Why live at all?

[Asvin]

Disclaimer: I am not promoting/condoning suicide. This is just a conceptual question and I DO NOT mean to suggest any one end their life.

This question is towards atheists and other non-monotheists, including pantheists. Why should you live at all? If you are going to die in the future, why live at all? Is it not better to end any instance of suffering?

 

[Ken-1122]

Disclaimer: I am not promoting/condoning suicide. This is just a conceptual question and I DO NOT mean to suggest any one end their life.

This question is towards atheists and other non-monotheists, including pantheists. Why should you live at all? If you are going to die in the future, why live at all? Is it not better to end any instance of suffering?

Because life is good.

Ken

 

[Asvin]

Because life is good.

Ken

Ok.

 

[Davian]

Disclaimer: I am not promoting/condoning suicide. This is just a conceptual question and I DO NOT mean to suggest any one end their life.

This question is towards atheists and other non-monotheists, including pantheists. Why should you live at all? If you are going to die in the future, why live at all? Is it not better to end any instance of suffering?

Living is better than the alternative.

I would ask you, if you have all that nifty afterlife waiting for you, why are you still here? Why not sign up for some experimental surgery, or other high risk activity that would provide a benefit to society while potentially hurrying you on to 'meet your maker'?

 

[Asvin]

Living is better than the alternative.

I would ask you, if you have all that nifty afterlife waiting for you, why are you still here? Why not sign up for some experimental surgery, or other high risk activity that would provide a benefit to society while potentially hurrying you on to 'meet your maker'?

How is living better than the alternative if you suffer at least once in your life? Do you not want to avoid suffering? Avoid any instance of pain or sorrow? Why then would you not choose non-existence?

I continue living because God has made me for a reason. He has given me a goal in life and I realize what that goal is. What type of high risk activity that benefits society do you have in mind? Just curious!

 

[Ken-1122]

How is living better than the alternative if you suffer at least once in your life?

Because the good in life outweighs the bad.

Do you not want to avoid suffering? Avoid any instance of pain or sorrow? Why then would you not choose non-existence?

Because I do not want to miss all the wonderful things life has to offer. As I said before, the good far outweighs the bad.

I continue living because God has made me for a reason. He has given me a goal in life and I realize what that goal is.

Are you aware that people who do not believe in God also have reasons to live, and goals in their lives as well?

What type of high risk activity that benefits society do you have in mind? Just curious!

If I believed an after life is better than what I am experiencing right now, I would be more than ready to get to this next life as soon as possible. High risk activity that might end my life may look like an attractive idea

Ken

 

[Ana the Ist]

How is living better than the alternative if you suffer at least once in your life? Do you not want to avoid suffering? Avoid any instance of pain or sorrow? Why then would you not choose non-existence?

I continue living because God has made me for a reason. He has given me a goal in life and I realize what that goal is. What type of high risk activity that benefits society do you have in mind? Just curious!

Why would you assume avoiding suffering is a goal of life? Do you think anyone ever learned, became wise, became enlightened by living a life of comfort and ease? Does that sort of life sound satisfying to you?

 

[Forest Wolf]

No one knows what comes after life. Having the opportunity to live mine and do with it what I will, using the tools I have to work with, making a difference even if it is only that I was here for awhile, is simply doing what nature intended when the energy of procreating yet another life form upon this planet enabled me to be here.

I'm different. And yet I am no better than any other life form that exists for awhile.
Nature doesn't play favorites. It simply gives and takes indiscriminately. It is up to the will of that what lives to thrive or die.

 

[Paradoxum]

Life pleases me more than it displeases me.

People want to avoid suffering, but they also value good things in their lives. I'm not sure how you could ignore the latter.

 

[Asvin]

Why would you assume avoiding suffering is a goal of life? Do you think anyone ever learned, became wise, became enlightened by living a life of comfort and ease? Does that sort of life sound satisfying to you?

Well, from a scientific point of view, we humans seek pleasure and avoid pain. I am not talking about sacrifice and hard work to get a PhD. or similar sorts of "suffering." I am talking about disease and natural disasters. Why go through the emotions and pain and suffering at all?

 

[Asvin]

Because the good in life outweighs the bad.


Because I do not want to miss all the wonderful things life has to offer. As I said before, the good far outweighs the bad.


Are you aware that people who do not believe in God also have reasons to live, and goals in their lives as well?

If I believed an after life is better than what I am experiencing right now, I would be more than ready to get to this next life as soon as possible. High risk activity that might end my life may look like an attractive idea

Ken

Do you realize that Christians don't purposely seek to end this life just so that they can get to the infinitely better afterlife? Purposely taking one's life or jeopardizing it will not be looked upon favorably by God.

 

[Asvin]

No one knows what comes after life. Having the opportunity to live mine and do with it what I will, using the tools I have to work with, making a difference even if it is only that I was here for awhile, is simply doing what nature intended when the energy of procreating yet another life form upon this planet enabled me to be here.

I'm different. And yet I am no better than any other life form that exists for awhile.
Nature doesn't play favorites. It simply gives and takes indiscriminately. It is up to the will of that what lives to thrive or die.

All that's dandy and good but when you have the choice of choosing to end this life, why carry on? Especially when you know there will be at least one moment of suffering in the future? Why prefer that suffering over non-existence? Why prefer the ailments of diabetes or cancer when you don't HAVE to face it?

 

[Asvin]

Life pleases me more than it displeases me.

People want to avoid suffering, but they also value good things in their lives. I'm not sure how you could ignore the latter.

Please refer to my previous replies. Thanks!

 

[variant]

Disclaimer: I am not promoting/condoning suicide. This is just a conceptual question and I DO NOT mean to suggest any one end their life.

This question is towards atheists and other non-monotheists, including pantheists. Why should you live at all? If you are going to die in the future, why live at all? Is it not better to end any instance of suffering?

Who are you to judge the value of my life for me?

 

[Ken-1122]

Do you realize that Christians don't purposely seek to end this life just so that they can get to the infinitely better afterlife? Purposely taking one's life or jeopardizing it will not be looked upon favorably by God.

I realize Christians are not suicidal or careless with life, I was just pointing out why dying would look more attractive to the Christian than the Atheist. For the Atheist this is all you get, might as well make the most of it; for the Christian this is just a trial run, the real party starts after you die.

Ken

 

[Ana the Ist]

Well, from a scientific point of view, we humans seek pleasure and avoid pain. I am not talking about sacrifice and hard work to get a PhD. or similar sorts of "suffering." I am talking about disease and natural disasters. Why go through the emotions and pain and suffering at all?

Geez...I never thought I'd tell someone to read the story of Buddha...but you should. I'm reminded of a saying about knowledge being the altar in the temple of wisdom. You learn more through suffering than you do contentment. Paradise is a joke.

 

[durangodawood]

Why should you live at all? If you are going to die in the future, why live at all? Is it not better to end any instance of suffering?

Even if life is really hard.... it will be over soon enough anyway.

But so far, I kinda like it.

 

[Asvin]

Even if life is really hard.... it will be over soon enough anyway.

But so far, I kinda like it.

 

[Asvin]

Who are you to judge the value of my life for me?

Not judging my friend. Just curious why atheists want to suffer?

 

[durangodawood]

Not judging my friend. Just curious why atheists want to suffer?

There IS suffering, no doubt.

Just dont take it so personally.