Thread: What is the purpose of life?

Maybe our purpose in life is to strap a heap of C4 around our waist and take out as many infidels as we can. Now that should get some reaction.

After surviving two attempts to snuff out my candle this year, I can tell you that my prupose in life is to live as long as possible (provided it is a meaningful life, not living as a vegetable in a nursing home) and to see my children (and grandchild soon) prosper.

In the big picture, we have no individual purpose other than to propogate the species.

Just live your life as best you can and enjoy what little time you have left. and be.

Originally Posted by paperdoll

but if you understood what I've been saying, those three verses (and some certain others, I'm sure) ARE MORE IMPORTANT. THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT, AS A MATTER OF FACT. and I explained exactly why!

let me ask you this: do you believe that a long time ago, God Himself came down in the form of a man, and literally wrote the words with His own hand? probably not, I'm sure you understand the bible was written by men inspired by God. they were "told" what to say, basically. now, you know all people are sinners, right? you know that no man is perfect. no man IS God. we are all prone to sin, and always have been.

now, would you believe anything someone said if they said God told it to them? someone who claims God told them to go on a killing spree, for example? of course not. you know better, you know that God wouldn't tell someone to do something like that. you understand that there are cases of people who are psychotic and believe God is telling them to do things that are obviously evil.

so, do you believe Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and all of the people who wrote the bible are gods? do you believe they were gods themselves, perfect and not capable of sinning? I'm sure you don't. so you must admit, since they were not gods, since they were imperfect and prone to sin just like every other human being, there is a chance that they could have only thought they were writing God's word. there have been times in my life where I've said things I thought were Godly, but now realize they were not.

I do believe some of the bible was truly inspired by God, like the verses I posted above. but if you claim that a book written by man is without flaw, you are saying the writers were all without flaw, that what they believed and wrote must have been perfect.

I didn't say anything about anyone being perfect or the Bible being perfect. Who are you arguing with? What you just said was completely off the point. I know you've practiced your little speech alot, but it just doesn't quite fit into this conversation, and it doesn't make sense. For the disciples to write the gospels perfectly, they do not have to be perfect, nor did anybody say they were.

anyway, back to my point... I was commenting on the good of specific moral codes found in Christianity. Not the essence of God and love and all that, though that is at the heart of it. People benefit from following the ten comandments and all that, where they wouldn't if they weren't Christians. Some people aren't willing to soul-seek enough to find all the answers without the bible to guide them, which is totally ok. Everybody is different and have different spiritually and philosophically complex personalities.
It's a book or morals and messages, that goes wayyy beyond what you think is in there. Whether you believe in God or not, you can find some seriously great advice in the stories and dialogues throughout the bible.

I didn't say anything about anyone being perfect or the Bible being perfect. Who are you arguing with? What you just said was completely off the point. I know you've practiced your little speech alot, but it just doesn't quite fit into this conversation, and it doesn't make sense. For the disciples to write the gospels perfectly, they do not have to be perfect, nor did anybody say they were.

you obviously aren't reading what I'm saying, or something just isn't clicking. I explained how in order for every word of the bible to be of God, the people who wrote it would have to be without sin. the fact that they are prone to sin means it is possible that they could have only thought that what they wrote was of God. which means every word in the bible may not necessarily be Godly. there's a chance some things could be wrong.

I don't have a "speech" that I've "perfected" and simply repeat, I have a current understanding (that I know may be false), and I encourage people to challange my views so that if I'm wrong about something, I can see it and change my views. everyone must debate, if they didn't, there'd be no change and time would stop. I'm not trying to be hateful, I don't think I know everything and am better than anyone, which you seem to think. I don't mean to come off that way. the only reason I reply to your arguments, is so the both of us can come to a better understanding. I want to benifit from this, and I want you to benifit from this.

don't get upset, and don't refuse to talk to someone who disagrees with you. reason with them. if you are wrong, I can show you the truth and you'll be better for it, if I am wrong, you can show me the truth, and I'll be better for it. please, just discuss this with me. that's all I want to do, share my thoughts, hear what other people say, and learn.

I do apologize if I'm coming off as a know-it-all, holier-than-thou. I don't mean to.


oh, and to clarify: is this debate not about whether or not everything in the bible is true and literal? and all of it being inspired by God?

Originally Posted by paperdoll

you obviously aren't reading what I'm saying, or something just isn't clicking. I explained how in order for every word of the bible to be of God, the people who wrote it would have to be without sin. the fact that they are prone to sin means it is possible that they could have only thought that what they wrote was of God. which means every word in the bible may not necessarily be Godly. there's a chance some things could be wrong.

I don't have a "speech" that I've "perfected" and simply repeat, I have a current understanding (that I know may be false), and I encourage people to challange my views so that if I'm wrong about something, I can see it and change my views. everyone must debate, if they didn't, there'd be no change and time would stop. I'm not trying to be hateful, I don't think I know everything and am better than anyone, which you seem to think. I don't mean to come off that way. the only reason I reply to your arguments, is so the both of us can come to a better understanding. I want to benifit from this, and I want you to benifit from this.

don't get upset, and don't refuse to talk to someone who disagrees with you. reason with them. if you are wrong, I can show you the truth and you'll be better for it, if I am wrong, you can show me the truth, and I'll be better for it. please, just discuss this with me. that's all I want to do, share my thoughts, hear what other people say, and learn.

I do apologize if I'm coming off as a know-it-all, holier-than-thou. I don't mean to.


oh, and to clarify: is this debate not about whether or not everything in the bible is true and literal? and all of it being inspired by God?

It's good to see that you recognize that you may be wrong, and I'll have you know that I am always very self-conscious in what I say, believing that I too very well may be wrong. Good call on all that. (Though you're "holy-than-thou" attitude is most prevalent in your last bit with "don't get upset, and don't refuse to talk to someone who disagrees with you." I think you've had a lot of people like me giving you this same advice ^^^. And there's my bit of holier-than-thou-ness)

And I'm glad you want to learn. And want me to learn! How selflessly you serve your fellow man!


"oh, and to clarify: is this debate not about whether or not everything in the bible is true and literal? and all of it being inspired by God?"
Why would it be about that when I have never said a thing to suggest it? You obviously aren't reading what I'm saying, in that I haven't suggested that I think that "every word of the bible is of God." You act as though I'm a fundamentalist Christian or "Bible Literalist" or whatever when I'm not even a Christian! This is why I say you have this spiel perfected, but obviously for another discussion. I'm here to talk about what I said in my last post.

I think I see my error. I was trying to prove you wrong on something I thought you were saying, when you were saying something else entirely. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

you are saying that religion is necessary for some, in the search for the truth, even though it can be found without it? I don't think so, because I think you can find it strictly though science, with no religion. and I'll tell you why.

science would appear to teach us to believe only what you see. if you don't believe that there is anything beyond what you see, you wouldn't get anywhere, because you wouldn't believe there was anything more to it. if I didn't believe there was anything beyond what I see physically, I wouldn't even get up and leave this room, because I wouldn't believe anything was out there.

so in fact, science teaches us NOT to believe only what we see, but to question everything we see. it teaches us that there is more, basically, that there is a "higher power". we find this higher power by questioning everything. in a sense, "what is outside of this room?"

religion, on the contrary, teaches us to believe in certain "truths" without questioning them. religion says, "this is what god is, and these are his laws. do not question them." it is choosing to believe only what it sees, only what is appearent to it. it is saying "there is nothing beyond these laws, these are absolute truths, and they cannot be questioned." or, in a sense, "there is nothing beyond this room."

"To be happy" was the only other option you gave because you don't have to think about your next meal or a place to live.

Originally Posted by paperdoll

you are saying that religion is necessary for some, in the search for the truth, even though it can be found without it? I don't think so, because I think you can find it strictly though science, with no religion.

I do not think that religion is necessarily necessary to anybody. I don’t know whether atheism or religion is the truth. I am very agnostic. All I know is that religion has served as a means of moral stability for the human race for thousands of years. And I believe that the only science can explain the benefit of morality is in a superficial way. So far. Maybe you could convince me otherwise.

But I agree with you here:

"science would appear to teach us to believe only what you see. if you don't believe that there is anything beyond what you see, you wouldn't get anywhere, because you wouldn't believe there was anything more to it. if I didn't believe there was anything beyond what I see physically, I wouldn't even get up and leave this room, because I wouldn't believe anything was out there.

so in fact, science teaches us NOT to believe only what we see, but to question everything we see. it teaches us that there is more, basically, that there is a "higher power". we find this higher power by questioning everything. in a sense, "what is outside of this room?"

religion, on the contrary, teaches us to believe in certain "truths" without questioning them. religion says, "this is what god is, and these are his laws. do not question them." it is choosing to believe only what it sees, only what is appearent to it. it is saying "there is nothing beyond these laws, these are absolute truths, and they cannot be questioned." or, in a sense, "there is nothing beyond this room.""


This is good, we're on the same page pretty much.

beautiful.

And I believe that the only science can explain the benefit of morality is in a superficial way. So far. Maybe you could convince me otherwise.

maybe, but I'm not sure what you mean. science can only explain the benefit of morality in a superficial way? what does that mean?

Originally Posted by paperdoll

beautiful.



maybe, but I'm not sure what you mean. science can only explain the benefit of morality in a superficial way? what does that mean?

sorry that wasn't more clear, I can see that. I'm really not sure if I'm even right, it's only a notion I've gotten. That was just the most succint way of putting what I think. Hmm... how to explain it? How about: Scientifically speaking, what is the point of love or selflessness?

if you don't take care of others, you can't survive. isn't that observable? if you put a group of people in a room and say, "ok, hate each other" (be selfish) they won't be able to work together and survive. if you say "ok, love each other" (be selfless) they can all look out for each other and survive. isn't that...scientifically ovservable? I don't know, I'm asking you, but it sure seems like it to me.

My view on this is this:
I don't believe that God exists, therefore, the only thing that people can get out of life, is happiness. This is the most important thing anyone can achieve. Well you might say that your purpose is to help people or to do something important. Well this all goes back to being happy. If it makes you happy to help people or to become important or well known then this is your option. But really happiness is the most important thing for everyone, whether it is short term, or long term. I try to do well in school, and I plan to get a job despite it making me unhappy because I want to have a happy future thus sacrificing happiness for more happiness. I also think it's silly that people sacrifice happiness in order to get into heaven, because as I said, from my view it's like sacrificing happiness for...well, nothing. But if it makes you happy to worship God to get into heaven, then I suppose the reason you are worshiping IS to be happy but it depends how you look at it.

paper doll: you win for now, I have no real argument

Originally Posted by Explode

My view on this is this:
I don't believe that God exists, therefore, the only thing that people can get out of life, is happiness. This is the most important thing anyone can achieve. Well you might say that your purpose is to help people or to do something important. Well this all goes back to being happy. If it makes you happy to help people or to become important or well known then this is your option. But really happiness is the most important thing for everyone, whether it is short term, or long term. I try to do well in school, and I plan to get a job despite it making me unhappy because I want to have a happy future thus sacrificing happiness for more happiness. I also think it's silly that people sacrifice happiness in order to get into heaven, because as I said, from my view it's like sacrificing happiness for...well, nothing. But if it makes you happy to worship God to get into heaven, then I suppose the reason you are worshiping IS to be happy but it depends how you look at it.

It's the motive... I think I sort of look at it like, live life as if from the outside, do what you can to better the world, and happiness just comes with it. When you do good, it shouldn't be to make yourself happy. You don't return a lost pet for the reward, it just comes extra. Your motive in life should be to make the whole population "happy" in general and therefore, yes, to me the "purpose" is to "be happy," but not me in particular, everybody. Nobody likes to see people living on the street (for intents and purposes). So don't live on the street, and it's win win. Basically, build yourself up into a healthy, happy, moral person as to influence others, so that they may be that too, and to make others proud of you, to make them happy.

If your aim is to make most of mankind happier, yes, you'll most likely be happy as well.

I believe the purpose of life is to learn, experience, and evolve. Learn the differences of the balance between suffering and joy, and in the end be able to live a life without evil, emotional/physical pain, or conflict. A life without what most people commonly see as 'sin'. I believe that we are also meant to discover the true potential of what or consciousness is capable of. Thoughts are the most powerful thing in the world. Look at how humankind has evolved in the passed two thousand years. Everything is constantly evolving and fluctuating, and do you know what's even better? We're still only on one planet. We have yet to even start colonizing other worlds, discovering new life forms, experiencing the benefits of new technology, and to hopefully see a cooperative and peaceful future utopia.

Divine enlightenment is what I see as the purpose of life to be. To find the divinity that lies within us all, and to join in the constant creation of existence through thought. In time, humanity will learn to coincide peacefully, and soon we shall discover the countless planes, realities, and dimensions that exist. Existence is diverse and continuously expanding. It's just so awesome.

I think that people can only assume what the purpose of life is, but they can never know for sure. Thats because one certain part of the purpose of life that we can know for sure blocks us from knowing the whole meaning. That one part of the purpose of life is to find the purpose of life. Think about it if we knew the purpose of life we would lose a very good reason to live. If it is something greater and divine people would just kill themselves or something, while other people will keep living for waffles or something cause thats their meaning of life.

Sorry if anyone said that already

42?
Maybe no purpose, but an acseident? Life was never ment to be. Like Unsafe sex children...Naah that woud be depressing..

I just try to be happy with wat i do.

There is no purpose....just get what you can out of life before you die. Like your expecting an answer...ever? Human beings have existed (sortof) for millions of years....and we've never came close to finding an answer to this question. hehe, you will drive your self foreaking nutzo if you actually even think there is an answer...

Do whatever the hell you want, as long as you don't mess up other peoples plans.

Originally Posted by Sandform

Do whatever the hell you want, as long as you don't mess up other peoples plans.

everything about everything you do interferes with everybody else's lives. The bible says that the body is the temple of christ, which I interpret as this: you influence others by the way you live; you are an example. If you take part in any selfish, indulgent act, it typically damages the body, which affects those around you. See my last post.

Love

Are you kidding?

To reproduce! That's the only goal of any organism!!!

Originally Posted by Sandform

There is no purpose....just get what you can out of life before you die. Like your expecting an answer...ever? Human beings have existed (sortof) for millions of years....and we've never came close to finding an answer to this question. hehe, you will drive your self foreaking nutzo if you actually even think there is an answer...

Do whatever the hell you want, as long as you don't mess up other peoples plans.

Intelligent (Relatively , of course) humans go back 12, 000 years. The genus homo goes back roughly 2 Mil