Life's Purpose

[Diaforetikos]

I've got a question. Its been bothering me for some time now and I would like to what others have to say about it.
The question is specific, but the answers may vary.

What is life's purpose? How do you wake up everyday living a pointless life? Only short lived rewards of entertainment greet us when we achieve something. But is that all there is to our lives?

I have a feeling this topic may wander in different directions and that is pretty much what I want. I just hope the Moderators are kind of enough not to lock it if it gets off topic.

I am asking this because of this video. Its about 2 guys who died and came back to life. For a fair answer, at least skim over the video or watch one of the guys stories. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 7154170413

 

[skirtboy]

The majority of lives have little "purpose". They laugh. They cry. They bring joy or sorrow to the lives around them. What greater purpose do you need?

 

[Dalton]

Our purpose in life is to change the course of the world by our actions. Most of us will only do little changes but it will be changes none the less.
The world could still function without you or me, but it would end up totally different in the long run.
That is what I believe.

 

[Sic Semper Tyranosaurus]

Especially for those without a religion. How do you wake up everyday living a pointless life?

Holy crap, you're a giant, sopping cunt.

The purpose of my life is to live to my utmost potential, and to be content with my accomplishments when my time here is at its end.

But I guess that doesn't matter, since I lack Jeezus.

 

[Nerdness]

What is life's purpose? Especially for those without a religion. How do you wake up everyday living a pointless life?

For those of us without a "religion"

the fact that we don't belive in ancient texts that have been modifyed over thousands of years

to suite the needs of govenments and churches, not to mention these texts were written humans in the first place.

dosen't make our lives pointless.

Everyone wakes up in the morning for some reason or another.

 

[Sic Semper Tyranosaurus]

Here is some selected reading on the topic.

 

[moog]

Religion should not be a determining factor in your question if this thread is trying to appeal to everyone. I dont believe in a "God" but my life is far from pointless.

Stop thinking that religion is the key to sucess and what not.  It may be to you, but others shall be quick to disagree.

It offended me a tad when I read this.

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

I don't have a purpose.  I just live.
My whole philosophy has been around the fact that we're here, and that's good enough.  That life just is, and it's less important why or how your here, than the fact that your here.  So since your not going to have much, do with it as you can, best you can.  Fun.

also,

Especially for those with a religion. How do you wake up everyday living a pointless lie?

There, see how condescending and arrogant that sounds?

 

[Venetia]

I have a question, for the religious minds: How do you wake up every day living in a magical cloud of pixie fairy dust, which shields you from all scientific information and logic?


Nobody likes condescending talk


Also: I wonder, why do you NEED a special bird in your ear telling you that there'll be a magic puff cloud waiting for you when you're dead? Why do you live to enjoy death? Why not live to enjoy life?

 

[Dalton]

I have a question, for the religious minds: How do you wake up every day living in a magical cloud of pixie fairy dust, which shields you from all scientific information and logic?

Well, I am going to start my BA studys in chemistry soon and personally I believe that religion and science don't exclude each other. It is wrong to say that religious people  don't believe in scientific information.
Sadly some do and that gives a bad light to all religious people.
I know someone who is highly religious (and boy is she annoying me with it) but was interested in chemistry (thats how I met her).
Just saying...

I am not religious myself. I don't believe in any god that a church wants me to. Still I think that there still is more to this world than just science and logic.
And no my life is not pointless, thank you very much.

 

[Venetia]

My rhetorical question was not actually meant to be answered. It was supposed to be directed at the OP, as an affront to the derogatory question posed to non-religious people.

 

[Dalton]

Yeah, I understood that, but since I once had to write an essay on that particular subject (science vs religion) I tend to automatically react to such sentences.
Sorry 'bout that.

 

[Mars]

On a note of religion,
I personally believe in the Morman religion, and no, before you ask, I'm not the annoying type who is against anyone who isn't.
Actually, we haven't been to church since I can remember...  But my personal philosophy behind that is,

If God truly loved all of his children, and knew we loved him back, why would he want us to go praise him for 3 hours every sunday?

At least that's my excuse for not going to church.
Back on topic however, I don't think religion plays much of a card in your afterlife.
I think your afterlife depends on the actions you make in your time.

That being said, I think that the purpose of life is basically to change the world in a good way, wether it be stopping an evil madman, or even sharing your icecream.  But don't ask me for MY icecream, 'cause it's mine.  >=|

 

[Diaforetikos]

So what I've noticed is no religion. Ok, so take religion out of the picture. What is life's purpose now? Why live everyday? Isn't it a waste of time? Shouldn't we just kill ourselves. If we do anything, it will be pointless because the world is going to end either through nuclear strikes, random asteroids, global warming (This is only my opinion. Thats a different topic). I just don't see why we try only so the inevitable will come.

And if life's purpose is to change the world, what are you doing to change it?

Also, I've re edited the first question at the top, so please take a look.

 

[Venetia]

By that same logic, why not just walk out into a street and wait for someone to kill you?

I mean if heaven is so great, why not just get there quicker?

Besides, keep on living, and you might (even accidentally) do something BAD to bar you from paradise, right?

 

[Venetia]

I find it funny why no religious person ever gives me a straight answer to this:

Why do you live to enjoy death? Why not live to enjoy life?

 

[Diaforetikos]

Life is enjoyable to me. I just think of not only now, but also my future. If you were told you could receive a great sum of money, but you had to never sin and wait until you were 40, would you wait?

What is your personal purpose? Do you wake up, just letting life come at you? Or do you set your goal for that day based on what you are meant to do. No purpose is a wasted life. Even if it isn't religious based. If you have no purpose, but to live life, what are you doing? Like I said, it doesn't have to be religious based.

 

[Buster]

Spoiler: Pessimistic

Actually, life has no purpose in the grande scheme of things.  Anything you will accomplish will be later eclipsed by the fact that you'll die (and therefore won't be around to bask in the glory of your accomplishments).  Even if you've somehow managed to changed the world for the better, the people you've changed it for will also die, so that doesn't really matter either.  Plus the sun will eventually explode and annihilate Earth, so unless humans are still around by then and have relocated to a distant galaxy, the human race will be exterminated anyways.  Why waste the effort if one day it's going to be destroyed somewhere down the road?

Spoiler: Optimistic

The only real purpose you can get out of life is to enjoy it while it lasts, and to help other people enjoy their lives if you can.  Don't worry about being successful or rich unless you're absolutely positive that those things will make you happy.  Live your life like it's your last... you know, because it is (according to my views, at least).

 

[Incognitus]

Why does life have to have a purpose?

 

[Grathea]

It doesn't.

There is no greater purpose.
All you can do is go out there and do what is needed. The idea that certain lives have a 'purpose' that they need to fill is almost offensive. Free will, remember?

Anyways.
Life's purpose, if you want to call it that, is to do all that is in your power for others.

Why do I wake up in the morning? I'm not finished. I never will be. I don't care though.
Do you know the story of the man and the starfish?
A man was walking along a beach, which was overflowing with millions of starfish that had been swept ashore by the cruel tide. He eventually saw a woman down near the surf. As the man watched, the woman picked up a starfish and threw it back into the ocean, for a second chance at life.
He asked her: "why do you bother doing that? There are so many starfish, saving one at a time can't possibly make any difference."
She smiled at him, and threw another starfish back into the ocean. With a smile, she told him:
"It makes a difference to the starfish that gets thrown back."

Life's purpose, if you will, is to be that woman.