Someone today called me a nihilist, which is furthest from the truth. The statement was made in response to my comment that humanity is only a few years away from extinction.
Okay, maybe we have more than a few years left, but our end is inevitable. When I said that I wasn't trying to be negative or pessimistic. Rather, I was thinking about how fragile human life is, and how scientists keep coming up with better ways to destroy it. North Korea uses nerve agents and Russians use radiation poisoning to kill people they don't like. More troubling are the sonic weapons under development by the U.S. and other nations. In the next war we will be destroying each other's brains with inaudible sonic blasts. As technology progresses, researchers will find even more ways to take the life out of our delicate bodies. So, yeah, sorry, I'm not seeing a rosy future for humanity.
Meaning
A nihilist is someone who believes life has no meaning. I've never, ever felt that way. Life is full of meaning. To me, the meaning of life is to help others, animals, the planet, and, lastly, ourselves. The meaning of life is to continually learn and to take action on our knowledge in a positive way.
A nihilist is someone who rejects all religious and moral principles. That's not me at all. When I take those "What religion are you?" tests I'm told that I'm either a Reformed Jew or Unitarian Universalist. In both religions, there is a continuous search for the answers — and that is me. I wouldn't say that I don't believe in God, it's just that I haven't found any proof yet. The case for God is no stronger than the case for fairies. Maybe one day I'll find proof. But in the mean time, I see all religions as part of my culture and I'm free to learn from the good things they have to offer. As for faith, I don't understand why believing in unprovable things is so important to God. It sounds like a convenient social control mechanism for keeping people in the flock.
Animals
My ultimate life meaning and dream for humanity is for us to view ourselves as caretakers of this remarkable and beautiful planet. The meaning of life is for us all to be zookeepers, except that we should live in cages (our houses and cars) and let the animals roam free. I do not understand the obsession with guns, secret weapons, and killing one another. Why do people kill in the first place? Usually because the victim is threatening someone's wealth or power. Why do we have to be rich? Why do we have to be powerful? Why can't we all just live in green friendly huts and care for the wild animals? Most of what we humans do is such a total waste. Who cares about Game of Thrones or how far you can toss a javelin?
It's at this point where my appreciation for religion goes out that window. Currently, the predominant religions don't seem to give a fuck about animals. Some religions even tell you to murder animals to atone for your sins! When you think about it, that's utterly insane. So, at least with the Christian religion, God sent himself to Earth, and had himself tortured and executed, so that animals don't have to be sacrificed any more. So, we thank you for that Father God.
But the lack of respect for animals and the earth is one of the many things I find troubling about conservative religions. These religious people invest a tremendous amount of time on things that don't really matter, such as maintaining their steepled entertainment centers, music programs, and leading people to Christ. Metaphorically, leading someone to the example set by Christ is a good thing, but all the talk about the Man in the Clouds straightening your crooked toe or curing you of chronic bad breath is wasted energy.
Summary
Life is short, fleeting, but full of meaning. Humans really need to change their values and thinking quickly, or we will all be extinct. When I see entire countries run by oligarchists or religionists it's easy for me to start losing hope. Again, humans appear obsessed with hoarding wealth and power, at the expense of less fortunate people and the environment. I am actually the complete opposite of a nihilist, I am a vain and hopeless idealist.
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