Which came first? The chicken or the egg-xistentialist?
Question: Where did this existence go so terribly and irreversibly wrong?
With that being stated as the "obvious," attempting to keep a positive outlook in light of all the negative absurdities that seem to unfold in day to day life can be an overwhelming mental burden. I, be it right or wrong in YOUR opinion (which you are entitled to), have long since excepted my reality of zero (count them) afterlife possibilities following this life. I will also not attempt to bullshit myself or anyone else any further with entertaining the idea of a god or, gods in the plural for that matter. Why would I? Would doing so make me "genuinely happy?" Would it make me a "good" person? Would it inject "meaning" into my life? OR, would it simply make me ignorant to the truth? Is it not possible for me to make the "right" decision without an external means of enforcement? I say that I can with very little problem. That is after all dependent upon what your definition of "right" may be. The emphasis I would like to make here is on autonomy. Do you require coercion in your life, constantly hovering to ensure that you make that morally right and justifiable decision? That is the important question. Can one not give their own life "purpose" and "meaning?"
One could very well accept the fact that life has no substance and (understandably) slip into a state of hopelessness and despair. One might very well choose to do nothing with their time here saying, "fuck it, what's the use?" How easy it would be to fall into a nihilistic approach on life? I've shared that view before. I still do on occasion. It's hard not to. After all, does anything really matter? I suppose it depends on who you ask. Nothingness is a hard and bitter pill to swallow. Who wants an existence of meaninglessness? It's an agonizing thought to say the least.
Although, in all due consideration, who deems life meaningless on the mere fact that what you do now won't help YOU directly in the afterlife? Does that really constitute a meaningless existence? The fact that a storybook ending doesn't exist, one adoring you in fine robes as glorious choirs sing on high and accompany the sound of trumpets upon your arrival, in no way HAS to mean that you have lived in vain. Referring back to autonomy, an incentive such as heaven is indeed a form of coercion. Why live right by god? So YOU can go to heaven. Better yet, what happens if you DON'T live right by god? As any Christian will tell you, you go to hell. I will say it again and again; COERCION. Religious types aren't good people by nature. It is not in our nature to be inherently good. A brief look at history will more than prove that fact. Those who claim this are nothing more than scared sheep conditioned to live as millions have lived before them. Under the confines of religious folklore and normative behaviors upheld by a society drunk with fear, they will live an existence just as meaningless as those of us who are the true realists. IF "meaninglessness" does in fact apply here.
With so many people having the "obvious" answer, who should you listen to? Hopefully no one. I've heard just as much ignorant bullshit come from atheists as I've heard coming from theists. I'm just as biased in the opposition of religion as a man or woman of faith would be in their argument for theism. The only thing that's "obvious" is that everyone is full of shit. The sooner you figure that out, the better off you will be. I am a cynical fuck though.
OK, two more question...
1) So, in the case that god did exist (just for shits and giggles of course), what would he prefer: the honest nonbeliever or the person who believes for personal gain?
2) Finally, if god were an ice cream flavor, what flavor would he be?
With that being stated as the "obvious," attempting to keep a positive outlook in light of all the negative absurdities that seem to unfold in day to day life can be an overwhelming mental burden. I, be it right or wrong in YOUR opinion (which you are entitled to), have long since excepted my reality of zero (count them) afterlife possibilities following this life. I will also not attempt to bullshit myself or anyone else any further with entertaining the idea of a god or, gods in the plural for that matter. Why would I? Would doing so make me "genuinely happy?" Would it make me a "good" person? Would it inject "meaning" into my life? OR, would it simply make me ignorant to the truth? Is it not possible for me to make the "right" decision without an external means of enforcement? I say that I can with very little problem. That is after all dependent upon what your definition of "right" may be. The emphasis I would like to make here is on autonomy. Do you require coercion in your life, constantly hovering to ensure that you make that morally right and justifiable decision? That is the important question. Can one not give their own life "purpose" and "meaning?"
One could very well accept the fact that life has no substance and (understandably) slip into a state of hopelessness and despair. One might very well choose to do nothing with their time here saying, "fuck it, what's the use?" How easy it would be to fall into a nihilistic approach on life? I've shared that view before. I still do on occasion. It's hard not to. After all, does anything really matter? I suppose it depends on who you ask. Nothingness is a hard and bitter pill to swallow. Who wants an existence of meaninglessness? It's an agonizing thought to say the least.
Although, in all due consideration, who deems life meaningless on the mere fact that what you do now won't help YOU directly in the afterlife? Does that really constitute a meaningless existence? The fact that a storybook ending doesn't exist, one adoring you in fine robes as glorious choirs sing on high and accompany the sound of trumpets upon your arrival, in no way HAS to mean that you have lived in vain. Referring back to autonomy, an incentive such as heaven is indeed a form of coercion. Why live right by god? So YOU can go to heaven. Better yet, what happens if you DON'T live right by god? As any Christian will tell you, you go to hell. I will say it again and again; COERCION. Religious types aren't good people by nature. It is not in our nature to be inherently good. A brief look at history will more than prove that fact. Those who claim this are nothing more than scared sheep conditioned to live as millions have lived before them. Under the confines of religious folklore and normative behaviors upheld by a society drunk with fear, they will live an existence just as meaningless as those of us who are the true realists. IF "meaninglessness" does in fact apply here.
With so many people having the "obvious" answer, who should you listen to? Hopefully no one. I've heard just as much ignorant bullshit come from atheists as I've heard coming from theists. I'm just as biased in the opposition of religion as a man or woman of faith would be in their argument for theism. The only thing that's "obvious" is that everyone is full of shit. The sooner you figure that out, the better off you will be. I am a cynical fuck though.
OK, two more question...
1) So, in the case that god did exist (just for shits and giggles of course), what would he prefer: the honest nonbeliever or the person who believes for personal gain?
2) Finally, if god were an ice cream flavor, what flavor would he be?