Is it normal to think life is utterly pointless.

I think it's kind of an unreasonable standard. why must something be eternal to have value?

Would there be a point to it, if we could just keep on living?

I think that thinking that things - also the big things - are pointless is a normal thing to do, and that it is natural to combine such thoughts with thoughts of expirations of things.
I think quite a bit about how things can be viewed as pointless/meaningless.

In my opinion, you are stretching things too far out in time. You are lamenting the fact that things seem pointless when viewed from an abstract perspective encompassing all of time or much time. Has someone promised you that things are going seem pointful (pardon my creativity) from such a perspective?

Instead of expecting meaning in relation to eternity, enjoy what meaning you may feel in relation to the here and now. The here and now is.

Having read The Silmarillion some years ago has made me aware that the mortality of human existence can also be viewed as something uplifting.

You mention that when "You die, you lose absolutely everything, you don't get to keep a scrap of what you had." You further make other assumptions about the afterlife, such as "You don't even remember achieving it." Who are you to say that in the afterlife these things happen?

Another point that you stress is death, and the finality of it. Well how about the legacy you leave behind?

Take Steve Jobs for example, look at the monumental achievements that he's made, do you think his inventions just died out? No people still remember the guy, he left a legacy and one that people won't soon forget. He made his mark on history.

Now counter that to the average man, a caring father or mother if you will. They raise a child, one who loves them and remembers all that they were taught from them. Do you think that when his mother or father dies that he will simply forget about them? No he will pass on his knowledge, what was taught to him by them, to his children and so on. If you notice, parents tend to bring up their children the same way they were taught: assuming they were raised by good parents. So in that you have left a legacy. It may not be as grand as inventing a tablet computer, but it is it's own victory.

Now I'm not going to preach to you what the meaning of life is. If you believe that there is no point to living, then so be it. I'm not going to change you're mind. However, if after you die then there truly is nothing, like how you're implying, then doesn't that make being alive all the more sweeter? Doesn't that just make you want to get up and do something? Seize the day, and create your own legacy?

Live each day as if it were your last, because it may very well be. And wouldn't it be sad if you did nothing with this gift of life, simply because you felt living proved futile somewhere down the road?

No, it's not normal to think life is pointless. It is, however, correct.

Seems like a childish point of view.

Yes, life doesn't have an inherent meaning, it is what you make it. But that doesn't mean it's pointless, only that you're in charge of 'the point'. You create a personal meaning through living.

I totally agree with Couman's question - why should the fact that life has an end render it pointless?

It's a cliché to say, but it's the journey that's important, not the destination. You die regardless, that's true, but all that means is there really is no excuse not to make the most of the experience whilst you're here. You get one chance, and then it's done.

I struggle with this too.
Just try and appreciate your time. Don't be weighed down by the cruelty of fate. You don't stand to achieve anything with that.
Put all those thoughts into the "river" basically acknowledge them, but let them flow past. Only grab onto thoughts which cease to help you in some way, make you a better person. We gotta make the most of this miraculous opportunity we have in existence.

What you speak of is pure ‎Existential Nihilism. You may find it interesting to learn more about this concept.

Of note, the point of life is that you are alive. Nothing more nothing less, then it ends. Enjoy the beauty of it, enjoy your life.

I will say just one thing...when I hear folks speak of "nihilism" themes, I always think first perhaps the person has lost lust for frolic; too many deep thoughts.

There is indeed no inherent meaning to life. We're born, grow up, maybe reproduce, and then die.
However, your life is what you make of it. Most of us find a reason to live, whether it's born from religion, another person, or some personal goal. Really, all you can do is try to have fun while you're here, rather than waste your time brooding over the meaninglessness. At least, that's what I do. After all, what's the difference between being alive and dead the way you're talking? Doing nothing but pondering the depressing reality of our existence being rather than making the most of it...

What's so bad about enjoying the present? Sure, you'll die, but you will die whether or not you are happy or depressed, so why not be happy!! Why waste it thinking it is pointless?? You should feel honored to be granted the life of a human being. Sure our actions suck, but hot damn it sure is a great species.

Cheer up you.

You will die. So stop thinking about it so much and enjoy what you have.

Lifes not pointless it just feels pointless to you, now i willl say the only way that life is pointless is if you havent een SAVED(REPENTED and became Born Again)

The point is to pass on our genes and let our species carry on. The reason we die is to make room for more of us to be born...

"Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." -Ecclesiastes

You're absolutely right. Everything you have ever experienced will vanish the moment your body fails. And after that moment you will never see what becomes of your legacy or the consequences of your actions. Death will be your ultimate end and there is nothing you can do to prevent it from happening.

However, imagine that you were immortal. Imagine you would live on forever. A life that spans millions and billions of years. You would never worry about not waking up one day. You wouldn't worry about missing the sky, the earth, the people, the music, and whatever brings you happiness in life. It would always be there. Your happiness would be all you ever knew. You would never even think about death or and end. And you would live a static life. never moving and never changing. And the funny thing about humans is, the longer we have something, the less it means to us. If humans could live forever, we would take every last experience for granted because of the assurance that it would be there the next day. Immortality would deprive humanity of emotions, appreciation, creativity, and our own evolution. Despite our having an infinite life, we would never truly live.

There is a point to life. The purpose of life is death. Without death you can never experience life. And your purpose is to make your death as real as it can be. When I die, I want it to feel like death. I want to feel everything I have ever worked for, ever loved, ever enjoyed, being ripped from hands. And the more that's torn away from me at the end, the better it will feel. Death is a gift that allows us to feel happiness and love. Without it, we are nothing.

Well, that's only if you DON'T set a goal in life. If you do, it's not so pointless! Even something as fun and easy as playing video games could be a goal in life! Or collect stuff! Or... maybe set some goals to do a lot of your favorite things in a small amount of time! OR MOST IMPORTANTLY: FIND. A. HOBBY!

I asked my cousin what the meaning of life is... And she said, "Playing my iPad!" See?! Now, there's her goal in life... Although she's already successful in it... Okay! Never mind. Just do whatever you like to do and find more hobbies!

My goal in life is to get my manga published, make an anime, and make a video game series! Then, a sequel... And what happens when all this is successful? Well, if so, then THAT is the point of my life. Now, what's yours?

Thank you and have a wonderful life of goals and meanings!

Yes. Humanity is going to end anyways. HOWEVER, I think it's better this way. I can do whatever I want! Of course I still follow a loose set of morals (don't hurt anyone etc) but it's nice to know that you truly are free in this universe.

Your life is a journey, make the trip interesting.

That's a terrible way to go through life, sorry.

I agree, I think people try to put meaning or purpose to life, but really there is none. I'm 20 and when I was 18 and leaving school a boy in my year died, I couldn't help but think his whole education was a waste, all those days of school, work, tests, a waste of time.

Perhaps there's a beauty to living fleetingly in a universe that has been established for billions of years.

Perhaps.