It’s a strange myth that atheists have nothing to live for. It’s the opposite. We have nothing to die for. We have everything to live for.
Interpretation
Atheists find meaning in life itself rather than in the fear of death, emphasizing the value of living fully.
Ricky Gervais conveys that the common misconception about atheists believing life lacks purpose is misguided. Instead, he argues that atheists actually emphasize the importance of living life to its fullest without being constrained by the fear of death or the need for an afterlife. This perspective suggests that life is inherently valuable and that individuals have a profound reason to embrace existence, creating meaning through their experiences and relationships.
In practice
In a discussion about the purpose of life at a philosophy club.
You should make something. You should bring something into the world that wasn't in the world before. It doesn't matter what it is. It doesn't matter if it's a table or a film or gardening-everyone should create. You should do something, then sit back and say, 'I did that.'
It's better to create something that others criticise than to create nothing and criticise others. Go create, have fun!!
Science seeks the truth. And it does not discriminate. For better or worse it finds things out. Science is humble. It knows what it knows and it knows what it doesn’t know. It bases its conclusions and beliefs on hard evidence -- evidence that is constantly updated and upgraded. It doesn’t get offended when new facts come along. It embraces the body of knowledge. It doesn’t hold on to medieval practices because they are tradition.
I used to believe in God. The Christian one, that is (There are a few thousand to choose from. But I was born in a country where the dominant religion was Christianity so I believed in that one. Isn't it weird how that always happens?). Luckily I was also interested in science and nature. And reason and logic. And honesty and truth. And equality and fairness. By the age of eight I was an atheist.
People now live their lives like an open wound to be famous - they do bad things because they're rewarded for it.
A Christian telling an atheist they're going to hell is as scary as a child telling an adult they're not getting any presents from Santa.
That which is not, shall never be; that which is, shall never cease to be. To the wise, these truths are self-evident.
Desire nothing for yourself, which you do not desire for others.
What is the purpose of life?...To be the eyes and ears and conscience of the Creator of the Universe, you fool!
I have discovered that for me - now, maybe it doesn't work for everybody - for me, it is much more effective to arrive at any situation as a man from Mars than to try to fit in.
A man may build himself a throne of bayonets, but he cannot sit on it.
The real fight is about what should be in the marketplace and what should not. Should education be a marketable commodity? Should healthcare?
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