Life

[Jerry Maguire]

I'm at a teenage crisis.
What's the meaning of life?
Why does nobody bother to talk about?
There has to be more to life than this.
Thoughts?

 

[piranha45]

the purpose of life is to enjoy it.


since said purpose is so simple and obvious, there's really no reason to discuss it, for most ppl.

 

[whistler]

This is when you choose logic or comfort.

 

[spider_007]

it means a diferent thing to diferent people. You have to find out isWHAT ARE YOU ALL ABOUT. WHAT KIND OF MARK DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ON THE WORLD. WHAT'S YOUR PURPOSE. As you answer that, the purpose of will be puirty clear.

 

[Jerry Maguire]

Originally posted by piranha45
the purpose of life is to enjoy it.


since said purpose is so simple and obvious, there's really no reason to discuss it, for most ppl.

There is more to life than just enjoying it.
If you've read The Game it does touch on this, where Strauss discovers that picking up endless girls is unfulfilling and even that Dustin and Extramask's spiritual search will leave them with a void to fill.

How would one fill that void, though?

 

[Jerry Maguire]

Originally posted by spider_007
it means a diferent thing to diferent people. You have to find out isWHAT ARE YOU ALL ABOUT. WHAT KIND OF MARK DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ON THE WORLD. WHAT'S YOUR PURPOSE. As you answer that, the purpose of will be puirty clear.

That's really interesting, I was thinking about that. I was thinking that I want to make society a more loving and compassionate place. But how am I going to change that?

 

[piranha45]

no, there isnt.


if you're afraid of the uncertainties of death, or whether some higher power is gonna give you puffy clouds or raging fires, that's your problem. my suggestion is to go agnostic/atheist.

 

[Jerry Maguire]

No, that really isn't the point. I'm just trying to make the best of life in a more fulfilling way than usual.

 

[piranha45]

whatever allows you to enjoy life... if making life enjoyable for others brings you enjoyment in turn, then by all means proceed.

 

[DJ_in_making]

Biologically,
it's to reproduce by giving ur kids the best chance of survival. (good job providing , hot wife fertility )
Of course if ur Christian u'd have a different perspective. But let me not bring that up so some bored atheist doesn't flame me.....]

 

[Visceral]

Philosophers have been asking this question for thousands of years. Unfortunately, all they've been able to come up with is opinions.

I'm starting to think that life has no meaning - or, more accurately, no inherent meaning - other than what you decide (or are told) to do with it. I think that this is the only possibility that could lead to our planet full of different and often mutually exclusive philosophies.

Start learning philosophy.
Go here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_philosophies - check them out and keep digging until you find an "-ism" that you agree with and could put into practice without too much trouble.

 

[whistler]

What's the meaning of the orbit of the planets?

It's a process, in that matter changes over time.

We, as humans, give "meaning" to things. We make meaning and purpose up. Meaning is superfluous, like the idea of cause and effect. Things change and we label the elements that appear to us to be separable in terms of the order that they happened.

These are mental constructs that we apply to events in the world to help us predict the future.

But what we really mean is, "Why do I continue to let myself experience events I find unpleasant?"

It's "why oh why do I suffer so?"

Do you know anyone happy that has become distraught over the 'meaning of life'?

You can't find an answer because none is available. You have to make it up.

You can:

a. Live with the irritation.
b. Select a pre-made answer.
c. Make up your own answer.

I choose (a). Many people prefer (b). I'm biased, but I think (b) devalues your own potential.

If you choose (a) or (c), remember that those who choose (b) will typically assume your answer is inferior or your morals are suspect. That can be a steep price. But if (b) doesn't feel right, choosing it will mean you sacrifice your self-integrity.

Tough question. Strong and earnest opinions. Good luck.

 

[diplomatic_lies]

If you live for yourself, people (especially nutty religous or ideological crusaders) will question your morality, and even put you down. But you'll be independent and free, not a slave to some ideology or religion.

 

[cinephile]

The only meaning that life has is that which you give to it.

 

[SamePendo]

Honestly...

Get a job.

Get busy, read a lot, on whatever topic you want to.. ALL day, work so you start making money, go out with chicks, just get yourself busy. BUSY. ALL DAY. Clean your room, make your bed, wipe the floors, read a cook book, go online and learn about how, I dunno, how speakers work. anything.

All those questions will clear up while you are in action. Soon you'll find that they are not questions, thus, don't have answers.

 

[Bible_Belt]

If you live for yourself, people (especially nutty religous or ideological crusaders) will question your morality, and even put you down. But you'll be independent and free, not a slave to some ideology or religion.

There is such a thing as right and wrong.

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/

http://www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran/

http://www.mlife.org/hinduism/hindu_holy_books.html

http://www.edepot.com/taoism.shtml

http://www.buddhanet.net/

 

[piranha45]

Originally posted by Bible_Belt

There is such a thing as right and wrong.

only if you believe in said ideology/religion, obviously.

 

[wavejams007]

Originally posted by Bible_Belt
If you live for yourself, people (especially nutty religous or ideological crusaders) will question your morality, and even put you down. But you'll be independent and free, not a slave to some ideology or religion.

There is such a thing as right and wrong.

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/

http://www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran/

http://www.mlife.org/hinduism/hindu_holy_books.html

http://www.edepot.com/taoism.shtml

http://www.buddhanet.net/

Finally, someone to give an alternative to the atheism/agnosticism suggested.

I think that it isn't really the religion, but the worldview you want to investigate first. I am going to use Sire's "Universe Next Door." Most of the world's religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and the ancient religions, such as the roman and greek Gods belong to the worldview of Theism. This intails that 1. there is a God, 2. He is personal 3. God is good 4. The universe is an open system that is tinkered with from the outside. 5. there is a defined sytem of morals and beliefs, such as books likethe bible and the Quran. There ar other aspects to these worldviews as well, but I don' feel like writing them all.

The next one that is around today is naturalism. In this one, there is no God, the creationist theory is challanged, with evolution in the head, and reason above everything.

Then there is nihilism, a denial of everything, even of your own existence.

After that, there is existentialism, shich is similar to nihilism, but you decide to give purpose to something or someone.

Then there is pantheistic monism, which is Buddhaism, Hinduism and all that, where everything is one, and everything goes in the same direction, this includes new age.

Then there is postmodernism, which throws out all other worldviews, and bases everything on reason and the here and now.

There is more to be said on all of this, so any questions, please ask.

 

[Bible_Belt]

"There is such a thing as right and wrong."

only if you believe in said ideology/religion, obviously.

Society has to share some values in order to resolve disputes, or else every conflict turns into might-makes-right.

 

[Alicorn]

Originally posted by Bible_Belt
"There is such a thing as right and wrong."

only if you believe in said ideology/religion, obviously.

Society has to share some values in order to resolve disputes, or else every conflict turns into might-makes-right.

Oh the irony of a Cristian Fundamentalist saying that.

Try not to slam any airplanes into buildings on your way to church!