What would you do if ...

[FlyersFan]

What would you do if you found out that humanity is only here by accidental chance ... that there is no God, there is no one in charge or watching over everything, there is no purpose to our being here, there is no Heaven or Hell or Purgatory or Paradise or Sheol, there is no reincarnation based on rewards and punishment for karma, there are no answered prayers but only coincidences, that there is nothing after this.   What would you do if you found out that every religion on the planet was dead wrong, and that those who made them up were just either wishful thinking or were purposely manipulating people?

Some of  you may already think that way.   But I'm asking those that believe in 'something' and 'a higher reason for us being here' .    What would you do if it was proven that we are an accident and nothing really matters?

Would you change how you live?   No cosmic rewards and no cosmic punishments.   Would you despair?   Would you continue on and try to make this life as 'good' as you can even if it doesn't mean anything?   Would 'good' and 'bad' even exist anymore?  Would you be angry?   Who would you be angry at if God didn't exist?   

What would you think and how would you act if it all turned out to be bunk?

[FlyersFan]

Me?   I'd be pissed.  Pissed that I wasted so much time talking to Someone who wasn't there.   Pissed that I wasted so much time trying to figure out the truth only to find out that there is no 'truth' there except nothingness.   I'd be depressed.    I'd still be 'good' and try to do what is 'right', even though 'good' and 'right' wouldn't exist anymore ... because in that moment, even though it wouldn't matter to the universe, it would matter to me.   I'd want to make that moment good for myself and the others there.

But man ... I'd be ticked ... even though there would be no god to be ticked at.

[andy06shake]

What would you do if you found out that humanity is only here by accidental chance ... that there is no God, there is no one in charge or watching over everything, there is no purpose to our being here, there is no Heaven or Hell or Purgatory or Paradise or Sheol, there is no reincarnation based on rewards and punishment for karma, there are no answered prayers but only coincidences, that there is nothing after this.   What would you do if you found out that every religion on the planet was dead wrong, and that those who made them up were just either wishful thinking or were purposely manipulating people?

Some of  you may already think that way.   But I'm asking those that believe in 'something' and 'a higher reason for us being here' .    What would you do if it was proven that we are an accident and nothing really matters?

Would you change how you live?   No cosmic rewards and no cosmic punishments.   Would you despair?   Would you continue on and try to make this life as 'good' as you can even if it doesn't mean anything?   Would 'good' and 'bad' even exist anymore?  Would you be angry?   Who would you be angry at if God didn't exist?   

What would you think and how would you act if it all turned out to be bunk?

Chances are, every organised religion on the planet is dead wrong, Flyers.

For a start, they can't all be correct, because they are not all saying the same things. 

In answer to the question, I'd accept it as honestly as possible.

And try and see meaning as something humans create.

Rather than something assigned from outside.

Put it this way, if this life is all there is.

Then our kindness and curiosity become even more valuable and urgent. 

Me?   I'd be pissed.  Pissed that I wasted so much time talking to Someone who wasn't there.  

LoL

I do that all the time. 

[midicon]

I'm not fussed about any of it, God or no God. The problem is people who justify belief to support a viewpoint. I brought up three kids and would sometimes give them a kindly reminder to 'stay away from religious people'.

People like you Flyers lol. You wouldn't know God if you tripped over him!

Such is the way!

[FlyersFan]

People like you Flyers lol. You wouldn't know God if you tripped over him!

Snotty. 
Like you would?
Pffft.

[midicon]

Edit to remove

[AccessDenied]

Honestly, I feel like we have been rudderless for a long time. Definitely that those seeking meaning are taken advantage of, and that those in positions of power use that to their advantage. 
I won't speak of heaven.
But if there is a hell, it's empty. All the demons are here.

[Tecate]

I would continue living my life the same way.

I know/feel when I have done wrong. I have instilled the “Golden Rule” in my kids and still feel that that is the right way to go about life.

I don’t see myself all of a sudden becoming an uncaring lunatic anarchist just because I don’t have to fear judgment of any type in an afterlife. If we are just here to live in the now then so be it. Have fun, be respectful and go about your business.

I have no reason to be pissed, I haven’t done anything against my will by following any religion or doctrine that would have held me back. I’m accountable to my own conscience. I have never felt that anyone else has the right answers or has the ear of God any more than I do, so meh, you know?

Anyhoo, my 2 pesos…


Tecate

[Roma]

Me?  I'm along the lines of @Tecate in that I would still live my life the same way.  

Interesting, but the first thing I thought of was Pascal's Wager.  Even if God does not exist, living as if he does leads to a more favorable outcome (and probably a better life).

[DontTreadOnMe]

What would you do if you found out that humanity is only here by accidental chance ... that there is no God, there is no one in charge or watching over everything, there is no purpose to our being here, there is no Heaven or Hell or Purgatory or Paradise or Sheol, there is no reincarnation based on rewards and punishment for karma, there are no answered prayers but only coincidences, that there is nothing after this.  

For me it is a moot point.
A matter of faith.

But I "know" there is life on "the other side".  My dead grandmother sent me a message.