Does Atheism make you nihilist?

I'm curious because it seems like if there is no God, then there is no higher purpose in our lives. Our lives are so small anyway that anything we do would be meaningless in the grand scheme of the universe and we might as well round the human lifespan down to zero.

What do atheists think about this?

Who is more pious:
the man who does good deeds because he fears the wrath of an all powerful father figure,
or the man who does good deeds for the sake of doing good?

I live my life for the people around me, not some "God"

Who is more pious:
the man who does good deeds because he fears the wrath of an all powerful father figure,
or the man who does good deeds for the sake of doing good?

cybrcatter

The first one, since the second one does it for the sake of doing it.

Not exactly, some might be that way, but not all atheists are nihilists.

A great man once said, we are star stuff, the universe recognizing itself. Shame to waste such a cool thing, no?AndromedasWake

[QUOTE="cybrcatter"]

Who is more pious:
the man who does good deeds because he fears the wrath of an all powerful father figure,
or the man who does good deeds for the sake of doing good?

CosmicZombie

The first one, since the second one does it for the sake of doing it.

Why does a person have to believe in fairy tales in order to have meaning to their life?

[QUOTE="CosmicZombie"]

[QUOTE="cybrcatter"]

Who is more pious:
the man who does good deeds because he fears the wrath of an all powerful father figure,
or the man who does good deeds for the sake of doing good?

cybrcatter

The first one, since the second one does it for the sake of doing it.

Thats what i meant...

wat

Not necessarily but for me personally I am an existential nihilist.

Why does a person have to believe in fairy tales in order to have meaning to their life?

worlock77

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

Why does a person have to believe in fairy tales in order to have meaning to their life?

AndromedasWake

This

Why does a person have to believe in fairy tales in order to have meaning to their life?

worlock77

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

Rekunta

Nathan Explosion: So, where are we now?
Pickles the Drummer: This is the church of the atheists. They don't, uh, believe in God.
Nathan Explosion: Oh, like Toki and Skwisgaar?
Skwisgaar Skwigelf: No, we are nihilists? We don't believe in anything.
Nathan Explosion: But can't nihilists also... not... believe in god... too?
Skwisgaar Skwigelf: Well, I, uh... I don't know.

I see how atheism can logically lead towards nihilism but for their sanity I am happy to know not all atheists think that way. Granted, I'd be even happier to hear of an atheism coming to know God through Christ. :Pmindstorm

For their sanity? I am glad, then, to be considered insane.

[QUOTE="Rekunta"]

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

hiphops_savior

Because they were fed all the religious propaganda to get out of their addiction to begin with.

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]Does being Christian make you a nihilist? I'm curious because it seems like if there is a God then there would be no point to this life since you would have an eternal life waiting for you afterward. Our lives are so small compared to an eternity that anything you do would be meaningless in the grand scheme of things and you might as well round the human lifespan down to zero. What do Christians think about this?hiphops_savior

[QUOTE="hiphops_savior"][QUOTE="Rekunta"]

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

Because they were fed all the religious propaganda to get out of their addiction to begin with.

But 100 billion years from now what will remain of the Atheist?Acemaster27

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

Why does a person have to believe in fairy tales in order to have meaning to their life?

fastr

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]I see how atheism can logically lead towards nihilism but for their sanity I am happy to know not all atheists think that way. Granted, I'd be even happier to hear of an atheism coming to know God through Christ. :PRekunta

For their sanity? I am glad, then, to be considered insane.

[QUOTE="Rekunta"]

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

hiphops_savior

Hey, if it helps, more power to them. Personally though, I'd prefer to be right and miserable(at least at this point in my life) about things than be mistaken soley for the sake of comfort. But if they truly believe it, go for it.

[QUOTE="Rekunta"]

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]I see how atheism can logically lead towards nihilism but for their sanity I am happy to know not all atheists think that way. Granted, I'd be even happier to hear of an atheism coming to know God through Christ. :Pmindstorm

For their sanity? I am glad, then, to be considered insane.

Ugh. I'd like to agree, but do I ever wish to be "sane", whatever that may be. :)

No...

Did you read a work by Nietzshe or something?

[QUOTE="mindstorm"][QUOTE="Rekunta"]

For their sanity? I am glad, then, to be considered insane.

Rekunta

Ugh. I'd like to agree, but do I ever wish to be "sane", whatever that may be. :)

We are all a little insane, myself included. That is what makes life fun. :Pmindstorm

Ugh. I'd like to agree, but do I ever wish to be "sane", whatever that may be. :)

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

Rekunta

Any extreme belief is not rational, Nihilism is an extreme belief.

[QUOTE="Rekunta"]

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

smchacko

Any extreme belief is not rational, Nihilism is an extreme belief.

Sure it's extreme, but that doesn't make it any less true.

Who is more pious:
the man who does good deeds because he fears the wrath of an all powerful father figure,
or the man who does good deeds for the sake of doing good?

cybrcatter

This

I live my life for the people around me, not some "God"

thelastguy

and this.

With cybr's quote, I'm pretty sure I would be more qualified to go into Heaven which is what I tell people.

I do good just to do good, not because I fear of going to hell but because it's the right thing to do, not just the thing that will help get me into Heaven.

[QUOTE="CosmicZombie"]

[QUOTE="hiphops_savior"] I'm sure a lot of former addicts who became born-again Christians appreciate having someone like God to find purpose in. I'm not arguing, but I'm just putting things in perspective.kayoticdreamz

Because they were fed all the religious propaganda to get out of their addiction to begin with.

Are you serious?

[QUOTE="kayoticdreamz"][QUOTE="CosmicZombie"]

Because they were fed all the religious propaganda to get out of their addiction to begin with.

Are you serious?

[QUOTE="CosmicZombie"]

[QUOTE="kayoticdreamz"] why is religion propaganda but not aithiesm?kayoticdreamz

Are you serious?

Religion and religious propaganda are not the same.

To make things short, you dont see them going 'You have to avoid believeing in gods to get cured!'.

Who is more pious:
the man who does good deeds because he fears the wrath of an all powerful father figure,
or the man who does good deeds for the sake of doing good?

cybrcatter

I never thought of it like this.

Everything is relative. We're important to the people around us and the people we know and interact with. Who cares if we're insignificant on the larger scale?

[QUOTE="Rekunta"]

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

smchacko

Any extreme belief is not rational, Nihilism is an extreme belief.

Wow, there's a heaping full of fallacies. For one, how do you define extreme? By bucking adherence to the principles our society currently values? Then by that logic, isn't hegemonic adherence the only rational way of living? However, I'd cla$$ify an adherence to a hegemonic order of things the epitome of unrational behavior, as you're not judging based on merit but simply arbitrarily espousing theories simply because they're entrenched. Most of modern philosophical and social progress has been accomplished by questioning what is entrenched and overthrowing hegemony, many rational advances have been made through the use of what were at the time considered extreme beliefs.

Obviously not, considering that not all atheists are nihilist. The belief that there is no supernatural creator does not imply that nothing holds any meaning unless you want it to.

[QUOTE="Rekunta"]

Life is ultimately objectively meaningless. Everything around you, everything that's ever been, will eventually be gone. Nothing. Nada. Zip. All pau. Besides, why do I need a God to find purpose? The only purpose in life is the one we choose to give it. Nihilism is the only rationale, realistic viewpoint, everything else is simply wishful thinking.

hiphops_savior

But to say the only way that they could buck harmful habits like that is through religion is a fallacy.There's nothing inherent to religion that stops people from being addicts, it's simply that religion happened to be the force in their life that caused them to do so. In the abscence of religion, there are other forces that can have a similar effect on addicts and accomplish the same goal. This is part of the reason why I detest that cult called AA so much, they militantly proselytize by telling people who are in a vunerable position that the only way they can get better is to accept the presence of a deity.

Nihilism is one of the greatest fears of humankind.

my opinion.