The World’s Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

As An Atheist Can Your Life Have Purpose and Meaning?

I was wondering what other people thought about this.

I realize we weren't born with a purpose. No creator or "higher calling".

But as a non believer can your life have meaning and purpose without god?

7 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TNT666 on November 16, 2012 at 10:14pm

@Johnathan, yes, in the same exact context that until there is evidence of the supernatural and gods, there are none. Evidence is king, queen and ace.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Chang on November 16, 2012 at 10:23pm

So you reject that animals have a purpose because there is no evidence of such a purpose, yet you assume that humans, as an exception, have a purpose despite also the lack of such evidence? (Or are you saying that neither have purpose?)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TNT666 on November 16, 2012 at 10:36pm

I do not believe in the concept of Purpose (capital P) at all, not for humans either, unless it's the illusion of purpose perpetrated by the powerful, imposed to achieve an end. You are mistaking me with someone else. Those persons who act upon indoctrinated Purpose by religious valued parents/mentors are harmful to the world. I perceive that the illusion of purpose is the nemesis of a reasonable humanity. That we humans have invented chairs with the purpose of sitting, yes indeed, no argument there. I make no exceptions for humans, on principal.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Chang on November 16, 2012 at 10:55pm

Alright then, I had mistaken your position. I will say though that using scientific facts to make an ontological position is a philosophical minefield. If something is not true because there is a lack of evidence, then does reality change when someone discovers the evidence?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TNT666 on November 16, 2012 at 11:16pm

The changing of reality is the very essence of scientific investigation. Additionally, these changes are rarely 180s, they're usually tweaks to previous understandings of reality. A recent example of interest... Radio-carbon dating of certain of the oldest primitive cave paintings in Spain were previously thought to be 30,ooo years old, making it unlikely that they were drawn by Neanderthals, since they'd pretty much gone extinct by this time. However, RCD is still a changing science, and the newest attempt to date these little red circles actually revealed that they're 40,ooo years old, opening the door for them to be Neanderthal markings. For many years, it was thought that Neanderthals were not sufficiently evolved for this. That was the proper assumption, given the lack of evidence. This new evidence is by no means final, but it opens the door to a change in our understanding of Neanderthals.

To make an ontological statement, yes, I perceive all reality through the sciences, biology, chemistry, and physics, that is my education... which derived from my personal propensity to science, which probably derived from my lifelong interest in these, which likely was facilitated by my never being religious or superstitious, over many many years, and my work.

However, I would never go so far as to using science to establish "right and wrong", as Hitchins and Harris did. There are aspects of our daily experience which can not be decided by science.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Chang on November 16, 2012 at 11:26pm

The way you interpret scientific facts goes beyond what the scientific method sets out to prove, which is why you should be prepared to defend this perspective if someone challenged it in the future, as it will be very hard to do. However I'm not going to get into it now. There are some 'Emergentists' and secular humanists that are higher on the priorities list (if such a thing exists). For the sake of everyone's sanity, it may be better that I just crawl back under my AtheistNexus shell and return to --oh, I don't know-- real life, perhaps...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TNT666 on November 16, 2012 at 11:41pm

I've never had any of my profs complain of this or correct me about it, I was an easy A student, especially on thesis style evaluations. So I will look forward to your starting that discussion to see where you're coming from. Enjoy your real-life evening, I shall do the same :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Glen Rosenberg on November 17, 2012 at 3:30pm

I have come to my senses. You people are all nuts. It will be a purpose driven life from here on in for this camper. No more wasted time thinking; instead, order, values, stages and sacraments all leading to an eternity of perfection in god's domain. A bit more steamy where you will be going!

I wonder if they keep up with the newest technology. Without blue ray and high def why bother? The almighty provides, I suppose. And after a few centuries no more worrying about differences in age between prospective mates. Oh but the music. Isn't there an eternal harpsichord playing? I mean I can handle five minutes of country, fifteen of klezmer, forty five of zydeco and maybe two hours of good jazz and classical. But a harpsichord that wont shut off. There better be earplugs or a sound proof room. A minor sacrifice if you ask me compared to an eternity in you know where.

Anyways enjoy your selves while you can, suckers.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on March 3, 2013 at 10:13am

Good point Glen. But I'm always thinking - I'm a very deep thinker.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by EJN on March 3, 2013 at 10:31am

From what I can tell -- your purpose is your own, and yes subjective purpose is still purpose. In the same way if morality is subjective people can still be moral. The whole need the religious place on making all of this stuff objective or 'reveal truth' is unfounded, and quite frankly, annoying.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by A. FitzGerald on March 3, 2013 at 11:16am

I've come to look at it as every choice we make adds up to a different sum and end result. Every encounter, every lesson learned, every scientific discovery, every book we read, every meal, etc. In the end our collective purpose is just to make every possible combination of events transition from being a possibility to an actuality, and existence provides all the variables to be chosen (or not) for our equations.

How else can you explain Oreo Cookies being dunked in milk being so delicious?