6 replies to this topic

[Halcyon]

 Please excuse the lack of fluidity in introducing these topics. I'm just bored and I find these topics exciting.

 

(Before anyone asks, yes, I just recently watched Carl Sagan's Cosmos.)

 

Having an existential crisis is a pretty common symptom that comes with atheism/agnosticism. It's strange thinking every single human being alive right now will be dead in 100-120 years. Believing that there is nothing after death makes me question the point. The worst of things would have never mattered, and the best of things would have never mattered. The sun is going to engulf the earth one day. When we're dead we have no way of acknowledging that we were ever even alive. Even the people who carry your memories will die one day too. Unfortunately, I'm too much of a skeptic to have any true, comforting spiritual beliefs.

 

Spoiler

 

 

As for the multiverse theory, it gives me goosebumps thinking about it. No, it has not been proven, but it is arguably possible.

 

Spoiler

Explained for people without much time:

 

 

And documentaries for lonely people:

 

 

 

 

 

I'm terrible at starting conversations so I command you all to simply discuss.

 

 

Spoiler

Bonus Topic:

Suicide. Do you think it's selfish? Do you think the people who don't want people to commit suicide are the ones who are selfish? Do you think, sometimes, it simply must be done? How many times have you ever truly, with all honesty, contemplated it? If so, why?

 

[DonValentino]

I'm a Catholic but I don't really believe in God as a human looking being. If I believe in God at all, which I haven't truly decided, I feel like it's more of a force of nature than anything. God is all the energy swirling around us, the stars and the moon and microscopic particles. I find religion fascinating, actually. I was at mass last night for Easter Vigil and it's interesting watching people who throw all of their faith into an unknown being who they think will make their life better/have meaning if they pray to him every night. I don't subscribe to that, although I have prayed a few times in my life when things have been bad. It is comforting, but I would never place all of my eggs in that basket (Happy Easter!).

 

As far as life having meaning, I don't think it does in a larger sense. Just like other species, we will go extinct sooner or later. So the important thing is to live life as well as you can. By that, I mean try to leave the world better than you found it. Treat others with respect and kindness, and enjoy your life. If you are not having a good time, then I don't think life is worth living. What is the point of living if you have a shitty life? It's an interesting question. I do believe in the statement that "things will get better" if you keep going, but for some it's really hard to wait if they are being constantly bullied or oppressed or what have you.

 

I wasn't ever going to say this on here, but since it's pertinent to the conversation, why not. I tried to take my own life a few months ago. I was extremely drunk (dangerously so) and some issues that I've been dealing with (some for years some more recent) all kind of came to the forefront at the same time and in my intoxicated state I couldn't find any reason worth sticking around. I wrote a note and tried to OD on pills. Since then, I've thought a couple times about whether or not that was selfish. It's not easy to come up with an answer. On the one hand, there are people that love me that would have been devastated if I had succeeded, and they'd have to deal with that for the rest of their lives, without me. On the other hand, it's my life, right? If I don't think it's worth living I think it's my right to excuse myself. The problem is that most (if not all) of the people who commit suicide have some form of depression, which really inhibits your ability to see things clearly. I know after I woke up that I was disappointed that I had failed, but that doesn't mean life isn't worth living, just that I have some issues that I need to deal with. I don't think I would have the heart to put my family through that again. 

 

I think there are plenty of things worth living for, the Earth is a beautiful place when it's not busy shitting on your chest. Just because eventually we'll all be dead (or humans could develop means to colonize other planets and our species will endure forever) doesn't mean that what we do isn't important. We affect all of the lives around us, and that's important enough. 

[HiMyNameIsNick]

What's wrong about multiple universes? It's not like the movies.

[MozzarellaSticks]

Somewhere along the way in life I learned to not care. I just don't care if there is a God, or Gods, or nothing. I don't care if we all die. There's not much I can do about any of it and it's a pretty pointless worry. I believe in focusing on being a good person and being kind to others. I don't think we really need faith or fears to do that, but if someone has them that's amazing. I'm really kind of envious of people who have a lot of faith in something.

[DonValentino]

P.S. @Halcyon I hope your cramps have improved

[redlion]

Having an existential crisis is a pretty common symptom that comes with atheism/agnosticism. It's strange thinking every single human being alive right now will be dead in 100-120 years. Believing that there is nothing after death makes me question the point. The worst of things would have never mattered, and the best of things would have never mattered. The sun is going to engulf the earth one day. When we're dead we have no way of acknowledging that we were ever even alive. Even the people who carry your memories will die one day too. Unfortunately, I'm too much of a skeptic to have any true, comforting spiritual beliefs.

 
Hi. You raise some interesting topics, and I'm going to try to give you a full response because I've been where you are (existential crisis) and I know how tough it is. One of the hardest things any human can do is acknowledge how pitifully small and unimportant we each are individually. Some people never do. But the fact that you are spatially insignificant compared to even a small star like, say, our Sun, does not by proxy make your whole existence insignificant. In fact, the idea that you even can acknowledge that reality is a mark of intelligence that no other species (to our knowledge) has ever achieved - sentience. No other beings, to our knowledge, have ever studied the universe scientifically, or come up with symbolic logic. My point is, even if you feel that an individual's life is insignificant, surely you must agree that humanity as a whole has more to offer than a 100 year life span.

Spoiler

 

Entropy is the word I would use to describe this. Heat death, it's called. This theory is actually in doubt currently. Lawrence Krauss in particular has done some work looking at the random yet constant creation in empty space of particles and anti-particles that annihilate each other. This is the source of Hawking radiation, and this discovery may yet prove that our universe will not die with a whimper, but will simply continue to exist with new matter popping into existence all the time.
 

As for the multiverse theory, it gives me goosebumps thinking about it. No, it has not been proven, but it is arguably possible.
 

Spoiler

Explained for people without much time:
 

 
And documentaries for lonely people:
 

 

 

  
I'm terrible at starting conversations so I command you all to simply discuss.

Alright, here's where I'm going to start taking some liberties. I haven't watched any of these videos, because usually they get the science about half right, regardless of how "true" or whatever. They're producing content that has to be easily digestible - it needn't be correct.

All that aside, I am aware of the multiverse concept. The thing is, unless we suddenly develop the tech to travel to other dimensions (string theorists rejoice!) we will never interact with another universe occupying the same space as us. It's impossible by definition. So what's the sense in worrying about it?
 

Bonus topic

Spoiler

Bonus Topic:
Suicide. Do you think it's selfish? Do you think the people who don't want people to commit suicide are the ones who are selfish? Do you think, sometimes, it simply must be done? How many times have you ever truly, with all honesty, contemplated it? If so, why?

For this one, you get a spoiler in return.

Spoiler

I have contemplated suicide on a number of occasions. I believe in every human's sovereign right to decide the time and manner of the end of their life. I don't count the number of times I've had suicidal thoughts, and you shouldn't either. That's a little obsessive. In the United States if you attempt suicide and are somehow stopped you can be charged with felony murder. Not that you necessarily will be charged, it's just a way for the state to say that it has a vested interest in your continued contributions to society.

On the other hand, I wouldn't call someone who wishes to remain alive selfish. That's utterly ridiculous. We're hard wired to fear immediate death. Even suicidal people will flinch from death when it's not of the form they'd prefer.

If you've never read about Socrates, you should. His death, for particular reasons, was by his own hand. From wikipedia:

Spoiler

Socrates' death is described at the end of Plato's Phaedo. Socrates turned down Crito's pleas to attempt an escape from prison. After drinking the poison, he was instructed to walk around until his legs felt numb. After he lay down, the man who administered the poison pinched his foot; Socrates could no longer feel his legs. The numbness slowly crept up his body until it reached his heart. Shortly before his death, Socrates speaks his last words to Crito: "Crito, we owe a rooster to Asclepius. Please, don't forget to pay the debt."

Asclepius was the Greek god for curing illness, and it is likely Socrates' last words meant that death is the cure—and freedom, of the soul from the body.

[Halcyon]

I think my issue here is I'm an adamant pessimist and I think too much. For more than a month now I've been knee deep in depression just constantly thinking about the past. Which includes (in the most vague way of speaking) deaths of loved ones, regretting my naivety which caused certain things to happen, and cursing my parents for their indifference, insensitivity, and stupidity which also caused certain things to happen. I don't ever want to use the words "depression" lightly and I don't want to be one of those sympathy-seeking-self-diagnosing asses, but I have lost my appetite, cried every night, lost interest in everything, and it pains me to attempt even the most normal tasks.  

 

Although I truly, truly can't wait until we are all dead and forgotten, I wouldn't dare commit suicide at this point in my life because I don't know what my family would do with my six dogs. The thought of them getting new homes or being sent to a shelter all innocent and confused pains me more than anything else. I also have two siblings. I don't trust my parents enough to provide them the necessary tools for life so I feel obligated to remain just for them. My mom's the type to thunk a kid in the head multiple times for not being able to get a homework problem fast enough and the type to shove her child at the door angrily and call them stupid for not moving fast enough. Sometimes I just have to step in since my little brother is very sensitive and insecure. But at the same time it's so incredibly frustrating just existing. Whenever I laugh at something funny or something makes me smile, I immediately retract and feel guilty about it because I feel with all honesty that I don't deserve it. 

 

Spoiler

Only good thing I've gotten out of this is I've lost some weight.

 

I don't want any sympathies here, just a place to speak. Sympathies make me recoil and I feel that any sympathies stated through the internet of someone I have no attachment or emotional connection to would just be empty, meaningless, and useless. 

 

On the other hand, I wouldn't call someone who wishes to remain alive selfish.

 

I didn't mean that. I meant the people who don't want someone they know who is clinically depressed to commit suicide. 

 

I also agree it's quite fascinating to think that although a star ten thousand times bigger than our sun and a thousand times older than our solar system make us pale into insignificance, the star itself will never know it's a star.

 

As for the multiverse theory, I just found it interesting and wish fulfilling. Like perhaps there is a different version of my life that did not have to go through the things I am wallowing over now. Even when I wasn't in this state of mind, it blew my mind of its possibility and creeps me out thinking of it as if it were true. Again, I think too much.

 

@DonValentino My cramps have completely subsided now. Rejoice.

 

I usually have the mindset you guys are speaking of. (Not giving a fuck and just enjoying life since this is most likely all we have) But I just do not feel that way at the moment. 

 

On the other hand, it's my life, right? If I don't think it's worth living I think it's my right to excuse myself. The problem is that most (if not all) of the people who commit suicide have some form of depression, which really inhibits your ability to see things clearly. I know after I woke up that I was disappointed that I had failed, but that doesn't mean life isn't worth living, just that I have some issues that I need to deal with. 

 

 Italicized is exactly how I feel. The rest is how I know I should think but I can't bring myself to agree and it feels like this would never end.