Meaning of life if you eventually you have no descendents with your genes?

Question

I had posted a question and scottsdalehigh64 answered that eventually you could logically share no chromosones with an ancestor? Im only 14 but Im an atheist and I was under the influence that the meaning of life was to spread your genes, but if they eventually no longer exist whats the point? I hope you guys understand what Im saying, and I hope scottsdalehigh64 could answer.

Answer 1

I understand why you might think that it is an atheist point of view to "spread your genes" and thereby achieve some sort of immortality without an afterlife.

And - as you say - it is perfectly possible for your genes to become "diluted" out to such a degree that they no longer exist. Also, I should point out, mutation in your genes can effectively change them, so they are no longer the same as they were when you had them.

But this is, IMO, just a way of substituting another form of immortality for heaven/h**l/reincarnation/etc. (I'm an atheist too, BTW)

It is a mistake to use the theories of evolution to try and construct "meaning" for your life. That is not what the theory is for.

Why not just consider the wonder of YOU being here RIGHT NOW, without any need for perpetuity-after-death?

And if you do still feel the need for some sort of immortality, then here are a few things to consider:

- even if your great, great (etc.) grandchild no longer has any of the genes you have, it is still 100% the case that they could never have existed if it wasn't for you existing now to have children.

- your life will change the lives of everyone you meet, for better or for worse. And these changes will have definite, lasting effects on the world. Even if you don't become famous as a form of immortaility, your life changes everyone else's.