Society & Culture1 min ago
Question. What Is The Meaning Of Life?
208 Answers
Answer. There isnt one. This can be the only rational response.
There is no *ultimate* meaning, although we are all capable of making *a* meaning of our individual existance.
For some, such as christians and muslims, the meaning of life is to get themselves a place in paradise. But this doesnt answer the question, it only removes it a step. What then is the meaning of a life lived eternally?
For others who believe in reincarnation, the meaning is to become perfect/reach Nirvana/or whatever but doesnt answer the question. Again, it only removes it a step. What is the actual *meaning* of it all?
The only rational response to the big question must be there IS no ultimate meaning. Each and everyone of us are only here due to a chance meeting of a sperm meeting an egg.
We are born and then we die, like everything else in nature. A zebra's life has had no meaning when its been eaten alive by a lion. A tree's life has had no meaning when its been chopped down for firewood.
I totally fail to see why the religious cannot grasp a simple truth.
I would love to be proved wrong though.
There is no *ultimate* meaning, although we are all capable of making *a* meaning of our individual existance.
For some, such as christians and muslims, the meaning of life is to get themselves a place in paradise. But this doesnt answer the question, it only removes it a step. What then is the meaning of a life lived eternally?
For others who believe in reincarnation, the meaning is to become perfect/reach Nirvana/or whatever but doesnt answer the question. Again, it only removes it a step. What is the actual *meaning* of it all?
The only rational response to the big question must be there IS no ultimate meaning. Each and everyone of us are only here due to a chance meeting of a sperm meeting an egg.
We are born and then we die, like everything else in nature. A zebra's life has had no meaning when its been eaten alive by a lion. A tree's life has had no meaning when its been chopped down for firewood.
I totally fail to see why the religious cannot grasp a simple truth.
I would love to be proved wrong though.
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Naomi - To a certain extent you are right, but I don't think about death in terms of rotting corpses, coffins, spooky graveyards, and other depressing imagery.
I think often, throughout the day, about my Lord Jesus Christ, and pray to help me remain cogniscent of His presence in my life. It is a very fine thing, and helpful.
What is so bad about death being the end?
Quite simply, I am a realist, and the reality is death is not the end no matter how much some folk would wish it to be.
If death were the end, there would be no justice would there?
A monster like Hitler, after his crimes and genocide, just pops a bullet into his brain and its all over, no justice.
But the reality is that there is justice, and crimes will indeed be punished.
If death were the end, that would be a denial of justice.
I think often, throughout the day, about my Lord Jesus Christ, and pray to help me remain cogniscent of His presence in my life. It is a very fine thing, and helpful.
What is so bad about death being the end?
Quite simply, I am a realist, and the reality is death is not the end no matter how much some folk would wish it to be.
If death were the end, there would be no justice would there?
A monster like Hitler, after his crimes and genocide, just pops a bullet into his brain and its all over, no justice.
But the reality is that there is justice, and crimes will indeed be punished.
If death were the end, that would be a denial of justice.
Theland // I am a realist…. But the reality is that there is justice, and crimes will indeed be punished. //
False claims. You’re not a realist. You live only in hope.
I find it quite extraordinary that you’re determined to carry your hatred of other people all the way to death and beyond - a sure sign of a troubled mind, and moreover, a troubled soul.
False claims. You’re not a realist. You live only in hope.
I find it quite extraordinary that you’re determined to carry your hatred of other people all the way to death and beyond - a sure sign of a troubled mind, and moreover, a troubled soul.
Naomi - Your attempt at psychoanalogy is quite amusing.
I'm not a realist and live only in hope?
Half correct.
I am indeed a realist, bit I do live in hope, a hope born of faith in Jesus Christ, the Hope Of The World.
Faith is a belief in things hoped for, as yet unseen, but real.
As Saint Paul said, '' ... for now we see through a glass darkly.''
And I have a troubled mind? Hating people up to and beyond the grave?
I wonder which one of us is the one with the troubled mind?
Your imagination is running riot, and is comedic.
I think you will agree I have been respectful, yet that has not stopped you questioning my sanity.
Its true that I suffer from episodic depression, and it is awful when it happens, yet I doubt if that qualifies me to fit into the slot you have so carefully carved out for me.
This was a conversation with various folk presenting their opinions to Nailit, but you have attempted to turn it into a full on aggressive debate, with you, of course, the winner.
It all follows a rather sad, well trodden path.
I'm not a realist and live only in hope?
Half correct.
I am indeed a realist, bit I do live in hope, a hope born of faith in Jesus Christ, the Hope Of The World.
Faith is a belief in things hoped for, as yet unseen, but real.
As Saint Paul said, '' ... for now we see through a glass darkly.''
And I have a troubled mind? Hating people up to and beyond the grave?
I wonder which one of us is the one with the troubled mind?
Your imagination is running riot, and is comedic.
I think you will agree I have been respectful, yet that has not stopped you questioning my sanity.
Its true that I suffer from episodic depression, and it is awful when it happens, yet I doubt if that qualifies me to fit into the slot you have so carefully carved out for me.
This was a conversation with various folk presenting their opinions to Nailit, but you have attempted to turn it into a full on aggressive debate, with you, of course, the winner.
It all follows a rather sad, well trodden path.
Theland, for goodness sake wind your neck in and stop jumping down everyone’s throat every five minutes. I haven’t said you’re mentally ill. A troubled mind doesn’t equate to mental illness. People worry and that affects the spirit. The person who doesn’t worry is fortunate indeed.
I don’t understand how anyone can harbour a desire for others to be punished after death. That’s incredibly cruel. I could have seen the sense in your heavenly judge preventing Hitler’s crimes when he had the chance, but since you tell me that this omnipotent God who ignored the prayers and the tears and the pain of his tortured chosen people, used all sorts of agencies - the Nazis included - to ensure that prophecy was fulfilled and the Jews returned to the Promised Land, God was, in my opinion, complicit and therefore I see no justice whatsoever in him punishing the long-deceased Hitler in the afterlife.
//I think you will agree I have been respectful//
Today my opinions are comedic and a few days ago I was a ‘joke’. You have a very strange idea of respect.
//the slot you have so carefully carved out for me.//
Don’t kid yourself. I don’t think about you enough to carve out any sort of slot for you.
I don’t understand how anyone can harbour a desire for others to be punished after death. That’s incredibly cruel. I could have seen the sense in your heavenly judge preventing Hitler’s crimes when he had the chance, but since you tell me that this omnipotent God who ignored the prayers and the tears and the pain of his tortured chosen people, used all sorts of agencies - the Nazis included - to ensure that prophecy was fulfilled and the Jews returned to the Promised Land, God was, in my opinion, complicit and therefore I see no justice whatsoever in him punishing the long-deceased Hitler in the afterlife.
//I think you will agree I have been respectful//
Today my opinions are comedic and a few days ago I was a ‘joke’. You have a very strange idea of respect.
//the slot you have so carefully carved out for me.//
Don’t kid yourself. I don’t think about you enough to carve out any sort of slot for you.
//Quite simply, I am a realist, and the reality is death is not the end no matter how much some folk would wish it to be.
If death were the end, there would be no justice would there?//
Wishful thinking and conjecture doesn't make it so!
Who said that there would be justice in this world?
Nature is red in tooth and claw.
What about innocent people who get executed? Wheres THEIR justice? The holocaust Jews for example
Life is nasty, brutish and short.
No meaning whatsoever, except the one that we give to it.
And if you live and exist forever so what?...the question remains. What is the purpose?
If death were the end, there would be no justice would there?//
Wishful thinking and conjecture doesn't make it so!
Who said that there would be justice in this world?
Nature is red in tooth and claw.
What about innocent people who get executed? Wheres THEIR justice? The holocaust Jews for example
Life is nasty, brutish and short.
No meaning whatsoever, except the one that we give to it.
And if you live and exist forever so what?...the question remains. What is the purpose?
Well at least thank you for your thoughtful reply.
Its a shame that you did not understand the bible more fully, must a little deeper, and I assure you, you would find it fascinating academically, even whilst retaining your atheism.
As a matter of interest, what kinds of subjects grab your attention?
I know you have wide interests, and comment on many of them from time to time; politics, business, society, arts to name a few, but what subjects do you get a passionate interest in?
Hope you don't mind my curiosity.
Its a shame that you did not understand the bible more fully, must a little deeper, and I assure you, you would find it fascinating academically, even whilst retaining your atheism.
As a matter of interest, what kinds of subjects grab your attention?
I know you have wide interests, and comment on many of them from time to time; politics, business, society, arts to name a few, but what subjects do you get a passionate interest in?
Hope you don't mind my curiosity.
Actually been feeding the wildlife at the lake today...Swans, geese,pigeons,ducks, etc. Just reminded me of Darwins survival of the fittest.
And thats how it is! Nothing more.
Its not complicated.
Get what you can, while you can (bread in this instance, several loaves of it)
No meaning, just survival!
The birds attacked each other for a crumb...
And thats how it is! Nothing more.
Its not complicated.
Get what you can, while you can (bread in this instance, several loaves of it)
No meaning, just survival!
The birds attacked each other for a crumb...
You are not an accident. You are unique, you are important. All lives matter. Before you were born God knew you. The point of life is to know God and to enjoy His presence for ever. A baby who only lives for an hour has a life equally as meaningful as a person who lives to 100.
The lies of atheism will tell you that life is meaningful. Therefore go out and live exactly how you want.
You only have one life, so live it well but remember your existence is eternal
The lies of atheism will tell you that life is meaningful. Therefore go out and live exactly how you want.
You only have one life, so live it well but remember your existence is eternal
//Well at least thank you for your thoughtful reply.
Its a shame that you did not understand the bible more fully, must a little deeper,//
Sanctimonious creep. How dare you insinuate that I havnt delved a little deeper just because I havnt come to the same conclusions as you? Ive read more widely than you, Ive studied the Bible more than you. And I have more experience outside of the Bible than you.
Ive looked into other belief systems more than you, Ive studied psychology more than you
Its a shame that you did not understand the bible more fully, must a little deeper,//
Sanctimonious creep. How dare you insinuate that I havnt delved a little deeper just because I havnt come to the same conclusions as you? Ive read more widely than you, Ive studied the Bible more than you. And I have more experience outside of the Bible than you.
Ive looked into other belief systems more than you, Ive studied psychology more than you
Theland - // Andy - ''.... and each thinks the other is the dog.''
Given that you claim to have reached this conclusion after such a long period of debating, leads me to the conclusion that you think you know it all, have nothing to learn, and you speak as one of a superior intellect. //
Reach that conclusion by all means - you are entirely wrong, but then, you should be used to that.
// You speak as if to a child. //
Your interpretation, but if the cap fits ...
// Sadly, in my experience, your disposition reveals a lack of humility, which is itself a barrier to knowledge. //
Mr Pot, may I present Mr Kettle ....
Given that you claim to have reached this conclusion after such a long period of debating, leads me to the conclusion that you think you know it all, have nothing to learn, and you speak as one of a superior intellect. //
Reach that conclusion by all means - you are entirely wrong, but then, you should be used to that.
// You speak as if to a child. //
Your interpretation, but if the cap fits ...
// Sadly, in my experience, your disposition reveals a lack of humility, which is itself a barrier to knowledge. //
Mr Pot, may I present Mr Kettle ....
Theland - // If death were the end, there would be no justice would there?
A monster like Hitler, after his crimes and genocide, just pops a bullet into his brain and its all over, no justice.
But the reality is that there is justice, and crimes will indeed be punished. //
Nominally, Hitler was a Christian, and he clearly believed that what he was doing was right, and as you so often point out, it is not for us to judge him, only God can do that.
I am quite willing to believe that Hitler, and any other person you and others on earth have, without right according to you, judged as evil, arrives in front of God, he will confess that he was wrong and bego forgiveness, and again, according to you and your beliefs, God will forgive a sinner and admit him into heaven.
That means - your judgement has no validity, and your God will forgive every single wrongdoer who repents before him, so 'Hell' is meaningless because who would take that, given the choice?
You are fond of spouting your beliefs ad nauseum Theland, but they do become a petard, and here you are, hoist by them yet again.
A monster like Hitler, after his crimes and genocide, just pops a bullet into his brain and its all over, no justice.
But the reality is that there is justice, and crimes will indeed be punished. //
Nominally, Hitler was a Christian, and he clearly believed that what he was doing was right, and as you so often point out, it is not for us to judge him, only God can do that.
I am quite willing to believe that Hitler, and any other person you and others on earth have, without right according to you, judged as evil, arrives in front of God, he will confess that he was wrong and bego forgiveness, and again, according to you and your beliefs, God will forgive a sinner and admit him into heaven.
That means - your judgement has no validity, and your God will forgive every single wrongdoer who repents before him, so 'Hell' is meaningless because who would take that, given the choice?
You are fond of spouting your beliefs ad nauseum Theland, but they do become a petard, and here you are, hoist by them yet again.
fiveleaves
//Before you were born God knew you//
Then before I was even born he knew that I was going to burn in hell and was a child of destruction?? (Bible verse avaiaible upon request)
//A baby who only lives for an hour has a life equally as meaningful as a person who lives to 100//
Please give Bible verse to support such lunacy. Nowhere in the Bible is this even hinted at. Quite the opposite in fact (again, Bible verses on request)
//You only have one life, so live it well but remember your existence is eternal//
And again, so what?
If your god wants to place me into eternal torture, then *** your god for putting myself in this position in the first place.
//Before you were born God knew you//
Then before I was even born he knew that I was going to burn in hell and was a child of destruction?? (Bible verse avaiaible upon request)
//A baby who only lives for an hour has a life equally as meaningful as a person who lives to 100//
Please give Bible verse to support such lunacy. Nowhere in the Bible is this even hinted at. Quite the opposite in fact (again, Bible verses on request)
//You only have one life, so live it well but remember your existence is eternal//
And again, so what?
If your god wants to place me into eternal torture, then *** your god for putting myself in this position in the first place.
Nailit @ 19:19 - ''Sanctimonious creep?''
Thank you.
You asked for our opinions and I have mine. Is the insult really called for?
Regarding you blowing up your own trumpet on a list of just about everything, its a wonder you didn't include knitting and embroidery! There's not much left that you are not good at.
You have blown so hard up your own trumpet, you might get Andy interviewing you for his music magazine!
However, regardless of your many claims about bible study, you display a distinct lack of understanding of its content, that in itself is quite impressive.
I'll try to address the rest of yours and Andy's posts later.
Wow! What a day!
Thank you.
You asked for our opinions and I have mine. Is the insult really called for?
Regarding you blowing up your own trumpet on a list of just about everything, its a wonder you didn't include knitting and embroidery! There's not much left that you are not good at.
You have blown so hard up your own trumpet, you might get Andy interviewing you for his music magazine!
However, regardless of your many claims about bible study, you display a distinct lack of understanding of its content, that in itself is quite impressive.
I'll try to address the rest of yours and Andy's posts later.
Wow! What a day!
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