Why an atheism life has no ultimate meaning, value, or purpose, and why this view is unlivable.

Immortality Shows the Necessity of God

“Man, as the only creature in the universe capable of asking ‘Why?’ stands apart. While other animals rely on instincts to guide them, humans have developed the ability to inquire. ‘Who am I?’ Man ponders. ‘Why am I here? Where am I going?’ Since the Enlightenment, when humanity cast off the constraints of religion, we have sought answers to these existential questions without invoking God.

However, the responses we received were far from uplifting; they were dark and grim. ‘You are a chance occurrence, a product of matter and time,’ they said. ‘Your existence lacks purpose, and death awaits you. ’Ironically, modern man believed that by discarding God, he would liberate himself from repression. Instead, he discovered that in rejecting God, he had also negated his own significance. Without God, life becomes absurd.

If God does not exist, both humanity and the universe face inevitable demise. Like all biological organisms, humans must eventually die. Immortality remains beyond our grasp, and our existence leads inexorably to the grave. We are but fleeting sparks in the vast cosmic darkness—brief flames that appear, flicker, and then vanish forever. While we currently exist and breathe, we know that one day, we will cease to be, and that thought is both staggering and unsettling: the realization that the ‘self’ we identify with will ultimately fade into nothingness.

Someday Everyone Will Die

Someday, everyone will experience mortality. Some are filled with fear and overwhelming sadness, while others approach it with hope and anticipation. Regardless of the timing, the undeniable truth remains, we will all eventually face death and cease to exist. Over time, as we come to accept this reality, we learn to live with the inevitable. Whether it arrives sooner or later, the prospect of death and the fear of non-being can be a terrible horror. However, I once read an article about a person who didn’t feel this threat. Raised on a farm, he was accustomed to witnessing the cycle of life—animals being born and dying. For him, death was simply a natural part of existence.”

It might seem puzzling that these two perspectives on death differ so greatly. But perhaps the key lies in how we internalize it. When we view death from a personal perspective: ‘my death: I am going to die’, it becomes less threatening.” Explore this perspective that faith and spirituality can also provide comfort and understanding in the face of mortality.

The Existential Significance of Our Mortality

When we confront the reality of our own mortality, the threat of non-being becomes palpable. Many people grapple with this perspective during their lives
however, the true existential significance of death can only be fully appreciated from our personal vantage point. As we recognize our finite existence and
the possibility of ceasing to exist forever, our life becomes a fleeting transition from oblivion to oblivion. Thus, not only are we as individuals doomed, but
the entire human race shares this fate. It seems there is no escape, no hope. Or is there? Let’s explore further.

The Futility of Life Without God and Immortality

In the absence of God, humanity and the universe face a bleak fate. Like prisoners awaiting execution, we grapple with our inevitable demise. Without God, there is no promise of immortality. Consequently, life appears absurd, devoid of ultimate meaning, value, or purpose.

Consider humanity as a doomed race in a dying universe, destined to eventually fade away. In this context, an individual is no more significant than a swarm of bees or a barnyard full of animals—since their end is ultimately the same. The contributions and sacrifices made by so many honorable individuals to improve the human condition all appear futile. This existential dread haunts modern humanity: if our existence leads to nothingness, then we are, in essence, nothing.

No Ultimate Meaning Without Immortality and God

If each individual person ceases to exist upon death, what ultimate meaning can be ascribed to their life? Does it truly matter whether they ever existed at all? While their life may hold relative importance within certain events, what is the ultimate significance of any of those occurrences? If all events are devoid of meaning, then what purpose can there be in influencing any of them? Ultimately, it seems inconsequential.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that mere immortality alone does not grant life meaning. Simply enduring indefinitely does not inherently imbue existence with purpose. Even if both humanity and the universe could persist forever, without the presence of God, their existence would remain devoid of ultimate significance. In such a scenario, we would be condemned to an eternal, purposeless existence.

Thus, if God does not exist, our lives would mirror precisely that—a perpetual emptiness. They could continue indefinitely yet remain utterly devoid of meaning. We could still inquire about life, asking, ‘So what?’ So, it is not merely immortality that humanity requires for life to hold ultimate significance; rather, man needs both God and immortality. If God does not exist, then he possesses neither.

Immortality and God Produces Value

If life ends at the grave, the distinction between living as a billionaire or a pauper becomes irrelevant. Our destiny, detached from our behavior, renders our choices inconsequential. Without immortality, everything is permissible; there is no inherent good or evil, and laws lose their meaning. It’s a society where anything goes.

Living solely for oneself seems logical in this context. After all, life is too brief to risk acting against pure self-interest. Sacrificing for others appears foolish. However, the problem deepens. Even if immortality isn’t a factor, the absence of God leaves us without objective standards of right and wrong. Our existence becomes a mere valueless fact. Moral values either reflect personal preferences or emerge from circumstances and conditioning. In a godless universe, who determines which values are right or wrong? Are dictators’ morality inferior to those of a virtuous people?

Without God, objective morality dissolves. We’re left with culturally and personally relative judgments. Condemning war, oppression, or crime as evil becomes impossible, just as praising brotherhood, equality, and love as good. Ultimately, in a universe devoid of God, good and evil lose their absolute meaning. There’s no authority to declare who is right or wrong.

 

No Purpose to Our Existence

If death awaits us with open arms at the end of life’s journey, does it render everything meaningless? Is there no purpose to our existence? What about humanity? Is there no overarching reason for our presence or will we simply fade into oblivion in an indifferent universe? In a godless reality, this is our fate—no hope, no purpose.

Human Life and Animal Existence

Without God, our lives are no different from those of animals. What applies to all of humanity holds true for each individual: there is no inherent purpose for our being here. As Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “The fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. All go to the same place. All come from dust, and all return to dust” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20).

This ancient book, which reads like modern existentialist literature, highlights the futility of pleasure, wealth, education, political fame, and honor in a life destined for death. Its verdict: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). If life ends at the grave, ultimate purpose eludes us.

The Weight of the Alternatives:

Consider the gravity of our choices. If God exists, there remains hope for humanity. But if God does not exist, despair consumes us. The question of God’s existence is vital. As one writer aptly put it, “If God is dead then man is dead as well.” Many people move through life without reflecting on the consequences of atheism. Yet when we grasp what atheism implies, a pressing question emerges: How do we find comfort in a world without God?

Well, here’s how we find comfort, hope and peace in a world with God as we move on to answers about the Importance of God and Immortality.

The Importance of God and Immortality

The importance of God and immortality is a profound one that touches on various aspects of human experience, including spirituality, morality, purpose, and community.

Spirituality

Christianity offers a spiritual framework that provides meaning and purpose beyond the material world. It believes in the existence of a God, who is the ultimate source of all being and goodness. Christian spirituality is deeply rooted in the relationship with God and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Key verses include: 1 Corinthians 2:13: “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Moral and Ethical Guidance:

Christianity provides a moral compass through its teachings, which are rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Christian moral framework emphasizes virtues such as love, forgiveness, and compassion.

The moral and ethical teachings of Christianity are encapsulated in the life and words of Jesus Christ, such as: Matthew 22:37-39: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Purpose and Hope:

Christianity teaches that life has intrinsic purpose and value, given by God. It offers hope in the face of suffering and death, promising eternal life with God. Christianity affirms that life has a divine purpose and offers hope through faith in Jesus Christ: Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Romans 8:24-25: “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Community and Belonging:

Christianity fosters a sense of community and belonging through the church, where individuals can share in worship, service, and fellowship. This communal aspect can contribute to a sense of identity and support. The Bible emphasizes the importance of community and the interconnectedness of believers: Acts 2:44-47: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Cultural and Historical Influence:

Christianity has played a significant role in shaping Western culture, including art, music, literature, and law. Its influence can be seen in the moral and ethical foundations of many societies.

For those who follow Christianity, the faith offers a comprehensive view of the world that encompasses spiritual, moral, and existential dimensions, providing a coherent narrative for understanding human existence and the universe. Christianity’s influence on culture and history is seen in its shaping of societal values and norms: Exodus 20:1-17: The Ten Commandments, which have influenced moral and legal frameworks. Matthew 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount, which has impacted ethical teachings and practices.

These references provide a scriptural foundation for the significant aspects of Christianity highlighting its comprehensive approach to life and
existence.

The Success of Biblical Christianity

But where atheism falls short in addressing these fundamental questions? Let’s consider biblical Christianity. According to the Christian worldview, God exists, and human life extends beyond the grave. In the resurrection body, humanity can experience eternal life and communion with God. Biblical Christianity thus offers the essential components for a meaningful, valuable, and purposeful existence: God’s presence and the promise of immortality. With these foundations, we can live consistently and find true happiness. In this way, biblical Christianity excels precisely where atheism encounters limitations.”

Conclusion

If God doesn’t exist, life becomes futile.  And in the end, those of us who believe in God and eternal life will not have lost anything because our belief will die with us. However, if the God described in the Bible does exist, life gains meaning and opting for the latter allows us to live consistently and happily   and those who have accepted Jesus Christ will have eternal life with Him. However, opting for the God does not exist road, then leaves you open for eternal life in the lake of fire with Satan in eternal torment for rebelling against God. Even if the evidence for both options were equal, it would be rational to choose biblical Christianity. Preferring death, futility, and destruction over life, meaningfulness, and happiness seems positively irrational.

After all, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by choosing the existence of God.