Hmmm, ok... I got another thing to discuss. Its for you atheists out there, or who ever wants to answer. Since, you don't believe in god, and that when you die, thats it. Then, "What do you live for?" Why do you continue life? What hope do you have? Why have you chosen that path? Is it that perhaps you do not like the idea of being "wrangled" in? That there has to be constraint in life?

I'm more of an agnostic than an atheist. I am not convinced that there is a god or gods. It seems implausible to me. But I also realize that there are things that I don't know or understand.

The "soul" to me...what makes us unique and gives us life...is nothing more than biology...chemical and physiological reactions within our bodies. When we die, those functions cease and so does our "soul" or personality.

Anyways...

What do I live for? Well, first of all, I didn't ask to be born, so I'm kinda stuck here without my consent.

What drives me is what drives most people, I think. The pleasure and interest that comes from human interaction. The satisfaction that comes from endurance of trials and personal achievement. And most of all, nurturing and caring for my loved ones and the psychological benefits that brings me.

Life is simple. You wake up, you do stuff, then you go back to sleep and get ready to do it all over again. What makes it less tedious and more "worth living" is is the comfort and anticipation of tradition as well as new and varied experiences, the satisfaction of accomplishment, and the intense emotions that result from our relationships with others.

IMO, anyway.

'What do you live for?'
Biological reductionists might argue that we choose to live because we are genetically programmed to do so. Any genetic predisposition to prefer NOT to continue living would very quickly die out (no pun intended). Consequently, the survival instinct prevails. This is universal across all species.

"What do you live for?"

I live for my wife, my dog and myself. In that order.

Why do you continue life?

See above answer.

What hope do you have?

Hope for what. I mean I certainly hold out hope that everyone will eventually come around, if that's what you mean.

Why have you chosen that path?

This question pre-supposes that the person giving the answer believes alternate paths exist. To me, I believe as I believe because that's all there is and all there ever was.

Is it that perhaps you do not like the idea of being "wrangled" in? That there has to be constraint in life?

This is a leading question so normally I wouldn't answer it, however, just this once....see above answer. Bearing that in mind, this question is now pointless.

Hmm, ok... I have a wild idea.

Not so wild. It's often referred to as the Perennial Philosophy after a book of that name by Aldous Huxley. Theologians within religions as well as between religions argue fiercely about the 'theory'; mystics of most religions seem to concur more than disagree when talking about their 'experiences'. The Catholic monk Thomas Merton became very interested in Zen towards the end of his life. He said that when he met Buddhist monks he related to them on the level of monasticism, rather than theology, i.e. their shared experiences. I have always found this the most interesting approach.

For some people - I would argue the spiritually immature - it is more important to find and uphold differences. On the other hand, those who are really making the most of their chosen path are far more delighted to discover similarities with others, and these are more likely to be found in religious experience rather than religious dogma. As religious experience is the food and drink of the religious life and dogma the 'rationalisation after the fact', that is not so surprising.

Aww Tex, this has got to be the most unromantic thing I've ever heard. And I don't think you really--deep down in the depths of your soul-- believe it.

I think it's more of the opposite. I don't WANT to believe it, but I don't see any way around it. Anything else just doesn't make sense.

Hey, I'm open to persuasion. If someone can show me how it's possible that there is a god or gods and that human beings have a spiritual component that is eternal, I'd be glad to consider it.

I just don't see how it's possible.

Since, you don't believe in god, and that when you die, thats it. Then, "What do you live for?" Why do you continue life? What hope do you have? Why have you chosen that path? Is it that perhaps you do not like the idea of being "wrangled" in? That there has to be constraint in life?

We live because we do. We just happen to be here, so let's make the best of it, both for ourselves and for others. And I continue life because I have nothing better to do.

And I continue life because I have nothing better to do.

--I think that our 'soul' is the core of our emotions and interaction with others, could it be as the bible says, sure, could it be nothing more than our electromagnetic (right word?) signiture...sure... But its there...

What drives me is what drives most people, I think. The pleasure and interest that comes from human interaction. The satisfaction that comes from endurance of trials and personal achievement. And most of all, nurturing and caring for my loved ones and the psychological benefits that brings me. Life is simple. You wake up, you do stuff, then you go back to sleep and get ready to do it all over again. What makes it less tedious and more "worth living" is is the comfort and anticipation of tradition as well as new and varied experiences, the satisfaction of accomplishment, and the intense emotions that result from our relationships with others.

Don’t you ever get the feeling there’s a greater purpose to that? Like a deep purpose, or meaning to life, which transcends our short time on earth? All those things you listed are quite rich, with substance.

The "soul" to me...what makes us unique and gives us life...is nothing more than biology...chemical and physiological reactions within our bodies. Aww Tex, this has got to be the most unromantic thing I've ever heard. And I don't think you really--deep down in the depths of your soul-- believe it.

I don’t think anyone believes it, deep down. Don't you think there’s more to our makeup than bundles of inanimate atoms? Is there not a spiritual dimension too, one which experiences, sees and knows?

Biological reductionists might argue that we choose to live because we are genetically programmed to do so. Any genetic predisposition to prefer NOT to continue living would very quickly die out (no pun intended). Consequently, the survival instinct prevails. This is universal across all species.

Oooh, My brain....