The Speak Life Podcast We Went to an Atheist Event About Love, Meaning and Happiness || SLP629
Jan 28, 2026
A lively recap of a London event in a ruined chapel exploring whether love, meaning and happiness can be found without God. Discussion contrasts Epicurean pleasure-seeking with Stoic virtue and examines nihilism and a modern connection crisis. The conversation returns to Acts 17 and proposes a third way centered on good news and resurrection as the source of lasting meaning.
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Haunting Venue Sets The Tone
- The event was held in a dilapidated Asylum Chapel with zero heating and free Domino's pizza handed out.
- Glenn found the bizarre setup hauntingly beautiful and fitting for discussing ruins of Christianity.
Two Faces Of Nihilism
- Joe Foley framed nihilism as either despair (unattainable ideals) or disorientation (unclear values).
- He suggested containing nihilism by treating domains separately and focusing on local motivations.
Meaning Versus Motivation
- Joe reduced 'meaning' to what motivates you day-to-day, focusing on expendable energy and practical motivations.
- Naomi pushed back that meaning also involves significance and a role in a bigger story.