Searching For Life’s Meaning as an Atheist

[rug]

by Zain Iqbal

There is a palpable divide in American society between those who are steadfast in their faith and those who argue against the existence of a higher being, or at least the influence of a deity in our daily lives. A recent New York Times Magazine piece on becoming an unbeliever described the conversion of Louisiana preacher Jerry DeWitt from Bible Belt Christian to confirmed atheist and explored a growing segment of people who are detaching themselves altogether from religious beliefs.

But even among confirmed atheists, there are messages that are difficult for even the most logical individual to analyze and explain. Take neuroscientist Christof Koch and his search for meaning in the world of science.

Author Mark Salzman discussed his own atheistic beliefs in front of a New York Public Library audience, and described how a nervous breakdown allowed him to question whether or not faith can fit into one’s life and if nonbelievers can have a truly mystical awakening.

http://blog.fora.tv/2012/09/searching-for-lifes-meaning-as-an-atheist/

10:00 video at link.

[nebenaube]

1. the meaning of life has always been clear...

it's 42.

[Speck Tater]

3. No. No. No. You've got it all wrong.

It's 37.

You 42-ians are all alike. Why can't you understand that 37-ism is the only true path to salvation?

[qb]

7. and there's only one Commandment:

[Viva_Daddy]

2. Why are you searching for "meaning"?

What's wrong with HERE-NOW?

[Ganja Ninja]

4. I subscribe to the Mr Natural philosophy.

[qb]

5. Who needs a mystical awakening? My goals and actions define the meaning of my life.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. I have had no such problem. However, my belief that life can only be considered

worthwhile is when one has endeavored to make the world a better place, helped those who needed assistance, embraced all of humanity, and strove to deal honestly and fairly with others, don't mesh well against those who think it's merely a path to greater things.

[immoderate]

8. Ask a stupid question...

--imm

[rug]

9. Considering it's a ten minute video, nobody who replied watched it.

[cbayer]

11. Why delve into the substance when you can react to the headline?

[Warren Stupidity]

18. Perhaps because the headline set off everyone's Obvious Bullshit Alert System?

[Angry Dragon]

30. That sounds a lot like a lot of Christians

[cbayer]

32. How so?

[Angry Dragon]

33. They believe things from the pulpit without questioning it

they let their brains sleep when they should question
The Bible stands as the foundation of Christianity and yet have the read the whole thing and noticed that there are many things that contradict??
Questions are answered by 'God is a mystery'

You believe that there is a force in this universe that really cares and loves you. All based on one book that was written by men.

[cbayer]

35. Please refrain from telling me what I do or do not believe.

Most christians do not read the bible literally, but say that it was inspired by god and written by men. They understand that there were cultural and political forces at work when the various parts were written and that there are clear contradictions.

Your broad brush statement about most christians is based on the behavior and beliefs of fundamentalists and should be restricted to them, imo.

[Angry Dragon]

39. Everything in god's world is inspired by god and written by men

Where does one draw the line??

[cbayer]

40. What line?

[Angry Dragon]

42. If everything is inspired by god where is the line between good and evil??

Or did god also create evil??
If everything in this universe was created by god he also created evil.
Why did he create evil??

[cbayer]

43. I have no idea.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Oh, but it's 1 hour and 4 minutes. I skipped the introduction and listened until

the video you linked to stopped at the 9:58 mark and Mark Salzman hadn't gotten to anything but a tale about a fish tank. Then saw the link to the full video.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. Or maybe it just shows up as a black rectangle for some

Though it has to be said, the text doesn't make me think I'm missing much.

[bongbong]

10. I only have one goal .....

... to get my emotional brain to accept the findings of my rational brain: there is no "meaning to life".

[mr blur]

12. All you need is a functioning brain,

and an absence of bullshit. The rest is waffle.

[rug]

15. Well you've got one out of two.

[Warren Stupidity]

20. You should try attacking the message rather than the messenger.

Just for a change.

[rug]

21. I must have missed the message in the post I answered.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. Indeed you did, but then again you weren't aiming at the message.

[rug]

23. Oh, you mean the one that says spirituality requires a nonfunctioning brain and bullshit?

[Warren Stupidity]

24. Your logic is flawed.

"All you need is a functioning brain, and an absence of bullshit. The rest is waffle."

"spirituality requires a nonfunctioning brain and bullshit"

Incorrect.

The correct answer is "a non-functioning brain" or "bullshit". Either condition being true negates the and clause of the original assertion.

[rug]

25. Your reading comprehenson is flawed.

[Warren Stupidity]

28. and there you go again.

[rug]

31. It flowed logically from your post.

[Jim__]

16. I don't see a 10:00 minute video at the link - just a black rectangle.

There is a link to a 1 hour video - I haven't watched that.

[Warren Stupidity]

17. Indeed it is easier to just accept utter nonsense as meaning.

[dimbear]

19. I live in a forest, surrounded by animals. They live for a while and then die.

So do we.

[Mr.Bill]

26. I seek no answer to the meaning of life.

I don't know, I never will, and I am content with that.

[Shadowflash]

27. There is no 'meaning of life'

Our job is to reproduce and propagate the species. Just the same as every other living organism on the planet.

If you want to think your life has a higher 'meaning' than that, then more power to you.

[cbayer]

29. That doesn't really sync with long held liberal/progressive/democratic principles.

[Angry Dragon]

34. Why doesn't it??

[cbayer]

36. Because liberal and progressive democrats generally believe in helping those less fortunate

than themselves and issues of social justice and civil liberties and many other things that have nothing to do with reproduction.

Many liberal/progressive people feel this gives their life meaning.

[Angry Dragon]

38. Without reproduction society will die

perhaps those things should just be done because they are the right things to do without worring about meaning

society can not thrive without compassion
animals do not kill just because they can

[cbayer]

41. Of course reproduction is a biologically driven event that is necessary for survival.

*Doing the right thing* is much more complicated and one of the things that sets humans apart in some areas. What drives it is also complicated, but for many, it is what makes life meaningful.

Some animals do kill just because they can, but most of those animals are humans.

[Shadowflash]

44. Oh, well.

It is, however, the way it is.

I guess, in this case, facts do not have a liberal bias.

[backscatter712]

37. The physical universe does not create meaning. It just is.

I throw a bit of existentialism into my personal philosophy, and came to the conclusion I have to create meaning for myself. Nobody else can do it for me.