What’s the point?

My mother recently asked me this, as pertaining to life itself. What’s the point of it all?

To summarize her point: we’re born into an imperfect world filled with suffering, only to grow old and watch everyone around you die. Then, die yourself. Hopefully without much pain. Hopefully without the need to depend too much on those around you in those latter days.

Sounds like a pretty bleak world view. But Mom believes in God. Not the religious Judea – or even – Abrahamic version, but an indescribable being of love and kindness who looks over her and those around her. (Close to that of deism, but she actually prays – the kind that’s in one’s head and not kneeling before the bed.) How sweet, I suppose… But I can’t comprehend why said being is not responsible for all this suffering and death? As full of contradictions as that may be, she still persists in her belief. It may be a combination of a fear of loneliness, other meme-conditioning, and a general desire to just believe. But she’s awesome because we have had a few conversations discussing where our ideas fork and she seems to get it for the most part- that is, my world view.

It’s interesting how the atheist can have a positive world view while the theist may focus on negative aspects. It reminds me a bit of how goths are oddly religious, despite the silly critiques disclosing them as “Satanic” or “evil”. Yet, religion (mainly the Abrahamic ones) happens to be very dark.

So how does a god fit into the equation of negatives? Many (über)theists are just pleased as punch to a part of their god’s plans, no matter what. If the cliché “ignorance is bliss” applies here in any form, does an increased amount of ignorance establish an increased rate of bliss? (Which would stand to reason when comparing my mom with an Evangelical, i.e.) If so, then how in the name of the celestial teapot can we explain positive atheism? And I’m not referring to that other definition.

So, what is the point? It’s different for everyone. We all have our purpose: the one(s) we create and maintain for ourselves.

You are an intelligent human being. Your life is valuable for its own sake. You are not second-class in the universe, deriving meaning and purpose from some other mind. You are not inherently evil—you are inherently human, possessing the positive rational potential to help make this a world of morality, peace and joy. Trust yourself. (Dan Barker, Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist)

Don’t get me wrong, I see the sadness and pain too, but I try not to focus on it. I went through a very pessimistic phase in my hormonal teenage years and somehow the phoenix arose to a whole new positive comprehension of everything surrounding me. I suddenly was struck by an important truth: The only way to feel good about oneself is to feel good about life.

What’s the point? Well, what’s the point of being bleak and/or depressed more often than not? Why not be happy?