Comments on: What Gives Your Life Meaning?

By: linda

linda — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:24:43 +0000

the things that give my life meaning are – my relationships with my 2 sons , my famliy , my friends .
My 2 cats
My job as a nurse manager in a hospice – feeling that we as a team can make a difference to patients and their families .
Watching plants that I have put in my garden grow
Sunshine and the sea .
I m not religious at all I dont need religion or a higher being to have meaning .

By: Survivor

Survivor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:25:50 +0000

Ok, I’m 45 than i’m old.
I got divorced
I had a law-suit before for $100,000 so I went bankruptcy.
I lost my job.
I have no money.
I have no insurance.
I have no kids, girlfriend or even pets.
Now, You tell me what in the heck is the meaning of life?
We are just randomly surviving, tax payers, mortals humans… Seriously?!
Can somebody turn off the f#%&@ lights!
I’m tired of this shit!

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:52:48 +0000

Strangely enough, religion gives my life meaning – but not in the way you’re thinking. I realized I was an atheist at the same time that I discovered the academic study of religion (in college, of course). The last 5 years of my life (I’m in grad school now) have been spent asking the question “why are so many people religious?” – and it’s the pursuit of that understanding that gives my life its greatest purpose and meaning.

By: Beijingrrl

Beijingrrl — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:20:52 +0000

What gives my life meaning is the attempt to take all of my life experiences – positive and negative – and analyze them rationally in order to apply them toward making my life and those around mine more positive in the future.

By: Spurs Fan

Spurs Fan — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:27:37 +0000

As I read through these responses, I’m reminded (contrary to what theists will say about us) to the diversity of those who question or reject the notion of a diety. The responses range from fantastic lists to inspiring sanskrit poetry (great poem by the way JohnB) to “beer and tits”.

Wow! We are a diverse and beautiful people despite what Fundamentalists who might lump us all into the “Hippie, Communist, Liberal” crowd (not that there is anything wrong with that!)

By: TXatheist

TXatheist — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:12:19 +0000

Ditto to Joe. I can’t look at my wife and kid and not realize how meaningful they are to me

By: Blue Nine

Blue Nine — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:18:11 +0000

Not quite an answer, but:

I get the impression that theists just let other people tell them what gives their lives meaning. They just accept the stock answer.

Religion is sounding more and more like a subtle form of slavery.

Plus: Just because you have convinced yourself you have the answer does not mean you really do have the answer.

By: Grimalkin

Grimalkin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:12:39 +0000

What gives my life meaning? My family. I love my parents, my sibling, my husband – I even love my potential future-children. These people make me feel happy and connected. They make me look forward to waking up every day because I get to talk to them.

By: Kim Peterson

Kim Peterson — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:13:17 +0000

if you’re an atheist, what gives your life meaning?

I believe what gives my life meaning is being a good person, striving to be happy, and living my life to its fullest.

I don’t believe that to have meaning you have to have a plan or a purpose. Just take it one day at a time and enjoy the beauty of the world around you.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:46:05 +0000

This is what I wrote about for the very first entry of my new blog. Meaning isn't something you seek; it's something you create. And of course there's no obligation to even think about the meaning or purpose of your life, but it is one reliable way to make yourself happier.