Putting aside all other issues: if atheists are right, why does anything matter at all?
Why wouldn't it. Sure matters to me as do others' lives.
I'm no atheist. Too damning. I just fall into the category of I don't know and I'm looking forward to finding out. Socrates said: "there may be nothing, there may be a big sleep, there may be a lifetime in the underworld - they all sound good to me". BTW The concept of Hell was invented by the Catholic Church around 1200 AD. Their Jesus never mentioned hell-fire and brimstone.
Yeah, damnable, know it all atheists infiltrating an agnostic oasis. If atheists are wrong or right "why does anything matter at all" to you?
U R correct - it would Not matter -
as thine - Essence is Not matter -
yet without such - One cannot Know experientially -
that which is thy - Self being a Person - thru a human -
as such the Reason & Meaning of - Life as a human -
is to express & thus experience - Whom U so desire -
to Know thy Eternal & Divine - {Self Soul Spirit} - AS -
while U R being a Magnificent yet mortal - human Being -
My main objection to religion is that it destroys the need for that very important question "Where is the evidence" . The underpinning and confidence generated when what does get confirmations with evidence means that everyone can follow that evidence and accept a belief. Without it we know that the gullible are not thinking and are likely to suffer harm to mental Health. I accept that some do survive in blissful ignorance of the damage that religion can do.
If I bite into a hot chilly pepper, it matters, and I spit it out. At that level most things matter, to some degree. It is however very arrogant to assume that the universe owes us an explanation of any higher meaning, whether one be there or not. Maybe we will never have an understanding of meaning, but also maybe there are more intelligent species out there in the universe, to whom the issue of meaning and why things matter, is a simple problem.
To make life easier and better for those who come after you?
To have fun?
To love and be loved?
To create and procreate
however for me personally
To avoid being bored.
I'd argue that you are incorrect on that last one. How would you know, really know?
It doesn't really, our planet could vanish and not change anything significant in the cosmos. I've had nihilistic thoughts for years now and I've come to the conclusion, we don't matter. Everything as we know it is temporary, therefore almost meaningless. If you meant something else let me know, I enjoy this topic.
THANK YOU! The only straightforward answer of the bunch.
On a cosmic scale, nothing does matter at all. The universe doesn't care about whether we exist or not. But, because we have evolved to understand that we exist, and with the ability to feel emotions, to empathize, we are able to give meaning to things, to life.
I don't understand the idea that the only way life has any meaning, or that it matters, is because some being created us, or the universe intended for us to exist.
I wasn't asking about 'god.' I asked, IF atheism is right, what meaning is there to anything?
There is meaning to life? Or not?
I'd say no.
What's that 'mean?'
Nothing.
@Storm1752: I guess I feel your a question implies that belief in a god is necessary for a person to feel that there is a meaning to life. As stated, cosmically, no--there isn't. But, even atheists can give life meaning and realize that life is rare in the universe, especially self-aware, intelligent life--so, in that respect, it does have meaning.