Does it give you a feeling that nothing much matters, tommyrot (Gar, and anyone else who believes in this idea). Because I think that's why it doesn't freak me out. There's an appeal in it. Where people think faith is comforting, I think of atheism as comforting.

"ANNNNNDD now we have Christianity the the backstretch, followed closely by Atheism! Wait...wait...is that JUDAISM burning up the track, catching up with, NO WAIT -- passing Atheism! It's a hot race, folks!"

Hee. Pretty much. The thought process was, "There's gotta be a God. Okay, if there's a God, it's *that* God, in one way or another, or there's no God.

Does that sort of extinction of being freak out other people here

The only time it ever gives me a twinge is when I think of all the stories in my head that'll die with me. 'Cause I know I won't have time to get them all out (not a comment on life's brevity, more a comment on how noisy the voices in my head are).

My "religion" gives me great comfort. I recently realized that a very well-meaning, kind, earnest soul who was trying to convince me that I needed to accept Jesus etc. was having as much effect on me as an Amway salesperson. Well, a better effect, because Jesus is cool and Amway is scary pyramid marketing.

Does it give you a feeling that nothing much matters, tommyrot

Sorta. But it also makes me want the world to be a better place, as those who suffer in this world will not be rewarded (or whatever) in the next.

My father always told us not to complain if things were unfair. He would say that God would even things out in the end. So as a result of that I think I grew up far too stoic for my own good. (Or, to put it less nicely, I didn't have much of a backbone.) So for me, the realization that this life is all we have makes me stand up for myself and others.

So I think the only thing that matters is people, especially family and friends.

Does that answer your queston?

I am not too bothered by the thought that I wil someday not exist. What I can't handle is the thought that my FiL and grandfather and everyone else I've loved who has died is just gone and nothing of them is left anywhere. So, I don't accept it.

And, yes, it's totally an emotional response. It's what I need to believe to be able to live well, if that makes any sense.

I think so, tommyrot. Why do you think people matter? I mean, they clearly do. I am not disputing that, but do you think it's learned behavior that has a biological imperative behind it?

So, I don't accept it.

I just can't accept that feral cats will never learn to knit.

Sorry, not making fun of your post. I just love your tagline.

(FTR: "Imagine, if you will, the challenge of teaching feral cats how to knit...")

It's from Farley. I just fell in love with it.

I think so, tommyrot. Why do you think people matter? I mean, they clearly do. I am not disputing that, but do you think it's learned behavior that has a biological imperative behind it?

Well, humans are very social creatures - we tend to live in tribes or groups and cooperate to increase the odds of success for our species. And we need other people for our emotional well being. So I think that's where empathy comes from. Plus we tend to form very strong attachments to family, lovers and friends, but I guess that makes more sense in a "perpetuation of my genes" way.

gah. I'm tired, and typing whatever comes into my head....

Funny - to me it makes everything matter more intensely. To me this life is the only chance we get to make things right. (You understand here I'm articulating an emotion, not making a rational argument.) Life isn't fair; I've always accepted it; but justice can be manufactured in very small quantities with intense effort; and we need to make as much as we can - cause there is no place else to balance the books.