My son, who is currently 9 years of age, tells me that life is absolutely meaningless and that "we're all here to waste time". 

When he first told me this, I felt both angry and depressed. 

And no, this is not because I am religious. I am an atheist, but I think his outlook on life is detrimental.

 From an even younger age, teachers and I myself have observed that he is very intelligent, mature and highly interested in mathematics and physics since an early age. 

One thing that I think is leading him to believe that life is meaningless is because he's very anti-social and often teachers tell me that he never talks in class and remains aloof (in his own world). 

Some of his behavioral attributes include:



- Was a late talker - didn't talk til he was 6.
- He spends most of his time alone outside in a forest and the only time I speak with him is when he comes for dinner, breakfast and lunch. 
- When he's home, he rarely talks to me other than on eating occasions. 
- I have been since consequently told that he is "different in a strange way" by many people. 

Somebody suggested that I give him the internet so he could search around, make friends and other things. He only used it three times and told me that "It's a great place to attain knowledge but other than that, it's horrible."

After this, I consulted a teacher from his school and she told me that I should sit down and talk with him. 

And this is when he told me that life is meaningless. He said, 

> "Look. I know what you are trying to do. I know that you're worried
> about me. I know that you've been talking to a lot of people about my
> behaviour. But why do you want me to live my life the way others want?
> Life, by it's nature, is absolutely meaningless. Imagine yourself to
> suddenly wake up in a room, knowing of nothing, except the fact that
> you'll die within the next two hours. Would you attach importance to
> anything you would do during this period? Ofcourse not! All I know is
> that I am alive, a son of yours, on a beautiful diverse planet
> somewhere in the cosmos, and all I am interested is in knowing why did
> we acquire existence. This may be impossible, but I'd rather pursue
> the great impossible than spend my life living accordingly to the
> sentiments of people!"

He has no friends and nobody that even knows him properly. I feel that he'll go on to acquire mental illnesses as he ages, I don't know why but I don't feel good. Is there anyway to convince my son not to adopt this nihilistic outlook on life?