whats your answer to "whats the meaning of life?"

[rex-craft7]

sorry>> its yet another philosophy oriented question>>

so far mine is:::
essentially, life is pointless. everything is pointless. but that doesnt mean a persons life doesnt have to have meaning. i think people can have a purpose or meaning to life, but its just that what kind of meaning or purpose it is, depends on the person>>>

now i want to hear you guys>>>

[pianistimo]

it would seem pointless after wars and concentration camps.  but, that was to prove that this world is not 'of God.'  it is controlled by Satan.  why else was Jesus tempted by Satan - and asked by Satan if He wanted 'the kingdoms of the earth.'  that is who is controlling them behind the scenes.  money, power, intruege.

God is about humility, patience, longsufferring.  the opposite things that lead to war.  instead they lead to peace.

so, if we are willing to give up something for someone else, or be patient, or be humbled for a while - it's not like it's forever.  i believe there will be a day of retribution.  also, variously called 'dies irae.'  or 'day of the Lord.'  the wicked will be no more.  gone.  obliterated by their own armies fighting against each other.  that is the way of Satan - to fight until nobody knows what is happening.  chaos.  God is about peace and order.

i think God is really quite smart.  He just lets us do what we want for 6000 years and then,pushes the button and says 'enough.'  now, you're going to do it My way.  like it or not.  but, i think people will like it.

[zheer]

it would seem pointless after wars and concentration camps.  but, that was to prove that this world is not 'of God.'  it is controlled by Satan.  why else was Jesus tempted by Satan - and asked by Satan if He wanted 'the kingdoms of the earth.'  that is who is controlling them behind the scenes.  money, power, intruege.

God is about humility, patience, longsufferring.  the opposite things that lead to war.  instead they lead to peace.

so, if we are willing to give up something for someone else, or be patient, or be humbled for a while - it's not like it's forever.  i believe there will be a day of retribution.  also, variously called 'dies irae.'  or 'day of the Lord.'  the wicked will be no more.  gone.  obliterated by their own armies fighting against each other.  that is the way of Satan - to fight until nobody knows what is happening.  chaos.  God is about peace and order.

i think God is really quite smart.  He just lets us do what we want for 6000 years and then,pushes the button and says 'enough.'  now, you're going to do it My way.  like it or not.  but, i think people will like it.

   Totally agree 100%.

[counterpoint]

Meaning of life?

Life often is troublesome and unfair.
But we don't have a better one - so we have to overcome the obstacles and learn how to live with the things and persons around us.

That's the meaning of life: don't let them get you down!   

[rach n bach]

Is that really it?  Just to keep your head above water?

[counterpoint]

Is that really it?  Just to keep your head above water?

Do you have an alternative?

[notturno]

42

[lichristine]

haha completely agree with notturno. bowl of petunias............


i think that the meaning/point of life is to LIVE.

[rc]

i think that the meaning/point of life is to LIVE.

When I was a kid my Dad asked, and that's what I came up with too

[prometheus]

Life has no meaning.

You can give it purpose, though.

What's the meaning of virusses? What's the meaning of cancer cells? Etc?

[shortyshort]

Life has no meaning.

You can give it purpose, though.

What's the meaning of virusses? What's the meaning of cancer cells? Etc?

Agreed. 

I was having a very similar conversation with the wife last night.

We are tiny little dots, living on a tiny little dot that is going round a slightly bigger dot with other little dots.

All the above is just a little dot, swirling around with billions of other dots.

And the above is a dot wizzing through space with billions of other dots.

I'll stop there.
Makes you realise how unimportant and insignificant we really are.
And if there is a God, s/he must have a bloody busy schedule.
And, surely amongst all these dots flying around, there must be a few others with tiny little dots living on it. 
 

[wishful thinker]

variously called 'dies irae.'  or 'day of the Lord.' 

ah, no actually - it means "Day of Wrath"

and Shorty...you might be insignificant, but speak for yourself...  

[shortyshort]

and Shorty...you might be insignificant, but speak for yourself...  

I suppose I can only do that. 

Do you feel that in the vast expanse of the universe you are slightly significant, very significant, or perhaps extremely significant. 

I suppose the fact that you've met Jesus does make you extremely significant. 

[wishful thinker]

I am sorry to tell you this Shorty, but you are in fact, only a figment of my imagination 

But I don't know whether that's significant or not.....I'll ask my coffee cup 

[jlh]

George Carlin said that the meaning of life is that the earth wanted plastic which humans pollute the world with.

"Every rose has its thorn. Every night has a dawn. Every cowboy sings a sad sad song."
--Poisen (quoted by bill and ted)

[shortyshort]

I am sorry to tell you this Shorty, but you are in fact, only a figment of my imagination 

But I don't know whether that's significant or not.....I'll ask my coffee cup 

You surprise me. 

Being as religious as you seem to be, I'm shocked that you have an imagination at all. 

[annoying_airhead]

'bowl of petunias............'

Lol.  "Oh no, not again..."

[pianowolfi]

My answer: One chord. The thing is, it can't be just simply played. It needs tons of music to get closer to it.

[fiddes]

my answer is to change the world around you, every person on earth changes the world be it a little or alot and it is all building up to a huge climax

Also i agree with Norse Mythology wherein the meaning of life is to die in battle therefor gaining entry into the halls of valhalla where i will wait with evryone else for Ragnorak!!!!!!!!!

[pianistimo]

ragnorak?  what's that?  a big viking god?  the one with horns?

[fiddes]

nope ragnorok is the end of the world

The gods do battle and the warriors of Asgard join the frey against the inhabitants of hel

Its like the apocolypse but more violent

[pianistimo]

try to sell that door to door.

[fiddes]

i dont need to sell it door to door everyone has there one beliefs and they should stick to them its when people try to convert others trouble begins

[pianistimo]

agreed.  just joking.

[lichristine]

'bowl of petunias............'

Lol. "Oh no, not again..."

haha if scientists could understand why it thought that.....

ragnorak? what's that? a big viking god? the one with horns?

nope ragnorok is the end of the world

The gods do battle and the warriors of Asgard join the frey against the inhabitants of hel

Its like the apocolypse but more violent

it's also a mediocre metal band.

[m1469]

The meaning of life is to live.

[mcgillcomposer]

Why do you assume that there is a meaning to life?

[m1469]

Because we are alive.

[mcgillcomposer]

So - that doesn't mean anything except that we are alive. At best, our purpose can be described in terms of our place in the ecosystem; however, even if human beings were to become extinct, all else would continue to exist. As such, I think we should be cautious when we evaluate our place in the universe - to assume that we have some ultimate or divine purpose is naοve and not in keeping with scientific evidence.

Of course, I am not dismissing this possibility completely, simply because there is no way to know for certain - this is partly why agnosticism is the most logical way of looking at the question of divinity. That said, science can describe our 'meaning' in terms of our interaction with nature, but this does not make us significant - after all, nature is programmed to encompass and adapt to change.

[pianogeek_cz]

*thinks the bass line of Born to be alive*

Maybe the meaning of life is the search for the answer to this very question...?

[m1469]

So - that doesn't mean anything except that we are alive.

er .... yes , precisely .  I am suggesting that the meaning and the thing are one and the same.  The meaning of life is to live. 

[mcgillcomposer]

er .... yes , precisely .  I am suggesting that the meaning and the thing are one and the same.  The meaning of life is to live.

Oh, I see.

[zheer]

   Is living life on its own the meaning of life, i think not.If one takes note of religious text  (the words of God,Allah).Then the meaning of life is to  serve god and people so that one enters the after life.Howeve the truth of the matter is that, work,family,joy and other personal goals bring meaning to our life which is meaningless otherwise.
   

[frigo]

The meaning of life is its meanless side.

[pianistimo]

I agree with zheer ANd frigo.  To be meanless (nice) and also to expect that God will reward one for putting up with **.  You know, when somebody isn't nice to you and you are still nice to them.  Or, at various times you might falter - but then regain some composure and just keep on going.  I think life is like a 'race' of sorts.  Not with anyone else - but with yourself.  To challenge yourself to be the best you can be - but ask God for help along the way.  To direct your path.  There are so many paths to take.  Basically any direction.  How do we know we've found fulfillment?  Not just from being happy, I think.  I believe a person can be sad at times and still be fulfilled.  You can realize that life isn't all about being happy 100% of the time.  To maybe relax and just accept the way things are when you can't change them - or go full steam ahead when you know you can.  Not holding back.  And, always attempting to lift someone else as you would wish they would do for you - when things look down.

[lisztisforkids]

Im not sure if I really understand the question 'what is the meaning of life?'. It seems like people only asks these kind questions only when we are confused about God/spirituality and need some kind of positive reinforcement to get us through the day. In general people don't seem to asks these questions if they are happy and or well to do. My advice is to live your life as happy and as well as any person can. But I will say that I don't believe the 'meaning of life is to live'. I think that this question is an example of fear.... the kind of fear that every human has....The only point for sure is that we are alive, and that is the greatest possesion any person can have, any other belief is secondary to reality.

[dnephi]

Red Herrings

[jlh]

The meaning of life is death.  Death gives our lives meaning and death keeps us alive. 

Everything you eat you eat because it died to keep you alive.

[zheer]

Everything you eat you eat because it died to keep you alive.

  Not true somethings were never alive in the first place, bread,chees,huny ect.

[term]

There's only two possible answers to this question: a trivial answer or no answer.

Because we are alive.

If existence implied that it has to have a purpose, what's the purpose of the existence of purpose? So basically, why should there be meaning instead of no meaning?
Meaningful is, that there is no satisfying answer to this question.

[pianistimo]

Why do we have brains, then?  Should we not contemplate our existence if we can?

[ahinton]

Why do we have brains, then?  Should we not contemplate our existence if we can?

One reason might be so that we can challenge thoughts and ideas that are unduly dogmatic and inflexible and are handed down by those who subscribe thereto...

Best,

Alistair

[ada]

The  meaning of life is to pass on our DNA. That's all.

All living things are vehicles for DNA; our bodies are there to preserve and perpetuate DNA, the real stuff of life.

It is as beautifully simple as that.

[ahinton]

The  meaning of life is to pass on our DNA. That's all.

All living things are vehicles for DNA; are bodies are there to preserve and perpetuate DNA, the real stuff of life.

It is as beautifully simple as that.

Then should I have to accept that my omission in that area (in the sense of participating in the creation of offspring) presupposes that my life has no meaning? Or have I misunderstood you?

Best,

Alistair

[ada]

Then should I have to accept that my omission in that area (in the sense of participating in the creation of offspring) presupposes that my life has no meaning? Or have I misunderstood you?

Best,

Alistair

haha...we are talking collectively. We are all part of a general continuum.

The purpose of life is also to find enjoyment in beautiful things like music, so I will grudgingly concede a purpose to your life.... 

[ahinton]

haha...we are talking collectively

The purpose of life is also to find enjoyment in beautiful things like music, so I will grudgingly concede a purpose to your life....

Only "grudgingly"? Well, you really are an old meanie of a Sydneysider when you put your mind to it, aintcha?!

Best,

Alistair

[danny elfboy]

The  meaning of life is to pass on our DNA. That's all.

All living things are vehicles for DNA; our bodies are there to preserve and perpetuate DNA, the real stuff of life.

It is as beautifully simple as that.

This sounds like sociobiology nonsense and Wilson antisemitism, sexism, racism and misanthropy. Sociobiology is a joke of a theory where tiny meaningless information are extrapolated to promote an absolutist unprovable hypothesis that contradicts itself.
It's not beautifully simple, it's disguntingly mediocre and dull not to mention completely false. The DNA vehicle and the selfish genes are just-so stories for people who by the very nature of their belief should choose to put a gun in their mouth and press the trigger (after all according to their view that would be the only free-will choice they could ever do) but for some reason they keep living this life and expecting things in a way which contradicts their unhumane nihilism.

(and no, I'm not christian. You don't have to be religious to tell mind numbing propaganda of anti-life pseudo-scientific ideologies from sound constructive and non-limiting theories)

[ada]

This sounds like sociobiology nonsense and Wilson antisemitism, sexism, racism and misanthropy. Sociobiology is a joke of a theory where tiny meaningless information are extrapolated to promote an absolutist unprovable hypothesis that contradicts itself.
It's not beautifully simple, it's disguntingly mediocre and dull not to mention completely false. The DNA vehicle and the selfish genes are just-so stories for people who by the very nature of their belief should choose to put a gun in their mouth and press the trigger (after all according to their view that would be the only free-will choice they could ever do) but for some reason they keep living this life and expecting things in a way which contradicts their unhumane nihilism.

Whoah. You didn't like that theory much did you? Seriously, how on earth did you extrapolate antisemitism, sexism and racism from that   

Let me guess, are you a creationist?

[thalbergmad]

I am not sure, but i think ada might have been joking.

Therefore the introduction to an encyclopedia posted by mr elfboy was rather wasted.

Thal

[retrouvailles]

Ok, I'm bringing religion into this. I side with the book of Ecclesiastes. Life is pointless.