Atheists:

[phantasm]

Why should I care about the betterment of humanity?

For the next generation, and the generation after that…so that each may enjoy good quality of life and a bettering of life upon this planet.

If your not interested in a better tomorrow for the next generation, then I suppose the future would look pretty bleak.

 

[Veritas248]

Here is another way of putting it: Say we knew that the Sun was going to explode in one week. It would wipe everything humans had ever done out of existence, erasing all traces of human history. What is the purpose that prevents human existence from being a waste of time?

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

I think posts speak for themselves, and do reveal a lot about the person. Obviously it does not give you a detailed picture, but it does let you know about the person’s general disposition. I agree though, if you look at one argument and try to discern the person by that, it is not a good idea. But if you look generally and see consistent patterns in a variety of topics, then you will get an idea about the person in general. An all around person will concede on some things, but be steadfast in others. A one sided person with no intention of cooperating will only be antagonistic in everything they care to discuss.

Posts do speak volumes about a person.

Yeah, you’re right. It’s all about style.

 

[phantasm]

Here is another way of putting it: Say we knew that the Sun was going to explode in one week. It would wipe everything humans had ever done out of existence, erasing all traces of human history. What is the purpose that prevents human existence from being a waste of time?

The sun is one day going to explode and will destroy everything upon this planet and everything in this solar system.

If it were to happen tomorrow, without warning…

poof

Goodnight, shows over.

Cold, pitiless, indifference from the universe, what else could you expect? Suns explode all the time, destroying everything in their wake, why would it be any different here?

Is it because you have consciousness and you believe you are special within the universe and the billions upon billions of galaxies?

 

[Veritas248]

The sun is one day going to explode and will destroy everything upon this planet and everything in this solar system.

If it were to happen tomorrow, without warning…

poof

Goodnight, shows over.

Cold, pitiless, indifference from the universe, what else could you expect? Suns explode all the time, destroying everything in their wake, why would it be any different here?

Is it because you have consciousness and you believe you are special within the universe and the billions upon billions of galaxies?

So am I to believe that there is nothing that keeps human existence from being a waste of time?

 

[phantasm]

So am I to believe that there is nothing that keeps human existence from being a waste of time?

If you, as an individual, are not interested in a betterment of humanity, enjoying the life you have or a betterment of future generations.

Correct.

 

[Veritas248]

Well, my issue is this: The things you mention are all well and good, but in the end, they would amount to absolutely nothing. They would be just be superficial masks to try to add meaning to an absolutely meaningless existence. Just excuses to try to escape the finite nature of existence. The ultimate form of self deception. When humanity ends, everything we had ever done would be gone as well, making all our efforts completely futile. I see no convincing reason to think that is the true nature of existence. I wonder if anyone can give me one?

 

[phantasm]

Well, my issue is this: The things you mention are all well and good, but in the end, they would amount to absolutely nothing. They would be just be superficial masks to try to add meaning to an absolutely meaningless existence. Just excuses to try to escape the finite nature of existence. The ultimate form of self deception. When humanity ends, everything we had ever done would be gone as well, making all our efforts completely futile. I see no convincing reason to think that is the true nature of existence. I wonder if anyone can give me one?

…and so, you worship a God, with promises of eternal life, to fill the void.

 

[Veritas248]

…and so, you worship a God, with promises of eternal life, to fill the void.

Yes, I do. With God, I get an absolute purpose, a real meaning, something to strive for, the promise of justice, a source of strength in horrible times, and everlasting life. What is my only alternative? Believe that there is no purpose to life, and therefore chase superficial things such as power or pleasure to try to escape the inevitable despair in vain. I think I’ll pass…

 

[Oreoracle]

Not stereotyping at all. I know many atheists and the behavior I described is my honest observation.

It’s fairly simple, Christians believe in the soul and an afterlife, true/false

Atheists do not believe in the soul or an afterlife, true/false

When a Christian defends or presents their faith, no matter how imperfectly or lacking in charity it can be at times, the Christian is trying to save a person’s soul. Now I think that is an accurate statement, at least among the Christians (of different denominations) that I know.

My question is why an atheist, who does not believe in an afterlife or the soul, would try to convince a Christian that his beliefs are incorrect when IF the Christian is correct the consequences are eternal. IF the atheist is correct, it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things (not eternal).

I’m sorry if this is stereotyping, I believe I’m making accurate observations and presenting them.

You answered my question. You are here to to help prevent, mitigate, or reduce Christians from reprimanding people for doing harmless, enjoyable things. Thanks for the honest answer.

Oh, I misunderstood. I thought you were saying all atheists did that. I’ve heard it said before.

 

[phantasm]

Yes, I do. With God, I get an absolute purpose, a real meaning, something to strive for, the promise of justice, a source of strength in horrible times, and everlasting life. What is my only alternative? Believe that there is no purpose to life, and therefore chase superficial things such as power or pleasure to try to escape the inevitable despair in vain. I think I’ll pass…

My purpose in life is for the betterment of humanity, my biological offspring and the generations of tomorrow.

Your life purpose on the other hand is for you to feel there is justice, you to feel strength from a higher power, you to have everlasting life and you to feel an absolute purpose from a supernatural God.

It’s all about YOU and only YOU.

 

[Veritas248]

My purpose in life is for the betterment of humanity, my biological offspring and the generations of tomorrow.

Your life purpose on the other hand is for you to feel there is justice, you to feel strength from a higher power, you to have everlasting life and you to feel an absolute purpose from a supernatural God.

It’s all about YOU and only YOU.

Not quite. You are missing a very large point. Those things aren’t my purpose, they are what I believe I have. I never said what I thought my purpose was. I only said that I had an absolute purpose. Even so, those things I do believe I have, I believe that all humanity has them, not just myself.

What you claim as a purpose is still superficial, because in the end, it all comes to naught. Unlike you, I don’t believe life is finite. I don’t believe that when humans all die off, we are gone forever. I don’t have to invent a purpose to try to hide from that. I have a purpose, not decided by myself. I was created for something. That gives me a reason to try to help humanity. I can be assured that, in my heart, I’m not helping humanity for its own sake, but because we were created for something, something greater than ourselves. Its truly liberating, to tell you the truth.

 

[alekzander]

Why even worry about future generations? According to your view this life thing is all meaningless anyways. There is no such thing as sin…kill and steal and have as much sex as you can. What is holding you back??

 

[phantasm]

we were created for something.

The Christian view is that most were created for a place called HELL

Matthew 7:13

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

 

[phantasm]

Why even worry about future generations? According to your view this life thing is all meaningless anyways. There is no such thing as sin…kill and steal and have as much sex as you can. What is holding you back??

My evolutionary and biological genetics that assist me in navigating within my society and amongst my species.

It is frighting that you would kill and steal if it were not for a God watching your every move.

 

[phantasm]

According to your view this life thing is all meaningless anyways.

I never said that life was meaningless. Life has great, even extraordinary meaning. Your interpretation of a life without God, is one without meaning.

Do not put words in my mouth.

 

[phantasm]

All of you who believe life without the Christian God would be meaningless, I ask you this;

" Would your life have been meaningless if you had been born in the year 10,000 or 50,000 B.C. ?"

 

[alekzander]

Who are what is putting the meaning in your life? There can be no meaning when you believe in coming from nothing and going to nothing.

 

[alekzander]

Actually some believe the earth is about 6,000 years old. Back then people had prophets and people like Moses to guide them.

 

[Veritas248]

The Christian view is that most were created for a place called HELL

Matthew 7:13

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

You really need to put things in context. I see no less than two problems with your assertion:

1. Jesus is not talking about numbers here. If you were a parent of four, and all but one of your children survived a terrible accident, you’d say that three too few of your children survived. So it is with Jesus. When He says there are few who find it, He is speaking with the perspective of a father. If all but one of His children made it home, He would still call it too few on account of the one who did not make it. You can learn from the parables of the lost sheep, the coin, and the prodigal son, that He is deeply concerned when just one of His children falls away.
2. If a person ends up in Hell, it is their own fault. We are going through a process on the Earth, transforming ourselves into either a hellish creature or a heavenly creature. This transformation depends primarily on our choices, so it is up to us where we will go. God does judge each person individually though.

That is basically it. If you do not accept these explanations, then I cannot help you. For one who refuses to listen, explanations are futile.