The meaning of life. (experience, atheist, God)

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Random

The meaning of Life is in Belonging.

I like that very much.

[cardero]

Respect is the meaning and secret of life.

Hello It’s Me: An Interview With GOD
Chapter: Stubborness, Pride and Ego
Pg: 302

[gnomon]

Originally Posted by Ozzie

This question may be better suited to atheists, but theists are welcome to respond.

Is the meaning/sentiment you find in a certain context determined by the sum of the elements in that context excluding yourself (whatever you may determine that to be), or is it determined by something separate inside your head?

Strange.

The meaning of life could very well be the sum of the elements but it would have to include oneself because of its subjective nature. Life itself has no meaning. Pizza, emotion, fast cars, stupid people, etc. all have meaning to the individual and the sum of these constitute their "life" meaning or worldview. These things are indeed interpreted inside our head. What is the meaning of life to someone in a vegetative state? Or to someone who is losing their memory?

Both possible answers point to the same thing. Subjective interpretation based upon the personality and cognitive ability of the individual. What other option is there? Divine input. If some Overlord creator dictated to us that the meaning of Life, its creation, is splunge then I guess it would be splunge. Perhaps this aspect is included in the first option by excluding the self. That meaning is independant of subjective interpretation. But how can such a thing be verified? Only by some sort of higher power. And we know where those questions lead.