The meaning of life

[Rufus21]

From another thread:

There is, as far as I can see, no scientific method for determining the meaning of life. Do you know of one?

The purpose of life is to reproduce with genetic variability.

That was the original purpose, yes? Since the very beginning of life on this planet? We reproduce, we die, and hopefully enough of our offspring have traits that allow them to survive and adapt. Science has shown us the evolution of life over billions of years, right? If life has a purpose (which is a whole new thread!) then that purpose would be present from the beginning.

Our lives have changed a lot and the survival of our species is not really at the top of the list anymore. That gives us the luxury of finding additional meaning and purpose in our lives. It's nice to be able to see where you want to go, but don't forget where you came from. The underlying meaning of life would be the same now as it was almost 4 billion years ago.

So that's one option for the meaning of life. Anyone else have some ideas?

[ttruscott]

So that's one option for the meaning of life. Anyone else have some ideas?

Since the Bible ends with the marriage of the holy Church to the Lamb, I suggest that is the culmination of GOD's purpose in creating us.

But some of HIS Bride went astray into sin and Jesus tells us that these sheep gone astray must live with the goats, the reprobate, until the harvest, the time of maturity of the good seed: Matt 13:28...The servants asked him, Do you want us to go and pull them up? 29 No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. This also entailed a postponement of the judgement day against the tares until the last sinful elect is mature in holiness.

While there are many detail about things, such as how we are redeemed and how GOD helps us to become mature, Heb 12:5-11, this parable sums up the whole reason for our lives here on earth - either to become redeemed or to provide counterpoint to GOD's grace.

But why the good seed had to live with the reprobate (counterfeit) lead me to speculate that their presence helped the sinful good seed with their redemption. This led to further speculation that the cause of the sin of the good seed may have been the reprobate themselves, maybe a rebellion to the call for their judgment. Living together with the reprobate would convince the sinful good seed that their idolatry of the rebate over their GOD was a mistake in that in they can see with their own eyes that the reprobate do not repent even after millennia. Satan was a liar and a murder from the beginning and still is...

Therefore I contend that the purpose of LIFE is the separation of the sheep (the elect) from the goats by their redemption from sin.

[Rufus21]

...I was hoping that you would provide a clearer explanation of how activities that make it possible for others to have meaningful lives translates into having a meaningful life. Can the meaning of life be vicarious?

Can someone find purpose in caring for another person? Can someone find meaning in providing a stable family for a child? Can someones life be enriched by offering support and guidance to people in need? I would not consider those meanings to be vicarious. If anything they would be symbiotic.

[Bust Nak]

Purpose is subjective, assigned by an evaluator. Different evaluator can assign a different purpose to the same evaluatee. My purpose can be summed up as live a long and happy life.

Choose a meaning for yourself.

[rikuoamero]

[Replying to post 2 by ttruscott]

Therefore I contend that the purpose of LIFE is the separation of the sheep (the elect) from the goats by their redemption from sin.

Okay, let's take your argument for granted. The sheep are seperated from the goats.

What happens next? What's the meaning for the sheep then? Do they get a new meaning?

[1213]

So that's one option for the meaning of life. Anyone else have some ideas?

If life exists by chance, I dont see how it would originally have any purpose or meaning, it just coincidently happened. If life is created as the Bible tells, as I believe it is, the meaning seems to be love, because after all, love is what remains and without love, nothing is meaningful.

If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain-these three. The greatest of these is love.
1 Cor. 13:1-13

Nice thing is that I think all people are free to choose the meaning of their own life. I think best option is love.

[Willum]

Well, I think DarkMatter2525 expresses the practical application of the Christan view of the meaning of life.

It is rather a comparison between what Heaven and Hell must be like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZplzRg6ZP4

[bluethread]

...I was hoping that you would provide a clearer explanation of how activities that make it possible for others to have meaningful lives translates into having a meaningful life. Can the meaning of life be vicarious?

Can someone find purpose in caring for another person? Can someone find meaning in providing a stable family for a child? Can someones life be enriched by offering support and guidance to people in need? I would not consider those meanings to be vicarious. If anything they would be symbiotic.

But those are different from what it is to "reproduce with genetic variability". That can't be THE meaning of life, if people can find meaning by other means. If one believes that there is no singular meaning to life, but meaning can be found in various ways, then that explanation might work. However, if one is looking for THE meaning of life, that must be singular and universal.

[dio9]

There is no purpose , don't break your mind trying to find one. Life is a growth process . As I see it , life keeps getting better, not just human life but the whole biosphere. Perhaps on second thought may be there is a purpose , that humanity may get better.

[Rufus21]

But those are different from what it is to "reproduce with genetic variability".

That's true, although they all fit in the category of survival. Perhaps "survival and adaptation" is a better answer. I was only thinking of one of the mechanisms of survival, but using a broader definition seems more appropriate. "Adaptation" would cover the progress of life as it better suits itself to the changing environment. "Survival" would include non-reproductive aspects of survival.