It's All Your Fault You Evil Secularists

[8enotto]

Purpose is something many people seem to need to know. I just was asked about this last week actually.

Not a ' what drives you on day after day ' purpose but ' why did god ' based question as if we are here to do some work of god.
He is almighty and omnipresent, why the hell would he need a worm like me to do his work, much less even exist?
Just to keep me busy?

His mind too needed that mission from god otherwise life is aimlessly drifting until a funeral.
I tried to explain it isn't aimless drifting as I made decisions to end up wherever I am doing whatever I do. I get to choose what is important and needs my efforts.

He didn't understand how to live like that. Despite having done exactly the same for 50 odd years with a little divine guidance added in.

We are all opportunistic and go where we can do something useful to survive, possibly live well. Its just a question of who takes credit of our success or failure along the way.

At least in my simplistic veiw.

 

[TheGoldcountry]

In my understanding, where 12-step programmes work at all, they mainly work with people who already have a highly religious worldview. They're not very good at converting nonbelievers.

AA has been working for me maintaining sobriety (currently almost a year and a half.)

However, it is the group dynamic/support system that helps me. The religious aspect of it (which hardcore 12-steppers will deny exists, in my view being too close to see it) is a big turn-off to my atheist self. Both the religions people bring in, and the dogmatic nature of 12-step programs themselves, creates some rabid hardcore adherents to the program whose "all or nothing" approach to the program does push me away at times.

I actually think some people just like the "private club" feel of AA more than actually trying to help others, which is supposed to be the ultimate goal: help yourself maintain sobriety by continuing to help others. I definitely get a bad "ivory tower" vibe from some of the long term members at times.

 

[Carrot Flower King]

As well as that perhaps the faithful seem to crave purpose, where as the secularist is comfortable in the absence of such. I have discussed this with my late brother, who was incredulous at my lack of need to want to know why.

As, apparently, "why?" was the first word I learned, I tend to view the "why?" questions differently: more asking "why do I need a god to explain anything?" or "why do I need an externally mandated purpose?".

I've never had a credible answer from any religionist...And one got most upset when I suggested he go read Sartre's Roads to Freedom trilogy.

 

[JoeMorgue]

"Why" questions are just "What" questions (intentionally) badly worded.