An atheists "purpose".

Overblood

I know an atheist who is searching for "purpose" in his life. He has recently de-converted, like a year or two ago, and the only remnant of his early days is the idea of having meaning, purpose, a "reason" in life.

My view on this is that we have as much purpose as a gnat chewing on somebodies face of a summer evening. Get born, live, eat, reproduce. That is the main purpose of all life. Of course us humans are lucky in that we can pursue hobbies and careers that might give us a sense of purpose, for example being a volunteer doctor in some third world country.

But he still maintains that there must be more to life than than that. Some sort of meaning. He's searching for something. His casting off of the zany idea of being some gods child on a journey to never-ending magic land has left a void that needs to be filled, and my bare bones explanation won't work.

Your life is what you make of it I say, "but still..." he replies!

Any help people?

(By the way, before any smart arse says "sure, a friend of yours...." I guarantee you that this is not me!!)

Zillah

Purpose? Feh!

Every human being should live to indulge themselves in whatever fun, joy, love or satisfaction they can scrape from the universe. That's my philosophy. I don't really feel strongly enough about anything in particular to even contemplate a 'purpose'.

Beruthiel

There is no purpose.
My purpose is to be happy, enjoy life to the fullest, squeeze as much out of it as possible while I'm still able to.
Why does your friend require a 'purpose'?
If he has a void in his life, then he should look deeper into why that is.

Joe1919

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Myth_of_Sisyphus http://dbanach.com/sisyphus.htm

A classic but sometimes difficult read by Camus on the absurdity of life.

Ickle Magoo

Surely thinking we have a purpose or our lives carry particular meaning for a specific reason is an inherently theist standpoint. It infers that there is some greater plan in place, that we are here to play our part in that which is greater than our basic human functions.

Maybe he's not as much of atheist as he thinks?

Dave!

If he wants to give his life a "purpose" then let him at it tbh... But if he spends the rest of his life looking for that purpose, then it will be a waste.

Just tell him that life can have any purpose he wants it to have, and to give it some thought and go for it.

Micky Dolenz

Tell your mate , to watch the meaning of life by Black Adder and all will be clear.

Overblood

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

Maybe he's not as much of atheist as he thinks?

After suffering abuse (not sexual, "just" beatings) from the catholic church, his faith in it and god went on a non-stop downward spiral.

He's definitely an atheist. A Dawkins and Hitchens fan. A skeptic. And he even owns a sword! But still he's left puzzled by the lack of meaning in his life. Maybe he needs to do some yoga or meditation I dunno.

Mena

Overblood wrote: »

After suffering abuse (not sexual, "just" beatings) from the catholic church, his faith in it and god went on a non-stop downward spiral.

He's definitely an atheist. A Dawkins and Hitchens fan. A skeptic. And he even owns a sword! But still he's left puzzled by the lack of meaning in his life. Maybe he needs to do some yoga or meditation I dunno.

I'll be honest and say I'm puzzled at his puzzlement. Life's only meaning is that which we give it after all. Tell him to get a job that actually contributes to society maybe? That should give him some purpose.

Other than that, just enjoy it, we're not here all that long.

Beruthiel

Tell him to take up gardening.
Growing plants to their full potential gives purpose.
Growing herbs for your meals gives purpose. Tasty purpose.

Overblood

Believe it or not he gardens a good bit. And has his own little veg patch going. This guy is like 50 years old, you'd think he'd have found the answers by now but alas... He is a bachelor which could be the problem. I'm young so I lack the wise words he probably needs.

Ickle Magoo

Overblood wrote: »

After suffering abuse (not sexual, "just" beatings) from the catholic church, his faith in it and god went on a non-stop downward spiral.

He's definitely an atheist. A Dawkins and Hitchens fan. A skeptic. And he even owns a sword! But still he's left puzzled by the lack of meaning in his life. Maybe he needs to do some yoga or meditation I dunno.

He's definitely an atheist, yet he still seeks more meaning in life than an atheistic perspective can give him. Perhaps he could look into other spiritual avenues since his experience with so-called men of God failed him so miserably?

Other than that I can only second what the other posts suggest - if he wants or needs a purpose he will have to create one for himself rather than wasting time searching for a purpose assumed to already exist.

eoin5

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Tell your mate , to watch the meaning of life by Black Adder and all will be clear.

Its Monty Python no? Or am I missing out on some juicy Black Adder footage?

Dave!

Maybe he should take up buddhism? AFAIK the mod Asia is a Buddhist... doesn't require any godly beliefs that I know of, and may make him feel like he has a purpose or somethin

Flamed Diving

Why does there have to be a purpose. Thats what gets me.

ScumLord

There is no reason why he can't give his life meaning. That's one of the great things about being human. You free to be whatever you want to be.

He can do a bit of research into how he could put himself to good use, either for his own community or more needy community. I don't see why being an atheist means you no longer have to feel like you can have a purpose in life.

Goduznt Xzst

Overblood wrote: »

But he still maintains that there must be more to life than that. Some sort of meaning.

Is your friend married or in a serious relationship? what age group is he in?

Ickle Magoo

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't see why being an atheist means you no longer have to feel like you can have a purpose in life.

I thought the OP meant his friend was looking for purpose to life in general, rather than a specific purpose or drive in his own life. I think the majority of people live with a purpose to their actions in mind, atheists included - that's slightly different to feeling like or wanting to think we were placed on this earth for a reason/to carry out a task, kind of ""purpose".

jim o doom

Well I'm not religious and I do have a purpose in life currently; achieve my black belt and then teach martial arts for the rest of my days.

Other things that could be shoe-horned into purpose? ehh.. make friends, live and enjoy life and see lots of the world.. does that work?

Asiaprod

Nice question OP.
Be one a Buddhist, Atheist or gardner, the meaning of life is to simply lead a meaningful life. That is, to enjoy your life, to respect others that are deserving of that respect, and to help out where you can..no more, no less.

ChocolateSauce

I would suggest trying to improve the lot of the human species at large.

Húrin

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Why does there have to be a purpose. Thats what gets me.

Because most people either feel a need for it, or act in their lives as if there is a purpose.

Dades

That doesn't really address the question at all.

Flamed Diving

Húrin wrote: »

Because most people either feel a need for it, or act in their lives as if there is a purpose.

Most people. How much of the universe does 'most people' constitute, in percentage terms?

So, they want the whole universe to exist, just for them?

Wow. How self-centred.

I have a more humble view of myself.

JohnnyChimpo

tell your mate to look into secular humanism, and generally stop being such a moany-hole

bnt

Pete Townshend of The Who went through something like that, and wrote a song about it (lyrics here):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InLIZNJABr0

It's one thing to have an open, enquiring mind, and searching for a purpose is a noble cause, but it's possible for a mind to be so open that any old crud falls in and takes root. Since about 1968, Pete has been a disciple of Meher Baba, and the fact that Meher Baba died in early 1969 (and Pete never met him) is no hindrance, since gurus never really die, do they?

Micky Dolenz

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Most people. How much of the universe does 'most people' constitute, in percentage terms?

So, they want the whole universe to exist, just for them?

Wow. How self-centred.

I have a more humble view of myself.

Every induviual is the centre of their own universe.

Flamed Diving

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Every induviual is the centre of their own universe.

That isn't what I was saying.

Overblood

JohnnyChimpo wrote: »

tell your mate to look into secular humanism, and generally stop being such a moany-hole

You ignorant sh!t.

Zillah

Thread just got interesting.

Dave!

*grabs popcorn*

Overblood

*cocks gun*

Overblood

Zillah wrote: »

Thread just got interesting.

If you think that's interesting you should have seen the 1st draft of my reply:cool:. But I decided I don't want to be banned.

I think this thread is nearly over, but I will mention the various avenues suggested here to the guy. thanks for the replies.

Zombrex

Húrin wrote: »

Because most people either feel a need for it, or act in their lives as if there is a purpose.

So the universe has to have a purpose because (some) people feel a need for it?

That explains why people would imagine that they have a special purpose, but unless you are suggesting that the universe is some how required to provide something humans long for, it doesn't explain why the universe has to have a purpose.

Evilsbane

I would ask your friend to remember the last time he was so excited that he had butterflies in his stomach.

Isn't the fun of life in the exploration of the unknown?

Dades

Overblood wrote: »

If you think that's interesting you should have seen the 1st draft of my reply:cool:. But I decided I don't want to be banned.

Either you forgot to save the changes, or you have an odd idea about what you can get away with.

A short ban for you, sir.

Húrin

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Most people. How much of the universe does 'most people' constitute, in percentage terms?

So, they want the whole universe to exist, just for them?

Wow. How self-centred.

I have a more humble view of myself.

Why does every little comment made on this forum invite such vitriolic response? All I did was try to answer why people think there should be a meaning. I don't think that meaning implies that the universe exists just for humans. I think it implies the opposite actually.

Wicknight wrote: »

So the universe has to have a purpose because (some) people feel a need for it?

That explains why people would imagine that they have a special purpose, but unless you are suggesting that the universe is some how required to provide something humans long for, it doesn't explain why the universe has to have a purpose.

I didn't say that the universe must have a purpose. I just gave a reason why many people feel the need to investigate the possibility of a purpose. Even most people who deny meaning in the universe act as if there is a meaning (or create their own). If there is no meaning, it would render humanity to be in an absurd position of longing for something that does not exist. Since humans are a product of the universe, it would be odd that we desire something that is not in the universe that produced us.

Dave!

Húrin wrote: »

I didn't say that the universe must have a purpose. I just gave a reason why many people feel the need to investigate the possibility of a purpose. Even most people who deny meaning in the universe act as if there is a meaning (or create their own). If there is no meaning, it would render humanity to be in an absurd position of longing for something that does not exist. Since humans are a product of the universe, it would be odd that we desire something that is not in the universe that produced us.

Nonsense

We've already been through this and I pointed out that humans have many examples of vestigiality.

Why do people still get wisdom teeth when their jaws cannot accomodate them? Curse from god?

Why do we still get goosebumps when we get cold, even though we haven't got alot of hair on our bodies to make them useful?

And if we can have vestigial bodily features, then why not mental ones?

Húrin

Dave! wrote: »

And if we can have vestigial bodily features, then why not mental ones?

So the universe once had a purpose, but no longer does?

Dave!

No, the human "longing for meaning" to which you refer may have had a purpose (say, pattern-finding, or an appreciation of cause and effect)

Point being, just because something comes natural to us does not mean it has a purpose. Case in point: wisdom teeth.

Flamed Diving

Húrin wrote: »

Why does every little comment made on this forum invite such vitriolic response? All I did was try to answer why people think there should be a meaning. I don't think that meaning implies that the universe exists just for humans. I think it implies the opposite actually.

Life without purpose, means that what we see is what we get. A vast universe, expanding and accelerating. Galaxies spinning and colliding. Blackholes sucking and gobbling. Solar systems being consumed by their star, in the end.

Oh, and on some blue pixel a bunch of balding apes believed in a sandal-wearing pseudo-hippy who thought that his dad has something to do with all this and that we somehow mattered.

The end.

Micky Dolenz

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Oh, and on some blue pixel a bunch of balding apes believed in a sandal-wearing pseudo-hippy who thought that his dad has something to do with all this and that we somehow mattered.

The end.

WTF?

book smarts

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Life without purpose, means that what we see is what we get. A vast universe, expanding and accelerating. Galaxies spinning and colliding. Blackholes sucking and gobbling. Solar systems being consumed by their star, in the end.

Oh, and on some blue pixel a bunch of balding apes believed in a sandal-wearing pseudo-hippy who thought that his dad has something to do with all this and that we somehow mattered.

The end.

lol. Well said.

And lol @ humanity.

And extra lol @ religious people. <snip>.

book smarts

"<snip>.

Last edited by Asiaprod; Yesterday at 21:39."


Sad. Fukc this forum.

Zillah

Mod reign of terror continues. We'll be having our own Night of Long Knives soon enough!

Dades

book smarts taking a vacation.

*sheaths blade*

joe freethinker

we all get 70 or so years "porpose" comes form raising a family and knowing you've done something in life which made their 70 years the best they could be.
motto:love life, family,care for the earth,be a freethinker,be adventous:D

joe freethinker

Zillah wrote: »

Purpose? Feh!

Every human being should live to indulge themselves in whatever fun, joy, love or satisfaction they can scrape from the universe. That's my philosophy. I don't really feel strongly enough about anything in particular to even contemplate a 'purpose'.

porpose comes from being good to others and passing on what you know

Zillah

joe freethinker wrote: »

porpose comes from being good to others and passing on what you know

Er, if you say so.