The Myths of Atheism - The Meaning of Life

Myth #10: Atheism can't give you the meaning of life.

Actually, this myth is true.  Atheism isn't supposed to provide you with a meaning to life.  If you've been following along in this series, you know that "atheism" is the lack of belief in a god or gods – that's all.  It's not a religion, it's not a philosophy to follow, it's not even a worldview.  It's a response to a single question.  Therefore, it can't answer every question there is.

So how does an atheist find meaning in their life or all life in general?  Are atheists depressive and nihilistic?  Does atheism cause hopelessness?

This is where the individual atheist makes up their mind on each individual question.  We don't rely on some book or some story to tell us what's good about living.  Most of us understand that this is the one and only life we get, and because of that, we must make the most of it.  We should help one another whenever we can.

I was recently in a conversation with someone who said that if everything just happens by chance and there's no purpose to anything, then why shouldn't I just kill myself.  I answered that the fact that I get to live another day is a good thing to me.  I can appreciate being dead for the last 13 billion years, then having this "one ride" and then winking out for the rest of time.  The fact that I only get one life makes this one life infinitely more special and precious than some idea that this life is just a giant customer service queue while we wait for the REAL life in some heaven or hell.

Atheists make their own meaning in life – we have to, because the universe doesn't "care" about us.  It may be a nice, comforting thing to think it does but there's no reason other than our own peace-of-mind for such a belief.  Therefore, we must rely on each other.  Family, friends, pigeons in the park…whatever the case may be.  Whatever makes us happy while we whiz around on this rock can be a reason to live.  This idea that atheists are hopeless is continually supported by the media.  Most open atheists we see on TV (Diana Trent or Greg House come to mind) are portrayed as being sad, depressive cynics.  While I agree that there's no point to life (from a cosmic perspective), one can still be a kind, good-natured, helpful person without the need to be so because it's ordered by their religion.  Again, the god-concept cheapens the idea of even charity; "We should feed the hungry because God wants us to, and we'll get a nice surprise in Heaven!"  Doing some good work should alone be reward enough.  There's no need for charity out of fear of punishment or a promised reward, and the thought of it make the act less…special.

So believing that there's nothing after death (something that "atheism" doesn't involve, by the way) doesn't mean there's no point to life.  It's almost like saying, "How can you enjoy a movie or a rollercoaster ride when you know it is not gonna last forever?"  The idea is absurd.

This ends my series for atheism myths.  These are not all of the myths associated with the lack of god-belief, and I might continue to write on the topic in the future.  I want to thank those of you who have followed along and contributed some excellent comments.  Hopefully you've learn a little bit more than you did before about who atheists are and what we think.  Remember, your "meaning of life" can change.  Right now, my readers are my reason for life.  Last night, it was wine!

Cheers.

-STA