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Purpose without Religion
March 18, 2009 at 3:51 am
Since religious people (especially christians) always argue that we atheists can have no purpose in life and therefore can never be happy, I thought it'd be interesting to find out what atheists do think their purpose is and what gives their life meaning.
Another demonstration that we don't need religion 
What gives meaning to my life is having a sense of direction, rather than letting days go by with nothing to do (happens when you ain't got a job  ). So I've been setting up a website to be launched soon. I also play guitar and am in a band that well... hasn't been doing much lately. But I've been jamming with a friend, and we hope to set a band up soon. And for the rest of my life, instead of looking forward with blind eyes to heaven, I want to achieve security and success. I want to go to uni and study for the sake of it. I want to keep following the evidence, and always have an open mind.
I guess that's a short description. How about you guys?
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 18, 2009 at 4:08 am
The purpose and meaning of life I think is a subjective thing that is 'up to you' as it were....
I do not know of any evidence of any 'ultimate meaning' with OR without a God...I do not believe in God of course because I'm an atheist....and I no of no purpose or 'ultimate meaning' that the universe has for us either....
The universe exists...the brains that think up the concept of 'purpose' like the ones in our heads...evolve AFTER the universe formed...purpose is what we think purpose is whether its a good or bad one, harmful or good for others or whatever....there is no one to say what objectively is the 'ultimate purpose' or has 'ultimate meaning'...there is no evidence of such a purpose or meaning that I know of at least...
Anyway...I personally find the most purposeful things in life to be...
1: Truth both in the case of evidence and being 'true to oneself'...or comfortable to oneself rather...being 'true' on the emotional side as well as the scientific side if that makes sense....more than one type of truth...just truth overall and in general.
2. Empathy....compassion, love, care, etc.
3. Satisfaction, achievement, ambition, perseverance.
That is the qualities....my personal interests that 'give me purpose' are listening to music (Mostly Orbital)...games, foruming (especially this forum), chat in general on the internet, going out, reading, watching movies and TV shows that I like (particularly British Sitcoms and Sketch shows for comedy TV shows...I also love South-Park and think Ross Noble is an awesome stand-up comedian...he's my favourite stand-up comedian)...
Thinking about thinking....my own amateur philosophical musings or whatever they are...making music (as well as listening) and I'm very interested in Science in general...theoretical sciences...not applied sciences - for me personally anyway. I'm taking it slow though because I find a lot of science to be more heavy...I tend to understand it but I need to take it with breaks and gaps...I sometimes find it quite draining sometimes...so much to learn and take in...
Oh and I love QI (Quite interesting, the quiz show with Stephen Fry as host) btw.
And I re-read parts of the God delusion every now and then....I enjoy and am interested in Richard Dawkins website in general and the videos on there...like watching Debates with one of the four Horsemen, especially Dawkins.
Well, that's that...I think.
EvF
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 18, 2009 at 12:18 pm
When you think about it the things that give us direction are exactly the same things that give theists direction (family, friends, careers,arts, music, literature etc. etc.) and the only difference is that we have no god.
We have an awful lot more in common than we don't.
Kyu
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 18, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Indeed....
I personally think that one of the main reasons WHY an atheist obviously doesn't believe in God and yet at times even a highly intelligent theist can still believe in one is: Believers in God value faith more....or take non-evidence (such as the bible) to be evidence...or both of course.
I think evidence is an important and refreshing part of life...at least it is for me....
A lot of theists who highly value 'faith' can get a lot of comfort and what they at least believe and feel to be of value from that faith I think...
So I personally think at least...that often evidence and valuing faith (at least in religious situations I mean of course) is one of the biggest...perhaps the biggest reason - for why atheists reject God on the one hand and the religious on the other hand embrace God on 'faith' or what they see to be evidence but isn't...(E.G its just a holy book or personal experience or whatever...)
Greater overall devotion to proper evidence V.S rejection of 'faith' (lack of evidence) is one of the main differences that separates what often makes an atheist an atheist (non-believer) or a theist a theist...(believer) I think.
Well that's at least my opinion anyway.
EvF
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 18, 2009 at 9:59 pm
if anything atheists should feel more reason for living than religious people.
We don't believe in an afterlife, so we, well I do anyway, feel it's necessary to live life to it's fullest, go skydiving, travel around the world, etc etc, before i die because i know i will never get another chance
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 19, 2009 at 2:15 am
simple proof. I want to learn as much as I can about technology and on the side psychology so that I can become a teacher and pass on the knowledge the scientific process has given us. when I'm gona others will become teachers and will take on the torch, I think the whole thing is quite beautuful personally. The passing of knowledge from one generation to the next, trusting them with the world you spent your entire life in.
My other point is basically the same as WWLDs so it does not need to be repeated.
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 19, 2009 at 10:41 am
(March 18, 2009 at 9:59 pm)WWLD Wrote: if anything atheists should feel more reason for living than religious people.
We don't believe in an afterlife, so we, well I do anyway, feel it's necessary to live life to it's fullest, go skydiving, travel around the world, etc etc, before i die because i know i will never get another chance
I completely agree. Live life like its your last, because it is your last.
(March 18, 2009 at 12:18 pm)Kyuuketsuki Wrote: When you think about it the things that give us direction are exactly the same things that give theists direction (family, friends, careers,arts, music, literature etc. etc.) and the only difference is that we have no god.
We have an awful lot more in common than we don't.
Kyu
We sure do. I think it's very interesting at how similar we are, and that's why I find it a little stupid when christians label atheists as immoral, decadent and a curse on society.
Atheism is liberating because it lets us choose what we want to do with life. As a christian, there is a set model to which one must adhere to to get into heaven, however when there is no belief in god, the whole universe is open to us. I've found it great because it means I can explore everything, with no worry as to whether I might to go to heaven after I die. There are so many things to experience in this life and I reckon that the religious are missing out. I don't really understand how an atheist would become a christian, though its happened before.
Life is what you make it. And atheists can make it absolutely anything they want. Isn't that great
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 20, 2009 at 1:23 am
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 20, 2009 at 1:47 am
Nice vid. Had some interesting points. I liked the part where he mentioned that atheists have the freedom to change their mind. We're not bound by belief or dogma, and our views change as science progresses. That is one of the things which liberates atheists.
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RE: Purpose without Religion
March 20, 2009 at 7:17 am
(March 18, 2009 at 9:59 pm)WWLD Wrote: if anything atheists should feel more reason for living than religious people.
We don't believe in an afterlife, so we, well I do anyway, feel it's necessary to live life to it's fullest, go skydiving, travel around the world, etc etc, before i die because i know i will never get another chance
Indeed..I agree with Dawkins that being an atheist can be life affirming...to not live for - and/or not worry for, - the next life but live this one to the fullest.
"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." ~Emily Dickinson
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