Where do you derive objective meaning in life?
Can there be meaning or purpose in life without God or a belief in God?What purpose do you think you are here for if you do not believe in salvation?
The Meaning or Purpose of life
Moderator: Moderators
-
McCulloch
- Site Supporter
- Posts: 24063
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 9:10 pm
- Location: Toronto, ON, CA
- Been thanked: 3 times
The Meaning or Purpose of life
Post #1Matt Stopera from BuzzFeed asked 22 self-identifying creationists at the Bill Nye/Ken Ham debate to write a message/question/note to the other side. Here’s what they wrote. http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/messages ... lutio?bffb
Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.
First Epistle to the Church of the Thessalonians
The truth will make you free.
Gospel of John
First Epistle to the Church of the Thessalonians
The truth will make you free.
Gospel of John
Post #41
Ice-cream is a sweet and fatty food and since your taste for sweet and fatty foods is the result of an objective automatic natural process it isn't subjective. Which process made you favour ice-cream in particular?Bust Nak wrote:"I am wired to think survival is a good idea" is objective.
"Survival is a good idea" is not objective.
If objectivity is define along the lines of "independent from any minds/opinion."
And if that still sound odd to you, I would point out that we have an instinct produced by an objective automatic natural process to favor sweet and fatty food. Yet one wouldn't say loving ice-cream is anything other a matter a taste.
-
Bust Nak
- Savant
- Posts: 9874
- Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:03 am
- Location: Planet Earth
- Has thanked: 189 times
- Been thanked: 266 times
Post #42
You are willing to state that favouring ice-cream isn't matter of subjective opinion? I guess I am happy with stating that purpose is as objective as food taste. What then are matters of opinion if food taste aren't?Artie wrote: Ice-cream is a sweet and fatty food and since your taste for sweet and fatty foods is the result of an objective automatic natural process it isn't subjective.
No idea, I am guessing something to do with dopamine, as with everything relating to pleasure seem to have something to do with dopamine.Which process made you favour ice-cream in particular?
Post #43
Bust Nak wrote:Artie wrote: Which process made you favour ice-cream in particular?No, I mean, which process made you favour ice-cream? Did you get some ice-cream when you were a child and associate it with safety or comfort or your parent or something? Why do you have a taste for ice-cream in particular?No idea, I am guessing something to do with dopamine, as with everything relating to pleasure seem to have something to do with dopamine.
Post #44
Maybe your taste for ice cream is just the man keepin' you down.
http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/La_Distinction
http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/La_Distinction
-
Bust Nak
- Savant
- Posts: 9874
- Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:03 am
- Location: Planet Earth
- Has thanked: 189 times
- Been thanked: 266 times
Post #45
Artie wrote:I don't know if it has much do do with an event. I tasted it as an infant and found that I like it. I tasted more and found certain favor better than others.Bust Nak wrote:Artie wrote: Which process made you favour ice-cream in particular?No, I mean, which process made you favour ice-cream? Did you get some ice-cream when you were a child and associate it with safety or comfort or your parent or something? Why do you have a taste for ice-cream in particular?No idea, I am guessing something to do with dopamine, as with everything relating to pleasure seem to have something to do with dopamine.
Post #46
[Replying to post 19 by Darias]
I wasn't sure where to put this, but here's a video of post 19:
[center][yt][/yt][/center]
I wasn't sure where to put this, but here's a video of post 19:
[center][yt][/yt][/center]
What, the meaning of life
Post #47In a question, maybe two,
Those being 'what?' and possibly, 'who?'
The reason for asking is urgently due-
"what am I here for?" and also, "for who?"
Perhaps it's my mouth for which I'm alive.
It is a vessel I rarely deprive.
It craves me to fill it,
It strives to speak out,
And sometimes I find that it leads me about..
So clearly indeed it may be true, that my mouth is both the what and the who.
But now I consider also my eyes
They always are hoping for some new surprise.
And when there is none they focus on lack
And once that's begun they hardly look back..
So clearly indeed it maybe true
That my eyes are both the what and the who.
The love of pleasure or praise or pride
May also be the force of my stride.
These things are a comfort when I'm all alone
The more that I heed them the more that I'm prone
so clearly indeed it may be true
That those lusty three are the what and the who.
I understand these worthy forces
But I cannot fathom my seven divorces...
Hey
I recently wrote this, and it seems to fit under this category.
Those being 'what?' and possibly, 'who?'
The reason for asking is urgently due-
"what am I here for?" and also, "for who?"
Perhaps it's my mouth for which I'm alive.
It is a vessel I rarely deprive.
It craves me to fill it,
It strives to speak out,
And sometimes I find that it leads me about..
So clearly indeed it may be true, that my mouth is both the what and the who.
But now I consider also my eyes
They always are hoping for some new surprise.
And when there is none they focus on lack
And once that's begun they hardly look back..
So clearly indeed it maybe true
That my eyes are both the what and the who.
The love of pleasure or praise or pride
May also be the force of my stride.
These things are a comfort when I'm all alone
The more that I heed them the more that I'm prone
so clearly indeed it may be true
That those lusty three are the what and the who.
I understand these worthy forces
But I cannot fathom my seven divorces...
Hey
I recently wrote this, and it seems to fit under this category.-
Unhand Me Sir
- Student
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:18 am
Re: The Meaning or Purpose of life
Post #48I always find these appeals for objective value and morality sad. It seems the person is saying "I need it, I can't do it, I can't find value in anything or care about other people without help."McCulloch wrote:Where do you derive objective meaning in life?Can there be meaning or purpose in life without God or a belief in God?What purpose do you think you are here for if you do not believe in salvation?
I hope that this is justification after the fact for what the person already believes for other reasons. The thought of being driven to a creed because you have no idea how to live your life is depressing.
Re: The Meaning or Purpose of life
Post #49[Replying to post 1 by McCulloch]
Let's assume that there is no god and no afterlife. Does it devalue this life you are living right now? of course not!!! it will only increase the value of your life as it is now the only life you will get. The only chance you have. Do you lose any meaning or purpose in life because there is no god? Of course not! The impact you make is now more than ever important to those around you. I don't believe that is one purpose or meaning in life or don't want to believe that. We must all find purpose and meaning for our own life. Be it start a family, pursue a fulfilling career, participate in your community or just overall make the world a better place.
Let's assume that there is no god and no afterlife. Does it devalue this life you are living right now? of course not!!! it will only increase the value of your life as it is now the only life you will get. The only chance you have. Do you lose any meaning or purpose in life because there is no god? Of course not! The impact you make is now more than ever important to those around you. I don't believe that is one purpose or meaning in life or don't want to believe that. We must all find purpose and meaning for our own life. Be it start a family, pursue a fulfilling career, participate in your community or just overall make the world a better place.
Re: The Meaning or Purpose of life
Post #50For me the meaning of life is in the living. To live in harmony with your fellow man and this Earth. to treat animals fairly and with kindness. to have children and take care of them.McCulloch wrote: Matt Stopera from BuzzFeed asked 22 self-identifying creationists at the Bill Nye/Ken Ham debate to write a message/question/note to the other side. Here’s what they wrote. http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/messages ... lutio?bffb
Where do you derive objective meaning in life?Can there be meaning or purpose in life without God or a belief in God?What purpose do you think you are here for if you do not believe in salvation?
Until 1981 I did not believe in salvation. I believed that this life was the end. I was happy with that. Now that I believe in salvation I am not happy about that. I do not wish to live again or beyond this life. Yet I now believe that this is so.
I would be very content to have a simple purpose without God. It is much more peaceful not to believe in a god. to exist is to suffer and who really wants to suffer any more than necessary. My life has been good but existence to me is not really worthwhile.
