Atheism and universal loneliness

Before you do, do you think that believing in truths leads to happiness or frustration?
The truth is whatever the truth is. I suspect if you were happy prior to learning the truth, you'll still be happy. If you were frustrated, then you'll still be frustrated.
 
I've heard something like that too. I wonder if there is any truth to it. :)
 
wynn, you've been reduced to cryptic sarcastic quips. It is tough to follow your line of reasoning. A discerning reader might conclude that you've no counterargument but can't admit it.

Say what you mean.

Are you saying that you can't see how one can pursue happiness even while one is sure that the universe has no larger meaning?

I've been saying this all along.


How can there possibly be happiness and meaning in a part of a whole, where the whole has no meaning?
 
So, wynn, when you come back, I am curious whether you think holding to a truth is the cause of suffering as I proposed or if that still makes no sense to you. I am a little bit amazed at how powerful the example of a silly thread on a message board turned out to be.

Maybe it's just me though.

How could holding a truth possibly be a cause of suffering??
You will need to explain how such a thing is even just theoretically possible!


If
1. truth is alignment with how things really are
and
2. suffering is misalignment with how things really are
and
3. happiness is alignment with how things really are

then holding a truth cannot possibly be cause for suffering.
 
How could holding a truth possibly be a cause of suffering??
You will need to explain how such a thing is even just theoretically possible!


If
1. truth is alignment with how things really are
and
2. suffering is misalignment with how things really are
and
3. happiness is alignment with how things really are

then holding a truth cannot possibly be cause for suffering.

How familiar are you with the four noble truths?
 
The truth is whatever the truth is. I suspect if you were happy prior to learning the truth, you'll still be happy. If you were frustrated, then you'll still be frustrated.

That will depend on what the truth is about.

Knowing a truth about, say, the chemical constitution of planet Saturnus is most likely not going to contribute anything to a person's happiness or misery, unless they are an astrophysicist or something like that.

On the other hand, knowing the truth about God, or how the self exists, or what the meaning of life is, would on principle make all the difference to a person's happiness or misery.
 
That will depend on what the truth is about.

Knowing a truth about, say, the chemical constitution of planet Saturnus is most likely not going to contribute anything to a person's happiness or misery, unless they are an astrophysicist or something like that.

On the other hand, knowing the truth about God, or how the self exists, or what the meaning of life is, would on principle make all the difference to a person's happiness or misery.
And, if the "truth" is that there is no god, then I am in the same boat I was when we started this journey.
 
I've been saying this all along.


How can there possibly be happiness and meaning in a part of a whole, where the whole has no meaning?

Because happiness and meaning are defined by the individual for the individual.

This does not require any overarching meaning or any overarching happiness (which sounds silly when you say it).
 
Knowing a truth about, say, the chemical constitution of planet Saturnus is most likely not going to contribute anything to a person's happiness or misery, unless they are an astrophysicist or something like that.
That 'unless' is the crux of the issue, and I'm pleased to see you being the one to utter it.

Do you see how you have demonstrated one example of how any individual has the means to define what gives their lives meaning and makes them happy?
 
I've been saying this all along.


How can there possibly be happiness and meaning in a part of a whole, where the whole has no meaning?

Because everything is relative. Happiness is relative to your circumstances, not the orbit of Venus.
 
How could holding a truth possibly be a cause of suffering??
You will need to explain how such a thing is even just theoretically possible!

....

For instance knowing your husband is cheating on you will cause you suffering.
 
wynn said:
How could holding a truth possibly be a cause of suffering?
You're just pulling our chains. Surely you don't think "Ignorance is bliss" became such an oft-repeated maxim without millions of people discovering it the hard way? George Michael said it well in "Careless Whisper."
Wham! said:
Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend.
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind.
There's no comfort in the truth.
Pain is all you'll find.
Furthermore, it's often been hypothesized by my crowd that religion arose originally because it's too painful to accept the truth that this is all there is.

Of course some of us don't find that painful at all. Personally I find "this" to be awesome, marvelous and inspiring.
 
How could holding a truth possibly be a cause of suffering??
You will need to explain how such a thing is even just theoretically possible!


If
1. truth is alignment with how things really are
and
2. suffering is misalignment with how things really are
and
3. happiness is alignment with how things really are

then holding a truth cannot possibly be cause for suffering.
Then why does it cause suffering to have it challenged? If you have a truth, how does a challenge affect alignment with how things really are?
 
That will depend on what the truth is about.

Knowing a truth about, say, the chemical constitution of planet Saturnus is most likely not going to contribute anything to a person's happiness or misery, unless they are an astrophysicist or something like that.

On the other hand, knowing the truth about God, or how the self exists, or what the meaning of life is, would on principle make all the difference to a person's happiness or misery.

To you, perhaps. Knowing whether or not there is a god wouldn't make me happier or more miserable. It might be awe-inspiring or frightening, perhaps, depending on its nature, but to say that our happiness depends on that particular truth is merely another case of you projecting. For example, I am pretty convinced there is no god. I can only take the intellectual position that there might or might not be, but I have a hunch that there isn't, and I live my life as if. That fact in no way makes my life less meaningful, nor does it make my suffering pointless.
 
So, is the suffering caused by not knowing? Because that seems easy to fix.
 
You're just pulling our chains. Surely you don't think "Ignorance is bliss" became such an oft-repeated maxim without millions of people discovering it the hard way? George Michael said it well in "Careless Whisper."Furthermore, it's often been hypothesized by my crowd that religion arose originally because it's too painful to accept the truth that this is all there is.

Of course some of us don't find that painful at all. Personally I find "this" to be awesome, marvelous and inspiring.

To quote someone from another forum:
this is the atheist version of "you choose not to believe in god because you find the idea of an all powerful creator threatening".

In this thread it was the atheists who suffered for their truths after I posted the question. I'm pretty sure any truth at all which one holds too tightly to allow contradictory information through will do it if that information keeps coming.

There is an awful lot wrapped up in your word "this" for most people. Much of which drills down to truths which are hard to hold loosely.
 
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