The meaning of life (1 Viewer)

[SNOWFLAKE]

MY meaning of life or THE meaning of life?

But TO YOU, personally, what is the meaning of life?

Take it a step further, if you wish: What is the meaning of YOUR life?

It's right there, in the opening comment.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

No, it's not complicated. If you believe there is no meaning to life, or YOUR life, then you are likely to bitch about people who believe there is a meaning.

No.
The only one being negative in this thread - is you.
Sorry for you

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

No.
The only one being negative in this thread - is you.
Sorry for you

Tsk tsk, still trying SO hard to goad me, when it is clearly someone with no meaning to their life turning this into a pissing contest. Gotta tell you, THAT is a pretty lame approach. I don't do pissing contests, so I will simply conclude by saying I believe there is meaning to life and in particular my life, but if you feel otherwise, you can engage in the pissing contest on your own. Bet you can't resist the last word either, well, I am not that insecure that I need to have the last word, so it's all yours. Enjoy.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Tsk tsk, still trying SO hard to goad me, when it is clearly someone with no meaning to their life turning this into a pissing contest. Gotta tell you, THAT is a pretty lame approach. I don't do pissing contests, so I will simply conclude by saying I believe there is meaning to life and in particular my life, but if you feel otherwise, you can engage in the pissing contest on your own. Bet you can't resist the last word either, well, I am not that insecure that I need to have the last word, so it's all yours. Enjoy.

Telling me I can't resist getting last word, by posting the last word.
Assuming I have no meaning in MY life, while crapping on other people's opinions.
This is you fella.
All I said is there is no single meaning in life. You can see everyone else here knew what I meant. But you.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Oft asked. Few ponder. Some do. Depends on your personal views.

You can treat this question philosophically, religiously, even politically if you wish.

But TO YOU, personally, what is the meaning of life?

Take it a step further, if you wish: What is the meaning of YOUR life?

This has been my journey.

I was raised atheist and for my youth, that's what I passionately believed.

When I was 10, I thought about this question and ended up with a stance of "life is perception and we make our own meaning". I had no education in philosophy at the time, but was probably influenced a culture that was in turn influenced by modern philosophers (like Nietzche).

At probably 15 or so, my older brother started asking the same kinds of questions for himself and watching him influenced me to look into eastern philosophies, such as Taoism, Confucianism, etc. Eventually I looked in European philosophies and just kinda made my way around to a general survey. My conclusion from that study was that philosophy itself is kind of useless and a very sophisticated way of throwing conceptual darts at a metaphysical dart board, but never knowing if those darts land or not, due to the fact that there was no feedback mechanism to know if one was right or wrong, if one's starting axioms were actually true, if one's logical algorithm took the necessary things into account, etc. It was all speculations in the dark. However, I did conclude that my 10 year old self was also wrong and that there likely was no meaning at all.

Then I discovered sex and forgot about the whole exercise for a few years. Those years were pretty care free. Hakuna Matata and all that.

Probably around 18 or 19, my brother converted to Christianity and I started having weird dreams. Eventually those dreams lead me to my own conversion, especially when things I remember from those dreams started happening in real life. It was all very surreal and confusing from a logical perspective, but I guess all I can say is that the evidence was convincing even though I had no logical explanation for it. I went along with it in a provisional sense that if I EVER found evidence that I imagined the whole thing, I would walk away. That never happened.

Then I got married, had kids, and it all became routine because I spent years being exhausted.

Then my wife decided to divorce me and come out of the closet. (She couldn't find a better man, so she stopped trying). After a year or two of resentment for losing what I had spent 12 or so years building, I found I had the emotional space to reinvest in this whole religion thing. It was a lot of hit and miss though as my mind was a mess of resentment (from the divorce), being in a culture that I hated (I lived in South Georgia at the time), and other just messy stuff. I spent years trying to recreate what I had and eventually came to the conclusion after enough trying and error that it was time to move on (I was never great at processing emotions in this way).

Once I got over myself in that way, I went back to God and said something along the lines of "I don't know what to do or where to go, but you have always been good to me, I trust you to take me to a place that I cannot understand today, please take over". What happened next is that I started having those dreams again and somehow they were healing me. The old resentments are gone. I can look at my life now and the past trauma is stuff I can see clearly and objectively (and the places where I was the problem too). I got remarried and my wife has a similar story and she is truly my best friend. I can look at the world from a place of personal strength and a sense that I am standing on solid ground. I have a career I love. My family is awesome. A lot of good stuff is happening.

What does this have to do with meaning? Honestly, I am still a student of that and maybe one day I will figure it out, but I found what worked for me.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

This has been my journey.

I was raised atheist and for my youth, that's what I passionately believed.

When I was 10, I thought about this question and ended up with a stance of "life is perception and we make our own meaning". I had no education in philosophy at the time, but was probably influenced a culture that was in turn influenced by modern philosophers (like Nietzche).

At probably 15 or so, my older brother started asking the same kinds of questions for himself and watching him influenced me to look into eastern philosophies, such as Taoism, Confucianism, etc. Eventually I looked in European philosophies and just kinda made my way around to a general survey. My conclusion from that study was that philosophy itself is kind of useless and a very sophisticated way of throwing conceptual darts at a metaphysical dart board, but never knowing if those darts land or not, due to the fact that there was no feedback mechanism to know if one was right or wrong, if one's starting axioms were actually true, if one's logical algorithm took the necessary things into account, etc. It was all speculations in the dark. However, I did conclude that my 10 year old self was also wrong and that there likely was no meaning at all.

Then I discovered sex and forgot about the whole exercise for a few years. Those years were pretty care free. Hakuna Matata and all that.

Probably around 18 or 19, my brother converted to Christianity and I started having weird dreams. Eventually those dreams lead me to my own conversion, especially when things I remember from those dreams started happening in real life. It was all very surreal and confusing from a logical perspective, but I guess all I can say is that the evidence was convincing even though I had no logical explanation for it. I went along with it in a provisional sense that if I EVER found evidence that I imagined the whole thing, I would walk away. That never happened.

Then I got married, had kids, and it all became routine because I spent years being exhausted.

Then my wife decided to divorce me and come out of the closet. (She couldn't find a better man, so she stopped trying). After a year or two of resentment for losing what I had spent 12 or so years building, I found I had the emotional space to reinvest in this whole religion thing. It was a lot of hit and miss though as my mind was a mess of resentment (from the divorce), being in a culture that I hated (I lived in South Georgia at the time), and other just messy stuff. I spent years trying to recreate what I had and eventually came to the conclusion after enough trying and error that it was time to move on (I was never great at processing emotions in this way).

Once I got over myself in that way, I went back to God and said something along the lines of "I don't know what to do or where to go, but you have always been good to me, I trust you to take me to a place that I cannot understand today". What happened next is that I started having those dreams again and somehow they were healing me. The old resentments are gone. I can look at my life now and the past trauma is stuff I can see clearly and objectively (and the places where I was the problem too). I got remarried and my wife has a similar story and she is truly my best friend. I can look at the world from a place of personal strength and a sense that I am standing on solid ground.

What does this have to do with meaning? Honestly, I am still a student of that and maybe one day I will figure it out, but I found what worked for me.

In short, there is meaning to life. A far more optimistic view than those on here who simply dismissed the question as life having no meaning. Typically those who find no meaning to life pretty much are lost souls. You don't sound like one of them.

 

[Slartibartfast]

In short, there is meaning to life. A far more optimistic view than those on here who simply dismissed the question as life having no meaning. Typically those who find no meaning to life pretty much are lost souls. You don't sound like one of them.

I was for a while. I had a childhood that was straight up abusive at home and in the community. There was a lot of trauma in me by the time I concluded there was no meaning. On top of that, autism runs in my family (traced back at least 3 generations, then the records get spotty) and my ability to emotionally process can be hard at times (My wife is an extraordinary gift in that she always knows the right thing to say to get me unstuck and she does it without even thinking about it).

In the early years, I probably survived by sheer will power and "**** you" alone. I would have been a good 70s Liverpool punk. I guess the benefit is that I have an encyclopedic knowledge of late 90s and early 2000s industrial music (due to not being in the punk generation).

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

I was for a while. I had a childhood that was straight up abusive at home and in the community. There was a lot of trauma in me by the time I concluded there was no meaning. On top of that, autism runs in my family (traced back at least 3 generations, then the records get spotty) and my ability to emotionally process can be hard at times (My wife is an extraordinary gift in that she always knows the right thing to say to get me unstuck and she does it without even thinking about it).

In the early years, I probably survived by sheer will power and "**** you" alone. I would have been a good 70s Liverpool punk. I guess the benefit is that I have an encyclopedic knowledge of late 90s and early 2000s industrial music.

My argument would have been that there IS a meaning to life, and that it just takes some of us a bit longer to find it. But eventually we do. (Except for those lost souls I mentioned)

 

[Slartibartfast]

My argument would have been that there IS a meaning to life, and that it just takes some of us a bit longer to find it. But eventually we do. (Except for those lost souls I mentioned)

If there is a meaning to life, I hope to one day discover it. Right now, I consider myself a student of the ~99.999999999999% of stuff I do not know.

Until that day, my journey, good, bad, and ugly, is my journey.

 

[medi]

As it appears the topic is not clear that we are to give thought to life of humans only, I contend the following applies to all life; human to snake, cockroach to eagle: Life = Awareness. All creatures that have life have awareness. Whether plants might have awareness is worthy of debate. But I am sure there is no doubt that a rock does not have awareness.

Life = Awareness.

What I think I am seeing in this thread thus far is the answer to the purpose of life, especially a human's life.

But I further contend that the meaning of life is different from the purpose of life. But who am I to be offering this approach to this discussion?

 

[ConWolf]

There is no meaning of life. There is no creator, no purpose. It simply happened.

What is the basis for this comment. Unless you've searched the universe is a spaceship for hundreds of millions of years, you can't "know" that this ist he case. I realize that stating that there is one is an act of faith because I have not heard of Him being cited recently.

 

[ConWolf]

I am still a student of that and maybe one day I will figure it out, but I found what worked for me.

I think that is true for all of us.

 

[ConWolf]

If there is a meaning to life, I hope to one day discover it. Right now, I consider myself a student of the ~99.999999999999% of stuff I do not know.

I would suggest that what you say above is connected to a key meaning (purpose) of life.

That is to keep learning and growing We each do that in our own way, but when we quit learning, quit striving, quit assimilating experience, we start to rot.

 

[ConWolf]

Honestly, I am still a student of that and maybe one day I will figure it out, but I found what worked for me.

If we are all honest, we admit we are students. Life is a school in many ways.

It is intended to produce a result that is unique for each of us.

 

[ConWolf]

Bronnie Ware, a hospice nurse in Australia wrote a book called "The Five Regrets of Dying".

It was essentially a collection information from conversations she had with people who were close to the end and knew it.

We learn in our own journey, but we can learn from others too.

 

[MamboDervish]

If we are all honest, we admit we are students. Life is a school in many ways.

Agreed, but ....

It is intended to produce a result that is unique for each of us.

... this implies intention. Who or what is doing the intending?

 

[ConWolf]

Agreed, but ....

... this implies intention. Who or what is doing the intending?

It does not imply it, it states it.

And the intention is the being we refer to as God (now, that is a "fact" in my life....but not really as the term faith does not generally point to facts.....so others might not see it that way).

Life is purposeful, not random. (Again.....a matter of faith)

 

[Peacenik]

What is the basis for this comment. Unless you've searched the universe is a spaceship for hundreds of millions of years, you can't "know" that this ist he case. I realize that stating that there is one is an act of faith because I have not heard of Him being cited recently.

It cannot be known. Some questions remain unanswered. Without any convincing evidence the logical assumption is there is no purpose to life. We do not know why we are here. Perhaps that is because there is no reason. We merely came into being along with the rest of the universe.

The creator theory is easily dismissed by asking well then who created the creator? There is no logical answer; thus it is logical to assume there is no creator.

 

[ConWolf]

It cannot be known.

Not first hand.

Some questions remain unanswered.

For now. If he does exist, we'll know as we pass on.

If not, it's not like we'll know differently.

We do not know why we are here.

There are people who claim to know why and we refer to them as prophets. If you believe in that kind of thing (and I do....but that is no argument).

The creator theory is easily dismissed by asking well then who created the creator? There is no logical answer; thus it is logical to assume there is no creator.

We came to being somehow. Where did that start? Inanimate to animate matter? If so, then a creator could have come to being the same way.

We, and the rest of the earth (unless you believe they've existed forever) are one of the most logical arguments there are for a creator.

 

[watsup]

Not first hand.


For now. If he does exist, we'll know as we pass on.

If not, it's not like we'll know differently.



There are people who claim to know why and we refer to them as prophets. If you believe in that kind of thing (and I do....but that is no argument).


We came to being somehow. Where did that start? Inanimate to animate matter? If so, then a creator could have come to being the same way.

We, and the rest of the earth (unless you believe they've existed forever) are one of the most logical arguments there are for a creator.

“Creator” = myth.

 

[ConWolf]

“Creator” = myth.

Isn't this the loft ?

Short “One liner” posts used to troll or derail are frowned upon.
We understand humor is inherent in discussions, and it is not against the rules here. However one liners that are just being petulant or trolling for a reaction that would perhaps be ignored in the regular forum could result in action here.

 

[watsup]

Isn't this the loft ?

Short “One liner” posts used to troll or derail are frowned upon.
We understand humor is inherent in discussions, and it is not against the rules here. However one liners that are just being petulant or trolling for a reaction that would perhaps be ignored in the regular forum could result in action here.

Are you a moderator?

 

[ConWolf]

I got remarried and my wife has a similar story and she is truly my best friend.

That is always great to hear. I am happy for you in that respect.

I can look at the world from a place of personal strength and a sense that I am standing on solid ground. I have a career I love. My family is awesome. A lot of good stuff is happening.

It's always a matter of perspective. Since this is me posting to your post, I'll say that God has set the framework, but makes no promises about hard things happening to people. With an adversary who is hard at work, it's pretty much a given we'll have trials and challenges.

 

[ConWolf]

Until that day, my journey, good, bad, and ugly, is my journey.

 

[T25]

This has been my journey.

I was raised atheist and for my youth, that's what I passionately believed.

When I was 10, I thought about this question and ended up with a stance of "life is perception and we make our own meaning". I had no education in philosophy at the time, but was probably influenced a culture that was in turn influenced by modern philosophers (like Nietzche).

At probably 15 or so, my older brother started asking the same kinds of questions for himself and watching him influenced me to look into eastern philosophies, such as Taoism, Confucianism, etc. Eventually I looked in European philosophies and just kinda made my way around to a general survey. My conclusion from that study was that philosophy itself is kind of useless and a very sophisticated way of throwing conceptual darts at a metaphysical dart board, but never knowing if those darts land or not, due to the fact that there was no feedback mechanism to know if one was right or wrong, if one's starting axioms were actually true, if one's logical algorithm took the necessary things into account, etc. It was all speculations in the dark. However, I did conclude that my 10 year old self was also wrong and that there likely was no meaning at all.

Then I discovered sex and forgot about the whole exercise for a few years. Those years were pretty care free. Hakuna Matata and all that.

Probably around 18 or 19, my brother converted to Christianity and I started having weird dreams. Eventually those dreams lead me to my own conversion, especially when things I remember from those dreams started happening in real life. It was all very surreal and confusing from a logical perspective, but I guess all I can say is that the evidence was convincing even though I had no logical explanation for it. I went along with it in a provisional sense that if I EVER found evidence that I imagined the whole thing, I would walk away. That never happened.

Then I got married, had kids, and it all became routine because I spent years being exhausted.

Then my wife decided to divorce me and come out of the closet. (She couldn't find a better man, so she stopped trying). After a year or two of resentment for losing what I had spent 12 or so years building, I found I had the emotional space to reinvest in this whole religion thing. It was a lot of hit and miss though as my mind was a mess of resentment (from the divorce), being in a culture that I hated (I lived in South Georgia at the time), and other just messy stuff. I spent years trying to recreate what I had and eventually came to the conclusion after enough trying and error that it was time to move on (I was never great at processing emotions in this way).

Once I got over myself in that way, I went back to God and said something along the lines of "I don't know what to do or where to go, but you have always been good to me, I trust you to take me to a place that I cannot understand today, please take over". What happened next is that I started having those dreams again and somehow they were healing me. The old resentments are gone. I can look at my life now and the past trauma is stuff I can see clearly and objectively (and the places where I was the problem too). I got remarried and my wife has a similar story and she is truly my best friend. I can look at the world from a place of personal strength and a sense that I am standing on solid ground. I have a career I love. My family is awesome. A lot of good stuff is happening.

What does this have to do with meaning? Honestly, I am still a student of that and maybe one day I will figure it out, but I found what worked for me.

Great testimony! Thanks for sharing!