I am sure that nobody knows why you are here.

The question, “Why am I here?” assumes there is an answer, that there has to be a reason. I believe there is no reason. Humans are led to assume there is a reason. Believers in theistic religion believe the reason is to worship their imaginary deity. Believers in ideology or religion believe they are designated to spread their faith. Most humans like all members of other sexual species come into existence, reproduce and die. Members of non-sexual species may simply split.

Some of us who recognise the absurdity of the question make up reasons. We want to leave the world a better place. Of course, what makes the world a better place is a matter of contention. Hitler thought the creation of the thousand year Reich would leave the world a better place. Most of us disagree. Alexander the Great, the vainglorious fool, wept because he had no more worlds to conquer. Couldn’t he think of something better to do than to kill many people and subjugate many others?

Some poets recognized the futility of grandiose plans for human existence. Thomas Grey in “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” wrote:

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave,
Awaits alike th’ inevitable hour,
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

The words of religious leaders can be questioned. The Synoptic Gospels attribute the following quote to Jesus: "Whoever is not with Me is against Me…” (Matthew 12:30)

I don’t want to follow Jesus. I also don’t want to be an enemy of those who follow Jesus. The words of Jesus call on his followers to make those who don’t follow him the enemy. Much suffering has been caused by those who follow the intolerant words of Jesus.

I find greater inspiration in the words of Jimmy Durante, “Why can't everybody leave everybody else the hell alone."

Yes, david f, for the atheist there is absolutely no reason for why we are here.

Everything – the universe, life - everything just happened unintentionally into being. There is no particular way that things are supposed to be. Therefore, nobody can do anything that is objectively right or wrong.

You don’t seem to think much of Hitler and Alexander the Great but they were no better or worse people than you.

You want to be left alone – yet rather curiously you choose to post comments on a forum – why bother doing that?

And if other people don’t leave you alone, whatever they may do to you, they are not doing anything wrong no matter how much you may not like it.

I guess you can look forward to being dead and then you will be left alone – maybe.

Why am I here?
I once asked my mum to which she replied
'Cause papa's and my life was so humdrum
Then you came along and simply stood out
And taught us both what life's all about
So you see folks and here's the truth
Because they looked after me in my youth
The reason I'm here is to do the same
Look after them as old they became.
The challenge of our lives is how we choose
To live out our existence and not to lose
Our sense of integrity with which we're all born
And to give as much love so we don't end up alone.

Matter has intelligence.
We are a natural product of matter.
The question should be: why is matter here?

Matter, energy, call it what you will.
It has always been here.
There is no reason.

Matter is constantly in flux.
Many forms are possible.
We are one of them.

If I assume, briefly, that a magical entity created matter....
I am led to wonder why there is so much bowing and scraping towards this supposed entity.
I am sure that somewhere, someone benefits from this zombie like approach.

I am saddened that people are locked in to their need to 'follow the leader'.
(When there isn't one, they make one up.)
Superstitious fear does the rest.

It seems to me that we must all acknowledge basic truth.
Lack of truth leads people in different directions.
This can cause discontent and division.
So if it divides, it is likely not the truth?

Dear JP,

I don’t think there is any way objectively to determine what is right and wrong. I think each of us has an idea of what is right and wrong. That is determined by the society around us, our background and our own predilections. How would you determine objectively what is right and wrong?

You wrote: “You don’t seem to think much of Hitler and Alexander the Great but they were no better or worse people than you.”

On what basis do you make that statement? I don’t wish to conquer anybody or to regard anyone who doesn’t follow me as an enemy so I think for that reason I am a better person than Alexander the Great, Hitler and Jesus.

I am a human being, a social animal. I enjoy interacting with other human beings. However, I don’t wish them to do anything except interact with me which you have done, and I thank you for it. If you or anybody else interferes with my remains when I am dead I have no reason to think it will bother me although it may bother my descendants.