I have a couple of questions I would like to ask of UM's athiest contingent. I'm not talking to any agnostics, or anyone that believes that there is or could be a god or spirtual force governing over existance:

1) How do you feel about the end of your life? Do you dread it more? Do you take more care of yourself or carpe diem? etc.

2) Do you feel that you have a stronger desire to make an impact, and leave your mark so to speak? Or does it matter to you if you live on in any sense after you're gone?

I think that these are difficult questions to answer for anybody, but I'm just curious about how the opinions might range within the totally non-religious mindset. Thanks in advance to everyone.

It is my dearest hope that your thread remain flame free, as it was initially intended.


Carpe Diem, for this Atheist. I tend to accept the laws of physics that say I am energy and energy can never be destroyed. So while I don't believe in an after life place, I do believe after life I return to that what powers all that exists as manifest or material energies, if you will. And in the spirit of seize the day, I'm an organ donor, so that when I pass from this life, having seized for that final time , I'll perhaps gift someone else a chance to carpe diem for themselves.

I'm not here to impress, I'm here to live a life. What leaves my mark, sort of speak, is how I go about that and the future and legacy that creates, in the process. So , when I give my time and money to charities I care about, I help people and causes I care for. I think that makes a difference, in that respect. When I pass away , my children will take with them all that I helped to instill through our relationship, as they, being very good people, go forward and make something of themselves and their life, and as such, change the world for their mere presence in it. As we all do. I think everyone alive makes a difference, and I think it's what one believes about themselves, and their own sense of self-worth, that makes the difference either what some would call a blessing, in this life, or a curse. I see life as a gift, and so it is my intention to leave this life better off for having known me, as it gifted me the opportunity to live it.

This will vary from atheist to atheist. I think it's a good idea to take care of oneself no matter what one believes, but every individual dies eventually. I try to enjoy every day that I'm still alive, and am glad that I'm easily amused.


Again, this will vary from person to person. I try to work towards positive recognition, but if I fail, it doesn't bother me. I find it strange that I'm the only person in my family who doesn't find it hard to imagine non-existence.

1) How do you feel about the end of your life? Do you dread it more? Do you take more care of yourself or carpe diem? etc.

To me, I'm not afraid of it, it's just a bit saddening to think about. I don't like the idea of simply not existing any longer, although I understand that I'm trying to see it from a human perspective, and that's no good because humans are survival machines. I think of it like this: I wasn't upset that I didn't exist while history was happening, I didn't feel scared of nonexistence then.. once I die, it won't really make any difference to me. I still have a long time to go in my life hopefully, and I'm going to try and make it a good one. To me, life is a lucky opportunity.. so I'll seek to enjoy it how I best can, and when it's my time to go, I'll go. Of course, being atheist doesn't necessarily mean no belief in an afterlife, it's just that most atheists are more skeptical of spirituality, as well as the belief in an afterlife pretty much originates in religion.

2) Do you feel that you have a stronger desire to make an impact, and leave your mark so to speak? Or does it matter to you if you live on in any sense after you're gone?

I feel that way. True, it doesn't really mean anything to you once you're dead but I think that the effect one has on the world is the only real importance their life can give.

I've thought about this topic a lot in the past, and it's a bit of a difficult pill to swallow for some people. I think a lot of the popularity that religion manages comes from the desire for something other than that dark abyss that many personify as death. Everyone needs something to keep them going, and there are some who can't find it in the world, and look for something more spectacular.

I kind of like this bit here. I think it's rather thought provoking. Is this original, or did you maybe read/hear a similar philosophy or set of ideas somewhere? Just wondered if there was a source of this idea other than your own genius? Just a little tease, not a bash! I'm actually interested.

1) I don't dread it more the only problem I have with the end of my life is that it will hurt those that care about me. I never ever wish to cause them sadness.

2) All I want to do is live my life and make my friends and family happy so that they enjoyment in their lives. If I am able to make a big impact ( hopefully a positive one) then that will be a added bonus because that will extend my life because by making a big impact on people you live on in their hearts and memory.

Smart ass!

Well, yes it's my own POV on the subject, this thread actually came at a bit of a funny time, I had just been thinking about this same subject earlier this morning, prompted by a recurring dream theme I've had for a long time now. So I guess you could say I was already in a "philosophical mode" on this same topic when this thread came up

Cool. It has an existential feel to it. I still like it.

Yes, but I prefer it to being a dumb ass, which I'm only guilty of part of the time.

It takes a big person to admit they're 50% dumb ass. I Love it.

So, is there anything constructive related to the OT, that you'd like to share!? ~flicks lighter~ You know, besides.....

Not to derail the subject, but Goddesswhispers, I clicked on the link for the free PSP but there was nothing there? How do I get the free PSP? I'm not accepting Jesus until you give me more details.

Hey man, I just pimp techno for the Asians. You gotta de problem with electronic JC, take it to Hong Kong! Sabe?! <<<Go ahead, click 'em, you sinner!

1) How do you feel about the end of your life? Do you dread it more? Do you take more care of yourself or carpe diem? etc.
I don't do a great deal of self preservation as death is inevitable.

2) Do you feel that you have a stronger desire to make an impact, and leave your mark so to speak? Or does it matter to you if you live on in any sense after you're gone?
Not really, although I believe for many aethiests a body of work is important, as for certain people such as myself who have beliefs of a nihilistic nature one has to create projects to fill the montany of life and create purpose for one's self.

After you think you're going to die... You really see how meaningless feelings are towards death. It's going to happen no matter what you do. I don't mind it anymore... Death is just as beautiful as life is. I could die tomarrow and understand.

Fyi, I was an atheist before this happened as well.

I've used this movie line before but I still like it and that's all that matters...lol...

I'll tell you a secret. Something they don't teach you in your temple. The Gods envy us. They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.

-Achilles, Troy



Not so much. I don't think that has anything really to being an atheist but rather having an ego problem. I don't do nice things to be remembered for or even seen as doing them. I do them just for the sake of it.

although I don't concider myself an atheist , but more of an agnostic/deist. I think these questions still apply.


1) How do you feel about the end of your life? Do you dread it more? Do you take more care of yourself or carpe diem? etc.

what happens happens. I'm pretty ill , but I haven't changed my life. I do fear the process of dying as for death itself no one escapes it , we all have to do it . I don't dread it . I do dread the process before hand. I'd rather go quick than linger.


2) Do you feel that you have a stronger desire to make an impact, and leave your mark so to speak? Or does it matter to you if you live on in any sense after you're gone?

We all make an impact no matter what we do.

Begger or King . it isn't the number that matters in remembering a person it's if your remembered well. Look at Falwell as an example. He made quite an impact and a majority of it not good even though he was a so called 'christian' . He offended alot of different people so what the majority of people remember him for is ,tinky winky and the handbag , saying that TWC happened because of gays ,lesbians ,feminists and pagans. and of course trying to bring down Larry Flynt.

yet even a bad impact is important in the scheme of things , it teaches us lessons. hopefully we lean them.

at the same time a strong desire to make an impact can also be a sign of a fear of death.

If I were an athiest...and didnt believe in God

how would I dread it more?? what have I to fear??

Answer would be -- NOTHING

If i were an athiest, I wouldnt fear anything...when i die thats it..nothing more to add...nothing will happen


name me someone that has come back to confirm there is an afterlife??

As far as I am concerned...NO ONE has come back to tell the tale

I know you only wanted Atheists, and I didn't make the grade , but I shall add my response as a Deist all the same. I hope there is more, but I accept that there may not be. So, speaking from that acceptance:



I came close to death a little while back. I believed it was the end. It wasn't frightening. Being ill was frightening, but death itself... what's to be afraid of? When it happens, if that's the end, then I won't even know it's taken place. Poof, I'm gone.

I live life to the full... it's all just one big wonderful experience. Who has time to worry about death?



I don't particularly care if anyone even notices I've been here. What does it matter? I am alive, and then it will be over. What strangers think of me now isn't important, so I don't see why I should care what they think when I'm not even around to know about it. Do you suppose it matters to the dead that someone wrote about them in a history book, or built a statue, or named a hospital wing after them?

The whole concept of death never bothered me in the least. I'd just like it to be for a while off yet. Not for me, that I don't really care about. But, I want to be there when/if my daughter gets married, when/if she has children, I want to be here for her for as long as possible. It's not for me, but for her.

Exactly! Atheists do not believe in god. So it stands to reason, they do not accept there to be a heaven , much less a hell. So the afterlife means nothing, just as god means nothing in the life of an Atheist. But it does mean something to Theists. And as such,when they say Atheists are going to hell, they're actually saying they have faith in something for the Atheist, whether they accept it or not. But that just means it's the Theist that believes enough, for the both of them, in a place called hell. That's actually something they, as believers in it, have to live their lives hoping isn't awaiting them.

That's just the fun part of thinking outside the box. At least for this Atheist, it is.

You know, you don't have to be an athiest to fear the end life.



Haven't most of the people who have "left their mark" throughout history been theists?

Well I was under the impression that most of the people in the world are theists of some variety or another.
The odds are against us.

Unfortunately that's exactly what many of them think. Which is why , when they try to inspire the legislative process to discriminate by law, according to some religious grounds, they think their right to do so because "they" are the majority. The same demeanor occurs in every other aspect of community. Even on message boards. But, I don't see it as the odds against anything. As long as I can think for myself, I'm happy being what some call a minority, because it means I don't think it's right to surrender and join the majority herd. If there is a god, intelligence and independence are part of it's nature. That's nothing to condemn as wrong, or work of the devil, when god made him too.

And maybe, if any god did exist and did create any type of devil, maybe it did that just to see how much we could do with the gray matter god created in us, to work this living out on our own. Because if one is made from some eternal ever present creator, they can never be removed from that truth. So maybe that is part of the plan. Not obeying what one's told about what god is, but instead finding that "god" is bigger than sectarian constraints seem to think are fitting to describe it, in absolute human terms.

I have two friends who are currently very concerned about the fact that I am going to hell. Obviously, I am not going there, so why would I worry... a point of view which they regards as flippant. It doesn't detract from my life... this ticket I have to a fictional destination... but it is impacting upon the lives of those two believers. They tell me they spend a great deal of time hoping I will go over to the light side... they say the future of my soul hangs in the balance, and they hope I will make the right choice.

Another artwork of a post from you, but I meant that the odds were against the possibility of us consisting of the majority of the people who've "left their marks".

Ahhh I see. But at least I wrote some pretty good readable stuff, right!?


ah, never mind.

1. How do I feel about the end of Life? Well, I think that the meaning of life as humans personally percieve it is wrong. It is very hard to explain.... I don't want to die, but I am not scared of it because it will happen anyways. Wow, so hard to explain. This might not be on topic but I'll say it anyways. Humanity as a race is very psycological. We ask for the meaning of life because we are self aware. We want so many things from the universe. We as a race as very "young" psycologically. We cannot accept death to be the end because we have the power to decieve ourselves, to tell ourselves something we want to hear. And if everyone is saying it, we believe it even more.

2. Not so much. Death is something you should avoid at all costs. But if it comes. Well, you will only know for a few seconds until you are gone. Basically like when you are asleep. Except your dont wake up etc.

If you want me to explain or anything just email or Pm me.

50%?!? I wouldn't have put the number that high, but it's nice to know you have faith in me!

Well, GW, I'm not an atheist. Therefore I cannot speak for or from that perspective. I just thought I'd take the opportunity to annoy you. Sorry for the interuption. Please, carry on.

I appreciate the effort.



But as you may well have noticed, what some expend in an effort to annoy me, I take as an opportunity to laugh with them , that they would even think it worth their valuable life's time, to even try.

What doesn't kill me only delays the inevitable.


Nope


I'm not much of a seizing type of guy. I prefer to stroke the day gently.


I leave a mark every day. My mother always thought I was going to save the world, perhaps I already have.