Sigh…if that's how you choose to go about life, more power to you. Seems pretty empty and sad though. What exactly do you live for? I mean, in your worldview, life is pointless right? There's no reason for it. We are just machines with the biological need to reproduce. For no reason. There is no reason to reproduce, because in the end, reproduction gains us nothing. The entire species will either be wiped out, or will move on to be something else according to the evolutionists…But WHY? You may say that if we reproduce better than the next life-form than we are the better species to live. But again, why? What does it matter? There would be no point or purpose in seeking knowledge. No urge to do what is "right" for another person that we care about. Shoot, why have emotions at all? They don't help me mate. Heck, they mostly hindered it when I was a teenager! /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' />

So again. I affirm your right to believe what you do, but I also claim the right of thinking you are crazy to want that kind of worldview. /unsure.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />

Wow, it always amazes me that people really think like this. So, what you're saying is that without god, my life is pointless, sad and empty? Talk about wide generalizations and narrow views.

My life, sans god, is just as fulfilled as yours is with god.

Seeking knowledge has nothing to do with god, knowledge is what made me an atheist in the first place. I continue to seek knowledge on a daily basis.

Doing right? Why would I have no urge to do what is right in life? Doing what is right and kind in life is a HUMAN condition, not a godly one.

Lastly, what in the world do emotions have to do with god?? That one boggles my mind to no end. Are emotions a godly trait now too? I didn't know the religious had the emotions corner marketed.

I read this recently, "For christians to be considered extremists, they have to murder a doctor who performs abortions. For muslims to be considered extremists, they have to be suicide bombers. For atheists to be considered extremists, they just have to say out loud that they are atheists."

I agree with both of you. In my 42 years on this earth I've had varying degrees of

belief, non belief. From growing up with no religion and really not giving it much thought

at all if there was a god or not, to my religious years where i became a Catholic and

an active member of my church including being part of the RCIA team. to loosing all

faith completely and not thinking there was a heaven at all, to where i am now, more

of an agnostic who really, really hopes there IS a heaven.

In all those phases of my life i've been a caring human being who always tries very

hard to do the right thing. I have a strong moral code that I follow and instill in my

children, but not because I expect a reward of heaven at the end, but because i'm

a human being and feel there are right ways to live and wrong ways. I believe it's

my responsibility to be a good person and to treat other people with kindness and

compassion because it's the right thing to do, period.

this pretty much mirrors my life, except while i know there is life after this stint on earth, i do not believe it is heaven along the traditional Judeo-Chistian lines. i think it just 'is'.

i do NOT believe in miracles. why is it when something wonderful happens god gets the credit, but when it doesn't there is no blame, just 'that's god's will' etc? i am responsible for my decisions/actions; if there were a supreme being i would want him/her/it to be the same.

i spent 5 yrs watching kids die on a cancer ward while my daughter was being treated for leukemia. then we lost her at age 19. that was 4 yrs ago last friday. some kids live, some kids die. the ones who live are no more deserving than those that don't. hence i will never believe in miracles. serendipity, yes. cait and i were talking about this one nite in her hospital room and she said 'mom, i think sometimes shite just happens.' and i think she was spot on.

i know there is something beyond this life due to what i've experienced. i have no proof, but i am not interested in proving anything and feel no need to prosthletyze. i live my life trying to leave the least harm done in my wake. no religion has the concession to morality. i do my best to do good not because i fear hell but because i know that's the way to be.

i do have an emptiness in my life now but that is due to the loss of my daughter not the lack of any god figure.

best,

annie

http://caitlin-mayes.memory-of…..About.aspx

Welcome to PUG Annie.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I wont pretend I know what you went through,

but I also lost my daughter. Very different circumstances though.

I feel the same as you, I shared my room with a drug addict who

wouldnt follow the doctors orders. She was sent home and returned

2 days later because she wasnt doing what she was told and was

putting her baby in danger. she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

I followed all the doctors orders. I wasnt even able to get out

of my hospital bed for 7 weeks. I didnt complain even once.

I reached the magical 28 weeks. I was in the best hospital

in Boston. At 29 weeks my daughter was born. She lived

just under 8 hours.

how was that fair? like you said, my Marissa was no less

deserving of life then the baby born to the drug addict

mother. it just was what it was.

i'm not sure what happens when we die, i just know

that being a good person is the only way for me to live.

heidi,

the loss of a child is something only those of us who must walk this path will truly understand. it has been called the ultimate loss and i think that's as good a description as any other.

i am sorry for the loss of your wee one. empty arms are indescribably painfilled…

best,

annie