atheists-- what is your source of hope?

[Trantor]

[ QUOTE ]
In reading the posts in this forum I cannot help but admire the quality of ideas and expressions of beliefs and non beliefs portrayed. So my question to atheists is what is your source of hope? In my adult life I have had two occasions in particular where I had to go to intensive care, on call, day in and day out, and if I would not have had a belief system I would never had made it. So when an atheist has an emergency, and sacrifices have to be made for the good of another, day in and day out, making your own future uncertain, where do you find hope, solace and joy, if you do not believe in a higher power? Thank you for taking the time to read and or answer my post.

respectfully submitted.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am an atheist and I know I experience all the emotions you mention. As to "hope", I just hope! I just don't hope that some God or other will chose to help me (or others) out!

I've believe the emotions are common to humanity because we are humans. Some may believe the emotions derive from
some personal aquaintance from God, and maybe some specific ones do, but a belief in God is not where hope, happiness etc derive, IMO. We `atheists are feeling beings,too! Honest!

(Interesting post, by the way)