Why Does Atheism Lead to Nihilism?

[void_ling]

There is an assumption in Alex’s argument that doesn’t make any sense to me. Why are human lives worth more than any other object in the universe? Who decides what is valuable and why?

[cosmicpickle]

As a former Christian up to my late 20s and an atheist thereafter, I can attest to the nihilistic hole that is left behind and the real uphill challenge to rebuild meaning into one's life. I think Alex hits the point square on. Was making decent progress but then the pandemic hit and other things happened which definitely took me back a few steps. Just gotta keep working at it!

[SuperScopeRawks]

In theory this sounds ok but in practice when people believe this life is all there is they become deathly afraid to lose it. Most people actually do the opposite of "living life to the fullest". This covid situation is proof people are willing to sacrifice doing the things they love (or even seeing the people they love) for fear of dying.

[lenloving]

Before coming out as a non-believer, that is to say, an apostate, I avoided doing so as if I had been avoiding the nihilistic hole I was told about as a Christian. It was like a black hole that would swallow me. I seemed to fear not having meaning more than the prospect of a fiery destination if I didn't mind my heart and soul. But, in the end, my mind won out. While my mind would no longer perform the mental gymnastics needed to find or have faith–much less keep it– my mind simultaneously woke to the wonder of nature, the phenomenon of life, my own life, the incredible opportunity and chance I had. Where I feared nihilism and an utter lack of meaning I actually found even greater wonder and purpose beyond my imagination, certainly beyond the limited scope I was previously ensconced as a child.

[norbeekash]

I never felt more empty and lifeless when I was religious. So I had to disagree with the negative impact of not being religious.

[andrewthomastaylor]

I don't understand how someone can be an atheist without being completely Nihilist, it really makes no sense to me. Because if their is no meaning and you create meaning, there still is no meaning.

[ScarredRomeo]

That’s a poor argument: that if there is eternal life, then it makes this one meaningless.

No.

If one’s state in a possible eternal life is predicated upon what one does in this life, it makes this life *very* significant.

This life has never been meaningless for the theist. In fact, it can never be because nihilism never enters into the picture in a theistic world view. It is only possible in an atheistic one.

[khurmiful]

I like to think that it’s realism that hits the fan, rather than nihilism.

[thatmonk]

i deeply appreciate the clarity of alex's mind.
his mind is very refreshing to me.
thanks, alex.

[kaodi]

Its logical progression.
Leaving religion changes the meaning of life.
No afterlife, death is end of life. Is very sad notion

[firstnamelastname]

Alex is like the younger brother I never had, somebody I would be incredibly proud of to introduce as my brother & friend.
It is not only his articulation & well thought out arguments that is attractive, but the core honesty with which he approaches any subject.

[reedclippings]

Yes!! Meaning comes from impermanence! A musical note that’s permanent would just be tinnitus…

[justanotherhomosapian]

I was thinking about this the other day, the fact that we are going to die makes life more valuable. It creates an urgency to love the people I love, accomplish my dreams and aspirations and create justice now coz the only justice that would ever exist is the justice we produce.

[Iamwrongbut]

I think the nihilistic challenge to this is “why should we make the most of life?”

[Kanzu]

These clips are gold. Keep up the great work man.

[rachelthompson]

the meaning of life is to live it, that's all you need.

[sandydonaldson]

Note the critique was of now living in "individualized" times, not "worse" times. Because they cannot deny that people live longer, have more options, are less violent now then 200 years ago when Christianity dominated Europe. Now we also don't oppress as badly on the basis of sex, gender, race, and more. They can't deny that so much of what was considered moral Christian duties even a century ago is now abhorrent abuse.

[nette]

I was completely nihilistic as an atheist and even believed that many immoral things were fine because I wouldn't have to answer to anyone after. It was a dark place.

[sndles]

I disagree with this premise, as a Christian this is a temporary trial period with eternal consequences for me and the people around me, making each day infinitely important

[a.gwhiteley]

Alex speaks of the sense of loss of purpose which can accompany the falling away of religion and the embrace of atheism. This, however, is not merely a psychological aftermath which we can "get over" as we get used to being atheists. For this sense of purposelessness is an accurate, rational feeling, given what atheism is saying. The only thing ultimately in existence is, after all, the unintended, blind, mindless, purely material universe which, as Bertrand Russell said, is "just there and that's all". We, with our conscious minds, are (as Brian Cox likes to tell us in his TV programmes) the incidental by-products of this purposeless cosmos. If purpose cannot be ascribed to the universe, it cannot logically be ascribed to that tiny part of it - namely, ourselves. Our notions of purpose and value are therefore illusions, benign fictions which enable us to get by and live our lives. It often seems to me that atheists put their atheism on the backburner while they get on with their lives, and only bring it to the front of the hob when they are arguing the case for atheism!