Meaning of Existence

[Aillyria]

The single meaning of life is to serve God (swt), that's it. It's the only reason we even exist here.

The problem with the religious explanations of life, or at least for me, is that a God wouldn't need little things to do stupid shit while they watch. And "serving God" is subjective each religion and person. Islamist extremists believe they're serving their God, so is their purpose in life to kill themselves for their God?

Personally, I think that life may have no meaning and just is. Optimistic nihilism, good shit.

"Islamists" aren't serving God (swt) because they don't follow the Quran, God (swt) does not ask you to commit suicide.

[Stellar Colonies]

Put simply, it is up to you to interpret.

[The Xenopolis Confederation]

The problem with the religious explanations of life, or at least for me, is that a God wouldn't need little things to do stupid shit while they watch. And "serving God" is subjective each religion and person. Islamist extremists believe they're serving their God, so is their purpose in life to kill themselves for their God?

Personally, I think that life may have no meaning and just is. Optimistic nihilism, good shit.

"Islamists" aren't serving God (swt) because they don't follow the Quran, God (swt) does not ask you to commit suicide.

Scotland doesn't ask you to commit suicide either.

[Neanderthaland]

The problem with the religious explanations of life, or at least for me, is that a God wouldn't need little things to do stupid shit while they watch. And "serving God" is subjective each religion and person. Islamist extremists believe they're serving their God, so is their purpose in life to kill themselves for their God?

Personally, I think that life may have no meaning and just is. Optimistic nihilism, good shit.

"Islamists" aren't serving God (swt) because they don't follow the Quran, God (swt) does not ask you to commit suicide.

They seem to disagree.

The real problem with religions explanations is that theology has no agreed upon methodology to correct error. So however wrong your theology is, is however wrong it always shall be.

[Pope Joan]

I believe we act first and then reflect upon that action. Observe and judge the given facts, weigh up the values, decide and act. Take responsibility. Do not seek to be justified by and principle or law; you alone are responsible.(Bonhoeffer)

In my mind I am drawn toward the anti-Hegelian intensely individual freedom of Kierkegaard, and as an American (especially one involved in education) I have been affected by Pragmatism in a practical way.

These two threads are not all that dissimilar, as this article from 80 years ago demonstrate.
Hans Lipps compares pragmatism (William James and John Dewey) existentialism (Friedrich Nietzsche, Soren Kierkegaard, and Martin Heidegger) in this 1936 article translated from French. He claims that they aim at the same goals, e.g., a return to lived experience and a rejection of the Cartesian legacy in philosophy.
http://jffp.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/jffp ... e/view/174
'Here is another article linking the two: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4610143?se ... b_contents

[Correnia]

What is the meaning of life... It's something I have heard multiple times and have asked myself as well. For what I believe, the meaning to our existence is something simple. Our reason to be here is to continue the work to advance human kind. We are a species, a living object. And as much as any other species we must adapt to continue living. That is what we have done. It is our base objective to continue to advance human kind. Hundred years ago, we didnt the medical tech we do now. That is because we keep going, keep working to advance ourselves to better our chance for survival in this world.
So, our reasoning to be here? To work to better the life of human kind, and we have offspring to continue the work when we grow too old to. We have done this since our first days. From exterior things to help us like the invention of the wheel, to internal adaptation like learning to talk and walk.

[The Xenopolis Confederation]

"Islamists" aren't serving God (swt) because they don't follow the Quran, God (swt) does not ask you to commit suicide.

They seem to disagree.

The real problem with religions explanations is that theology has no agreed upon methodology to correct error. So however wrong your theology is, is however wrong it always shall be.

"yeah but muh theology is 100% perfect."

[New haven america]

The single meaning of life is to serve God (swt), that's it. It's the only reason we even exist here.

What an egomaniac.

Not sure about the meaning of life, but if there is such a thing as this God of yours, I think a pretty good use of our time would be to destroy it.

Also, why does an entity that can create entire planets in a matter of days really need things to worship it? And why should other things worship it either? They're not really getting much out of it in return, and yet they're apparently important to said entity.

[Rastesh]

As intellects floating around in a giant existence we are incapable of fully understanding with our flawed senses, and more flawed personalities, I think the meaning of life should be obvious. Learning, yourself and as much else as you can possibly absorb. Be eternally curious and strive to be a little bit better every day and bring joy to yours and others lives where possible unless that comes at the cost of somebody elses happiness. Also to realize, truly understand that noone owes you anything, including your happiness and that your happiness is your responsibility. If someone is doing something you don't like, leave, and try not to be a whiny turd about it. Experience as much as possible, including things you don't think you'll like, sometimes you'll be surprised. Life is a rich smorgasbord of insanity just waiting for you to roll around in it and start a good-natured food fight. Don't take yourself or anything else too seriously
And now I need some dinner, and someone to fan me with a palm-frond. My genius has left me tired .

[Pope Joan]

What an egomaniac.

Not sure about the meaning of life, but if there is such a thing as this God of yours, I think a pretty good use of our time would be to destroy it.

Also, why does an entity that can create entire planets in a matter of days really need things to worship it? And why should other things worship it either? They're not really getting much out of it in return, and yet they're apparently important to said entity.

Maybe not. Jesus said the very stones would sing praises if people failed to do so. God really has no need of us, and is not sustained by our belief, any more than a mountain or the sea is.

[Risottia]

If everything is destined to die, from the star in our solar system, to the degredation of the human body, then what is the purpose of existing, of having self awareness and the ability to contemplate on things beyond the scope of lower tiers of complex thought and action?

No meaning and no purpose.

Meaning and purpose are intellectual constructs of humans and they are of no consequence when talking physical stuff such as existence.

[Risottia]

God really has no need of us, and is not sustained by our belief, any more than a mountain or the sea is.

It's always nice when one is reminded that we are just the playthings of an amorphous blight of nethermost confusion which blasphemes and bubbles at the center of all infinity, gnawing hungrily in inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond time and space amidst the muffled, maddening beating of vile drums and the thin monotonous whine of accursed flutes.

[Kenmoria]

Meaning of existence: what meaning? There is no underlying purpose nor aim to human life and the concept of the meaning of existence is, rather amusingly, meaningless. However, one can create their own purpose to their life without having to resort to some greater existence plan.

[Dumb Ideologies]

Life is like a box of chocolates. Its point is to eventually make you sick and die.

[Risottia]

And "serving God" is subjective each religion and person

The priests who believe in transubstantiation are literally serving God during the Eucharist.

[Dumb Ideologies]

And "serving God" is subjective each religion and person

The priests who believe in transubstantiation are literally serving God during the Eucharist.

100 arbitrary internet points.

[Risottia]

The priests who believe in transubstantiation are literally serving God during the Eucharist.

100 arbitrary internet points.

Yay! Now the world is MINE! MUHAHAHAHA!

[Esheaun Stroakuss]

There is none.

It's not all bad, though. For years and years and years, the accepted meaning to a lot of people has been that someone created us. In some cultures, we were created by multiple people for multiple purposes. Come the age of enlightenment and the power-shifts in Europe, the realisation that man was just another animal, just another circumstance of nature. "God is dead", as Nietzsche would put it, "and we have killed him".

However, I detect a lot of nihilism in this post. A lot of questions, open-ended at best.

If everything is destined to die, from the star in our solar system, to the degredation of the human body, then what is the purpose of existing, of having self awareness and the ability to contemplate on things beyond the scope of lower tiers of complex thought and action?

You are now faced with three options. Well, technically, four. You could commit suicide, but that is the biggest philosophical problem. You could bite the bullet and convert to religion, but you would be taking too big a leap of faith and out of common sense. You could just embrace nihilism. Or, you could say, "screw you, world, I will live my life anyway". I have chosen the final option, because if life has no meaning, I don't want to waste the one I have dismissing it.

I feel as though our struggles are pointless if it all ends the same.

Here's the thing: you don't know if it ends the same. If by that, you mean death, sure, but you are pointing out fighting the inevitable. Some things aren't inevitable, and nothing (except death) is pre-determined. Use that to your advantage.

The (lack luster, much to my disappointment) race to colonize other planets, the ability to stop aging in it's tracks, transferring consciousness to Android or robotic bodies. All of it for naught when the eventual death of our star destroys our planet, and us as a species.

All the more reason to do stuff, man. Go outside. Buy a book. Read it. Go see a film. Meet people, maybe even date them. Don't count the days alone, sad and bitter. Don't deny yourself the only life you will have.

So I ask you, what is the point when it is for nothing in the end?

To come up with one's own purpose, one's own moral code, and follow it from there. The declining relevance in religion is a blessing, but it can be a curse. We need to fill that void with our own ideas, our own cultures, and our own meanings, not just leave it as a gaping hole where the Cross once stood.

[The Grene Knyght]

Hello nations of Nation States, I hope this finds you healthy and happy.

I am here to ask a question that will likely incite several debates of science, faith, and or pragmatism.

If everything is destined to die, from the star in our solar system, to the degredation of the human body, then what is the purpose of existing, of having self awareness and the ability to contemplate on things beyond the scope of lower tiers of complex thought and action?

I feel as though our struggles are pointless if it all ends the same.

The (lack luster, much to my disappointment) race to colonize other planets, the ability to stop aging in it's tracks, transferring consciousness to Android or robotic bodies. All of it for naught when the eventual death of our star destroys our planet, and us as a species.

So I ask you, what is the point when it is for nothing in the end?

You're assuming there is a meaning/point.

[Incantata Phantasia]

Life and existence have no meaning, as it has no purpose... We should seek to be ourselves then, even if this means destroying the world!

[Purpelia]

Life has no meaning. Existence has no purpose. And we should not seek to impose purpose upon it. What we should do is simply live out our lives as the good little animals that we are and behave according to our natural behaviors. Which is what we do anyway since free will is just an illusion.

[Antarctic Commonwealth of Equality]

In terms of evolution I guess it is ensure the survival of your race. I would also say that any extension of average lifespan no matter how long is worth it. Of course we should also strive for the happiness of all people. Otherwise life will be pretty terrible like it is now for some people.

[Incantata Phantasia]

Life has no meaning. Existence has no purpose. And we should not seek to impose purpose upon it. What we should do is simply live out our lives as the good little animals that we are and behave according to our natural behaviors. Which is what we do anyway since free will is just an illusion.

Why not impose our will upon others? It may be fun!

In terms of evolution I guess it is ensure the survival of your race. I would also say that any extension of average lifespan no matter how long is worth it. Of course we should also strive for the happiness of all people. Otherwise life will be pretty terrible like it is now for some people.

Why not make life terrible? It may be fun!

[The Grene Knyght]

And we should not seek to impose purpose upon it.

Why not? If life has no meaning (as you assert) then why shouldn't we seek to impose one on it? I mean, saying one should impose meaning on life and saying one shouldn't impose meaning on life both seem to rely on a presupposition that there are things that we should and should not do, which I find farcical given the assertion that life has no meaning anyway.

[Pasong Tirad]

I prefer this one.

I prefer this one

I prefer this one.