1. You will die.
2. Everyone you care about will die.
3. There is nothing you can do to prevent this.
4. Your life and death will matter little in the greater scheme of the universe.
5. Your behavior does not necessarily change the outcome of your life: Good people might suffer greatly; Evil people might die peacefully in their sleep.
6. The mechanisms of the universe are beyond human understanding and even further beyond human control. We do not understand why natural disasters happen and we are even more powerlessness to prevent them.
7. The purpose of the universe is both unknown and unknowable (though we like to think it is all about us).

The curse of humanity is to be aware of our own ignorance and powerlessness and to be unable to change it. We cannot extend our life or health, save our loved ones, make a just world, or even have a glimmer of understanding about what is going on around us. Whatever we want, we will ultimately fail to achieve and we know it.

Religion was created as a way to bring order to the chaos. It was to provide meaning where there was none. But it is an imperfect solution at best. Which is why mankind keeps revising it, going from many quarreling gods, to one all powerful god, to whatever is next. As religion fails, the chaos and the curse returns, which is why religion never really goes away. Nihilism is a disaster, even if it is true. (Better for the people to believe a Noble Lie than a disasterous truth.)

Optimistic nihilism is simply another spin on “reality is an illusion” lines of thought. It’s nothing new or groundbreaking.

Now, imagine if every element of the universe could ask "Why"? Suppose they were able to decide if to abide by those laws or perhaps act in another way? It is this reality precisely which sets us apart. Our minds are designed to evaluate information and make choices based upon it. The final result is not contingent upon how the natural laws govern the behavior of the atoms that make up our brains. Without Free Will, we would certainly have no more volition than a waterway has in deciding its actual course. There is absolutely no "Why." There is certainly no wondering. There's simply doing - like water coursing down its riverbed.

It wasn't a compliment. Nor an insult. Merely an observation. I take it that's deliberate. Why?

Thank you for the compliment.

Christi pax.

I'm glad. You always seemed like a good sort Jim.

Agree on all counts.

As an atheist, let me say that is quite hypocritical and wrong. On the other hand, I find too many believers only care when it's them who are in the dock. I seriously doubt any atheist nominee to the Court or a similar position would be handled lightly by Republicans. Many too have openly said no atheist is qualified simply due to being one.