Where Do Atheists Find Meaning in Life?

Where do atheist get meaning and purpose in life? Does atheism provide real purpose without the belief in God?

According to a Pew Research study when asked “Where do atheists find meaning in life?” it says that: “atheists were far more likely than Christians to describe hobbies as meaningful or satisfying (26% vs. 10%).”

However, regardless of whether we are atheist or not, there is an inbuilt desire in all humans to know or understand why we exist.
At certain stages in our life we all ask the question: Why am I here? Why was I born?
In other words, we want to know if our existence really matters today and long after we have died or left this earth.

But if the universe and our physical existence in this world was completely random as atheists claim, then trying to discover the answers to these questions wouldn’t really matter.
If life and the universe were purposeless as many atheists claim, then there would be no need for atheists to contradictorily try to find meaning and purpose for their own lives.

However the fact that every human being (irrespective of our belief system) seeks meaning or purpose in life is a testimony to the fact that we have a conscious and subconscious understanding that life and all of creation exists for a reason.
It is also a testimony to the fact that the existence of life and the universe is through the hands of an intelligent Designer because anything that has been designed intelligently must have a purpose that has been assigned by its maker.
What will differ depending on our belief systems, is the source of where or from whom we find meaning and purpose in life.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God “… has put eternity into man’s heart.”

This means that every human being was created with an inbuilt understanding that there is more to life than just the temporary things we see and desire.
So whether atheist or not we all seek meaning and purpose beyond the things that are temporary.

The difference between the atheist and the Christian is that atheists choose to suppress the knowledge of God and the eternal purpose God has placed in our heart.
Most atheists choose to find meaning and purpose by making up their own rules during their journey of life because they do not want moral or spiritual accountability.

Atheism Leads to Sin Instead of a Life of Meaning & Purpose

A study of Romans 1:19-32 reveals that the suppression of God’s existence leads to a life of sin instead of a life of meaning and purpose.

Romans 1:19-21 reveals that atheists suppress the existence of God despite the physical evidence of God through what He has created.

Romans 1:19-21 says: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:22-23 reveals that the suppression of God’s existence leads to different forms of idolatry. Therefore even if an atheist doesn’t worship the true living God, that atheist will worship someone or something else.

Romans 1:22-23 says: Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:24-32 reveals that the suppression of God’s existence does not lead to anything meaningful or good. Instead atheism eventually leads to a lifestyle of sin and the acceptance or glorification of sin.

Romans 1:24-32 says: Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

True Meaning & Purpose is found through Relationship with your Creator

The only way we can answer the question of “Why am I here?” is by asking our Maker.
It is through a relationship with our Creator that we can know and understand why He made us.

The Bible says “A fool says in his heart there is no God” (Psalms 14:1). The atheist cannot truly find individual meaning and purpose in life as long as he/she suppresses the belief in the existence of God.

If we are to understand why we exist, then we need a relationship with our Creator. If we are to understand the meaning and purpose of life, then we must seek the Creator of all life and the universe to get the answers we seek.

In Jeremiah 33:3 God says: “Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known”

Jesus Christ says that He will not deny or cast out anyone who comes to Him. In John 6:37 Jesus says: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.”

Therefore God will always have open arms to anyone who is genuinely willing to know Him and seek Him – including the atheist.