what being a Democrat Means to Me part 2

@hartfire “I appreciate your point—and you're absolutely right about how Nietzsche framed nihilism philosophically. But in my speech, I’m talking more about a cultural form of nihilism—one that’s less about introspective existentialism and more about a widespread loss of shared meaning and values. When people feel their lives lack purpose or truth, it creates a void that hatred, radicalism, or even authoritarianism can fill. That’s the danger I’m warning about—not individual thinkers wrestling with meaning, but a society drifting into spiritual and moral vacancy.”

@jacob111 It's true that there is a social trend towards belief that life is without purpose or meaning - meaning that satistically a much larger num ber of Westerners now believe this to be true.

However, I don't accept that this belief leaves a void. It can only do so if the person began with a belief in meaning and purpose that was taught within the family from as early as the child learns language. Losing a socially and personally beneficial belief creates a void as strong as the loss of a job, loved one, or sense of belonging.

But such a loss causes grief, confusion, and uncertainty. A few people might become prone to being persuaded into some form of fantaticism. Sociologists have found that disaffected youth are far more likely to fall prey to online extremism.
"Disaffection" is a term meaning not feeling socially accepted. This can happen to any kid who is bullied or ostracised - and can happen for a huge range of reasons, at least 50% due to no fault of any kind in the kid targeted. In the other 50% there are reasons of varying severity. The kid might stink, be deaf, disabled, ugly, obese, poor, not of the same local culture, autistic, a genius, be being beaten, abused or neglected at home, have alcoholic or addicted parents, be isolating because they're on the brink of their first schitzophrenic breakdown or any of countless ways of being "different". As a society, we are apallingly bad at accepting differences and being inclusive and generous towards others we believe are unlike ourselves.

Hate is a complex thing. At root it usually starts from anger that has no constructive outlet.
Anger is usefull when it gives us the energy and will to defend ourseleves and our boundaries appropriately. Many of us lack the knowledge and skills to do that.
Some anger is misdirected. A person blames someone else for something that they themselves created.

But just living without meaning or purpose is not sufficient to feel either anger or hatred.

Life can be intrinsically healthy and content just living -- and nothing else is required.