AveryisAwesome
Banned via Warnings
What's the reason to live? Should we just kill ourselves because there's no god?
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Are you suggesting that the OP is entertaining notions of suicide, hence why they forwarded this particular thread topic? Nothing about the question (i.e. whether we should kill ourselves in the absence of reasons for living) implies that the person asking the question is suicidal, or depressed, or whatever else.What the hell is this thread. This is something you talk to your therapist about, not post on a forum about.
Sex, pizza, Smash, and arguing on the internet.What's the reason to live?
The ones who would answer 'yes' aren't likely to be here, so you've got a sampling bias.Should we just kill ourselves because there's no god?
I'm basically in agreement with your post, but to elaborate further, I think one should differentiate between "purpose" and "function".I find there are multiple answers to this question, as to be expected.
From a biological perspective, as is the case with other life on earth, the purpose of life is to survive long enough so that your genes are perpetuated into future generations. However, as self-aware beings, this answer is far too rigid to be considered the end-all response. We experience the world as individuals, and so the reasoning behind living must be adjusted as such. For countless years, people have asked this question and I don't believe we're any closer to getting a satisfactory answer, as one wouldn't exist. We entertain ourselves with stories that have definitive plots and expect our universe to follow suit. It just doesn't work like that. All in all, the "purpose" in life is very much a human construct and so the only person that can answer that for you is yourself.
A good first post.I believe that we choose to continue to live and not off ourselves because we want some sort of happiness. I believe that happiness is the purpose for our lives, and that happiness is the main reason we do everything we do. No sane person would ask why we would want to be happy; we just simply are (A). Regarding the comment about there being no God, I feel that even though you believe there is no God that is not a legitimate reason to end your life. Just because there is no higher power in this world doesn't change the fact that we all still have lives that are short and should be valued to our last breaths (B).
I think the better question would be, "what is the ultimate point of living?", granted it is probably what you meant. I've always found that people (especially in this kind of discussion) like to use "purpose", "point", and "meaning", even sometimes "reason", interchangeably when they each have very distinct definitions. Purpose would imply that some being has an intent for some thing. So it's only relative when you ask, "what is this thing's purpose?" (depending on who you ask, one single thing might simultaneously have one purpose, multiple and mutually-exclusive purposes, or no purpose at all, and it would all be equally valid). Life itself, nor the act of living, has no purpose in-so-far-as there is no over-seer, demiurge, God, etc., for whom to assign it a purpose. As beings of will, we can assign things purpose. For instance, a pair of scissors can have a purpose, to cut things, to a being that can imagine and will and end to which it can use the scissors to achieve. Life as a broad concept and entity is not something we can use or manipulate (even if we can use and manipulate particular living things) and so I would say that the idea that humans can assign purpose to 'life' is a bit vacuous. Meaning is just somethings indexical value, i.e. a symbol or observation that indicates or implies something to the observer. The meaning of life is simply its definition, or whatever the observation of life indicates (i.e. Life is here, meaning liquid-water must be near-by) Point is identification of an end. So you could say, things have purposes in order to achieve points. So now, keep in mind that, for example, "what is the point of drinking water?" could be answered the same way as "What is the purpose of drinking water?", answer: "to survive", and that is because survival could be both a means and an end. This is why I say that the best way of asking this question is, "What is the ultimate point of living".What's the reason to live?
No, there is as little a point in dying as there is in living. You should only kill yourself if it is truly what you desire. Don't do it just because you think it rationally entails from the pointlessness of life or the absence of God, because it doesn't.Should we just kill ourselves because there's no god?
Carl Sagan said:To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.
2deep4marvel
I heard somewhere that already exists, but it involves making it yourself. Yeah, I don't think that would have mainstream appeal.Until waifu simulator XXX comes out
That isn't entirely true since a lot of religions value that your life here determines what happens after.Atheism can make you value life even more, since it is your only one and therefore it is precious. Carl Sagan was thinking along these lines when he called the Earth (viewed from a Voyager space probe) a Pale Blue Dot. He mused:
But as he said, most people will value their life more without religion. Not only do a lot of religions see death as the gateway to eternal happiness, most religions tell you that you have to obey, suffer, etc. in order to achieve this. And this is not living life to the fullest! Even if you just go to church once a week, pray every once in a while and wait for Sex until you are married, you are not free to spent your time like you want. You don't even have to be an Atheist to be "completely free", a non-religious believer can do it as well.That isn't entirely true since a lot of religions value that your life here determines what happens after.
Still the concept of, you have your life now it is a gift so use it well, is the same regardless if you are religious or not.
That's subjective on if they will value it more or less.But as he said, most people will value their life more without religion. Not only do a lot of religions see death as the gateway to eternal happiness, most religions tell you that you have to obey, suffer, etc. in order to achieve this. And this is not living life to the fullest! Even if you just go to church once a week, pray every once in a while and wait for Sex until you are married, you are not free to spent your time like you want. You don't even have to be an Atheist to be "completely free", a non-religious believer can do it as well.
If a religion tells you to do A but you don't, then you are not really following the religion. Of course it doesn't force you, it can't, it's not a physical thing. But religions demand a lot of things. You either obey them or not. If you don't, then you live your life more like an atheist.That's subjective on if they will value it more or less.
Religion doesn't force you to do anything, you choose to do as you wish.
The difference is that you seem to think religion inhibits if not toxic to ones life. That really is up to the person themselves. Due some people it makes them more free and adds more meaning.
That is is true, but religion in itself can add more reason and will to live for some people.If a religion tells you to do A but you don't, then you are not really following the religion. Of course it doesn't force you, it can't, it's not a physical thing. But religions demand a lot of things. You either obey them or not. If you don't, then you live your life more like an atheist.
Sure, but (as Raido said) religions require sacrifices in (sometimes of) this life for the sake of the next. At their worst they use hope for the afterlife as incentive to kill yourself and maim innocent people. At best they reinforce that love of life which comes naturally to most people most of the time.That isn't entirely true since a lot of religions value that your life here determines what happens after.
Still the concept of, you have your life now it is a gift so use it well, is the same regardless if you are religious or not.
The main thing religions tell people is to live peacefully and to love one another. It was the corrupt religious leaders of the past who warped the views to hell to the stereotyped hatred and intolerance (especially towards atheists, LGBT people, and those of other religions) many associate religion with today. But that's for a different debate.If a religion tells you to do A but you don't, then you are not really following the religion. Of course it doesn't force you, it can't, it's not a physical thing. But religions demand a lot of things. You either obey them or not. If you don't, then you live your life more like an atheist.