Does Life Require Purpose?

[SalixIncendium]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience, and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

 

[BSM1]

Evidently not....

 

[Skwim]

.

NOPE.​

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[Nakosis]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience, and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

Does life require purpose? Require it, no, but it's a good idea. It provides a direction goal vs wandering around aimlessly.

Does one need a purpose to be happy/content? No. In my experience, happiness is a state of mind. Individuals can learn how to control their state of mind regardless of external circumstances. I see no necessary connection between the two ideas. However, there are many who allow their state of mind to be controlled by external circumstances.

I don't know, I don't think having a purpose of being happy is actually the way to achieve that goal. I suppose it might keep you busy and out of trouble though.

 

[PureX]

It is human nature to ask, and to seek an answer to this question. It's part of what defines us both as members of a species, and as individual beings. So, I say let's keep asking, and keep answering ourselves, as those that quest is defining who we are.

 

[joe1776]

Moral Progress is the Purpose of Life

Conditional premise 1. Life has a purpose
;
Conditional premise 2. Life hasn't been operating in a failure mode;

Conclusion 1. Therefore, life's purpose should be evident by now.

P3 Humanity has been making moral progress (see link)

P4 Moral progress is logically linked to the survival of our species (as we become kinder people the chances of our species surviving get better)

C2 When we make moral progress the goal of our lives, we are aligned with the purpose of life and the survival of our species. We will be swimming with the current rather than against it.

Global Harmony is Inevitable

 

[Twilight Hue]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience, and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

The purpose of life is to live.

 

[Enoch07]

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content?

Purpose is required for a healthy life. It does not have to be religion, but it can be.

Life without purpose is misery, I've been there, I don't recommend it.

 

[George-ananda]

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content?

I think it is better for me to get content with whatever reality is. Some people can get along fine with a non-philosophical mind.

What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose?

My religion teaches that this is all One Consciousness (God/Brahman) and that our end will be realizing this truth (Liberation/Moksha/Nirvana). My religion does not call this the 'necessity of purpose' but the Truth.

Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

Yes, I believe it is possible. Everyone has an innate drive to be happy though. I suppose a non-philosophical person can be happy and not concerned with the bigger questions.

What works best for my type person is to best understand reality and then determine how to best live within that understanding. I am definitely of the philosophical bent.

 

[74x12]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience, and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

If someone is smart enough to ask "what is the purpose of life?" then they're smart enough to find a purpose.

As for my views on purpose. Not everyone is made the same so we can't look at someone who did some great thing and think we have to equal it. We probably won't. Best to be humble and seek God about what your purpose is. As long as people follow God then they will not be without purpose.

 

[Shantanu]

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content?

Being content is the objective of living: it is a necessity for survival. For when things bug you you suffer ill health in terms of suffering, physically and mentally.

What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose?

My religion teaches me everything: it generates knowledge upon which survival is dependent.

Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

Experience is not sufficient to learn how to live in knowledge: one needs to be active and proactive in truthsearch. This is done through satya-advaita or truth accommodation.

 

[BSM1]

Purpose is required for a healthy life. It does not have to be religion, but it can be.

Life without purpose is misery, I've been there, I don't recommend it.

Wouldn't you say that this purpose has to be contrived of manufactured?

 

[sealchan]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience, and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

No, but self-conscious, meaningful action does.

 

[Enoch07]

Wouldn't you say that this purpose has to be contrived of manufactured?

Forgive me I am unclear on the meaning of your question. I just woke up would you do me the kindness of simplifying your question please?

 

[Dawnofhope]

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content?

Yes.

What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

One of the central purposes in life according to Baha'u'llah's Teachings are for us to know and worship God. Worshipping God may mean becoming a virtuous person and serving the community.

Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

We all experience life. Most of us have some worldview from which we make sense of those experiences. That worldview may or may not incorporate Theism. I suppose we could view life as random and meaningless, but I personally never have, even when I was an atheist/agnostic many years ago.

 

[osgart]

Answering why questions about the nature of reality is exhausting and there is no definitive answers to hang your hat on. I end up literally having to choose my purposes based on my own conscience, objectivity, and desire.

The basic purposes are to love truly and to explore the unknown. Then their is the wisdom to achieve those purposes best. Each path has common and unique purposes, and no less the ones you create for yourself and others.

First step is to master common truth of all.

Second step is to master your own unique purposes.

Third step is to create new purposes.

Without the first truth upon which all other truthes rest there is no sharing, and no growing of life.

Ideally life is intended for joy and peace. This is not the reality we find ourselves in.

Methinks no man lives unless they take joy in something. As to the nature of the joys people find there are many paths, many be contrary to first truth.

To discover first truth is the only path to true freedom. All other truthes build off of first truth.

That is my religion.

 

[Stanyon]

I am just guessing here but I am pretty sure there has never been an animal in the wild that has asked themselves that question.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I am just guessing here but I am pretty sure there has never been an animal in the wild that has asked themselves that question.

Pretty sure, eh? How many animals in the wild have you interviewed personally?

 

[Samana Johann]

What's the purpose of the tread?

Just as these tread would not have come into being, if there has been no thirst and delusion as prerequisite, beings wandering on, fettert by craving and not-knowing.

Nobody has called, even forced one to (be)come. So it would be wiser to ask "what do I do now with this gifted life gained for my long term happiness, as sickness, aging, death are crashing from all sides with fast speed toward me".

Just for the case that being interested: Why beings take birth, even in most worse existences and circumstances?

 

[Samana Johann]

I am just guessing here but I am pretty sure there has never been an animal in the wild that has asked themselves that question.

Householder Stanyon could even leave guessing and prove for himself if ever serious asked this question since there are even very less human doing such, and even lesser would ever develop samvega (fear and terror), and even lesser there are those who get known cause, effect and the way out, and just some being actually start to walk the path out.