Drive for Atheists?

[Knarf188]

Hey Everyone, I am kind of knew to this philosophy thing and stuff, so don't flame me too much =)...
But I was just curious, what do you aethiests(not labeling =) in these forums believe the purpose of life is? Do you believe in doing good? Or we just are born to improve mankind then die? I was always curious...
Take Kare and God Bless Everyone =)...
In Christ,
Frank

 

[revolutio]

Purpose is overrated. I say we should just have fun and enjoy life while it lasts.

 

[Vylo]

Life is what you make of it. Find your own purpose and go with it.

 

[DrunkenWrestler]

Even if the purpose was to glorify God, and you made it into Heaven. What would be your new purpose to existing? To furthermore honor this diety for the rest of your existence?

 

[MediocrityInAction]

There is no purpose to life or anything. Existence is just the end result of an infinite string of random points. Therefore, nothing has any purpose beyond what you give it.

 

[Knarf188]

Purpose is overrated. I say we should just have fun and enjoy life while it lasts.

My question? If this is the point in life... then what about the hundreds of millions of people in Africa/Asia/Western Europe who dig through the trash for their next meal, sell their kids into prostitution to help support the family, and who live under a piece of plywood(if they are lucky)...
It looks as though these people will never have what we have, the comforts of life to have fun and enjoy life... does this mean that their life is unjust? What do they have to live for? Just curious... Take Kare and God Bless...
In Christ,
Frank

 

[Knarf188]

Life is what you make of it. Find your own purpose and go with it.

Vylo, so some people's purpose might be murderers, child molestors, rapists, etc? Like if what is right for me might not be what is right for you, but is ok just as long as we are happy, is that what you mean? I have a cousin who is like this and he just goes from one 'purpose' to another... trying to find meaning, joy, comfort... but nothing will ever satisfy him... he has tried all kinds of drugs, alcohol... you name he has done it... why are so many people lost? Take kare and God Bless =)
In Christ,
Frank

 

[Knarf188]

Even if the purpose was to glorify God, and you made it into Heaven. What would be your new purpose to existing? To furthermore honor this diety for the rest of your existence?

Wrestler, what is your purpose to life? That is all I wanted to know =)... but yes life is too glorify Christ... like it says when we are most satisfied in him, is when he is most pleased with us... he wants to give us an abundant life... It is all about the love bro... I have no idea what heaven will be like... I read a little in the Bible.... but their will be much singing and crying and dancing... I don't know if you ever danced so much about something you love? It is awesome, maybe I am just krazy... anyways again what is your purpose...
In Christ,
Frank

 

[Knarf188]

There is no purpose to life or anything. Existence is just the end result of an infinite string of random points. Therefore, nothing has any purpose beyond what you give it.

This is hard to even reply too... so myself and you are just random occurrences in life? It sounds like their is no joy or love in your life? Am I wrong? Do you find satisfaction when you see a little kid begin to walk for the first time, or the birth of a child, or is it just stimulations in the brain? I really am curious... could you elaborate?
In Christ,
Frank

 

[MediocrityInAction]

This is hard to even reply too... so myself and you are just random occurrences in life? It sounds like their is no joy or love in your life? Am I wrong? Do you find satisfaction when you see a little kid begin to walk for the first time, or the birth of a child, or is it just stimulations in the brain? I really am curious... could you elaborate?
In Christ,
Frank

Yes, we are both random occurences. But that does not mean there can be no joy or love. The fact that there is no underlying purpose to existence is actually quite liberating. If I gaze upon beauty, I appreciate it because it is there. If I laugh, love, enjoy or appreciate, then I do so because it happens. I'm not acting along a predetermined purpose. I have no obligation to do good deeds or to help others. Hence, when I do so it is all the more sincere. Everything I choose to do in my life is because I want to, not that I am following a preordained purpose.
And yes, feelings such as joy, happiness and suchlike are stimulations of the brain. But so what? These feelings are part of you, regardless of their origin. So go with them, and make the most of it.

 

[Knarf188]

Yes, we are both random occurences. But that does not mean there can be no joy or love. The fact that there is no underlying purpose to existence is actually quite liberating. If I gaze upon beauty, I appreciate it because it is there. If I laugh, love, enjoy or appreciate, then I do so because it happens. I'm not acting along a predetermined purpose. I have no obligation to do good deeds or to help others. Hence, when I do so it is all the more sincere. Everything I choose to do in my life is because I want to, not that I am following a preordained purpose.
And yes, feelings such as joy, happiness and suchlike are stimulations of the brain. But so what? These feelings are part of you, regardless of their origin. So go with them, and make the most of it.

'Liberating' or 'Pointless'.... no I am not degrading your beliefs... I am just saying that Life without purpose is not liberating but seems pointless, I could see how it is liberating the way that you are no longer held to do what the law deems you to do, like smoke the reifer or go out and rob a Pay Less ... It seems that everything in life has a purpose... Like it rains for the grass to grow, the grass grows to feed the cows, who get mad cow disease so we can eat =)... and yadda yadda...

Too think that these 'random occurrences' just happened, and it just turned out this way seems very very very unlikely(from a mathematical viewpoint)...

Your point still holds validity... until you look at people who suffer... they do not choose that life... they would rather be in our little box with us... they can't really see any point in an unjust world... that is why there is such a high alcoholism/suicide rate... Yes they can choose what they want to do, but to what avail, what hope? We can say that there is no purpose, that we are just random occurrences... then go flip on the tv or go to taco bell for our next meal... they look at their life and can't believe that (Look at tribal groups)... and know that their is something greater, a meaning to living... as they cry and hold their dead child in their arms they know that their is justice in life for such a cruel world...

The fact that we can do whatever what we want... because we are just random occurrences... if this is true then should we just go do what we please? Should be ignorant to the cries of others around us? This is more less not a cohesive writing on my part... hah its still to earlier... but I hopeyou can make some sense of it and reply... take kare and God Bless...
In Christ,
Frank

 

[MediocrityInAction]

I could see how it is liberating the way that you are no longer held to do what the law deems you to do, like smoke the reifer or go out and rob a Pay Less ...

The fact that we can do whatever what we want... because we are just random occurrences... if this is true then should we just go do what we please? Should be ignorant to the cries of others around us?

Maybe I can elaborate some more on what I said. It concerns basic morality. The very concept that there is a single purpose to human existence implies that there is also a single universal human morality. This is not true. Humans are essentially amoral creatures. We do not come off the assembly line with Morality Ver.1.0 imprinted onto our being.
Morality is not an absolute. Humans create morality. Truly, it is the glue which holds a society together, yet it is not a product of a universal purpose. We create morality relative to our situation. If you wish, morality represents a kind of enlightened self-interest. So we are not bound by universal purpose, but by laws and morality of our own creation.

 

[Nathan David]

There is no purpose to life or anything. Existence is just the end result of an infinite string of random points. Therefore, nothing has any purpose beyond what you give it.

I agree with this. I also think it's a separate question from this:

If this is the point in life... then what about the hundreds of millions of people in Africa/Asia/Western Europe who dig through the trash for their next meal, sell their kids into prostitution to help support the family, and who live under a piece of plywood(if they are lucky)...
It looks as though these people will never have what we have, the comforts of life to have fun and enjoy life... does this mean that their life is unjust? What do they have to live for?

Yes their life is unjust. I think the world would be a better place for all of us if those of us who are more fortunate worked to improve the lives of those people you mention - as well as the people in North and South America in similar situations (not sure why you included Western Europe but not the Americas or Eastern Europe - Western Europe has the lowest incidence of poverty in the world. There are far more people digging through trash cans in the US, and in much of the former Soviet bloc they can't even afford cans for their trash).

Is that my inherent "purpose" in life? No. Nothing external to me gives my life a purpose. But I choose to make helping the less fortunate part of my life's purpose.

 

[arizona_sunshine]

Therefore, nothing has any purpose beyond what you give it.

And I take great joy in attaching purpose to random occurances! I am certainly not any less healthy for this...

 

[arizona_sunshine]

Even if the purpose was to glorify God, and you made it into Heaven. What would be your new purpose to existing? To furthermore honor this diety for the rest of your existence?

This is an interesting point, actually, drunken.

LDS (Mormon) beliefs are a little different concerning the activities available to us in the afterlife... so I have always had a hard time conceptualizing the heaven as taught by mainstream Christianity.

Anyway.... back to the purpose of life as according to those who do not believe in a Supreme Being:

 

[Vylo]

If your purpose in life is to do deeds that go against the society so be it, but keep in mind there are many people in blue uniforms with guns, whose purpose is to redirect yours. In this case, perhaps you should redirect your purpose .

 

[Knarf188]

Maybe I can elaborate some more on what I said. It concerns basic morality. The very concept that there is a single purpose to human existence implies that there is also a single universal human morality. This is not true. Humans are essentially amoral creatures. We do not come off the assembly line with Morality Ver.1.0 imprinted onto our being.
Morality is not an absolute. Humans create morality. Truly, it is the glue which holds a society together, yet it is not a product of a universal purpose. We create morality relative to our situation. If you wish, morality represents a kind of enlightened self-interest. So we are not bound by universal purpose, but by laws and morality of our own creation.

Hey thanx again for replying...
I always was curious about this... that one philosopher haha(i forgot his name, sorry) believed this... he said that humans were basically like animals and in order to survive we made laws... and/or morales... that morales are not imprinted in human beings...its just the necessity to survive...

Why can't moralities be imprinted in our souls... actually in Romans it says that the very law is written in our hearts... I am associated with some friends who go are taking Missionary classes... and I get to hear from several missionaries... they go to tribal groups who have never heard the gospel, or even have not seen a white person... yet they know what is wrong and what is right to some extent... they know that adultery is wrong, killing is wrong, yadda yadda... so instead of the society creating laws and morales... it was somethin indwelt inside the tribal people to know what is wrong/right... now don't get me wrong it might be a twisted view of this... but the essentials are there... I hope this makes sense... any thoughts?
In Christ,
Frank

 

[Knarf188]

I agree with this. I also think it's a separate question from this:


Yes their life is unjust. I think the world would be a better place for all of us if those of us who are more fortunate worked to improve the lives of those people you mention - as well as the people in North and South America in similar situations (not sure why you included Western Europe but not the Americas or Eastern Europe - Western Europe has the lowest incidence of poverty in the world. There are far more people digging through trash cans in the US, and in much of the former Soviet bloc they can't even afford cans for their trash).

Is that my inherent "purpose" in life? No. Nothing external to me gives my life a purpose. But I choose to make helping the less fortunate part of my life's purpose.

Hey Nathan, thanx for replying...
Sorry bout Western Europe, I meant Eastern haha... I am glad you choose to help the less fortunate... but why do you choose to do this? Why fight the constant struggle of unjustice? If you believe there is no meaning to life, why do anything? I do not mean to be badgering... just curious...
In Christ,
Frank

 

[Nathan David]

Wll, those tribal groups were living in societies and could speak, think, and learn before they ever met missionaries, so it's no surprise that they thought many of the same things are immoral as other human societies. But I doubt they agreed on all aspects - all societies (AFAIK) consider murder immoral, but in some societies homosexuality is considered immoral, but in others it is considered perfectly normal, even desireable. Ideas about marriage vary widely in different societies.

I think it's a mix. Recent studies on chimps and gorillas show that they seem to have some idea of what we would call fairness and compassion. I think we are born with a disposition to empathize with others, and to feel emotional pain when we see or hear of others coming to harm. But I also think that predisposition needs to be nurtured. There are obviously plenty of people who do immoral things, and I'd hazard a guess that many feel little or no remorse for doing so.

 

[Nathan David]

I am glad you choose to help the less fortunate... but why do you choose to do this? Why fight the constant struggle of unjustice?

Mostly because I would feel guilty if I didn't. On a rational level, I feel that we would all be better off in a just world, so really I am helping myself in addition to helping others. Also, if I did not treat others with respect and compassion, how could I expect them to treat me that way?

If you believe there is no meaning to life, why do anything?

Why not? This is the only life I have. I want to make the most of it.