Crosswords0 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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Theland,
Why cant you be the one evangelical christian that I meet that can be different? The one that actually follows the commands of jesus?
Your just another bigot, cherry picking his 'faith' to suit.
As do all other people of all other faiths !
And still no answer to my OP.
If you were to live forever, what meaning would it have to your life?
Why cant you be the one evangelical christian that I meet that can be different? The one that actually follows the commands of jesus?
Your just another bigot, cherry picking his 'faith' to suit.
As do all other people of all other faiths !
And still no answer to my OP.
If you were to live forever, what meaning would it have to your life?
Theland - // I believe in the prophecies because I can read them, and then compare them to history, and yes, they match up.
Just because something 'matches up' , it doesn't make it enough to base a faith on.
Sometimes things 'match up' entirely by coincidence, helped along by a large portion of shoehorning to make someone's nebulous imaginings appear to be true.
Who knows, maybe if the prophets could speak now, they;d admit that it's all coincidence, and nothing more.
It matches - therefore it's true!!!
Er, actually no -
https:/
Just because something 'matches up' , it doesn't make it enough to base a faith on.
Sometimes things 'match up' entirely by coincidence, helped along by a large portion of shoehorning to make someone's nebulous imaginings appear to be true.
Who knows, maybe if the prophets could speak now, they;d admit that it's all coincidence, and nothing more.
It matches - therefore it's true!!!
Er, actually no -
https:/
Theland - // But, I was once cynical / suspicious / unbelieving as you are, and I required evidence, which I eventually found, and found it very convincing. //
It would suit your position if I was 'cynical / suspicious / unbelieving', because then you can lump me together with every other atheist (we're all exactly the same you know) - but the truth is, I am none of those things.
I am not cynical or suspicious or unbelieving because i don;t devote a moment's time and energy to worrying about any of those things.
I can see the absence of any 'God's love' everywhere I look, there is no cynicism involved I assure you.
It would suit your position if I was 'cynical / suspicious / unbelieving', because then you can lump me together with every other atheist (we're all exactly the same you know) - but the truth is, I am none of those things.
I am not cynical or suspicious or unbelieving because i don;t devote a moment's time and energy to worrying about any of those things.
I can see the absence of any 'God's love' everywhere I look, there is no cynicism involved I assure you.
Naomi - // /Proof of the absence of God should, in theory, rest with atheists, but it doesn't because they don't care.//
That’s not true. It's a subject that interests me so I care. //
I appreciate that as an atheist you have an interest in faiths, including Christianity, but I suspect that for every one atheist who is curious, as you are - there are a million who remain utterly indifferent.
// Furthermore, the burden of proof does not rest with Atheists - even in theory. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence to support them, but Atheists make no extraordinary claims. They’ve simply seen no evidence to suggest that a god exists and therefore, until such time as they do, there is no reason to consider the possibility. The burden of proof lies with those who make claims - Theland for example - but he has none and neither does anyone else. //
You are quite correct - that was a careless assertion of mine, based on the fact that I was typing into my mobile, killing time while my wife was shopping, and i didn't really think about what I was typing at the time.
My assertion was invalid, thank you for pointing that out.
As my presence on these threads bears out, my indifference to faith does not preclude me arguing with those who are so utterly convinced that their tenuous thoughts count as 'evidence' and i am delighted to continue to hammer their unprovable beliefs all day every day - especially if they are prone to adopting a superior attitude while they hold forth - no names ...
That’s not true. It's a subject that interests me so I care. //
I appreciate that as an atheist you have an interest in faiths, including Christianity, but I suspect that for every one atheist who is curious, as you are - there are a million who remain utterly indifferent.
// Furthermore, the burden of proof does not rest with Atheists - even in theory. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence to support them, but Atheists make no extraordinary claims. They’ve simply seen no evidence to suggest that a god exists and therefore, until such time as they do, there is no reason to consider the possibility. The burden of proof lies with those who make claims - Theland for example - but he has none and neither does anyone else. //
You are quite correct - that was a careless assertion of mine, based on the fact that I was typing into my mobile, killing time while my wife was shopping, and i didn't really think about what I was typing at the time.
My assertion was invalid, thank you for pointing that out.
As my presence on these threads bears out, my indifference to faith does not preclude me arguing with those who are so utterly convinced that their tenuous thoughts count as 'evidence' and i am delighted to continue to hammer their unprovable beliefs all day every day - especially if they are prone to adopting a superior attitude while they hold forth - no names ...
Andy - '' ..... especially if they are prone to adapting a superior attitude ....... no names.''
What a blatant example of superiority.
Still, if it makes you feel good about yourself .........
Regarding your silly pink paraffin analagy, and it really is silly, you are grasping at straws to throw a smokescreen around your very very weak dismissal of the bible prophecies.
Copy and paste some of the prophecies concerning Gods promises and warnings to the Jews, and then use your considerable forensic analysis talents to pick through them a and show me where you think they are wrong.
This is not superiority, its just me calling you out for your trumpet blowing.
Also, as you are aware of the gospels, along with probably every other ABer, I have no further interest in whether you accept them or not.
I'll discuss out of a matter of interest, and that's all.
As for thinking I must convince you, you could not be more wrong.
Do please keep your denigrating comments to yourself.
What a blatant example of superiority.
Still, if it makes you feel good about yourself .........
Regarding your silly pink paraffin analagy, and it really is silly, you are grasping at straws to throw a smokescreen around your very very weak dismissal of the bible prophecies.
Copy and paste some of the prophecies concerning Gods promises and warnings to the Jews, and then use your considerable forensic analysis talents to pick through them a and show me where you think they are wrong.
This is not superiority, its just me calling you out for your trumpet blowing.
Also, as you are aware of the gospels, along with probably every other ABer, I have no further interest in whether you accept them or not.
I'll discuss out of a matter of interest, and that's all.
As for thinking I must convince you, you could not be more wrong.
Do please keep your denigrating comments to yourself.
Theland, //So, my explanation? (Yet again!)
God is the Creator and the Author of life, and sustains His creation and life.//
There’s no point in you explaining again. We know what you think. We’re just waiting for your evidence to support your claim. There may well have been a creator - who knows? - but you claim to know who and what that creator was - which is where your argument fails. You don’t know how it happened so the biblical God must have done it has as much credence as any of a great number of creation theories … zilch.
God is the Creator and the Author of life, and sustains His creation and life.//
There’s no point in you explaining again. We know what you think. We’re just waiting for your evidence to support your claim. There may well have been a creator - who knows? - but you claim to know who and what that creator was - which is where your argument fails. You don’t know how it happened so the biblical God must have done it has as much credence as any of a great number of creation theories … zilch.
Naomi - '' We're waiting for evidence etc etc.''
Step by step.
We know that nothing comes from nothing, in spite of theories from Krause, Dawkins, Dennet, Hawking etc.
So using reason and logic, and cause and effect, the universe had a cause.
This cause that created matter, energy, space and time, must have
been non material, and has within itself its own cause for existence.
In other words, a first cause.
Otherwise, we would be faced with infinite regression, what caused the cause, caused the cause, caused the cause, and so on and so forth.
That is ridiculous. There has to be a first cause.
At this stage, not other claims are being made, as to what or who the first cause is.
Doe you agree so far?
Step by step.
We know that nothing comes from nothing, in spite of theories from Krause, Dawkins, Dennet, Hawking etc.
So using reason and logic, and cause and effect, the universe had a cause.
This cause that created matter, energy, space and time, must have
been non material, and has within itself its own cause for existence.
In other words, a first cause.
Otherwise, we would be faced with infinite regression, what caused the cause, caused the cause, caused the cause, and so on and so forth.
That is ridiculous. There has to be a first cause.
At this stage, not other claims are being made, as to what or who the first cause is.
Doe you agree so far?
Theland, no I don't agree so far.
//Otherwise, we would be faced with infinite regression, what caused the cause, caused the cause, caused the cause, and so on and so forth.
That is ridiculous. //
If you eventually get answers - the purpose of the exercise - why is it ridiculous? You can't just stop and decide you know the answer when you don't.
//Otherwise, we would be faced with infinite regression, what caused the cause, caused the cause, caused the cause, and so on and so forth.
That is ridiculous. //
If you eventually get answers - the purpose of the exercise - why is it ridiculous? You can't just stop and decide you know the answer when you don't.
Theland - // We know that nothing comes from nothing, in spite of theories from Krause, Dawkins, Dennet, Hawking etc. //
We don't 'know' anything of the kind, and that is the entire thrust of this endless pointless debate.
All the atheists who post on here have absolutely problem whatsoever with not knowing how we got here - mainly because they are simply not bothered.
You on the other hand come on here day in day out and endless pontificate about the 'evidence' of the scriptures' which is, in reality, nothing more than the interpretation you choose to put on what you read.
You constantly say that everyone should 'read the evidence' but that is another colossal assumption on your part, that having read the bible, everyone will interpret it just as you do, even though the evidence is daily trotted out by those atheists who have read it, and clearly don't see it as you do.
As a fervent, you naturally interpret their absence of a view that chimes with yours as the simple fact they have missed the point, and they will see the error of their ways one day.
You are never going to win this argument, as the day is long, you are simply taking a contrary position from others who don't agree with you.
The difference is they - and I am one of them - don't care that you don;t agree, or that we don't agree with you, however you want to place it - the fact is, I, and I am not alone, resent being treated like a five year old with a personality disorder simply because my view of the origin of the planet, and what the bible says, is different from yours.
The problem is, only the fervents are convinced they are right, the atheists are delighted to accept that they don't know - and there is no common ground for those two views.
We don't 'know' anything of the kind, and that is the entire thrust of this endless pointless debate.
All the atheists who post on here have absolutely problem whatsoever with not knowing how we got here - mainly because they are simply not bothered.
You on the other hand come on here day in day out and endless pontificate about the 'evidence' of the scriptures' which is, in reality, nothing more than the interpretation you choose to put on what you read.
You constantly say that everyone should 'read the evidence' but that is another colossal assumption on your part, that having read the bible, everyone will interpret it just as you do, even though the evidence is daily trotted out by those atheists who have read it, and clearly don't see it as you do.
As a fervent, you naturally interpret their absence of a view that chimes with yours as the simple fact they have missed the point, and they will see the error of their ways one day.
You are never going to win this argument, as the day is long, you are simply taking a contrary position from others who don't agree with you.
The difference is they - and I am one of them - don't care that you don;t agree, or that we don't agree with you, however you want to place it - the fact is, I, and I am not alone, resent being treated like a five year old with a personality disorder simply because my view of the origin of the planet, and what the bible says, is different from yours.
The problem is, only the fervents are convinced they are right, the atheists are delighted to accept that they don't know - and there is no common ground for those two views.
Andy, thank you for a sobering response to me.
I assure you that I do not consider myself as talking down to you as if you were a five year old, on the contrary, when speaking to you, I always proceed with caution.
I accept that I am seeing true prophecy that others consider irrelevant, but I am interested why?
Also, it might come as a surprise, but I am not alone in giving a lot of consideration to our origins.
The atheist scientists I mentioned are passionate about it also, and I give their theories due consideration.
If you or anybody, looked at the warnings and prophecies made by God to the Jews, then compared them to history, and found them flawed, I would be interested to know how?
But of course, even if they were 100% accurate, it would probably!y make no difference, as you have said, repeatedly, you don't care one way or the other.
I assure you that I do not consider myself as talking down to you as if you were a five year old, on the contrary, when speaking to you, I always proceed with caution.
I accept that I am seeing true prophecy that others consider irrelevant, but I am interested why?
Also, it might come as a surprise, but I am not alone in giving a lot of consideration to our origins.
The atheist scientists I mentioned are passionate about it also, and I give their theories due consideration.
If you or anybody, looked at the warnings and prophecies made by God to the Jews, then compared them to history, and found them flawed, I would be interested to know how?
But of course, even if they were 100% accurate, it would probably!y make no difference, as you have said, repeatedly, you don't care one way or the other.
Theland - // I assure you that I do not consider myself as talking down to you as if you were a five year old ... //
I know you don't - that's the problem!
// I accept that I am seeing true prophecy that others consider irrelevant ... //
No, you don't.
What you accept is that you are seeing 'true prophesy' because that is what you choose to believe.
As always, you are confusing what you believe, with what is a proven fact - and the two are not the same.
// The atheist scientists I mentioned are passionate about it also, and I give their theories due consideration. //
Interesting - their views are 'theories', the bible is 'true prophesy'.
Now if you could prove either one, and as advised and noted, I don't care either way, you would have a point to make - but what you are doing is guessing, but your guessing is dressed up in a suit of firm belief, but remember, the Emperor thought that as well ...
I know you don't - that's the problem!
// I accept that I am seeing true prophecy that others consider irrelevant ... //
No, you don't.
What you accept is that you are seeing 'true prophesy' because that is what you choose to believe.
As always, you are confusing what you believe, with what is a proven fact - and the two are not the same.
// The atheist scientists I mentioned are passionate about it also, and I give their theories due consideration. //
Interesting - their views are 'theories', the bible is 'true prophesy'.
Now if you could prove either one, and as advised and noted, I don't care either way, you would have a point to make - but what you are doing is guessing, but your guessing is dressed up in a suit of firm belief, but remember, the Emperor thought that as well ...
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