From an Atheist Point of View, What is the meaning of Life?

Interesting question.

Because of our biological makeup, we all naturally "want" to stay alive, enjoy things and pursue goals. But as for a "point" or "reason" that we exist, there are many strange ideas.

I've often wondered why people, especially atheists think that there must be a point or reason for life. (Religion is all about explaining a reason for life so I understand theist opinion.)

We, along with billions of other life forms, continually live and die on Earth and there is no "point". Like a storm or a fire, life is a process that continues as long as conditions allow. No magic is involved.

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Well for me I'd have to say there are MANY meanings AND none (if that makes any sense!) Isn't this a logical contradiction? On paper yes but that's the point! Why do people ALWAYS assume there IS one & say 'the meaning' instead of 'any meaning'? Probably because they have already made up their mind & are projecting this assumption onto their picture of reality. A good answer requires a better question. But to answer your question... what is the meaning (I'd say 'ARE the MEANINGS') I'd say it's up to you. Here are some of mine but in reality there are probably millions! 1. Love. OK that possibly isn't as wet as it may sound: From a Natural Selection point of view love (& sex of course!) is THE most important phenomena for oiling the wheels of life's continuation (i.e. the genes continuation). 2. Truth. For me critical thinking is the most satisfying form of consciousness I know (after love). It may not guarantee 100% accuracy of knowledge but it is the only means to this end I believe I can trust. Of course I could be wrong - I just doubt that I am. 3. Beauty. This is another funny one because some things I find very beautiful (usually in music) are often sort of ugly! Strange but true. 4. Creativity. This share a thing or two with 'Truth' as critical thinking requires the creation of new models of reality but I also mean creativity of 'things' perhaps 'designing stuff' is a more precise way of describing creativity for me. I could write a much longer list but these are my top 4.

Well, what do you mean by "meaning". What's a meaning of a tree? a car? a dog? If you are talking about purpose, that is also pretty meaningless. Life does not have to have any purpose, it just is. Even if you are religious, you have no answer to this question: what is the purpose of God? What is the purpose of your life? To live on Earth for a while, then die, then go to Heaven, and then what? Is your purpose to serve god, like a butler, for eternity? Or is it just to "chill" in Heaven, doing nothing, forever. That's will get old pretty fast.

Ok, look. Atheists do NOT have a single, homogenous point of view on ANY subject other than the existence of a god or gods. Not on the meaning of life, or on the best flavor of ice cream, or on national health care, or about anything else.

From THIS atheist's point of view, life has no 'meaning' beyond that which we give it, and there doesn't need to be a purpose.

I would like to make a point here. I don't agree with the idea that there is meaning "of" life, that means I was born for a specific purpose- to me that makes life sound cheap. I believe there is meaning "in" life. We have to create, make it our own. And from there we can find many meanings. Maybe you want a good job, great family, close friends, a athletic skill or recreational hobby. Maybe you like art, or music, or poetry. My point is that meaning in life is that which you see as a positive in your life, and then living it to the fullest. If those good things are just a given then it just seems less valuable.

Our existence is for the survival of the species like all other living things. The meaning of life is to make the most of the time we have here and help others make the most of their lives'.

The meaning is whatever meaning you give to your own existence.

There is no special, universal, metaphysical, supernatural, over-arching, shared meaning, though.

Eve with a god, what is the "meaning" of life? To sit around worshiping that god and making it happy?

Even as is, we've gone tens of thousands of years with no one agreeing on what this super-special, seemingly essential "meaning" of life is, and yet life, society, time, culture, art, and technology all go merrily along. So not only is there no shared meaning, there's no need for one.

If there is no God we are without hope, we may as well eat, drink and play, for tomorrow we die.

Do whatever to whoever, anything goes in the pursuit of pleasure. If people get in your way just smash them out of existence, for tomorrow, we die.

However, if we are wrong, there is nothing for us except judgement, our lives are just vapour and tomorrow we will face an angry God. Oh dear.

From my perspective, asking others to define the meaning of all life is a strange request. Meaning is subjective, therefor everyone could have an individual meaning and each of these individual meanings would be equally valid. It's up to you what the meaning of your life is or even if you care to adopt one.

what is the meaning of a dogs life? or a fishs life? of the life of a worm?

there doesn't have to be a meaning to life other than to live. only religious people have issues with needing a meaning and can't be happy without one.

personally this life is much to stressful and knowing there is an end to it gives me even more of a reason to live each day like its my last.