Atheist Meme of the Day: Death and the Good Luck of Being Born

Today's Atheist Meme of the Day, from my Facebook page. Pass this on; or don't; or edit it as you see fit; or make up your own. Enjoy!

Atheism does have comfort to offer in the face of death. Among other things, it offers the idea that we are extraordinarily, astronomically lucky to have even been born in the first place -- and this good luck far outweighs the bad news that we'll eventually have to die. Pass it on: if we say it enough times to enough people, it may get across.

Comments

[Jeff the God of Biscuits]

I think the two cancel each other out. We may be extraordinarily lucky to have existed at all, but we are also extraordinarily unlucky to exist in a universe (or at least on a planet) where biological death, especially after such a short time, is necessary. I know it's logically contradictory, but if I had had a choice prior to my birth I probably would have chosen to never exist in the first place.

This is not to say that I don't think there are other aspects of atheism and rationalism which offer comfort in the face of human suffering and mortality. I do. I just don't think this is one of them.