Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Veil of Fire · 06-13-2002, 04:03 PM

First off, I seriously mean this as a real, honest question. Not as a flame or anything.

How do atheists deal with the concept of death, without getting despondant?

I mean... I don't know if I could handle believing that when I die, that's it, it's over, do not pass go, do not collect $200. I would feel like my life was pointless, my being here an exercise in pointlessness, and the only thing I could ever do was help other people live better, but still pointless, lives.. in a cycle that continues until the sun explodes. It just seems to unimportant and futile...

I have a very morbid mind, especially when it comes to the long term.

How do you handle it? How do you give your life meaning?

I suppose it all comes back to the old Don Quixote quote.. "I've never had the courage to believe in nothing."

Mecha_Dude · 06-13-2002, 04:09 PM

Well, I seem to look at the big picture; my life is pointless, so why care? Just have fun while you exist, accept the things you can't change, like death, and do something about the things you can change. In my book, the meaning of life is to have fun, either that or 42...

Rhea · 06-13-2002, 04:19 PM

Driving my car around the racetrack at 120mph seems very unimportant and very futile. But i sure do enjoy it

and spend a lot of money trying to do it as often as possible.

You've been taught that joy must be given to you, rather than you discovering it. that inhibits your ability to feel what we feel, unfortunately.

Is a song less beautiful because it's short? You seem to be saying that a lifespan is not long enough to have meaning. Is a kind act less meaningful because it's spontaneous?

My life has purpose, meaning & joy, just like yours. And, just like what you believe, it will cease at my death. You probably don't (when you really think about it) think your life in heaven will just be a continuation of this life. it will start agian, rendering your earthly existence moot and pointless, won't it?

Veil of Fire · 06-13-2002, 04:25 PM

Rhea: Well, my belief in my impending reincarnation at least gives me the hope that I'm in any given situation for some reason or another, whether to learn something of **COSMIC PHENOMINAL IMPORTANCE**, or help someone else learn something of **COSMIC PHENOMINAL IMPORTANTCE** (need a reverb there), or something. Pure randomness, as much as I like to gamble, still depresses me.

I suppose it gives me a bit of hope that all the suffering and pain (and pleasure and joy) serve a purpose of some sort, on some level, in some way. If nothing else, to help paint a pretty picture for the Goddess to hang up on her wall.

So that's my delusion.

Rhea · 06-13-2002, 04:36 PM

so, if you believe in reincarnation with a purpose of learning such things then you sound like you believe you've already learned one from a previous life. do you remember it? or was it pointless once you got your new life?

(sincere respectful question)

Mendeh · 06-13-2002, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Slartibartfast, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
"I'd rather be happy than right, any day".

I have a bee in my bonnet about self-honesty at the moment. The likelihood, as far as I see, is that I'm a physical living being that will live for probably less than 90 years, and then I will be dead. Believing something because I want it to be true is being dishonest about the world and dishonest about my own motives. I am unwilling to copy Slartibartfast's attitude on this. I like the idea of reincarnation, or of a god/goddess taking care of me. But for me to believe something unobserved or unobservable is me being dishonest to my own mind.

Veil of Fire · 06-13-2002, 04:48 PM

Well.. I... *dithering* ... I'm sure I know.. like... subconciously... *making little patterns in the dirt with my foot* or, like... it's, like, soul knowledge, and I'll remember when I, like... umm... die and go back to wherever I go before I, like... wait to be born again and stuff...

Although some people DO remember past lives... it's just nobody else believes them. Heck, that IS how they chose the ne Dali Lama (and Panchon Lama, and nearly everyone else high up in that system) when the old one dies...

ishalon · 06-13-2002, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Although some people DO remember past lives...

if you believe that... why not ghosts? ufos? GOD?

anyway, atheists have one reason to live and enjoy it: its all going to end soon

the fact that i will soon die, soon be forgotten entirely only drives me to discover something massive and become more famous than Darwin, more famous than god.

oh, and i also have a lesser drive to cause myself as much pleasure as possible while not breaking any societal or government laws that would prevent future fun, but that boils down to not doing too much in the end so i stick with DO SOMETHING GREAT AND MAKE THE LARGEST IMPRESSION ON HUMANITY EVER

Veil of Fire · 06-13-2002, 05:02 PM

"if you believe that... why not ghosts? ufos? GOD?"

Why not?

ashibaka · 06-13-2002, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Veil of Fire:
<strong>Although some people DO remember past lives... it's just nobody else believes them. Heck, that IS how they chose the ne Dali Lama (and Panchon Lama, and nearly everyone else high up in that system) when the old one dies...</strong>

Well, you see, hidden in the back of the Dalai Lama's house is this really, really big hat with all these names in it...

06-13-2002, 04:03 PM	#1
Veil of Fire Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 451	Question.. always wondered... First off, I seriously mean this as a real, honest question. Not as a flame or anything. How do atheists deal with the concept of death, without getting despondant? I mean... I don't know if I could handle believing that when I die, that's it, it's over, do not pass go, do not collect $200. I would feel like my life was pointless, my being here an exercise in pointlessness, and the only thing I could ever do was help other people live better, but still pointless, lives.. in a cycle that continues until the sun explodes. It just seems to unimportant and futile... I have a very morbid mind, especially when it comes to the long term. How do you handle it? How do you give your life meaning? I suppose it all comes back to the old Don Quixote quote.. "I've never had the courage to believe in nothing."

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06-13-2002, 04:09 PM	#2
Mecha_Dude Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Everywhere... I'm Watching you... Posts: 1,019	Well, I seem to look at the big picture; my life is pointless, so why care? Just have fun while you exist, accept the things you can't change, like death, and do something about the things you can change. In my book, the meaning of life is to have fun, either that or 42...

06-13-2002, 04:19 PM	#3
Rhea Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Recluse Posts: 9,040	Driving my car around the racetrack at 120mph seems very unimportant and very futile. But i sure do enjoy it and spend a lot of money trying to do it as often as possible. You've been taught that joy must be given to you, rather than you discovering it. that inhibits your ability to feel what we feel, unfortunately. Is a song less beautiful because it's short? You seem to be saying that a lifespan is not long enough to have meaning. Is a kind act less meaningful because it's spontaneous? My life has purpose, meaning & joy, just like yours. And, just like what you believe, it will cease at my death. You probably don't (when you really think about it) think your life in heaven will just be a continuation of this life. it will start agian, rendering your earthly existence moot and pointless, won't it?

06-13-2002, 04:25 PM	#4
Veil of Fire Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 451	Rhea: Well, my belief in my impending reincarnation at least gives me the hope that I'm in any given situation for some reason or another, whether to learn something of COSMIC PHENOMINAL IMPORTANCE, or help someone else learn something of COSMIC PHENOMINAL IMPORTANTCE (need a reverb there), or something. Pure randomness, as much as I like to gamble, still depresses me. I suppose it gives me a bit of hope that all the suffering and pain (and pleasure and joy) serve a purpose of some sort, on some level, in some way. If nothing else, to help paint a pretty picture for the Goddess to hang up on her wall. So that's my delusion.

06-13-2002, 04:36 PM	#5
Rhea Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Recluse Posts: 9,040	so, if you believe in reincarnation with a purpose of learning such things then you sound like you believe you've already learned one from a previous life. do you remember it? or was it pointless once you got your new life? (sincere respectful question)

06-13-2002, 04:48 PM	#7
Veil of Fire Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 451	Well.. I... dithering ... I'm sure I know.. like... subconciously... making little patterns in the dirt with my foot or, like... it's, like, soul knowledge, and I'll remember when I, like... umm... die and go back to wherever I go before I, like... wait to be born again and stuff... Although some people DO remember past lives... it's just nobody else believes them. Heck, that IS how they chose the ne Dali Lama (and Panchon Lama, and nearly everyone else high up in that system) when the old one dies...

06-13-2002, 05:02 PM	#9
Veil of Fire Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 451	"if you believe that... why not ghosts? ufos? GOD?" Why not?

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