by Robert Borneman

Created on: April 28, 2008

Just because someone is atheist does not mean they think life is 'without purpose.' Life is full of obvious reasons why we, as humans and animals, are here. Purpose and reason are different things. I don't believe that we were 'purposefully' put on earth by any higher being. I also can't say that there is a 'meaning' to us being here. However, we are serving an important purpose on earth, and there are many reasons, without god, that we are here.

The reasons we are here and our purpose are intertwined in some ways I guess. We, humans, animals, multicellular life, have evolved over billions of years (for the sake of length I'll assume we know the story). Not 6 days. This fact only gives more reason to our lives. Multicellular life survived through millions of years, feeding off of its environment, which was enriched by the deaths of previous generations. Its the circle of life. Life's natural tendency is to try to continue. Because of all life before us; that is the reason we are here.

This means that our main purpose as living beings on this earth is to continue the growth and expansion of our species. Many people have a hard time accepting or even hearing this point of view. I'm sure for infertile men and women, and people that can't conceive or raise children for whatever reason, this is unacceptable news. Although adoptions and fostering children is still much needed to raise the next generation, people often feel misplaced when they think of life this way. The search for purpose is often blown out of proportion, in my opinion, as this life changing metaphorical quest. In reality, in a historical, social sense, our purpose is really to continue our species by whatever means. It truly is survival of the fittest.

I would like to add here that this question of purpose in life is one obvious way that religious groups continue to sucker so many trusting people into their grasp. All religions preach of a purpose for life, that's what religion is all about. Whether its Christians preaching that their purpose is to spread the word and love of Jesus, Muslim extremists preaching that you should kill for your god, or Buddhist's preaching that the purpose of life is to find enlightenment. It's all about convincing people that they have the secret to the purpose of our lives. Since this question is so deep and difficult to answer, religious groups simply lie and say 'here's the answer!'. Thus making it all much, much more complicated.

As far as the 'meaning' of life...I really don't think there is some special meaning to life. We come into earth, live our lives and reproduce, and then die, making nutrient rich soil for future generations. It's much more simple than popular culture would have us believe. Meaning to life is whatever makes you happy. Its different for everybody.

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