples can last an eternity, long past living memory.
You're either alive or you're dead, you're either living or you're not. Pick one now because that choice isn't there forever.

[TheRocketSurgeon]

I just want to reiterate what Rob said. We make no moral judgments on suicide, obviously. A person's life is their own, generally, and a person who is not depressed/irrational may make the informed choice to end their own life. However, as he said, be cautious that decisions made of that sort are not made in the heat (or the cold, rather) of a chemical imbalance in your brain that is giving you abnormal emotional feedback.

Additionally, suicide does not just impact our own life, but can be devastating to those who love us. A depressed person is also, unfortunately, more likely to underestimate the feelings of others on their behalf. In that sense, our lives are not entirely our own to dispense with as we please. So do consider how such a decision will affect others around you.

I would strongly advise you speak with a professional about it before you even begin to seriously consider suicide as an option.

Also, as has been pointed out to you, evolution (nor any other science) has never said or implied what you suggested at the beginning of your post. I am a biologist, and many of us here are experts in the subject, if a better understanding is important to you.

I hope you feel better, and I hope we can help you in that regard.

[Faith No More]

I've crawled out of the hole you're in. I was pissed off at the world for surviving my suicide attempt and was in and out of mental hospitals. I fought my demons and found my meaning in the fight itself. Battling my problems became my purpose, and I was able to eventually get some control over my depression. No god needed. Atheists find meaning the same way religious people do, only we know the onus is on us to find it. Religious people think god will deliver it to them, but they're the ones that are actually finding it.

I believe that every person has the right to take their own life. I just don't think being caught in the throes of severe depression is the best time to make such a serious decision. Sure, it feels like death is the only solution, but that is the chemical imbalance in your brain talking. There are ways you can fix that, and no matter what happens, you always have the control to change your situation. Depression isn't something that can be cured necessarily, but it is something that can be managed. You have to start treating your life as though you have a serious health issue, because you do. You have to adjust your lifestyle accordingly.

Also, remember that your death will most likely have consequences. As someone who found his best friend's dead body hanging from a noose he tied himself, I can attest to that. Don't let your own misery consume you to the point that you hurt the ones around you.

[Whateverist]

If Hedonism is all our life has to offer; what hope is there for the suffering?

After attempting my life, I begged doctors for euthanasia, but they obviously denied it to me. Why? Why did they deny this to me? Sitting where I am, doing what I'm doing, locked in this hell of meaninglessness, why would they not grant me peace?

I'm not challenging atheism, I want to know if I'm missing something. Why can't I tap out? Why is society against me saying that I'm done and I've had enough, and yet looks down on me for what I've become? You can't leave, but what you are is terrible.

Why can't I die if there is no meaning and no hope?

You spend too much time in your head.  Play outside more.  Your life is bigger than your petty ruminations and there is more to you than your sour moods.  This is the danger of having a conscious mind divided so thoroughly from instinct.

[TheRocketSurgeon]

I can't shake the feeling that these kinds of questions are done by Christians who come here to "survey" us on moral questions, only to return to their flocks and say,

"Yeah, Bob, I asked them! They all told me to kill myself, those heathen murderers!!"

[Minimalist]

Why can't I die if there is no meaning and no hope?

The short answer to your question is that other people have decided to subject you to their peculiar religious doctrines.

The slightly longer answer is that just because you wish to die does not mean that others have to help you in most states.  There really isn't enough information in your OP to determine the problem.

[Ludwig]

You should book a trip to my country (Switzerland) if you're serious about euthanasia. It's not only legal for natives here, but for foreigners as well. To quote Wikipedia:

"It does not require the recipient to be a Swiss national. This latter aspect of the law is unique in the world, and the nation has come to be known for the phenomenon of 'suicide tourism'."
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia_in_Switzerland

[Edwardo Piet]

@ OP

So are you an agnostic theist, an agnostic atheist do you believe that God(s) is exactly 50% probable, or do you consider the probability of all gods to be impossible to determine?

[drfuzzy]

I have been suicidal - quite a lot in my life.  I've been there.  I'm actually quite amazed that you are here, searching for responses.  When I have been at my worst points, I really didn't care what anyone had to say to me.  I still have my moments.  They aren't fun.

But in retrospect, even though life can still be really nasty sometimes, I'm glad that I didn't succeed.  I'm glad that I didn't hurt my brother and my cousins.  (The only family I have left.)  Because life has had some really lovely moments too.  I can name many times when I have thought "I would have missed this.  I would have never gotten to experience this, if I had succeeded."  And while I'm very introverted by nature, I have learned that I am healthier when I have human interaction.  Get out, do something.  I heartily recommend something that helps those less fortunate than yourself.

I don't think suicide is a sin - - although the pain it can cause your family and friends could be horrific.  However, if you are not in physical pain, then you have hope of finding your way out of the mental/emotional pain.  I think there are times when suicide can be justified.  I think there are many more times when it is a waste of potential: potential to do good for others, to create something of value, to appreciate beauty.  We are more than just human breeders, you know.

[The Grand Nudger]

After attempting my life, I begged doctors for euthanasia, but they obviously denied it to me. Why? Why did they deny this to me? Sitting where I am, doing what I'm doing, locked in this hell of meaninglessness, why would they not grant me peace?

You're unstable, they don't trust your decision-making.  Even if you live in a place that allows assisted suicide they don't just hand it out like candy to everyone who asks.......

Why can't I die if there is no meaning and no hope?

You tell me?