by Opher
As an antitheist I am often accused of being pointless.
Far from it. I am not at all depressed by the knowledge that my life is finite. I opened my eyes on this incredible universe sixty five years ago and at some point in the next thirty five years, maybe today, I will close them forever.
For me the universe will cease to exist just as it did before I was born.
In some ways that is sad and I can see how some people might find that frightening and pointless. I don’t.
I would find the idea of living forever excruciatingly tedious. What would you do for all that time? It would be a jail sentence. What mysterious purpose would there be to that? There would no be a purpose. You cannot hide a lack of ultimate purpose behind either – ‘God has a plan’ or ‘We have to progress through many stages and lives’ – for me that is merely a psychological cop out.
No. I am happy with a finite life. It means that every second is precious. Every moment has to be wrung dry of all possible joy. It will not come round again.
So, if there is no ultimate purpose then what is the thing that makes life worth getting up for? (And yes by the way – I am a very moral person. I do not need some religious doctrine and fear to make me moral. Morality makes sense. It is a philosophy that brings happiness.)
Here are the reasons to get out of bed. This is my ABC of life:
a. Love
b. Fun
c. Making the world a better place
d. Awe and wonder
e. Creativity
f. Solving the problems
g. Enjoying the splendours
h. Exploring everything
I. Reading
j. Writing
k. Sharing
l. Appreciating a nice meal, a glass of wine and good company
m. Arguing and educating
n. Speaking out against the madness
o. Caring for other animals
p. Looking out for the plants
q. Learning from history
r. Sport
s. Driving
t. Swimming in a cool pool on a hot day
u. Looking up at the stars and drifting to infinity
v. Getting an idea for a story, painting, poem or dance
w. Thinking
x. Singing and playing music
y. Appreciating art, theatre, dance, drama, music, poetry …….
z. Dancing
aa. Photography
I think that’s probably quite enough to fill a life-time or two.