Ready for another "What's the meaning and/or purpose of life?" question?

Question

I have seen many. I will now try to disprove them. I apologize now for the length, I wish to read some arguments, so I'm covering as much as I can.

For some, it is to propagate, or in smaller words, to have kids. To me, this is foolish. One day, we are all going to be dead. That means our purpose and meaning has run out. That isn't supposed to happen! At least, that's what I think.

For others, it's to walk with Christ or some other holy figure. Yet, if that were so, then why is that said holy figure doesn't bother with us modern people? I wish to see burning bushes that talk (not normal burning bushes, like out west). If it is because we are predestined to go to Heaven or Hell, then why not off ourselves now and stop wasting time.

Maybe you think that we all have different meanings and purpose. Perhaps so, but what about the poor saps who are homeless or poor. Hell, even life of monotony. That would make it a joke, really. This seems plausible, for I laugh at life a lot.

Might be so, dtshaff, but then it is only so much. What impact will it be tomorrow? How about those who are ignored, swept away in a scene of apathy? There are those who do not care what others do, and thus aren’t affected. How can life, combining your answer and my question, be empty and meaningless for some and purposeful to others? Are altruist then better then the rest of us?

Chef Bob, you are but one person. What applies to you doesn't apply to me, same as other people. Are there those who agree with you? Of course. But life encompasses everyone. We must think about everyone!

For those who believe in choice, do you honestly think some people choose to be homeless? Are they lazy for not making their choice become so? What about those starving in 3rd world countries? I do not think they choose to be dying of starvation and disease, so why don't they just move? Because they are lazy? Or does choice belong to those with money?

For those who are wondering (which are few) I have no point on this. Life to me is a joke. Best one ever told. I just like hearing what others have to say. I question so that you may. I'm getting really good answers, keep it up!

Answer 1

I thought Ecclesiastes 12:13 summed up the meaning of life rather nicely. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all."

Solomon (most likely writer of this book) said the same thing as you, right from the beginning. "Vanity of vanities...all is vanity." Lots of wisdom there.

Answer 2

This Holy figure does bother with us, That's why people ponder over the meaning of life instead of just offing themselves. We all would like to have a real close relationship with god and talk to burning bushes and be able to raise the dead or do special things for god but if we were all special than no one would be. death is a terrible thing. once there was a father and son driving in a car and the son was very allergic to bees.So much in fact that one sting could kill the boy.The window was down and a bee got in the car. The boy started screaming and waving his arms and really freaking out and the Father calmly reached out and grabbed the bee.After a brief moment the father let the bee go and the boy started to freak out again but the father said It's OK son and he opened his hand and said "I got the stinger" . The father took the sting from the bee so the boy would be spared. Jesus did the same for us. He took the sting from death. Would you rather be run over by the car or its shadow.I would rather feel deaths Shadow than its Sting. As for the meaning of life? It's you and I and I don't know about you but I think I'm Worth it.

Answer 3

I believe that no matter who or whatever you may believe our Creator to be, we are a delight to Him (it). Just as we have children, and they are a delight to us, no matter how they screw up, behave or misbehave, I believe that we bring joy to whatever brought us here, whatever influence (and I do believe in a divine power of grace and intelligence) caused us to come into being, I think He takes great pride in us. We are his children, His love and His glory.

Why would you think that this "holy figure" doesn't bother with us in modern times? I think you would get many arguments to the contrary. Just because the Bible is an ancient work doesn't mean there is no divine influence in the world today. It's a matter of perception. If you want to see a miracle, you will. If you are closed to that, there will be none. You can't "disprove" the meaning of life. That is a question that each person asks and answers for him or herself. Some never even ask, let alone answer.

So, you can argue or deem foolish anything you want, but it's so subjective an issue that your opinion is pointless except as the question applies to you. I would suggest, however, that you must have answered that for yourself in some form or you would have put the pistol to your head long ago. People with no purpose what so ever don't just stay here. So, tell me, what's your reason for hanging out?

Answer 4

False. I was a Catholic for over 25 years and could find no meaning to life, no real value. I always asked "Why am I here?". I became a Buddhist about 5 years ago (Buddha is not a God) and now realize that life is precious because I no longer question why I exist, but instead, how can I always remain aware and enjoy life and how can I help others? Being "created" would not have made my life any more precious.

Answer 5

The only one thing I can think of is what happens after death, otherwise I really do see very little purpose in life. As you brought up, everyone is ultimately gonna die one day, rather before their even out of their mother's body or after living for about 110 years. If there truly is a purpose, why would we learn after out chance to carry it out is over, rather then before or during our life?

Maybe not quite Heaven or Hell, but something must happen after we die. However, if such an afterlife exists, what's to stop whoever lives there from debating the same thing if they think like humans? How do I know I won't question the afterlife too unless all the answers are handed to me right there?

Answer 6

The purpose of life is not MATERIAL HAPPINESS which is transitory, flickering and temporary as you have rightly concluded. In opposition to that is the eternal SPIRITUAL HAPPINESS obtained with love of Godhead.

The same question was asked in August Mike Robinson of London Broadcasting Company in 1976 while interviewing Prabhupada(Founder of ISKCON. Some excerpts from that :

Mike Robinson: Can you tell me what you believe to be the meaning of life? Why do we exist in the first place?

Srila Prabhupada: The meaning of life is to enjoy. But now you are on a false platform of life, and therefore you are suffering instead of enjoying. Everywhere we see the struggle for existence. Everyone is struggling, but what is their enjoyment in the end? They are simply suffering and dying. Therefore, although life means enjoyment, at the present moment your life is not enjoyment. But if you come to the real, spiritual platform of life, then you'll enjoy.

Mike Robinson: Can you explain to me, finally, some of the stages you go through in spiritual life? What are the spiritual stages a new devotee of Krishna goes through?

Sr la Prabhupada: The first stage is that you are inquisitive. "So," you say, "what is this Krishna consciousness movement? Let me study it." This is called sraddha, or faith. This is the beginning. Then, if you are serious, you mix with those who are cultivating this knowledge. You try to understand how they are feeling. Then you'll feel, "Why not become one of them?" And when you become one of them, then all your misgivings soon go away. You become more faithful, and then you get a real taste for Krishna consciousness. Why aren't these boys going to see the cinema? Why don't they eat meat or go to the nightclub? Because their taste has changed. They hate all these things now. In this way, you make progress. First faith, then association with devotees, then removal of all misgivings, then firm faith, then taste, then God realization, and then love of God, the perfection. That is first-class religion. Not some ritualistic ceremony of "I believe, you believe." That is not religion. That is cheating. Real religion means to develop your love for God. That is the perfection of religion.

Mike Robinson: Thank you very much for talking with me. It's been a pleasure talking to you.

Srila Prabhupada: Hare Krishna.

Answer 7

The meaning of life is to realize the Truth.

The tough part is that the truth is never anything anyone else says it is.

Even if someone says 2+2=4, you might believe it, but you haven't realized it until you have experienced that fact for yourself.

Like Prabhupada says, just taking someone else's word for it is cheating.

Like Mulder said: "the Truth is out there", (or rather: the Truth is in here) which is to say "the Truth exists"; but its not something you can touch with your hands, or see with your eyes.

Still, unless we look for it, and find it, life has no meaning.

Answer 8

This is simple and it does not matter what religion or non-religion you have.

The meaning of life is choice. It is your life, your choice. You accept responsibility and determine your own destiny for your life with the choices you make.

Religious? Then your choices will be based on the teachings of your religion and if you make the right choices you are rewarded according to your religion.

Atheist, then your life is the culmination of your choices and you are rewarded or punished based on the choices you make.

Choice. Life is choice.

I'm a Christian and I know that people who call on Christ are forgiven. God does not kick you out of heaven, you choose not to go to heaven, you choose not to go through the door God opened with Jesus Christ.

If you want visions where you really see burning bushes then you have to devote your entire self to God.

Your choice.

Answer 9

To me, to assume that we have a "purpose" greater than ourselves is rather egotistical. The only purpose human beings have is whatever we create for ourselves--beyond that, we are equally as important as rocks and trees and killer whales (not unimportant, mind you, but not special). Why are we alive? Because there happens to have evolved life on this rock, and we are part of it. We just happened to have developed a consciousness of our place in the world, and our relative smallness. If we want to have a "purpose," we have to figure out what we want it to be and work for it. That's all there is, in the end.

Answer 10

your premise is in error.
I am very sorry that Jesus Christ, God, does not bother with you as you stated.
He is in my life every minute of every day.
He is my Lord.
He is my Savior.
I see His hand in many things.
I see His answers to my prayers.
I am very sorry that Jesus Christ, God, is not in your life.
here is how you can change that:
John 3: The Words of Jesus Christ (God in the flesh)
3. "Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
4. Nicodemus saith unto Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
5. Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18. He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."


I feel the guidance of His Spirit.