Ripples Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Your original question is spiritual. Why does it have to be spiritual? You don't have to believe in any <insert_deity_of_choice> to believe that there is a purpose to life that extends outside of our immediate selves. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Why does it have to be spiritual? You don't have to believe in any <insert_deity_of_choice> to believe that there is a purpose to life that extends outside of our immediate selves. I suppose, though, that this conviction does require an element of faith. Not necessarily in a diety, but in ourselves, and in humanity. People often confuse faith and spirituality, though. Link to post Share on other sites
bluechocolate Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 People often confuse faith and spirituality, though. Yes, I think that is the distinction here. There is no debate about the meaning of life between a bunch of people who accept a completely nihilist view of humanity, which is what the OP wanted respondents to do. We are born, we live, we die. End of debate. If what he meant was strictly religion & NOT spirituality then he should have framed his question better. Perhaps it could have been argued from the Gaia hypothesis? Oops! I can hear the tick-tock of my brain bomb about to explode so I best stop now. Link to post Share on other sites
HokeyReligions Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Why does there have to be a point to life? Link to post Share on other sites
Brittanyjean06 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 There is meaning to life, lets leave it at that just read about it google it and leave it at that the more we analyze the more we drift further from the " truth ", that we don't know hehe makes sense to me! Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Do you think there is any point or great meaning to our existence? .... No I don't. But I also understand that the arrogance of the human race requires some "meaning". Link to post Share on other sites
johan Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Life's primary goal boils down to insulating yourself, as much as possible, from stupidity. Everyone's stupidity, including your own. Link to post Share on other sites
Brittanyjean06 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 We are all bound for stupidity at some point in time! YEP! Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 We are all bound for stupidity at some point in time! YEP! yes that's been made painfully obvious. Link to post Share on other sites
Author TheSilentType Posted September 4, 2006 Author Share Posted September 4, 2006 No I don't. But I also understand that the arrogance of the human race requires some "meaning". Another voice of reason amidst the multitude of simpletons... Link to post Share on other sites
Brittanyjean06 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Oh ouch. I'm not stupid I just don't take as much time as everyone else to appear smart. I come here spell a few words wrong, have some run on sentences and people see that and think your stupid:) I'm 18 anyways I have an excuse Jk ;-) Link to post Share on other sites
bluetuesday Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 I'm looking for the thoughts of the deep thinkers and non-religious people out there on the following issue...I know there's atleast one of you out there...so I'd like to hear your view. my friend, good luck with this. you're looking for people who believe there is no deeper meaning to life to convince you of one. you're asking the wrong question. to a group of people who, by definition, cannot have found the meaning of life. I'm not looking for any religious answers to my question. I'd like to frame this debate from the stance that there is no higher being out there. so you've decided there's no higher being. you've answered your own question. no higher being = no deeper meaning than you get born, you suffer, you die, worms eat you. I really want to hear from someone who will challenge my assertion.... i am not going to challenge your assertion. if it was as easy as explaining quadratic equations, everyone would believe in a higher being logically. but ask yourself why you want to know. the question implies that you think it is possible to know a higher meaning atheistically. and if that's not a word it should be. i've never come across an atheist who had a satisfactory answer to the question you're asking. and if you're not getting an answer that satisfies you, consider that you're asking the wrong question. while you believe life is meaningless, it's illogical to think you could be shown the meaning of it. and either you're comfortable with the meaninglessness of it all, or you're not. if you're not, ask yourself why. because to realise life without deeper meaning is meaningless, isn't meaningless. Link to post Share on other sites
stoopid_guy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 my friend, good luck with this. you're looking for people who believe there is no deeper meaning to life to convince you of one. you're asking the wrong question. to a group of people who, by definition, cannot have found the meaning of life. You need religion to find the meaning of life? Link to post Share on other sites
bluetuesday Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 you tell me. and i didn't use the word religion. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 I was thinking about this just now and I wonder, of all those people that we historically have labeled great thinkers, in whatever arena -- thought that there was greater meaning to life? You know, not necessarily viewed through the framework of theology, but just that there was meaning and purpose to the questions that they expored. You know, physicists, inventors, great politicians (of the past, har har har), great musicians and artists...the alphabrains, if you will. And this begs the question, to me -- did they tap into some mystical awareness that the plebians don't have access to? Or did they merely find their own meaning and therby the best motivational method to realize their own goals? And then of course you wonder, does it really matter? In an "ends justifies the means" sort of world, does it really matter where their motivation and creativity sprang from, only that they did find meaning and it did motivate them? So in the end, it's just the process that matters, maybe? The very act of searching for, demanding, and finding meaning in your life is the meaning, itself? Link to post Share on other sites
stoopid_guy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 you tell me. and i didn't use the word religion. no higher being = no deeper meaning than you get born, you suffer, you die, worms eat you. True, you didn't use the word "religion." But one doesn't need belief in some mythological "higher being" to find a positive meaning in life either. Link to post Share on other sites
johan Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 True, you didn't use the word "religion." But one doesn't need belief in some mythological "higher being" to find a positive meaning in life either. Correct. If you're only searching for a postive meaning. And if any positive meaning that brings you peace of mind will do. On the other hand, if you're searching for the positive meaning, then you'd better let those "mythological" higher beings be a part of the discussion. Link to post Share on other sites
bluetuesday Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 True, you didn't use the word "religion." But one doesn't need belief in some mythological "higher being" to find a positive meaning in life either. it is not my point, but thesilenttype's, that life is meaningless without a higher being. he does not believe in a higher being and he finds life ultimately meaningless. i am simply agreeing that if i was him, or indeed you, i would probably find life pretty meaningless too. Link to post Share on other sites
stoopid_guy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Correct. If you're only searching for a postive meaning. And if any positive meaning that brings you peace of mind will do. On the other hand, if you're searching for the positive meaning, then you'd better let those "mythological" higher beings be a part of the discussion. My dog tells me the positive meaning of life every time she wags her tail. And she's real, she's not made up. Link to post Share on other sites
johan Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 My dog tells me the positive meaning of life every time she wags her tail. And she's real, she's not made up. Congratulations, Mr. Deep-Thinker. Maybe we'd get better answers if you'd teach your dog to type. Link to post Share on other sites
Shyguy86 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Man is my dictionary getting a workout with this thread! Link to post Share on other sites
bluechocolate Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Another voice of reason amidst the multitude of simpletons... OK Mr. Oh-so-clever. We're still waiting for your deep & philosophical musings on the subject, something a bit more than weak analogies with shiny rocks, or is that all you've got?? Link to post Share on other sites
stoopid_guy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 it is not my point, but thesilenttype's, that life is meaningless without a higher being. he does not believe in a higher being and he finds life ultimately meaningless. i am simply agreeing that if i was him, or indeed you, i would probably find life pretty meaningless too. back-at-cha! Congratulations, Mr. Deep-Thinker. Maybe we'd get better answers if you'd teach your dog to type. No doubt her answers would be as relevent as anyone's. Link to post Share on other sites
johan Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Ok, so here's a much harder question to answer. If there is a higher meaning, where did it come from? (I mean besides stoopid_guy's dog's butt.) Link to post Share on other sites
stoopid_guy Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Ok, so here's a much harder question to answer. If there is a higher meaning, where did it come from? (I mean besides stoopid_guy's dog's butt.) My dogs ancestor's, who selectively bred humans to make us want to scratch their tummys. (Cats put a gene in us to make us like purring much later.) (Sorry dude, I couldn't resist!) Link to post Share on other sites
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