You have sent me off to the dictionary. (Always a good thing)
Nihilism: 1. The belief that there is no meaning or purpose to existence.
2. The denial of the existence of any basis for knowledge or truth.
I can see if this is your point of view, then those of us who DO believe in the existence of knowledge and truth are self-delusional. This is logical to you. My point of view of course is that there IS meaning to life, and oddly enough even your point of view has a place at the table. Too bad that your only contribution is to render yourself meaningless to the discussion.
I see also that you would not be interested in my pity as that would include the idea that it matters what you think, OR what I think. It’s a very small place that you have constructed for yourself, a very small place indeed. There is not even room for you.
I will admit for the sake of discussion, that your paradigm may perhaps contain less pain than mine. AND you can absolve yourself from the struggle. But if one sees life as meaningful, one also has to face the horror of injustice, evil and disease. But on the other side of that coin there is Joy. That soaring of the spirit that is sometimes beyond words.
In my paradigm I have to stand with one foot in each possibility. In joy and in pain. But at least I FEEL! And my eyes are open to the contradictions. I need not run from them. I can embrace them. For in them lies the ultimate answer. Victor Frankel came to the conclusion that the most important thing in life was to find meaning in it. And he tested his theory in the Nazi concentration camps. And I think he would have agreed with the statement, Even in the darkest places, there is light. For “there is no place that is devoid of Him.”
A great Rabbi once said, “The Glory of God is the ability to bear opposites.” Oh my world is messy and chaotic, untidy and in need of repair. And that is my purpose in this world. To repair, to redeem the sparks of light that were shattered. But in that same world is the concept of “free will”. A great privilege we have as humans. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz wrote something once that I think fits here.
“In short, the question is always being asked of one: “What are you doing at this moment?” It is in this sense that God creates the world and the only one who can answer is man. The other creatures of the world are part of the divine speech; man can also respond. God can say: “Let there be light!” and man can say: “I don’t want it,” or he can say: “Hear O Israel.” (the Lord our God, the Lord is One)
We have choice. You choose Nihilism. I choose God.
I am content with my choice and it sounds like you are content with yours. Free choice has been exercised. All is right with the world.
Selah