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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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Birdie, no you are wrong.
I, personally, require evidence. That is how I'm built.
Yes there is faith, a belief in things hoped for, as yet unseen, bit glimpsed, ''as through a glass darkly.':
Then there is blind faith, which applies to many man made religions, Scientology being a typical example of such idiocy.
I, personally, require evidence. That is how I'm built.
Yes there is faith, a belief in things hoped for, as yet unseen, bit glimpsed, ''as through a glass darkly.':
Then there is blind faith, which applies to many man made religions, Scientology being a typical example of such idiocy.
Nailit - “What Is The Meaning Of Life?. Answer. There isnt one... 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....”
Agreed. We are simply just spirally coils of self replicating DNA.
I can never understand why people have such a hard time accepting that death is the end. It's not hard. You exist and then you don't. If someone has a problem conceptualising this, I ask them how they felt before they were born. They invariably answer that they didn't feel anything before they were born because they didn't exist. Then I just say nothing and let them contemplate their own answer....
Agreed. We are simply just spirally coils of self replicating DNA.
I can never understand why people have such a hard time accepting that death is the end. It's not hard. You exist and then you don't. If someone has a problem conceptualising this, I ask them how they felt before they were born. They invariably answer that they didn't feel anything before they were born because they didn't exist. Then I just say nothing and let them contemplate their own answer....
Theland - “... I, personally, require evidence...”
No you don't. You've accepted a premise that doesn't stand up to critical scrutiny. Presumably you've done so because you want to believe that you can continue existing once you die and/or that a paratracheal father figure is watching over you and that comforts you in some way.
There is literally no evidence for the existence of God or an afterlife. None. All the 'evidence' you point to literally comes from an uncorroborated source that claims it's true because the authors of the book says it's true. This is circular reasoning 101.
No you don't. You've accepted a premise that doesn't stand up to critical scrutiny. Presumably you've done so because you want to believe that you can continue existing once you die and/or that a paratracheal father figure is watching over you and that comforts you in some way.
There is literally no evidence for the existence of God or an afterlife. None. All the 'evidence' you point to literally comes from an uncorroborated source that claims it's true because the authors of the book says it's true. This is circular reasoning 101.
Theland - “... Scientology being a typical example of such idiocy.”
It's interesting that you can see the idiocy in Scientology. I agree with you – it is idiotic. And dangerous - but that's another story.
I have a friend who is a Muslim. He too can see the idiocy in almost every religion known to man. He can see the idiocy in Christianity. He can see the idiocy in Hinduism. Etc. However, when it comes to Islam, he thinks that's beyond reproach and takes great offence at my criticisms of it. Thankfully, he's a decent chap at heart and we remain friends despite our differences.
I bet that you can see the idiocy in Islam can't you? How can you be rational in one respect and be irrational in another? It baffles me how people like you can embrace cognitive dissonance so completely.
To quote the Bible, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
It's interesting that you can see the idiocy in Scientology. I agree with you – it is idiotic. And dangerous - but that's another story.
I have a friend who is a Muslim. He too can see the idiocy in almost every religion known to man. He can see the idiocy in Christianity. He can see the idiocy in Hinduism. Etc. However, when it comes to Islam, he thinks that's beyond reproach and takes great offence at my criticisms of it. Thankfully, he's a decent chap at heart and we remain friends despite our differences.
I bet that you can see the idiocy in Islam can't you? How can you be rational in one respect and be irrational in another? It baffles me how people like you can embrace cognitive dissonance so completely.
To quote the Bible, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
birdie1971Nailit - “What Is The Meaning Of Life?. Answer. There isnt one... 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....”
Yep, thats how I see it to.
Yep, thats how I see it to.
Theland, if you return to this thrad then I apologise for repeating myself.
You know that nothing you say will ever provide the proof that people keep asking you for - as I always advise you,hold your belief close and take from it the comfort you need.
You have nothing to prove.
Live the best life you can and enjoy your family both the highs and the lows,what awaits us?
We'll see.
You know that nothing you say will ever provide the proof that people keep asking you for - as I always advise you,hold your belief close and take from it the comfort you need.
You have nothing to prove.
Live the best life you can and enjoy your family both the highs and the lows,what awaits us?
We'll see.
Tonyav
If one approaches this question honestly and with humility, I can't see how anyone could reach a different conclusion.
There is no judgement. There's no Heaven. No Hell. No nowt. Just oblivion. It was oblivion before you were born and it will be oblivion again why you croak.
That's why life is so precious. All life. There are NO second chances. This is it. Make the most of it while you can. To me, religion diminishes the here-and-now by suggesting that you get a second crack of the whip. Another go at existence – albeit it in either abject agony or abject subservience. Neither of which seems particularly appealing to me.
If one approaches this question honestly and with humility, I can't see how anyone could reach a different conclusion.
There is no judgement. There's no Heaven. No Hell. No nowt. Just oblivion. It was oblivion before you were born and it will be oblivion again why you croak.
That's why life is so precious. All life. There are NO second chances. This is it. Make the most of it while you can. To me, religion diminishes the here-and-now by suggesting that you get a second crack of the whip. Another go at existence – albeit it in either abject agony or abject subservience. Neither of which seems particularly appealing to me.
Avatar Image birdie1971
I see it as were are all here by chance ie mommy and daddy had nooky and you appeared 9 months later ( biology ), during that 9 months nobody knows anything ) we are then born and mommy and daddy bring us up as best they can until we leave the nest and then it all starts over again. But in between we all do the best we can with our lives ( no guarantees with that though ). We live and then we die and so it carries on.
I see it as were are all here by chance ie mommy and daddy had nooky and you appeared 9 months later ( biology ), during that 9 months nobody knows anything ) we are then born and mommy and daddy bring us up as best they can until we leave the nest and then it all starts over again. But in between we all do the best we can with our lives ( no guarantees with that though ). We live and then we die and so it carries on.
Nailit asked a question, requested our opinions.
I offered my opinion, and that attracted questions from others that I have tried my best to answer. That's all.
The result has been a certain amount of dismissive hostility.
Anyway Birdie, according to you, there is no heaven, hell etc etc.
So you speak as one with authority.
Your atheism is your business, but I wonder on what do you base your beliefs? To say, ''nothing'', is nonsensical, so I would hope that you would declare a worldview that endows you with such knowledge.
Personally, I would never have enough faith to believe in atheism, for truly it is indeed a faith, and a blind faith at that.
Science does not agree with you.
Where did the universe come from?
How did life form from inert chemicals?
How did species arise? Certainly evolution is a theory in trouble if you care to research it yourself.
So on the basis of no evidence, you feel confident to speak with authority?
As for your Muslim friend, (I too have friends who are Muslim, Sikh and atheist), his Religion Of Peace is disingenuous, given its proclivity towards violence against the most vulnerable targets, its suppression of women, its antisemitism amongst many other faults.
Also the Koran has only one claimed miracle, that is the supposed miracle of the Koran itself, being given word for word by Allah to Mohammed. There is nothing else, and certainly no provable prophecies, as in the Bible.
What you are stating, are nothing more than feelings, and feelings are not facts.
You say there is a lack of evidence for God, bit these are spiritual matters, impossible to detect except by revelation, for example through fulfilled prophecy, something you can easily check put yourself if you feel inclined to do so, don't take my word, let the bible speak for itself.
I offered my opinion, and that attracted questions from others that I have tried my best to answer. That's all.
The result has been a certain amount of dismissive hostility.
Anyway Birdie, according to you, there is no heaven, hell etc etc.
So you speak as one with authority.
Your atheism is your business, but I wonder on what do you base your beliefs? To say, ''nothing'', is nonsensical, so I would hope that you would declare a worldview that endows you with such knowledge.
Personally, I would never have enough faith to believe in atheism, for truly it is indeed a faith, and a blind faith at that.
Science does not agree with you.
Where did the universe come from?
How did life form from inert chemicals?
How did species arise? Certainly evolution is a theory in trouble if you care to research it yourself.
So on the basis of no evidence, you feel confident to speak with authority?
As for your Muslim friend, (I too have friends who are Muslim, Sikh and atheist), his Religion Of Peace is disingenuous, given its proclivity towards violence against the most vulnerable targets, its suppression of women, its antisemitism amongst many other faults.
Also the Koran has only one claimed miracle, that is the supposed miracle of the Koran itself, being given word for word by Allah to Mohammed. There is nothing else, and certainly no provable prophecies, as in the Bible.
What you are stating, are nothing more than feelings, and feelings are not facts.
You say there is a lack of evidence for God, bit these are spiritual matters, impossible to detect except by revelation, for example through fulfilled prophecy, something you can easily check put yourself if you feel inclined to do so, don't take my word, let the bible speak for itself.
Birdie @ 01:51 to Mamya - '' All you have are bold assertions.''
Gosh that made me chuckle, from the leading contender for a gold medal in the Bold Assertions Obstacle Race :-)
Let the bible speak for itself, it doesn't need advocates.
Let it do this through fulfilled prophecy, easily tested by a comparison with history.
Gosh that made me chuckle, from the leading contender for a gold medal in the Bold Assertions Obstacle Race :-)
Let the bible speak for itself, it doesn't need advocates.
Let it do this through fulfilled prophecy, easily tested by a comparison with history.
Mamya @ 01:41 - Thank you for your post.
As a matter of fact, apart from joining in discussions, I am not actually trying to get anybody to accept my beliefs, on the contrary, once people know about the gospel, there is nothing left to do.
It is up to the individual to accept or reject it.
I am guilty of getting a bit carried away when my viewpoint is misunderstood and I try to clarify things.
Disagreements I can live with, as long as folk are disagreeing with the truth of what I have said, not a variation of it.
Its typical, I think, of human nature to stick with the beliefs or lack of, they are comfortable with, and nobody likes to change.
The thing is, God is disruptive, and upsets our comfort zone.
Oh well, these threads will run and run, just as long as nobody gets hot under the collar.
(A sanctimonious creep? Who? Me? Surely not!)
A third of the bible is prophecy.
Here is some detail on just a fraction, easily checked out by comparison to history.
https:/
As a matter of fact, apart from joining in discussions, I am not actually trying to get anybody to accept my beliefs, on the contrary, once people know about the gospel, there is nothing left to do.
It is up to the individual to accept or reject it.
I am guilty of getting a bit carried away when my viewpoint is misunderstood and I try to clarify things.
Disagreements I can live with, as long as folk are disagreeing with the truth of what I have said, not a variation of it.
Its typical, I think, of human nature to stick with the beliefs or lack of, they are comfortable with, and nobody likes to change.
The thing is, God is disruptive, and upsets our comfort zone.
Oh well, these threads will run and run, just as long as nobody gets hot under the collar.
(A sanctimonious creep? Who? Me? Surely not!)
A third of the bible is prophecy.
Here is some detail on just a fraction, easily checked out by comparison to history.
https:/
The irony which you fail to grasp Theland, is that the burden of proof as a believer rests with you, and you have none.
Proof of the absence of God should, in theory, rest with atheists, but it doesn't because they don't care.
That's why you will spend three hours poring over books and fretting about God, and I will spend three hours sitting in the sunshine reading the paper and going to sleep.
Proof of the absence of God should, in theory, rest with atheists, but it doesn't because they don't care.
That's why you will spend three hours poring over books and fretting about God, and I will spend three hours sitting in the sunshine reading the paper and going to sleep.
//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. 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.
That’s not true. It's a subject that interests me so I care. 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.
