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What is the meaning of life? What is the purpose of existence?
- Thread starter Gambit
- Start date
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Haven't read ALL the replies ...
To me the purpose of life is 2 experience pure, unconditional love.
So far not many have managed it and reached enlightenment.
All the best!
To me the purpose of life is 2 experience pure, unconditional love.
So far not many have managed it and reached enlightenment.
All the best!
Thief
Rogue Theologian
Rather difficult to say I AM! without something to show for it.
So....Let there be light!....and the rest of creation shares in that purpose of self declaration.
However....
The creation might respond to His touch....but it doesn't really 'respond'.
Man is the next step up.
We are more than His Echo.
Bunyip
pro scapegoat
Yes, 'may' implies possibility - that is why I used that word.
In reading through. If one is to look at all known life. If one believes evolution and can follow the path that life took to reach today. With all this knowledge is it really true we don't know the purpose of life or don't want to admit it. For me it reads pretty easily.
To ask "what is the meaning of life?" is the same as to ask "what is the meaning of beauty?" or "what is the meaning of art?".
'Meaning' is just a concept. Note that is has the word 'mean(s)' in it, but not the word 'end'. We are always on the journey but there is no destination other than the journey itself.
At the most pragmatic level that I believe it's possible to attend the question with, I believe that the meaning of life is to realize unconditional love is the true nature of reality, and to realize (within that) that reality is nondual. There is no separation. When you look at the inter-dependency of all things, the inter-being, you see the absolute truth that we are one. The universe / god / our 'self' is one.
'Meaning' is just a concept. Note that is has the word 'mean(s)' in it, but not the word 'end'. We are always on the journey but there is no destination other than the journey itself.
At the most pragmatic level that I believe it's possible to attend the question with, I believe that the meaning of life is to realize unconditional love is the true nature of reality, and to realize (within that) that reality is nondual. There is no separation. When you look at the inter-dependency of all things, the inter-being, you see the absolute truth that we are one. The universe / god / our 'self' is one.
Some have not found it a significant task to consider life with purpose. Some feel that putpose results in being held responsible. Some feel that having a purpose will will allow/cause failure.
We cannot discover the purpose of life, it is being shown to those who have seen the awesome presentation of who God is through His creation. (Romans 1:18 ff) It is in the things that are made where God has placed His living demonstration of His invisible character. It is in that seeing that character, and receiving the revelation of it, that we are given enlightenment regarding the purpose that our Creator has for all of His creation. God has an absolute purpose for mankind. All other meanings that people follow will lead to an eternity of neaningless and worthlessness.
Gambit
Well-Known Member
What exactly does it "read?"
Gambit
Well-Known Member
Yes. I considered it. But theism provides the only explanation for why there is something rather than nothing.
Rick O'Shez
Irishman bouncing off walls
It's been explained to you repeatedly and at great length that is not the case. Obviously what you choose to believe is up to you.
Gambit
Well-Known Member
I haven't seen any such explanation.
Guy Threepwood
Mighty Pirate
I think our meaning & purpose is to answer that question?
We are utterly unique in our ability to ask it, to explore nature and the universe, to question our own existence, our own lives and deduce that there is a higher purpose to it all.
Gambit
Well-Known Member
I like that.
Well, it addresses it only if there must necessarily be an ultimate purpose. But it smells like question begging. There is no evidence whatsoever that things cannot work without an ultimate purpose.
Suppose they find your name in the book of life (I hope God uses something more advanced, like a database) and you get an upgrade, so to speak. You get your wings, your harp, your cloud and you will be with Jesus for all eternity.
Is that it?
Ciao
- viole
Gambit
Well-Known Member
We have direct evidence accorded to us by our own first-person perspective that each and everyone of us are seeking "the good as our end." The ultimate good is known as God. This qualifies as a teleological argument for the existence of God.
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Rick O'Shez
Irishman bouncing off walls
See the "Why is there something rather than nothing?" thread.
rivenrock
Member
To live. I know that sounds simplistic, but I honestly think that should be our focus - how do make a good life, how to experience life and find the things that have meaning for you. I'm not sure there's much point to seeking for some overarching external meaning when it can't be verified, and the internal meaning we can find for ourselves is available to us right now and for a limited time. We choose the purpose of our life We choose what it means.
Yes, but it is very question begging.
It assumes a teleology when there might be none. Seeking X, does not entail that there is a X.
Ciao
- viole
Gambit
Well-Known Member
Seeking X (the good) does imply that you are purpose-driven (which is what teleology is). Whether you achieve it or not is another issue.
Yes, but that still does not entail that X exists.
I am seeking a brand new German premium car with at least 300 HP that costs no more than 10 dollars.
I have a purpose, a teleology but I will never find it because it does not exist.
Ciao
- viole