The End

My Girlfriend who is an avid reader introduced me to a wonderful website Goodreads, an online site were you can buy, but more importantly rate and discuss books. After a look around I cam across a book I had intended to read  but never got there, Richard Dawkin's God Delusion. Given that this book caused a lot of controversy everywhere, as to be expected, I was intent to read the reviews to see what Atheist Vs Theists bile would litter the comments, I was pleasantly surprised when I found that it was actually on topic discussion about the book for the most part. However there was one particular comment that I found rather interesting, and kind of brought about a self revelation. Here is a section of the comment I found most interesting.

Atheists, by contrast, have no respite, save some Sisyphean smiles, from the brutality of nature. If there is no afterlife, no absolute moral truth, nothing to live and struggle for, then suicide is at least one rational option. That option's appeal only grows when the cynical humor poked at the absurd turns stale. Why endure suffering if it can all be ended? ("[B]y a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to—'tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep...") A simple cost-benefit analysis would indicate that once the balance of one's life tips in favor of unhappiness over happiness, the game is no longer worth the candle. Is the balance tipped when one must work 5 days out of 7 at a job he hates? If so, quite a few of us are doomed.

This book made me depressed for a considerable time after reading it. In conversations with friends, I would say things like, "Life is an unwelcome imposition upon my nonexistence. I didn't ask for it, I don't want it, and, thankfully, soon enough, it will be over." And I certainly felt (still feel?) that bringing a child into a doomed existence and a senseless universe is highly irresponsible. Speaking with nonbelievers, this seems to be a common sentiment, though I have no polling data. Thus it seems that atheism leads some, if not many, to depression and/or nihilistic attitudes, which in turn lead to a desire to escape feelings of misery, which in turn lead to desire for "sleep," a refusal to bear children, and ultimately a decline in human population.

For what ever reason, this little passage by a person, whom after this book abandoned their faith struck a cord with me. Its inescapable just like death that as Atheists we do not offer an idea of a happily ever after, as the reader describes it  "no afterlife, no absolute moral truth". The writer argues that this acceptance of what is reality creates a pointless existence, leading to a depressing existence,  to this however I holeheartedly disagree.

Firstly opinion offered that just because as an atheist has no end goal in sight that suicide then becomes the rational alternative to life, to be honest I find sad that  an individual feels that not having a god see's this as a viable alternative.  I see life as something worth living, pointlessness of existence aside I can still choose to live my life, because rather then living in this depressive state, I actually am rather happy in my non existence. Just because something is pointless does not mean that it shouldn't be done, I think its really selfish of the idea that there has to be a necessary point to existence to make it worthwhile, for example, does the ant or any animal, plant, or anything that lives has purpose? I haven't come across any religious text that offers a life after death for the humble seaweed, just because the human race is intelligent to fear the end (or so we know), doesn't mean we have to have anymore purpose for existing. So then why is it necessary for purpose to then dictate my life's value.  I live my life because I actually enjoy living, given that at the end of it all I believe my existence furthers the circle of life, I'm happy prolonging my existence given that my existence is enjoyable, not only for myself, but is favorable by others. For this reason life to me becomes much more valuable, it's lived once, I don't take anything out of it, but if at the end of it all if I know I can do something for future, whether it be fathering children, hopefully making political change for the better  (which is something I do hope to do) or having a positive impact in someone else life in my last second I can at least know I spent however long happy.

I enjoy the writers quote

"Life is an unwelcome imposition upon my nonexistence. I didn't ask for it, I don't want it, and, thankfully, soon enough, it will be over."

But I personally would make a few small amendments to make it my own philosophy ,  ""Life is a welcome imposition upon my nonexistence. I didn't ask for it, I do want it, and, Unfortunately, soon enough, it will be over." I may fear deaths cold touch, but I do not fear living my life, for that I find being an Atheist personally liberating, that for the time I have I can act in a manner in which I deem is reasonable, and I am not controlled, for all the talk of free will offered by religion, if you upset god you're in trouble, free will doesn't seem so free after all.  However I totally reject the writers claim that.

Thus it seems that atheism leads some, if not many, to depression and/or nihilistic attitudes, which in turn lead to a desire to escape feelings of misery, which in turn lead to desire for "sleep," a refusal to bear children, and ultimately a decline in human population.

I think its a pretty big leap to say that a self revelation of  the world of all atheist has such dramatic consequences. I know a lot of atheists the majority of which would not prescribe to the misery this particular person feels about the self acceptance that the world was not created for humanity. 


Finally through the whole comment made by this individual of the brutality of nature is something the writer seems to be unable to come to terms with. Personally I enjoy the fact that world is unfair, not because I benefit by the fact multinational corporations and governments but because If there were to be a god and things would be squared up in the end by this god (for arguments sake a christian god) lets look at some of the injustices I would see occurring. The Christian bible offers no punishment for those whom keep slaves, those whom would stone to death unruly children, homosexuals, and those that keep women to the role of nothing more then servants for there male counterparts, but an eternity of damnation is a viable punishment for love between two people of the same sex. That is what I call unjust. This is why I accept that good things happen to bad people and vice verse, it may not be fair, but it is indiscriminate which is so much fairer then a life controlled by supreme existence that can condemn love, but cannot condemn the atrocities done in the name of a god.