Does atheism have anything worth living for?

[MarcusA]

The atheist is just a blank space waiting to be filled.

[Recusant]

Looking to atheism as a source of "worth" seems misguided to me. There are many things in life that make it worthwhile. The atheist has as many options in that realm as anybody else, minus devotion to mythical deities.

[MarcusA]

Church bores me, so what do I have? I have a brain.

[Asmodean]

What Recusant said.

Find something worthwhile, then label yourself by it if you so wish - looking for worth in labels is... A bit backwards.

So, can Atheism add value to your life? Sure. Does it have to define your life? Preferably the opposite.

[No one]

William James:
Is life worth living? Depends on the liver.

[Asmodean]

...Which, in turn, depends on the level of boozing and general carousiness, sooo...

...Is life worth living until the liver is gone, or as if it were already gone?

See, we's getting into some deep philosophizing right here.

[MarcusA]

I think that my liver is my own problem, thanks all.

[Prycejosh1987]

Blank spaces are meant to be filled with colour and life. Something only faith offers. No faith is saying we have no true purpose and focus in life. Goals are meant to be consistently achievable. Having a family is achievable but stops mental and relationship growth after a certain point of bonding. The process to bonding is consistent and eternal. Spirituality offers a bonding process which promotes consistent growth and personal development.

[Tank]

30 day ban for preaching, again.

[Asmodean]

Blank spaces are meant to be filled with colour and life. Something only faith offers. No faith is saying we have no true purpose and focus in life. Goals are meant to be consistently achievable. Having a family is achievable but stops mental and relationship growth after a certain point of bonding. The process to bonding is consistent and eternal. Spirituality offers a bonding process which promotes consistent growth and personal development.

The Asmo looks at a blank space on this here *point* sheet of paper, grabs a bunch of crayons and starts furiously colouring with His tongue poking out at the "concentration" angle.

Crayons, it turns out, are faith. Or maybe The Asmo is..?

The above is a metaphor, for those who wonder. Emphasises the role of self in filling them blank spaces.

[Skeptik]

I've been away from the forum for a while so forgive me if I'm commenting on some old posts.

As for the OP, atheists don't believe there's an afterlife.  We believe that everything is in the now.  This life is all there is.

So, we have everything to live for.  We have nothing to die for.

[Asmodean]

Nothing wrong with a speck of constructive necromancy.

I must disagree with you that "we" have nothing to die for - we absolutely may have causes to both live, die and kill for, just like everyone else. Not having one's priorities codified by scripture does not remove the priorities themselves.

For example, many a parent would die for their child if the circumstances so dictated - atheist or no. If the upside of [the action that leads to] you no longer existing is greater than the downside... Therein lies the mental calculus.

[billy rubin]

why cant atheists believe in an afterlife?

theres evidence of ghosts, communication with the dead, all that stuff. evidence, but no proof that i know of.

no reason for religion to get involved. maybe we are just an early instar of something else

[The Magic Pudding..]

why cant atheists believe in an afterlife?

theres evidence of ghosts, communication with the dead, all that stuff. evidence, but no proof that i know of.

no reason for religion to get involved. maybe we are just an early instar of something else

Are you, do you designate yourself as an atheist Billy?

[The Magic Pudding..]

why cant atheists believe in an afterlife?

It's too convenient.