27 Feb '06 02:15>
Originally posted by Vladamir no1What an OUTSTANDING non-sequitur. Well done!
...and the rules and morals you live whilst alive are merely social fabrications so they mean nothing too, what is the point of life?
Originally posted by amannionApplause, applause! We no longer need fear the Hokeyman!
Why is the Christian - or theistic - position taken as the given, that atheists must refute in some way? What I mean is, why is it obvious that God places some meaning on our existence, where an absence of God does not?
It's certainly not obvious to me as a practising atheist.
I don't need to rely on some external reference to provide my life with meani ...[text shortened]... ribute something.
Not think nice hokey thoughts about some imaginary supreme being ...
Originally posted by rwingettTell me, if there is no after life, what does meaning, mean?
Rules and morals are social fabrications, yes, but it does not follow that they mean nothing. They mean quite a bit toward living a meaningful life in the here and now. I repeat, the point of life is to make your own life meaningful now. Use the time you've got with full knowledge that each moment is fleeting and cannot redeemed for some speculative afterlife.
Originally posted by Vladamir no1But life is meaningless so why on earth should we try to combat nihilism ?
If there is no god and we are but creatures of chance through a cosmic eruption (the big bang), then surely everything is nihilistic ergo nothing matters. Without turning back to god (as the German saying states, 'All gods must die'😉 how are we to combat nihilism?
Originally posted by KellyJayThat would ahve to be the most idiotic thing I've ever heard ... even more so for the fact that you probably share it with many other Christians.
Tell me, if there is no after life, what does meaning, mean?
After all, the fool and the wise both die, if there is nothing afterwards
they equally become nothing, and all that either gained is now lost to
them, both are now nothing once dead. If this life is all there is, than
there is no meaning; it is just taste for the moment, and the moment
is g ...[text shortened]... on
to nothing, where is the meaning in nothingness if this brief life
is all there is?
Kelly
Originally posted by KellyJayThis topic is like a merry-go-round with you. It is a sleight of hand to say that IF death is merely a permanent end to consciousness THEN all actions become meaningless. I think I already posted an example from Nagle concerning "chains of justification" that terminate fully within this natural life:
Tell me, if there is no after life, what does meaning, mean?
After all, the fool and the wise both die, if there is nothing afterwards
they equally become nothing, and all that either gained is now lost to
them, both are now nothing once dead. If this life is all there is, than
there is no meaning; it is just taste for the moment, and the moment
is g ...[text shortened]... on
to nothing, where is the meaning in nothingness if this brief life
is all there is?
Kelly
Originally posted by KellyJayThis is hogwash. The point to life is defined by the fact that it is all we have. We need to act in a way in which we can contribute to society and our fellow humans or there would be no point. Our interactions, social hierarchy, natural pleasures, are the very things that make up the boundaries of existence. To say that life has no meaning because we die, is ridiculous, it's like saying there's no point listening to a piece of music because it will end, or there's no point eating because the meal is a set amount and will be over, or there's no point in playing a game because it will eventually be full-time. Nonsense. It is the listening, dining and playing which are the very essence of these things; so too with life.
Tell me, if there is no after life, what does meaning, mean?
After all, the fool and the wise both die, if there is nothing afterwards
they equally become nothing, and all that either gained is now lost to
them, both are now nothing once dead. If this life is all there is, than
there is no meaning; it is just taste for the moment, and the moment
is g ...[text shortened]... on
to nothing, where is the meaning in nothingness if this brief life
is all there is?
Kelly
Originally posted by StarrmanOur interactions, social hierarchy, natural pleasures, are the very things that make up the boundaries of existence. To say that life has no meaning because we die, is ridiculous, it's like saying there's no point listening to a piece of music because it will end, or there's no point eating because the meal is a set amount and will be over, or there's no point in playing a game because it will eventually be full-time. Nonsense. It is the listening, dining and playing which are the very essence of these things; so too with life.
This is hogwash. The point to life is defined by the fact that it is all we have. We need to act in a way in which we can contribute to society and our fellow humans or there would be no point. Our interactions, social hierarchy, natural pleasures, are the very things that make up the boundaries of existence. To say that life has no meaning becau ...[text shortened]... listening, dining and playing which are the very essence of these things; so too with life.
Originally posted by amannionIf you can engage your brain, I'm asking something of you that
That would ahve to be the most idiotic thing I've ever heard ... even more so for the fact that you probably share it with many other Christians.
Why should an acceptance of nothing after life, make life meaningless. On the contrary, my belief in my (and your) complete annihilation upon death makes my life incredibly meaningful - it's all I have.