Why do atheists have kids?

[Grego Morales]

What a curious question. Not the question per se, but the reasons to why you asked it. It is also, if you'll forgive me, a rather western-centric, middle-class question. What kind of joyless husk of a 22 year old describes life as being "a painful unfair world of random tragedy." Where did you grow up? Dafur? Gaza?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

What a curious question. Not the question per se, but the reasons to why you asked it. It is also, if you'll forgive me, a rather western-centric, middle-class question. What kind of joyless husk of a 22 year old describes life as being "a painful unfair world of random tragedy." Where did you grow up? Dafur? Gaza?

I think that's a little unfair. People who grow up in harsh conditions are often too busy with the business of survival to become depressed. It is precisely in the affluent, peaceful west that depression thrives, and the unhappiness is not necessarily made less real by the knowledge that others have things, on the surface at least, worse than you. Denmark, for instance, comes out top in many surveys measuring quality of life and social provision. It is also a country with one of the highest suicide rates in the world. The question may be that of a western, rich person, but the western-ness and wealth are intrinsic to the problem.

Eta: Suicide rates are highest in the spring. People usually cheer up in spring, so when you don't, it brings your depression into sharp relief - it's much easier being miserable when everybody else is too. Similarly, in the affluent west, there would appear to be no reason to be glum, which just makes it worse when you are.

 

[kyser_soze]

You're the atheist equivalent of a really embarrasing born again, aren't you? 'We' atheists..don't lump me into your little sub-Nitzschean nihilist cult.

Why do atheists have kids...because atheists are made of the same biology as every other human, and like all living organisms our raison d'etre is to live long enough to breed more life. The rest of it's all psychological icing on the metaphorical cake.

A mosqiuto lives 24 hrs, dies, breeds another load of mosquitoes that live 24 hrs then die, and so on - what's the point of that? Why do we have 24 hr species? Same fucking reason atheists have kids - it's life's primary drive to create more life.

Oh, and BTW, immortality via your genes and the memories your kids & grandkids carry around - not bullshit.

 

[In Bloom]

An atheist knows that their kid is worm food, after living a short ass life in a painful unfair world of random tragedy.

 

[kyser_soze]

 

[drews]

Oh, and BTW, immortality via your genes and the memories your kids & grandkids carry around - not bullshit.

You don't live on physically, and eventually your kids, grandkids, and all life on earth will be dead, thus your memes and your genes you passed down come to nothing. So yeah, bullshit.

 

[Orang Utan]

You don't live on physically, and eventually your kids, grandkids, and all life on earth will be dead, thus your memes and your genes you passed down come to nothing. So yeah, bullshit.

Not bullshit. Life is great, kids bring you joy and I imagine living long enough to see grandkids is a further joy. Then we die. Life is brief but fantastic if we decide to enjoy it

 

[kyser_soze]

So you're taking the very long view that all species become extinct?

Tell ya what, why don't we just invent tech that causes stars to go supernova, but ensuring that they emit GRBs, cos then we could sterilise the whole galaxy, forever, so no life would ever, ever come about, thus saving lots of pain and suffering.

How does that sound? Why bother exterminating life on earth when there's a whole universe out there? And since you're so anti-life, why not start with your own Mr Nihilist minor?

 

[In Bloom]

You don't live on physically, and eventually your kids, grandkids, and all life on earth will be dead, thus your memes and your genes you passed down come to nothing. So yeah, bullshit.

Nothing lasts forever. The main thing is to try to enjoy what we have.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things that are shit about the world, but it's still better to try to make the best of the world we have than wallowing in sullen, pontificating angst just because you won't get to live forever.

 

[Grego Morales]

I think that's a little unfair. People who grow up in harsh conditions are often too busy with the business of survival to become depressed. It is precisely in the affluent, peaceful west that depression thrives, and the unhappiness is not necessarily made less real by the knowledge that others have things, on the surface at least, worse than you. Denmark, for instance, comes out top in many surveys measuring quality of life and social provision. It is also a country with one of the highest suicide rates in the world. The question may be that of a western, rich person, but the western-ness and wealth are intrinsic to the problem.
.

I'm not denying that depression doesn't exist, or doesn't have a right to exist, in the west, I'm very aware that it does. It just struck me as bizarre that drews was suggesting that an atheist couple discussing whether or not to have children would judge their decision on hypothetical tragic events that may occur to their offspring. Deciding whether to have a child or not is something that people should judge on their personal means and circumstances, not over-complicate with whiny philoso-babble. Besides, most people in this world don't find themselves in the position to indulge such comforts.

 

[drews]

So you're taking the very long view that all species become extinct?

Tell ya what, why don't we just invent tech that causes stars to go supernova, but ensuring that they emit GRBs, cos then we could sterilise the whole galaxy, forever, so no life would ever, ever come about, thus saving lots of pain and suffering.

How does that sound? Why bother exterminating life on earth when there's a whole universe out there? And since you're so anti-life, why not start with your own Mr Nihilist minor?

Yes, i've considered the possiblity of conscious life on other planets.

Instead of having a button that just destroyed earth, I'd much rather have one that destroyed our entire universe and any other universe that may or may not exist. I would destroy absolutely all existence for all time.

 

[Orang Utan]

I would destroy absolutely all existence for all time.

WHY?

 

[kyser_soze]

Do you have any concept of how utterly self-obsessed and narrow-minded you sound? You'd destroy all life just because you're not adult enough to see beyond your own timid intellectual shortcomings...

You are supposed to move on from nihilism, you do know that don't you? It's part of the process of rejection of the world before re-creating yourself via the Will To Power...

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

How about we kill all life on earth instead? That's the only solution.

Who do you think you are: doctor evil?

 

[Blagsta]

I am an atheist, 22 years old, and I'm trying to understand why atheists have kids.

maybe when you grow up a bit, you'll find out

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Yes, i've considered the possiblity of conscious life on other planets.

Instead of having a button that just destroyed earth, I'd much rather have one that destroyed our entire universe and any other universe that may or may not exist. I would destroy absolutely all existence for all time.

Guys like you usually end up getting a cel phone or a hair dryer, then going out in public pretending you've got a gun, then whipping it out at the cops. Then - the universe ends.

 

[MightyAphrodite]

You don't live on physically, and eventually your kids, grandkids, and all life on earth will be dead, thus your memes and your genes you passed down come to nothing. So yeah, bullshit.

you'll be dead too, how exciting!

 

[dylanredefined]

Yes, i've considered the possiblity of conscious life on other planets.

Instead of having a button that just destroyed earth, I'd much rather have one that destroyed our entire universe and any other universe that may or may not exist. I would destroy absolutely all existence for all time.

Why with all due respect dont you get a fucking grip you tosser ?

 

[Poot]

We're not at home to Mr Grumpy.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

you'll be dead too, how exciting!

He wants to be dead.

 

[goldenecitrone]

He wants to be dead.

Nah, what's the point?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I just wanted to see that again.

 

[bluestreak]

How about we kill all life on earth instead? That's the only solution.

 

[selamlar]

 

[kyser_soze]

Loving that.

 

[camouflage]

Why do atheists have kids?

See, this is the kind of crap that makes me want to lay into Godders harsh an nasty. Dumbasses, and they're so smug in their dip-shitness it's unbeleivable.

 

[Orang Utan]

See, this is the kind of crap that makes me want to lay into Godders harsh an nasty. Dumbasses, and they're so smug in their dip-shitness it's unbeleivable.

The post was made by an atheist though

 

[Crispy]

The post was made by an atheist though

Of the most whacked-out nihilist variety. He's got more in common with a religionist.

 

[Orang Utan]

Of the most whacked-out nihilist variety. He's got more in common with a religionist.

Yeah, I thought so too

 

[Aldebaran]

Of the most whacked-out nihilist variety. He's got more in common with a religionist.

Please ask teh religious first

salaam.