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?

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Permalink Reply by Fidd Chewley on August 10, 2012 at 2:34am

In retrospect, I think all that figurative language was really in there to justify the use of the neologism "heterogyny".  It's a good thing you appreciate it; I always say, "It takes one to know one"!  (why do people always have to use that phrase as an insult?)

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on August 11, 2012 at 10:46am

What does "it takes one to know one" mean?

The person who expressed criticism has similar faults to the person being criticized. This classic retort to an insult dates from the early 1900s. For example, You say she's a terrible cook? It takes one to know one! For a synonym, see pot calling the kettle black. A near equivalent is the proverbial it takes a thief to catch a thief, meaning “no one is better at finding a wrongdoer than another wrongdoer.” First recorded in 1665, it remains current.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/it+takes+one+to+know+one
Permalink Reply by Steph S. on August 11, 2012 at 10:47am

What does "pot calling the kettle black, the" mean?

Accusing someone of faults that one has oneself, as in Tom's criticizing Dexter for dubious line calls is a case of the pot calling the kettle black, since Tom's about the worst line judge I've ever seen. This expression dates from the days of open-hearth cooking, which blackens practically all the utensils used. [Early 1600s]

http://idioms.yourdictionary.com/pot-calling-the-kettle-black-the
Permalink Reply by Richard Goscicki on August 11, 2012 at 10:17am

"Also, sex, drugs, and rock & roll. That too"

Fidd, can you guess who coined that term back in hippie days?

 

Clue:  She also had another great line:  The best way for a girl to shows she likes a guy is to take him home and fuck him.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on August 11, 2012 at 10:42am

Who coined that term Richard?

Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on August 11, 2012 at 11:01am

Gotta be Janis!

A guy from Tennessee in radio in the 60s told me of covering Janis when she performed there. Janis got jailed for vulgarity and upon release, she addressed the crowd gathered at the courthouse: "I wanna tell all of you mother fuckers one thing... Move to California!"

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on August 11, 2012 at 11:19am

Janis Joplin sounds like a real character. Her life was too short.

Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on August 11, 2012 at 11:48am

With ya on that one!

Permalink Reply by Glen Rosenberg on August 9, 2012 at 12:03pm

Awaiting christian mercy as the flames get higher and begin to burn the soles of her feet and foreshadow the agony to come engulfing her terror in an ineffable demise-meaning is without meaning.

Purpose and meaning is a purely biological construct. My translation worthwhile.

Only logical position in life is existential.

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on August 10, 2012 at 7:09pm

Glen, you're right. I found existentialism to be a welcome antidote to the pandemic of words I'd heard in college philosophy classes and read in the assigned books.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on August 10, 2012 at 11:54pm
Thank you for the reply Glen.
Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on August 11, 2012 at 11:14am

Right on! Existentialism makes life your artistic canvas. Very liberating and empowering philosophy... Even though free will doesn't exist objectively, subjectively it always feels very real.

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