RE: [asa] Feedback wanted (resurrection)

I think you're right about people shutting out or suppressing such thoughts.
I would guess that many do this, but it would be interesting if some
atheistic philosophers could present some compelling answers to your
questions. I suspect most would take a pretty existentialist view: "I don't
believe there is a God, and thus no meaning to life. But that's not really
the point, we have to take life as a given because that's where we find
ourselves. Once a person is alive, we have an innate natural instinct for
self-preservation and pleasure of existence. Thus, that's why we feel the
need to make of life something that will make a difference, to make the
world a better place, to help myself and others to have a better, more
enjoyable life, etc. "

I'm not sure this rationale really makes sense philosophically without the
assumption of a loving God or an afterlife, but if one doesn't probe too
deeply on philosophical questions and only deals with the surface
existentialism, it might make sense to themselves. I do believe the ideas
of self-sacrifice and voluntary suppression of temporal pleasure, and the
pervasive existence of guilt or conscience of wrongdoing in humans, are all
decent arguments for the existence of some higher moral standard outside a
purely meaningless existence where personal pleasure and self-preservation
would seem to be the highest virtues to the individual. But they are
certainly not unassailable arguments.

Jon Tandy

(ASA member)

From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of Dehler, Bernie
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 1:56 PM
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: RE: [asa] Feedback wanted (resurrection)

First- I did not give that Scripture as a back-up to my point. It was an
add-on trying to tie the issue of resurrection with meaning for life.

Second- my point had nothing to do with the 'basis for morality argument."

Third- my point had everything to do with the "meaning of life" and "purpose
of life."

David said:
"If nothing else, many would say, "my reason for living is that I enjoy life
-- what more do I need?""

I used to think that Atheists could think that and be ok with it. Then I
heard an atheist philosopher saying that that viewpoint was nonsense and
folly. What is there to enjoy if you come from nothing and go to nothing?
It is like trying to enjoy a good dance or food on the Titanic as it is
sinking. How can you truly enjoy anything knowing it is temporary and
fleeting? If you were sent to be executed, could you really enjoy your last
meal, no matter how fancy it was and who you dined with? Only if you
shut-out of your mind the coming destruction. and that is what atheists have
to do in order to feel ok. I'm suggesting to open that up, like opening a
tightly bandaged wound, so it can get some air and possibly heal. This hope
for eternal life is built into all humans (you might argue animals, also, in
the will to live).

I would love to press people like Dawkins and really get into their head to
see how they respond to the emptiness and futility of life, in their
mindset. I think they do it by suppressing thoughts about it. so I wonder
what would happen when that thought is dug-up and exposed to light.

And George- if God died, then I guess it is "every man for himself." We'd
live in such a way as to try to have a well-functioning society-relying
totally on logic and reason, as the atheists do now.

.Bernie

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Received on Tue May 6 18:24:48 2008