why are we here? (Earth, reincarnate, beliefs, hell, experience)

[Corban]

What is the purpose of this life? why did God put us here, if he wants us in heaven why aren't we just born there, why do we have to go through this life

[quick]

Originally Posted by Corban

What is the purpose of this life? why did God put us here, if he wants us in heaven why aren't we just born there, why do we have to go through this life

Here is your answer, from the Westminster Larger Catechism with proof texts (from the Bible):

Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?

A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God,[1] and fully to enjoy him forever.[2]

Notes:

[1] Romans 11:36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 1 Corinthians 10:31. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

[2] Psalm 73:24-28. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. John 17:21-23. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.


Also, it is impossible to have glory without struggle; this life is that struggle, and therefore is required for God's greater glory.

[Runt]

The purpose of life is to LIVE it, to get as much out of the experience as you possibly can, because when you die you will be tranformed (whether into a spirit, being reincarnated, going to Hell and burning for eternity, or simply joining the rest of the energy in the universe as your consciousness dissipates--i.e. dying forever) and the opportunities for the experiences you can have in this life will be gone, gone, gone.

[kc8tbe]

Corban and Runt,

I suggest that life is significant enough to be its own reason for existence - independent of parallel beliefs in God(s), afterlife(ves), etc.

quick,

Your proofs indicate that God (specificaly, your God) is [1] all powerful and [2] glorious. You then go on to state "...it is impossible to have glory without struggle..."

I assume that, since God is [1] all powerful, he does not struggle. Therefore, if your statement were true, then God could not be [2] glorious. Since we may assume that the Bible you quoted is infallible your assertion must be false; one may have glory without struggle. Similar incidences of glory (though obviously not equal to God's glory) can be found in real life; people inheriting riches and power, etc.

Why did you chose to include that statement?

[Runt]

Corban and Runt,

I suggest that life is significant enough to be its own reason for existence - independent of parallel beliefs in God(s), afterlife(ves), etc.

Um... are you agreeing with me, cuz I thought I just suggested that myself?

[kc8tbe]

Basically, yes. But you made it sound like a race ("gone, gone, gone"). Sorry if I offended you.

[Runt]

I wasn't offended. Just confused. The "gone gone gone" sounding like a race wasn't intentional. I was just in one of "those moods", if you know what I mean (no rhetorical purpose to the word repetition; I was bored and felt like being singsongy. Perhaps I should remove it... naw.)