atheists-- what is your source of hope?

[pc in NM]

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Atheism is not wrot with gloom and pessimism. Why do you feel this must be so?

I also feel people need hope, comfort, and a sense of belonging. I seek those things, just not in religion. I hope I will be able to contribute something good and meaningful to the world before I die, since after I die, well--that's pretty much it. That is my hope.

Atheism is not a lifestyle, it is a "belief" based on sound thinking and available information.

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And, I might add that a world "without god" is what we've bneen in anyway, but just hadn't thought clearly enough about before - the "world" is unchanged; only the explanations are different.

As an atheist, I believe that humanity is a species amonst species that has evolved on earth; that the species will become, as all do, extinct at some future point in time. As individuals, and as a species, our "existence" is contingent....

However, I also regard "hope" as a human emotion, and recommend that the proper way to view it is, as with any human emotions, within a human context - that is, within a human timeframe. I suspect that those who view "atheism" as "hopeless" are specifically thinking in terms of "eternity". And, I agree, atheism offers nothing in such terms or timeframes. However, there is a possibility for "hope" within one's own life, community, and historical context - whether hope is, or isn't justified within any of those contexts is subject to the same calculations and/or considerations for each of us, regardless of religious affiliation....

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Atheism is not a lifestyle, it is a "belief" based on sound thinking and available information.

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We would hope that... but often it's based on non-thinking.

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I am not happy with these replies. They imply that atheists need to find some other source of hope to become atheists. Atheists should believe what they do soley because of science and logic. If that means no 'hope" so be it. Lemurs do perfectly well without it.

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What a downer! We already know that we would be atheists even in the absence of hope because it's the truth according to us. But are you going to tell me that you have nothing that keeps you going??? Perhaps these forums are even a small part of the reason that you don't just throw in the towel. Atheists have plenty of enjoyment and less things that make them unhappy; sounds like a sweet deal to me.

So tell everyone in here how much you love throwing in your little bits of discussion and enjoy being a part of this forum and get it over with [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[imported_luckyme]

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They imply that atheists need to find some other source of hope to become atheists.

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Perhaps that's what was meant. I wasn't sure since the ' source of hope ' is the same for everyone ( it's an internal emotion) so I read it in the sense of "which outside agencies give you reason to have some hope" in a difficult situation. Other people that will aid the situation ( friends, family, humanity in general) and personal strengths. I gave some examples of reasons for hope from my personal experience.

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Atheists should believe what they do soley because of science and logic.

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Nah, This is a milder version of 'prove there is no god'. It doesn't take a logical, scientific person to not buy some farfetched story, just a bit of healthy skepticism, no more than for swampland deals. You don't need a reason to NOT believe in one specific supernatural claim, otherwise you'll have mythsellers lined up at your door. You need a reason TO believe. Believing a specific myth isn't anyones default.

luckyme,
If I don't believe I'm right, my mind will change.

I don't think these replies necessarily imply that. Hope is an emotion that can come after becoming an atheist. It doesn't invalidate the position. These posters are just answering the question as humans who live with the position of atheism. We cannot separate our lives from our philosophical position; well, we can but if we did it would imply a lack of faith in that position.

[college kid]

I'm sorry, could you please repeat the question? I was distracted by the most amazing avatar I've ever seen in my life.

Oh right, hope. For me, knowing there is no higher power only inspires me to do as much good as I can and leave a good solid impact on the world. If I am about to die in the ER, well, I guess I just have to say nice hand and be done with it.

[WillMagic]

Easy.

"Hmm, this intensive care stuff is lame. But life in general kinda kicks ass. I'd like to keep living."

Also, a counter question: If it were somehow proved beyond any doubt that no God exists...would you lose all hope? Would live no longer be worth living?

Will

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Easy.

"Hmm, this intensive care stuff is lame. But life in general kinda kicks ass. I'd like to keep living."

Also, a counter question: If it were somehow proved beyond any doubt that no God exists...would you lose all hope? Would live no longer be worth living?

Will

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To me, in general life doesn't kick ass at all! Only knowing that it is finite keeps me going. I mean I can put up with existence for a while, but surely not for eternity. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[mackthefork]

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Easy.

"Hmm, this intensive care stuff is lame. But life in general kinda kicks ass. I'd like to keep living."

Also, a counter question: If it were somehow proved beyond any doubt that no God exists...would you lose all hope? Would live no longer be worth living?

Will

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To me, in general life doesn't kick ass at all! Only knowing that it is finite keeps me going. I mean I can put up with existence for a while, but surely not for eternity. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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I had a can of Fosters once, I know exactly what you mean.

Mack

[Piers]

I do not see the relationship between religious belief or lack of, and hope that you seem to believe exist. You are asking a question that does not exist.

Hope is an emotion; and like all emotions it’s a devise the mind use to indirectly control our conscience behaviour. It motivates us to keep trying to achieve some goal, where we might otherwise give up. Hope needs to be attached to a goal to function correctly, the exact details varying depending on circumstance.

Hope is a tool the mind uses, it will continue to use hope to motivate us irrespective of the situation we are in. The goals might be different but the mechanism is the same.

Lack of hope is an indication of brain damage, not lack of religious belief.