Question for Atheists: If there's no afterlife whatsoever, then how could THIS life possibly have any meaning?

Question

A position held by many - though not all - atheists is that there is no afterlife whatsoever. When you die, that's it. There is nothing beyond the death of the body in any way, shape, or form.

Is this is so, then how could this world or this life possibly have any meaning?

I do not ask this question just to "get people going". I really want to know.

Answer 1

On the contrary, my life has oh so much more meaning without the dangling carrot of afterlife. It's the only chance I get, so I'd better do what I can to make it a good run! I don't walk around believing that I can do any crappy thing I want and then ask forgiveness from some dude in the sky who will make it all better. I live each day knowing I could cease to exist at any time, so I'd better make sure my family knows I love them, and do my very best to try to leave a legacy of kindness and truth behind me when I'm gone.  

Answer 2

thats the whole point

there is none

no meaning at all

itys just life

you live and you die

the real "point" is inbetweeen those 2 times

what you do, who you are, while alive,

sure when you die its irrelevant

but its completely relevant while you live, because you affect all things and all people around you, you affect their lives, you affect society etc etc

and you give your own life its one meaning and its own point

and

you make your own mark on this earth and this life, so that when you die, there is a point, there was a point, to be remembered and stay 'alive' even when you die

Answer 3

You have it EXACTLY backwards. The fact that there is no afterlife is exactly what makes this life so meaningful.

When your teacher tells you to read a book, do you hand it right back saying "this book can't possibly mean anything, because it has an ending"?

If you had the opportunity to have s*x with a gorgeous member of the opposite s*x, would you turn him/her down saying "No, because it won't last forever, so it's meaningless"?

Do you stay indoors all summer, saying "It'll be fall eventually anyway, so what's the point?".

Do you starve yourself, because every meal ends and so is utterly pointless?

See how silly it is to assume that life can only have a meaning if it is eternal?

This past Monday, I took a kayak alone down a small, winding river, and spent the day with river otters and cranes and hawks and Kingfishers. It was a tremendously meaningful day. Earlier in the summer I rescued a bleeding and battered young woman from her drug dealer boyfriend. Should I have said "No, I'm not going to help, because one day we'll all be dead anyway"? Is that really how you'd act in that situation?

Answer 4

That makes no sense though. Why would belief in an after-life effect this life in any way?

The point is to live THIS life to the fullest, because you probably don't get a second one. You are supposed to bring meaning to this life. Get an education, get a good job. Anything to make your life meaningful

Answer 5

You won't value life without death loaming over you.

Answer 6

If it is all you get, it is important.

Belief in an eternal afterlife trivializes life.

Answer 7

You get more meaning for living in the present and trying to make things better for others now, then accepting things as they are and living for a future unverified reward, be it eternal life or fiction. This life is the only thing we can prove.

Answer 8

Really now, you think something has no meaning unless you get a little prize at the end? "Oh, life has no meaning unless there's heaven at the end!"

No. This life is all we have, and you'll never have another chance to live. Don't waste this oppurtunity, waiting and hoping for something better after life. LIVE!

Answer 9

Who says it has to have meaning?

And who says it matters if it does not?

Human values are fickle and not unduly meaningful.

If you cannot find value without meaning that is more likely to be your problem than a problem with the Universe itself.

Answer 10

This life has whatever meaning or purpose you assign to it. If you live well and treat others right, that should be enough.

Answer 11

That's the point. This is all we've got. The fact that we're alive right now is amazing. Live THIS life to the fullest. Do good for others. Follow your dreams. Make a difference for the next generations.

Why do you think there has to be something afterwards in order for life to mean anything...??

Answer 12

there is no meaning of life. life is a random chain of hydrocarbons and other biological chemicals and conciousness is a side effect of electrical impluses in the brian and the only reason people started to believe in god and a meaning to life was to give some relief from the fact they work hard all there life and everythings pretty unfair then you die and are gone for ever.

I think thats it though i do believe in god i did once believe that if you ask me that makes more sense that god but you know.

Answer 13

How could this life not have any meaning if you don't have this crazy dangling carrot of eternal (after)life?

By waiting for this enternal heavenly life of yours, because of course no one thinks they're going to h**l when they ask a question like this, you seem to make this life less significant.

It's the only one we got, make the most of it!

Answer 14

I think that the concept of an afterlife cheapens real life immeasurably.  What's 80 years here if you're actually immortal?

This life is meaningful, it is precious, because it's *all you get*.  When you die, you are finished.  You don't get a do-over, you don't get to keep living in some "spiritual form."  You get one life; how could it be any more meaningful?