| bimmylee said: I believe the answer is that there's more to it than this. There's a bigger picture than just living life, being good, and dying; what a miserable, hopeless existence that sounds like. After all, some people have no family... some people have no friends... some people have no hope of accomplishment or recognition... some people are born blind and deaf!! What "difference" can they possibly hope to make in the world? Are their lives meaningless? Is your life any more meaningful than theirs? By the measuring sticks of "making a difference" or "being remembered" "or living because my family and friends love me," the answer is most likely yes. But does that feel right to you? To me, it definitely does not. It only makes sense for there to be something else. Something more... |
Ha, that's funny. I did feel the same way, for a while, until I gave it a little more thought. At one point I was pretty depressed when thinking about how my life probably wouldn't amount to much.
Now, I don't think that sounds miserable or hopeless, though. As long as one enjoys life, there's nothing miserable or hopeless about it, regardless of what happens after they die. I know I'm enjoying myself, and I probably won't leave much of my own mark on this world (doubt I'll have kids, for one). As for people without friends, accomplishments, the blind or the deaf, it's fine as they're not exempt from happiness, if this is anything to go by.
It may sound crazy, but realizing that "life is meaningless" has been quite a relief for me. That may be an odd way to word it, but it's probably how most people would think about my views (I'm atheist, of course).
Of course, since I'm enjoying my life and I have no idea what awaits me afterwards (if anything), I prefer to stay alive. For this reason, I fear death, but I'm unsure to what extent (Would I sacrifice myself for others? Would I panic in a life or death situation? I couldn't say).
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