Difference between revisions of "Atheism and meaninglessness"

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And the universe, too, faces death. Scientists tell us that the universe is expanding, and everything in it is growing farther and farther apart. As it does so, it grows colder and colder, and its energy is used up. Eventually all the stars will burn out and all matter will collapse into dead stars and black holes. There will be no light at all; there will be no heat; there will be no life; only the corpses of dead stars and galaxies, ever expanding into the endless darkness and the cold recesses of space—a universe in ruins. So not only is the life of each individual person doomed; the entire human race is doomed. There is no escape. There is no hope.<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-absurdity-of-life-without-god The Absurdity of Life without God] by William Lane Craig</ref>}}
 
And the universe, too, faces death. Scientists tell us that the universe is expanding, and everything in it is growing farther and farther apart. As it does so, it grows colder and colder, and its energy is used up. Eventually all the stars will burn out and all matter will collapse into dead stars and black holes. There will be no light at all; there will be no heat; there will be no life; only the corpses of dead stars and galaxies, ever expanding into the endless darkness and the cold recesses of space—a universe in ruins. So not only is the life of each individual person doomed; the entire human race is doomed. There is no escape. There is no hope.<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-absurdity-of-life-without-god The Absurdity of Life without God] by William Lane Craig</ref>}}
  
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The atheist [[Jerry Coyne]] admits the meaninglessness of the universe as an implication of an atheistic [[evolution]]ary worldview, but then insists that we can create our own subjective meaning and marvel at the intricacies of nature.<ref>[http://creation.com/review-coyne-why-evolution-is-true Why evolution need not be true]: A review of Why Evolution is True by Jerry A. Coyne Viking Penguin, New York, 2009, reviewed by John Woodmorappe</ref>  
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The atheist [[Jerry Coyne]] admits the meaninglessness of the universe as an implication of an atheistic [[evolution]]ary worldview, but then insists that we can create our own subjective meaning and marvel at the intricacies of nature.<ref>[http://creation.com/review-coyne-why-evolution-is-true Why evolution need not be true]: A review of Why Evolution is True by Jerry A. Coyne Viking Penguin, New York, 2009, reviewed by John Woodmorappe</ref> On the other hand, Coyne said about [[Atheist conferences|atheist meetings]], "But to me the speakers and talks have often seemed repetitive: the same crew of jet-set skeptics giving the same talks." (see also: [[Atheism is uninspiring]]).<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/are-there-too-many-atheist-meetings/ Are there too many atheist meetings?] by Jerry Coyne</ref> 
  
 
For more information, please see studies and historical data relevant to:
 
For more information, please see studies and historical data relevant to:

Revision as of 18:48, January 8, 2016

Atheists have a higher suicide rate than theists.[1][2]

Under an atheist worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.[3] Through Jesus Christ, Christianity offers objective meaning and purpose to life.[4] See also: Atheism and purpose

In December of 2003, the University of Warwick reported:

“ Dr. Stephen Joseph, from the University of Warwick, said: "Religious people seem to have a greater purpose in life, which is why they are happier. Looking at the research evidence, it seems that those who celebrate the Christian meaning of Christmas are on the whole likely to be happier.[5] ”

Although Bertrand Russell was an agnostic, he had favorable views of atheism.[6] Bertrand Russell wrote in 1903 about entropy and the universe:

“ That man is the product of causes that had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs, are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve individual life beyond the grave; that all the labors of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Man's achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins- all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand.

"Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding dispair, can the soul's habitation henceforth be safely built." [7]

”
William Lane Craig

William Lane Craig declares:

“ What we're asking here is not how atheists find meaning in life, which would be consistent with saying that life is objectively meaningless but somehow you've got to get through so how are you going to find some sort of meaning to your existence? Well, you'll invent projects that will bring you satisfaction and make you feel good and so forth, but that has nothing to do with whether or not life has an objective meaning or value of purpose.[8] ”

Craig further adds:

“ If God does not exist, then both man and the universe are inevitably doomed to death. Man, like all biological organisms, must die. With no hope of immortality, man's life leads only to the grave. His life is but a spark in the infinite blackness, a spark that appears, flickers, and dies forever. Therefore, everyone must come face to face with what theologian Paul Tillich has called "the threat of non-being." For though I know now that I exist, that I am alive, I also know that someday I will no longer exist, that I will no longer be, that I will die. This thought is staggering and threatening: to think that the person I call "myself" will cease to exist, that I will be no more!...

And the universe, too, faces death. Scientists tell us that the universe is expanding, and everything in it is growing farther and farther apart. As it does so, it grows colder and colder, and its energy is used up. Eventually all the stars will burn out and all matter will collapse into dead stars and black holes. There will be no light at all; there will be no heat; there will be no life; only the corpses of dead stars and galaxies, ever expanding into the endless darkness and the cold recesses of space—a universe in ruins. So not only is the life of each individual person doomed; the entire human race is doomed. There is no escape. There is no hope.[9]

”

The atheist Jerry Coyne admits the meaninglessness of the universe as an implication of an atheistic evolutionary worldview, but then insists that we can create our own subjective meaning and marvel at the intricacies of nature.[10] On the other hand, Coyne said about atheist meetings, "But to me the speakers and talks have often seemed repetitive: the same crew of jet-set skeptics giving the same talks." (see also: Atheism is uninspiring).[11]

For more information, please see studies and historical data relevant to:

The Bible teaches that atheism is foolish and wicked (Psalm 14:1). It also teaches that the wicked who refuse to repent go to Hell (see also: Atheism and Hell).

Articles arranged in specific categories on the atheistic worldview and meaninglessness

Why an objective meaning for life is superior to assigning a subjective meaning to our lives

Meaning and the death of man and the heat death of the universe

In a materialistic universe, there is just motion and there is no ultimate meaning

Atheism and death

General articles

Video

Atheism and despair:

Evidence for Christianity

Christianity and meaning/purpose

Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Religious affiliation and suicide rate
  2. ↑ Adherents.com - suicide rates
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html
  6. ↑ Russell, Bertrand (1947) "Am I An Atheist Or An Agnostic?"[1] Most online sources say "by which one prove," probably a mistake.
  7. ↑ Entropy and heat death
  8. ↑ Where Do Atheists Find Meaning?
  9. ↑ The Absurdity of Life without God by William Lane Craig
  10. ↑ Why evolution need not be true: A review of Why Evolution is True by Jerry A. Coyne Viking Penguin, New York, 2009, reviewed by John Woodmorappe
  11. ↑ Are there too many atheist meetings? by Jerry Coyne
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