Atheists: Do you believe in any afterlife. If not, what keeps you going on in life.Serious answers please.?

To cling to an afterlife seems the height of arrogance, or self-delusion to me. It's like waking up every morning convinced you'll hit the lottery - the thought may appeal immensely to you, but it doesn't bring that notion any closer to reality.

The fact that this life MATTERS is what keeps me going. Frankly, I don't understand what keeps those people who believe this life is but an infinitely brief prelude going. I mean, why bother putting in any effort?

People who say that believing in an afterlife and being an atheist is impossible are idiots. All what atheist means is a disbelief in a deity, anything else is up to the person. I don't believe in an afterlife per se, but the closet thing I can say is it will be like sleeping without waking up (in my opinion.) Which is good so I can catch up on my sleep that I lost during the years.

I dont believe in any HIGHER power, but I do believe there is something out there beyond our imagination and understanding. However, I dont believe in an afterlife. An afterlife is a form of denial in my opinion. People who believe in it don't want to admit that there is an end. What keeps me going in life? That I don't have the balls to kill myself.We live in an ugly,evil world full of hate, distrust, murder, rape etc. At this point in time, the one thing that keeps me going is saving up enough money to move to the middle of nowhere, where no one can bother me.It will be me, my current girlfriend, and probably a dog or two, or three.There is no point to life, other than to bring new life into this world, which is a continuation of yourself. Everything else: money, cars, love; it is all obsolete.

I don't know why Agnostics always ask questions of the Atheists? What keeps me going on in life? Gee, I am here might as well make the best of it could be a major factor, another one could be, I don't see logic of killing myself, because I don't believe in a higher power rescuing me from death either by putting me in a magic land, or letting me live a few more times as soap scum or insects, or it could be the fact that I have 6 people that I live and die for and would do anything to be with them, or it could be a factor of everything I just wrote and you know it is. What is the purpose of life is what you make it and I chose to make my life about family and friends and I never walk away from a challenge or a fight not without winning or at least in a draw or at least giving it my all.

Q. If you don't believe in God, then what is the point of living?

Why does living need to have a "point" at all? Do the "lilies of the field" need to have a point to live?

If you must have a "point", then decide on your own meaning of life. Can you think of anything more imporant to decide? We believe that it's much better do determine our own purpose, than to have some church do it for you based on their agenda!

Q. Doesn't being an Atheist "cheapen" life?

A. Actually religion cheapens life. Being an Atheist makes life more precious. Since there is no after-life, you must come to terms with the fact that this is the ONLY life you'll get. If an atheist throws himself in front of a bus in order to save a child, that action is much more meaningful than if a Christian did the same thing. The Christian thinks they'll just go to heaven and live there!

Look at the 9/11/2001 massacre in New York and Washington D.C. Those religious (Muslim) people thought that their actions would hasten and ensure their entry into eternal bliss, but what they actually did was throw away the only life they had in an act of "faith".

Different things at different times in my life keep me going. Right now it is 4 young grandchildren and viewing the excitement of life through their eyes, thoughts, and comments. Prior to them (and now, too), I have hobbies, my children, my wife, my job, and dreams (still have some dreams). It changes. Yes, there are ups and downs in life and that makes it interesting. I don't need an emotional crutch like Christianity to sustain me (or drain my wallet). Of course, the tax deduction is nice. Where else can you build a basketball court with a swimming pool and write it off as a "Youth Center." Only in a church.

Afterlife? No, we recycle.

Enjoy while you are here.

No.

Yes, seeing as how I DON'T believe in an afterlife and higher power, I would be MORE likely to commit suicide. Your logic inspires me.

In terms you can understand- what keeps me going is the fact that there's no afterlife.

"I submit, without much conviction, that belief in an afterlife or higher "judgeing" power would make one less likely to off oneself"

Laughable, you are.

The Bible is very honest to tell you that there is nothing after death... the New Testament writers invented a trip to Heaven and the resurrection, rapture and what have you... anything to make Christianity more appealing to the Gentiles...

Ecclesiastes 3:19 (New International Version)

Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is vanity.

Job 7:9 (New International Version)

As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave does not return.

Obviously if I don't believe in an afterlife then that is what keeps me going on in life! If I have nothing to benefit from after I die why would I want to die right now? I believe this is our only time to exist in this form, and I intend to enjoy it with my friends, family and hopefully many memorable acquaintances. If there was a sweet afterlife like heaven, why don't Christians jump in front of a bus?

What keeps me going in life? The fact that this is the only one I'll get.

PS. Some atheists do believe in the afterlife.