religious or atheist...

[WrightsPie]

no matter which way you look at it, life is all a bit absurd.
From a naturalistic point of view, this planet that we live on will one day be consumed by the sun and all life will cease to exist. So why bother with any kind of advancement? We will all die in the end and cease to exsist anyway.

From a supernatural perspective (religious, spiritual etc) its just as meaningless.
We all evolve or enter into another dimension (reincarnate or end up in heaven / hell /summerland or some other realm) but to what purpose? What happens when we end up 'enlightened'? What then?

Any thought guys?
Thanks...

[birdie1971]

There is no point. No heaven, no hell. No spiritual peeping Tom looking over your shoulder making judgements about your deeds and your thoughts. All of life is ultimately about survival and procreation.

Humans seem to be unique (as far as we know) in that they can conceive of themselves externally and contemplate their species' existence far into the future. We have grown to understand that all life on this small planet is interconnected and as such, we would do well not to arbitrarily exterminate animals just for the hell of it for fear that this may have unforeseen consequences for us all. Some of us have even evolved to the point where we feel compassion for the lives of other creatures and not just others of our own species.

Taken to the extreme, compassion is pointless as we're all going to perish. However, a lack of compassion would lead to a terrifyingly brutal world that I don't think anyone with a scintilla of self-awareness would like to see become a reality. Compassion for all others (animals included) makes life worth living as opposed to merely existing.


I've just realised that I haven't answered your question properly... oh well. I'll give it another shot tomorrow.

[Answerprancer]

"No matter which way you look at it, life is all a bit absurd".

In *your* opinion ?

It looks to me as if you haven't come to grips with your own egocentricism and opinions.

You are a new poster here, and your over-familiar term for us established posters ("guys") and the extreme nature of your first post here makes me wonder if you are either a religious fanatic or someone trying to sell us something (or both).

...dude ;-)

[Ankou]

the sun will begin to die in about 5billion years time.

in the interim human life will change in ways we cannot begin to imagine espeially if you bear in mind the changes that have occurred since we first 'existed' about 500,000 years ago.

so i wouldn't worry, we've got plenty of time to think about it, and maybe even go and live somewhere else with another younger solar system.

in the short term we live, we die. thas it.

[jno]

I'm going to die, so I've stopped eating. I mean, what's the point?

[Ankou]

i know jno, things are truly hopeless. so much so you keep posting links to the dm.

[RATTER15]

"no matter which way you look at it, life is all a bit absurd."

What a ridiculous statement!!!

I@m a confirmed Atheist and my life is far from absurd, I actually have a very happy life and im very content.

Just because your life may seem absurd I don't really think it is right to assume everybody else's is.

[jno]

in the face of impending doom, I have lost all my principles. I may even sell my Prios and go out and buy a 4WD.

Of course if I've got it all wrong and I end up as an angel, I will feel a bit of a twit driving a LandRover.

[Ankou]

ratter, perhaps the op follows the philosophical thought of absurdism.

the constant human chase to find meaning in life with the human inability to find it.

nuffink wrong with that really.

[Ankou]

jno, to some people, if you tootle around in a prius you are already in hell.

[Old_Geezer]

Pondering whether there is a point to existence is one of the classic questions. But whether we can conclude life is absurd is rather questionable. Yes individually we are likely to reach an end to our lives, but our species may go on longer. But is a lack of permanency enough to decide it is all not worth the bother ? Many things I do in life I do because I enjoy them in the present, longevity isn't an issue. Otherwise why make a wonderful meal when it is only going to be eaten anyway ? We find value in the act of creation for it's own sake. Surely it is not absurd ?

As for the consideration on continued existence after bodily death. Well unless you know that there is no purpose how can you conclude that, that is also absurd ? And even if you knew the purpose, or knew there was none, then the same arguments above about not needing an end goal, still apply. Maybe the value is in the journey rather than any arrival.

[archeraddict]

Answerprancer. I am not new but do not post on here anything like as much as many of you. I joined because I had a specific question to ask and then dropped in every so often. I'm sure I'm not alone in finding it to be a bit of a snow ball effect, as AB certainly starts to become a bit addictive and I now find myself logging in when ever the laptop is fired up, and join in with some of the threads.

I would just say that part of the reason for me not joining in much before is that it can be a bit intimidating to new/infrequent posters. Some of you 'guys' give the feeling that it is an exclusive club and only those who share the views of the old hands on here, are welcome to post. Those who have views that are perceived to be extreme (right wing; left wing; religious) can be made to feel unwelcome by some.

I have no idea about this post and you are probably right, but I do think that you might put some people off contributing if they are faced with that sort of response.

Shall I now reach for my flak jacket or are you up for some constructive criticism? ;0)

[RATTER15]

archeraddict, criticise anybody you want to critisise, just do it in a friendly manner if you can, if people don't like they are free to tell you, it happens everyday. Generally speaking we aren't all a bad bunch and we all have different views and opinions, if others don't like those opinions its just tough luck really.

Fire away!!!

[Ankou]

no you're fine. the vicious angry ones have left the building. hallelujah.

[Ankou]

og, i go through most aspects of my life thinking, its about the journey not the destination.

[archeraddict]

RATTER15. I agree with you - it is good to have a disagreement and healthy debate and there are all sorts of vies on here, which is what makes it so special. I just feel that saying to a new poster >'It looks to me as if you haven't come to grips with your own egocentricism and opinions'< isn't a nice way of disagreeing and might well put someone off starting a thread again.

As I said, no problem with saying what we think but perhaps be a little more gentle, especially with'newbies'.

[RATTER15]

archeraddict, it happens, we cant all be polite and sometimes people do say ridiculous things and are promptly put in their place, rightly or wrongly.

Ive been put down many times, you get used to it. Like I said, generally we are a good bunch :-)

[archeraddict]

I know and I *almost* feel part of the gang myself now!

[archeraddict]

................... or am I being 'over-familiar' saying that???

[RATTER15]

Most of the guys will welcome over familiarity by a Woman, just hold on tight.

[Ankou]

this thread has

a saint
a child
a cherub
a wise old sage
death
and a couple of dogs

its a like a nice little family in the cycle of existence.