challenge to Atheists

this was C&Ped from the TWeb user "Challenger grim" with some editing

How do you talk someone out of suicide?

Especially someone that has taken your worldview to an extreme of logic and reasoning.

Being close to 17 years old, I can expect about another 60 years of life. Considering how much this existence generally sucks, why should I bother with those coming 60 years? Work hard, scrape together a living, a family all for... what? My contributions will be forgotten within three generations.

Ok ok, maybe I can do something really fantastic. Become another Newton or hell, even Hitler just to ensure I'm "immortal" in the annuls of history. And? Within a few million years, the sun expands to a red giant and earth is no more. All my efforts... nothing.

Oh, but surely by then, mankind will have mastered space travel and spread out to the stars. Then my legacy can be preserved until... the heat death of the universe. And all my efforts will be for... nothing.

So why bother? I should just be expedient and kill myself now. It's the same end result either way.


(In some ways, the "nothing after" view is more comforting. Death becomes the ultimate freedom because I have to no longer bother with the crushing burden of existence.)

this was C&Ped from the TWeb user "Challenger grim" with some editing

How do you talk someone out of suicide?

Especially someone that has taken your worldview to an extreme of logic and reasoning.

Being close to 17 years old, I can expect about another 60 years of life. Considering how much this existence generally sucks, why should I bother with those coming 60 years? Work hard, scrape together a living, a family all for... what? My contributions will be forgotten within three generations.

Ok ok, maybe I can do something really fantastic. Become another Newton or hell, even Hitler just to ensure I'm "immortal" in the annuls of history. And? Within a few million years, the sun expands to a red giant and earth is no more. All my efforts... nothing.

Oh, but surely by then, mankind will have mastered space travel and spread out to the stars. Then my legacy can be preserved until... the heat death of the universe. And all my efforts will be for... nothing.

So why bother? I should just be expedient and kill myself now. It's the same end result either way.


(In some ways, the "nothing after" view is more comforting. Death becomes the ultimate freedom because I have to no longer bother with the crushing burden of existence.)

NTWrightfan

I hope you didnt write this because this is extremly childish thinking. besides how is anyone supposed to answer this topic...i mean is this person wanting to commit suicide a friend, family memeber, coworker? belive it or not there isnt just ONE thing you can say to every suicidal person to save them, everyone is different and will be swayed by different things. bleh I am done.

Damn it, when I saw the word "challenge", I epected to open this thread and see something along the lines of "Steel Cage Match!!"

I am truly disappointed.

Why do I need a God to justify my existance? I can live my lfie without having to abide by the rules of some invisible man in the sky thank you very much :|Silent-Hal

this was C&Ped from the TWeb user "Challenger grim" with some editing

How do you talk someone out of suicide?

Especially someone that has taken your worldview to an extreme of logic and reasoning.

Being close to 17 years old, I can expect about another 60 years of life. Considering how much this existence generally sucks, why should I bother with those coming 60 years? Work hard, scrape together a living, a family all for... what? My contributions will be forgotten within three generations.

NTWrightfan

So? Your point in life is not to be remembered, but to live out your life and enjoy it as much as possible. 

Ok ok, maybe I can do something really fantastic. Become another Newton or hell, even Hitler just to ensure I'm "immortal" in the annuls of history. And? Within a few million years, the sun expands to a red giant and earth is no more. All my efforts... nothing.

Oh, but surely by then, mankind will have mastered space travel and spread out to the stars. Then my legacy can be preserved until... the heat death of the universe. And all my efforts will be for... nothing.

NTWrightfan

Why do you want to perserve your legacy so badly? You're dead and just dead. What people think of you or if they remember doesn't effect you in any way after you're dead.

 

So why bother? I should just be expedient and kill myself now. It's the same end result either way.

(In some ways, the "nothing after" view is more comforting. Death becomes the ultimate freedom because I have to no longer bother with the crushing burden of existence.)

NTWrightfan

I can't tell you what to believe but death is never the answer. Why not live with the possiblity of enjoying yourself and helping others? Society only cares for you if you're alive, if you're dead, you're literally just history. 

Because existence is far greater than nonexistence.

Also, atheists have no problem with sex outside of marriage. ;)

Because existence is far greater than nonexistence.

Also, atheists have no problem with sex outside of marriage. ;)

metroidfood

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Because existence is far greater than nonexistence.

Also, atheists have no problem with sex outside of marriage. ;)

septemberluc

[QUOTE="septemberluc"][QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Because existence is far greater than nonexistence.

Also, atheists have no problem with sex outside of marriage. ;)

metroidfood

[QUOTE="septemberluc"][QUOTE="metroidfood"]

Because existence is far greater than nonexistence.

Also, atheists have no problem with sex outside of marriage. ;)

metroidfood

That is not right. Cheating on your wife. 

Could someone please tell me what the topic had to do with the subject, because I can't figure it out.Zorlac0666

Life doesn't need to have meaning in order to be worth living.bean-with-bacon

Whoever wrote that is obviously still enamored with the idea of the romanticized death and suicide; That after s/he's gone the feelings and emotions of others will somehow still affect, or otherwise matter to him/her. This is a huge fallacy of suicide. Many (note: not all) depressed teens feel like since they can't cope with new stresses in life, they'll kill themselves, "then they'll all see". The fact is, once you're dead, it won't matter, you won't be there to witness their emotional heartache. suicidal thoughts are a delusion.

And to believe that one's existence is intrinsically meaningless and needs to be validated by some act or set of actions is also a fallacy. We each carry a huge impact on those we commune with, form relationships with. Hell, each conception and birth each impact parents more than almost any other event in their lives. If you feel the need to reach more people than everyone else to "insure your immortality in the annals of history", then that is the very definition of an megalomaniac, and you should put yourself in check.HardQuor