The Absurdity of Life Without God (William Lane Craig)

[ridered300]

My interpretation of life's meaning: to learn and to love. I love my family and friends and I want to leave the world better than it was when I came into it.

I know that once I die, that is the end. There is nothing else to look forward to. If there was an eternal life after death, what is the point of living? What is the point of fearing hell, thinking you are a slave to some divine being? My life has value because I care about future generations, not about what happens after I die.

[sgResIpsaLoquitur]

The Absurdity of Life With God: (1) Depression (to become pitiful to please god), (2) Suffering (eg. fasting and self-torture), (3) victims of psychological abuse (threats of hell and the zero probability of going into heaven (rounded up figure) and finally, (4) dying in the name of god to become martyrs (for guaranteed entry into heaven). How absurd can this get?

[jacobcake]

"Sacrifice for another person would be stupid" on the contrary, it is more likely that this person would sacrifice things for me when I may need them. Also sacrifice resulting in death but saving the life of your child would not be stupid at all. Your genes would be passed on.

[hielkefe]

If live is absurd, its an absolute. Creating your own meaning in an absurd structure can not be more absurd that the structure itself. If there is an absolute there is an structure that determines the value. If there is no structure that determines the absolute there can be no conclusion about the value.

[Allallt]

So, the value, purpose and meaning of life are that they get us into the right form of the after life: heaven or hell. What are the purpose in those things?

How does religion answer those question instead of just stopping us asking?

[CorkPhop]

The same arguments he uses against atheists can be turned on Christians. In Christianity, this life is ultimately just a "Test" and the real "life" is in heaven. So ultimately THIS life is pretty meaningless outside of living for your god and worshiping. So why bother with anything else? Why buy the latest pointless gadgets? Why watch t.v.? Why play with your kids, take them to parks, love them, buy them gifts for holidays? His arguments fail to hold Christianity as the superior life choice.

[mbelma6329]

@CorkPhop But how do you get to this "real" life?

[messakg123]

The fact that the prospect of a life without absolute meaning seems absurd to some seems, to me, wholly irrelevant

[Siipilintu]

Christians, would you rather live you afterlife with God in eternal suffering or in a paradise away from God? What is the meaning of life with God? Obeying God so you can go to heaven?

[ObscureDEG]

Going on my facebook status :D

[AlexTSilver]

In any case, his arguments, if accepted to be valid, only show that the belief in god is necessary for human beings to function. However, they do not entail that the existence of god is necessary

[TheLonelySoldier]

"Atheists have no meaning, value, reason etc." If I had to choose between my family and god, on what is most important to me in life, I choose my family every time. But if you are religious, you have to choose god. So sad. but hey, I'm sure your "second-rated" family would understand...

And that is the absurdity of life with god.

[afluffymango]

@TheLonelySoldier You kinda missed the entire point of the video.

[m1chae15]

Enter transhumanism, the next big lie and 'answer'.

[lilhavanaboys]

@tjobv How is a complex sociological ideology could even be consider as "Happy meal Philosophy" (What ever that is)

[tjobv]

@lilhavanaboys

Well mainly because it is the most failed ideolody the world has ever seen, and suppressed so many people, that they actually had to build a fucking wall to keep people fleeing from it, the Berlin Wall.

Can it be even more embarrassing? That you have to prevent people fleeing from your terribly wicked system...?

People who therefore still believe in this epic failure, are rather funny, and follow Happy Meal Philosophy.

Good luck with the revolution, it will never happen!

[lilhavanaboys]

@tjobv Wow, your an idiot. How is Anarchism State Socialism like the USSR? You call an ideology that has nothing to do with the Soviet Union "A fail" and relate it with the Berlin wall. How stupid are you? You know nothing about Anarchist Communism nor about Social Anarchism but you rant like a stupid kid. A Revolution will never happen? Have you seen Greece lately? Just do me a favor and get a basic education before you rant about something you have ZERO knowledge of!

[tjobv]

@lilhavanaboys

Well actual Anarchism has never been tested in any country, and if it was, it didn´t work.

Anarchism is ridiculous and will never work.

On you channel you seem to be very Anti-Capitalist, yet, you are an Anarchist, which seeks to liberate people from any form of Government control.

But Capitalism and free trade, are indeniable parts of human freedom, which you try to suppres! Thus, you´re nothing but a dictating, freedom-hating person yourself!

Happy Meal Philosophy!

[JesusSavedme78]

Thank you Dr. William Lane Craig and thank youdrcraigvideos for posting this amazing instructional eye opening video.

[1stcorinthians1vrs18]

Great video. Life is totally meaningless without God. A true atheist should be utterly indifferent at the deaths of even their closest friends and relatives, since that is how every life ends. God has put eternity in our hearts. Our bodies age, our spirits do not.

[Rapoirier]

"Can man have any real value if atheism is true?"

I don't know. I feel like I have value. Do I actually? Well, you should define value. Value is subjective whether it comes from a 2000 year old book, a supernatural being, or a human. So it shouldn't matter, as long as I enjoy myself.

You can't prove value, and saying atheism is not grounds for value (which is true) does not justify your beliefs. That's broken logic, sir.

[tjobv]

@Rapoirier

See it like this, you came out of nothing, as did your house, the Universe, came out of nothing, you will go back to were you came from, nothing, as does your house, the Universe. For we all came out of nothing in a Universe without God.

This means that there is no accountability for your actions, whatsoever...You are just a chunk of cells, nothing more. You have no meaning, value, reason, or whatever.

If this is not severely depressing to you, then your simply lying to yourself.

[Rapoirier]

@tjobv - It's not severely depressing. Why? Because people and animals in general gain all their emotional feelings from chemical and neurological reactions, which will happen regardless of what we believe in.

What exactly gives us any more value if we're 'created'? Nothing. This argument is based off of pure dogma.

Lastly, have you ever heard of 'determinism'? It's completely compatible with a belief in God, it makes sense and is difficult to even refute, and comes to the same conclusion.

[acceptjesusorburn]

@Rapoirier

Determinism is not compatible with a belief in the Christian God, namely in which we can be viewed as free and responsible moral agents, and to be held accountable for our moral actions.

"What exactly gives us any more value if we're 'created'?" not "more" value.. an objective value rather than subjective value. In which case, without God, proves for a human to have no objective value.

[Rapoirier]

@tjobv - Humans are an interesting animal. They're the ONLY animal in the world that thinks they're supposed to be happy. All the other animals can just 'be'.

[acceptjesusorburn]

@Rapoirier

How can you think your bringing some enlightning perspective to people by explaining away emotions, morals and human value with materialism?

It seems you only offer to affirm the "absurdity of life"..

[fivethirty]

DR CRAIG IS THE MAN!!!!

[empreme]

drcraigvideos,

I believe in God and I believe He is the absolute source of moral values. What about aesthetics? Do we also ground our perceptions of the beautiful in God also? Are there any resources on the matter you could point me towards?

[MedicatedHerbally]

Great GREAT video. Thank you so much for posting this!

[TheXJ47]

I am not an Atheist because I think it will make me happier, it is because I dont believe in god.

I believe in reality, even if it is harsh.

The argument that a life with god is "prettier" than without, is not an argument for god.

(I'd be happy to continue discussing this with people if you disagree)

[THEEVANTHETOON]

@TheXJ47

"The argument that a life with god is "prettier" than without, is not an argument for god"

I'm guessing you did not even watch the video, as Dr. Craig specifically says this.

[CaBO0SE64]

It is impossible for an atheist to watch this and still defend their case without them looking like a heartless asshole.

[tjobv]

@CaBO0SE64

So true!

Unfortunately 99% of all Atheists simply don´t see it, or don´t want to see it.

If their belief, Atheism, is true, then this would the worst, most miserable and horrible conclusion any human being could make. No meaning, no value, no morals. Just pointless, pitless, indifferent chunks of matter that came out of nothing....

If i would come to the conclusion that Atheism would be true, i´d probably kill myself....

[DeadlyStrain]

What meaning does God assign to your mortal life that persists into the eternal? What is your divine purpose? Is it not rather presumptuous to assume you have one?

[aaronshaf2006]

Thanks for posting this. Loved it.

[TGSHokuto]

this man is pretty interesting

[Anima14]

I find his profundity to be false..not by any means that I can *prove* to anybody, I simply have a fundamentally different value system to all that he preaches. I am comfortable with the purported meaningless-ness of life.

[Debordsbullet]

Life does lack ultimate meaning and is stripped of absolutes but this is a beautiful thing to me. Just because our lives are ultimately meaningless doesn't mean that there are not fleeting moments of beauty that we've created. Instead, we can stand on our own and affirm the absurdity of it all.

[drcraigvideos]

@Debordsbullet Oh, yes! A Non-meaningful and Useless life is sssooooo beautiful! *BIG LONG REFLECTIVE SIGH*

[Debordsbullet]

@drcraigvideos We apparently have different notions of beauty. Like I said earlier, I didn't ask for a world void of gods or meaning, we just have to do our best and make our own way. Just because the world doesn't have a capital T truth doesn't mean I can't form my own narratives within an in-between space. When life is void of objective meaning, that means we have a space to form our own notion of sense and meanings. That's affirmative and beautiful to me. It's cool if you believe in god yo.

[HaShim383]

@drcraigvideos hey hey you gotta let them think they have a fighting chance....try to hide your feelings until....well there really is no containing yourself when you read something like that hahaha

[vas13xtq]

@drcraigvideos Just because our life doesn't have an ultimate meaning, doesn't mean that it does not have meaning at all. Life can have beauty even if it will one day come to an end. My life means something to my family and friends even though one day ill pass away. Im really sorry you view life as meaningless and useless if your god doesn't exist.

[drcraigvideos]

@vas13xtq If you want to live in a delusion that life is useless but worth living anyway, then suit yourself. I mean, why build a bridge if you know it's going to get knocked down anyway? Seriously...

[vas13xtq]

@drcraigvideos My life isnt useless. How dare you say such a degrading thing. I am a secular humanist. I hold the idea of helping human kind and all species for that matter progress and live in harmony. I am dedicating myself to prevent as much pain and suffering as possible. For an example, I help feed and provide cloths and warm blankets for the homeless in my local city. I also work at the local humane society. and all without the divine permission. would you still claim my life is useless???

[drcraigvideos]

@vas13xtq I don't have to claim your life is useless, you conceded the point when you said, "Just because our life doesn't have an ultimate meaning..." What more do you want? You life is no more meaningful than a cockroach gives itself life meaning. If that's good enough to make you think life has meaning then suit yourself. Dan Barker thinks his life is as meaningful as pieces of broccoli: watch?v=UHmWBikEYfA. If this gives you pleasure, then knock yourself.

[vas13xtq]

@drcraigvideos Life feeds off life. Unless your willing to claim that plants have the same emotions and sensations as animals do, the thing about broccoli fails. However i am a vegetarian. so i do not eat other animals. You said "If you want to live in a delusion that life is useless but worth living anyway, then suit yourself. I mean, why build a bridge if you know it's going to get knocked down anyway? So you agree my life isnt useless now.

[drcraigvideos]

@vas13xtq "Life feeds off life." Yeah, I know. Sometimes literally. "... the thing about broccoli fails." Tell that to Dan Barker. "So you agree my life isnt useless now." Uh, yeah, when I say "If you want to live in a delusion that life is useless but worth living anyway, then suit yourself" I mean life isn't useful.

[vas13xtq]

@drcraigvideos My life is much more meaningful than a cockroach. I do not spend my life wondering the sewers and random crevices. I help Humans and other species alike. Your's and Craig argument fails.

[drcraigvideos]

@vas13xtq You haven't shown how. I just don't see why you can't agree with my and Craig's contention since you already agreed life has no ultimate meaning.

[agnostaxian]

@Debordsbullet but if u are right there is no beauty and hitler, osama and the rest of evil tyrants have no more significance than great reformers like MLK and mother Teresa. there is no hope and only darkness

[Debordsbullet]

@agnostaxian Buuuuuuuut, not quite. All though the notion of objectivity, god's death, and notions of Truth have deconstructed themselves, there are still genealogies of value; they're just not necessarily universalizable. In a sense, you're correct. In another sense, though, there is still a societal standard; we still have to live together. Would you start killing people if you found out there isn't a god? I didn't ask for a world without meaning, we just have to do our best.

[GaryLyons]

@Debordsbullet ...my friend, you are much more valuable than you think. You were created for a purpose, I pray your heart seeks Him who is life...."'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'they are plans to prosper you, not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

[CettoTheCesco]

I love this speech. It is utterly spot on. 

[ThorFan4Life]

The Time Machine reference was so perfect. I remember reading it over a weekend one winter many years ago and crying at the end for days

[IloveYOUviruses]

I can understand that Christians feel sad for atheism and therefore dislike this video, what I cannot understand is that atheists dislike the logical consequences of their (dis)beliefs.

[oradros]

Amen

[SupremeHero777]

How beautiful this was! Praise the Lord!

[retr0llz]

Brilliant!

[THEEVANTHETOON]

Why does the Atheist care about 9/11 anyway? According to "science", it's just the displacement of bio-matter and some chemicals. Thankfully, we Christians can condemn such a horrible event and respectfully remember those that we have lost. The Atheist can't, and as to why one would accept such a heartless and meaningless worldview that is so contrary to what we human beings actually think and feel is beyond me.

[zetox12]

"You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" ----thumbs up this

[SunnyLovetts]

MAGNIFICENT!

[karozans]

Wow!  I am blown away.

[AdversusHaereses]

Atheism is the culmination of absurdity itself. Without God, NOTHING at all can exist. Reality itself cannot exist, morality cannot exist, values and truths cannot exist. It is not merely a question of value but of existence itself. If we live in a reality without God, then we duped ourselves into thinking that truth and happiness are important. For those two go hand in hand and are found in the fullness in the Being of God and the person of Christ.

[H0tkebab]

Fantastic! Faved and thumbed up =D

I've always felt this way since I was kid, asking myself the same questions what life would be like without the existence of God (not to the same complexity as Bill) this has clarified my understanding.

[domokunroxj00]

This is an amazing video, and it really shows the evangelist heart of Dr. Craig. Thank you for sharing it.

[ITTutorCanada]

I love all the people who dislike these videos and post ridiculous comments on the videos. I was going to say "post rebuttals" but no counter-comment I've seen is worthy of being called a rebuttal. Anyway, I think it's just fantastic. I remember a comment along the lines of "Craig has no scientific argument he just uses reason and logic." rofl, yes only mere, pathetic and useless reason and logic. Keep posting videos I love this guy.

[drcraigvideos]

@ITTutorCanada Thanks. Actually, Craig does give scientific argumnets. It's just a shame atheists tend to plug their ears when Craig brings it up.

[wordception]

WOW! Brilliant lecture. Thanks for the upload.

[tjobv]

One of the best speeches he ever held...

Perfect explanation how rabidly ridiculous Atheism is. Atheism is caused by pride, arrogance, delusion, and Happy Meal Philosophy....

[drcraigvideos]

@tjobv Yeah, I agree. I think this is one of Craig's best lectures.

[imkluu]

@tjobv I believe that a lot of atheism is based on a sense of unworthiness, rebellion and a hardened heart against love given freely.

[lilhavanaboys]

@tjobv Last time I check I am none of what you just mention.

Grow up.

[tjobv]

@lilhavanaboys

Well, if your not proud, arrogant, then you clearly follow fantastic Happy Meal Philosophy....

Try to look at the world you around for a minute and think okay ......?

Now you grow up.

[AlexTSilver]

@tjobv saying that life without god would be meaningless and without absolute values doesn't entail the existence of god. the idea of god is just to make us forget all the responsibility we have in creating our own values, and to make us feel comfortable. its a relief to believe you don't die when you die, but, all in all, its just a blindfold you are using so as not to see the truth. life is without "ultimate" meaning, but it can still be meaningful.

[xRevanchist]

@tjobv

Pride: Yes, of not being a sheep, but free from stupidity.

Arrogance: Like believing that the whole universe was made just for us?

Delusion: Yes, because not believeing one of the many religions humans have created and that offers no proof of being true and even go against the knowledge we have, is delusional.

Happy Meal Philosophy: What's the point of philosophy when you have science that actually deals with reality?

Btw, 'Pending approval' shows how theists deal with truth.

[drcraigvideos]

On this anniversary day of 9/11 I wanted to post up Craig's lecture on the Absurdity of Life Without God. Many atheists have used the tragedy of 9/11 to show how evil and dangerous religion is (funny how they equate Muslim fanatics with Christians), but in atheism life is absurd and useless anyway! Life has no intrinsic value whatsoever! So what right does the atheist have to decry any wrongdoing if life is useless? Dr. Craig reminds us of this.

[tjobv]

@drcraigvideos

Dude, btw open up the comment sections at the Frank Zindler debate.

The guy is the worst Atheist debater in the Universe! Worse then Peter Atkins!

Let´s debate further in the comment section with some deluded Atheist ?!?!