The listener – believer:
Tell me what is the meaning of a person’s life. Why were we born?
The atheist – preacher:
The purpose of being born and the meaning of life are two different things. Let’s separate them.
We were born not by our own will, but by the will of our parents, so it is pointless to ask the person himself about the meaning of his birth. But a person determines the meaning of life for himself.
The listener – believer:
Well, and what is the meaning of life for an adult conscious person?
The atheist – preacher:
The fact is that a person, like any animal, is driven by two basic instincts: this is the survival instinct and the reproduction instinct. These two instincts determine human behavior. The only difference between a person and an animal is that he has consciousness. Thanks to him, man has erected such superstructures as psychology and morality over instincts, so that sometimes instincts are not visible under them. But, nevertheless, the fact remains that all human behavior is conditioned by two basic instincts.
All his life, a person tries to satisfy these two instincts, that is, to survive and give offspring. In fact, the purpose of a person’s life boils down to this. But due to the fact that the social consciousness is a superstructure over the instincts of the above settings, in modern society it is not accepted to openly indicate the purpose of life satisfaction of basic instincts. In the public consciousness, it is customary to veil them by serving society, serving God, giving birth to descendants, etc.
The listener – believer:
So do you think that an ardent young man seeking the attention of his beloved is driven only by instinct, like some rabbit or mosquito, and not by a great and wonderful feeling of love?
The atheist – preacher:
I do not oppose or mutually exclude these concepts.
Wonderful feelings, invented by man, do not contradict instincts, but are based on them. When I say that a young man strives for a girl, driven by instinct, I do not deny his romantic feelings, I just clarify that they are based on one of the two basic instincts.
The listener – agnostic:
Well, I don’t know. I was taught from childhood that the purpose of a person’s life is to build a house, plant a tree, raise a son.
The atheist – preacher:
These are patterns imposed on us by society.
But if you look closely, you will even see the roots of basic instincts in them.
To build a house means to create a safe place to live and survive. To plant a tree means to create comfortable living conditions. To raise a son means to continue your family.
The listener – believer:
And I see the meaning of my life in being with God, living according to his covenants and earning paradise in heaven.
The atheist – preacher:
Well, that’s your right.
The listener – believer:
And what is the meaning of your life, atheists?
The atheist – preacher:
I can’t speak for all atheists, but my personal goal in life is to live a happy life, benefiting my loved ones and all other people.
The listener – believer:
But how does this match your two basic instincts?
The atheist – preacher:
My purpose in life does not contradict, but is completely in harmony with the basic instincts.
I want to live a long and happy life. By doing this, I obey the first instinct. I live among people, so I am ready to benefit them. By doing this, I take care of my safety and favorable living in their environment, that is, I again obey the first instinct. I want to benefit my family and friends, first of all my children. Thus, I am following the order of the second instinct. I benefit others and create a favorable environment for myself, for my family and for my children, that is, I care about the continuation of my kind. This is how I fulfill the second basic instinct.
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