totse.com | the meaning/purpose of life

icantthinkofaname · #1 2003-07-11, 20:37

i dont believe their is a meaning to life (nothing like to worship a higher being or ask questions). i just believe in the natural instincts of life- to survive/reproduce. i was jsu t wondering what other people thought is the definition of life

whaziznaim · #2 2003-07-12, 00:12

First of all I believe that everyone who ever lives will come to salvation, and that colors everything I believe in. So, with that in mind, I think the whole reason we are here is to figure out the depth of harm that sin carries. I do not believe we can comprehend the true gravity of sin without committing it. The lesson will not be complete while we are here though. It will be finished after our sin nature is removed and we are able to see how sin impacted the world, our communities, our families and the relationships we have on a personnal level.

What I believe about the afterlife is that you can not image the good things that God has in store for you! So I don't even try to imagine it.

Tyrant · #3 2003-07-12, 04:08

icantthinkofaname, if those are the only two instincts you abide by, I consider you a very dangerous and hedonistic man.

Whaziznaim, I'm sure that thinking that "everyone who ever lives will come to salvation" not only colors everything you believe in, but makes you feel better when you lose someone you love. However, Christianity, next to Tao-Buddhism, contradicts everything that is real in Nature, and therefore in Life. It is an alien, effeminate, and dehumanizing religion, point blank.

icantthinkofaname · #4 2003-07-12, 21:53

i do not consider myself dangerous. i am agnostic, but i do not believe in a purpose to life. as i think that this meaning is an indirect result of religion, and i remain stricly against religion. we only appoint our selves a prupose through our arogance. we are all the same (animals, plants etc..)

we all take in the same air and we are all the same decaying organic matter as everything esle. this is probably the only thing that i remain close minded on, so do not let my original comment fool you as i am very open minded. (BTW i am only 14 hehe)

[This message has been edited by icantthinkofaname (edited 07-12-2003).]

Tyrant · #5 2003-07-14, 05:30

You misdefine religion. Religion is more than simply "a way to explain natural phenomena around you." Religion is also a behavioral code. It's a basis of conduct. If you parallel humans and animals so closely, then you understand that we, amongst other instincts, have one driving force - survival. Therefore, the purpose of life is to survive as long as one can. Eventually, an organism decays and dies, as you alluded to. It's inevitable. BUT, that organism produces offspring to take the energy and momentum the original offspring held and utilize that to survive. The offspring will eventually die, as well, but it holds the instinct to pass on its own offspring to continue to survive with cumulative momentum. This is how "eternal Life" is acquired. This is the meaning of life.

bkc · #6 2003-07-15, 00:39

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by icantthinkofaname:

i dont believe their is a meaning to life

The only meaning to life is to realize that there is no meaning to life other than this realization. This realization is the meaning....seriously.

Am I saying there is no meaning to life? No. Look at the words "other than" in the paragraph above. This is stressing that there is only one answer. This is in no way saying there is no meaning. Does anyone see the appropriateness of there only being one answer to all questions? But the world is running around looking for multiple answers, multiple beliefs. This will never be true.

[This message has been edited by bkc (edited 07-25-2003).]

IzzyReele · #7 2003-07-15, 00:48

the meaning of life is the simplest answer yet has confounded man to the point of saying there is no meaning to life.

ENJOY LIFE.

is that so hard?

for some people i guess it is.

ArmsMerchant · #8 2003-07-15, 01:41

There seems to be some confusion regarding religion and natural philosophy. Granted, there is some overlap.

In my belief system, god's will for us is to create ourselves; that is, to conform to the grandest and best conception of ourselves. Other than that, god has no preference regarding our behavior.

He is no celestial Santa Claus, making a list of who's naughty and who's nice. If the best you can do is say "hey, I just wanna have fun," so be it. You'll go to heaven anyway. But you will miss out on a lot of interesting spiritual growth in the process.

IzzyReele · #9 2003-07-15, 02:10

"In my belief system, god's will for us is to create ourselves; that is, to conform to the grandest and best conception of ourselves."

isn't that enjoying life?

aren't you best defined by what you do to have fun?

just like you said,"to create ourselves", you are what you are and where you are because it's the choice you made.

"you are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true; you may have to work for it though"

soul rebel · #10 2003-07-19, 22:57

I think life, and exisistance as a whole is totally meaningless. Things exist because nothingness can't exist. If you see what i mean.

But, saying that, a person should place a purpose on their own life. Otherwise what's the point?

My purpose is, to leave the world in a better state than it would be if I had never existed, and to have fun doing it.

UrbnTbone · #11 2003-07-20, 05:51

I think life's got to be more than just a bitch. There has to be some meaning, or it's not worth living: why conform to a sick dream that will pass anyway, while you know any of your toil will be lost?

The meaning? It's something personal, but there's got to be one. One hope regarding the purpose, something above time and space, something spiritual. When I rot in the ground and feed worms and rats, the soul will undergo some evolution as well, and recycle in some way. Yes, I want to believe, and not because I'm afraid. Else, I would just do sex & drugs and Rn'R to death.