I have been asked what my purpose is more times than I can count. I am an atheist. The question is always asked by a religious individual – always asked by a Christian I should say. I live in the “Bible Belt.” I heard an interesting comment yesterday. “What’s the purpose of everything? If there is none, here is a gun – show me.” This person wasn’t attempting to be rude. He was attempting to make his point. He is what you might call an intellectual. He holds a Ph.D. in English, but the argument was just a stronger version of what I have heard time and time again.

I feel the common mistake comes from believing that God is the point and purpose of everything. He, she, it, they are the end all be all. That is the point of view you are supposed to have as a Christian, but the fact is there can be purpose without God. What most people cannot see is that every person on Earth creates or chooses their own purpose. A Christian has chosen God as their purpose. I feel it can be quite dangerous because their entire worldview is defined by this purpose. Christians will argue against this, but the Bible is a long book. The Old Testament contains an extensive list of laws. The New Testament upholds these laws and adds a few more. Modern America has created a society in which laws are passed, or attempted, trying to force Christian law to become governmental law, thereby pushing their own created purpose on every person living in America. This view has made it difficult for America’s citizens to understand how anyone can have a purpose outside of their idea of God.

As I said before, people choose their purpose. What makes atheism so special is no longer relying on God for this purpose. We can create any purpose. If I want to, I can live for cheese. Obviously, this is ridiculous. This leads Christians to call us dangerous. Are they wrong? Absolutely! For most atheists, the purpose is not self indulgence. It is humanity. We do enjoy ourselves more, because we are not bound to the zombie filled realm of fundamental Christianity. We are allowed to look at the world with an open mind and see it for what it is. Most often, the atheist purpose becomes a struggle to make mankind better. How do we make sure that man survives until the Earth is no longer inhabitable?

My conclusion – purpose does not rely on God, but on the individual.