What is the Meaning of Life for the Universe?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the philosophical question of the meaning of life, exploring various perspectives on whether a universal meaning exists, how individuals might create their own meanings, and the implications of belief in God on this topic. Participants engage in conceptual reasoning and personal reflections, with references to existential themes and the nature of existence.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if God exists, the meaning of life could be to serve as meaning for another being, suggesting a relational aspect to existence.
  • Others argue that the meaning of life is subjective and varies from person to person, with no single answer applicable to everyone.
  • There is a suggestion that life may not have an inherent purpose, likening it to chemical processes that do not seek meaning.
  • A participant expresses skepticism about the idea of life as a "horror movie," proposing instead that if God created everything, it might be for the sake of having something to do.
  • Some contributions highlight the contradiction in viewing life as both God's life and our own, questioning the implications of such a perspective.
  • Others assert that the meaning of life could simply be to exist and live it fully, emphasizing a more experiential approach.
  • Concerns are raised about the dangers of following charismatic leaders who claim to provide meaning, illustrating a cautionary view on the search for purpose.
  • A later reply suggests that the question of life's meaning may not have a definitive answer, emphasizing the role of language and context in shaping the inquiry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the meaning of life, with multiple competing views presented. Some believe in a subjective meaning while others explore the implications of a divine purpose, leading to ongoing debate and uncertainty.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of clarity on definitions of "meaning" and "purpose," as well as the unresolved nature of philosophical claims made by participants. The discussion reflects a variety of personal beliefs and interpretations without settling on a unified perspective.

  • #31
I am rather fond of saying "The purpose of life is to determine the purpose of life."
 
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  • #32
Originally posted by chosenone
well I think the dinosaurs were created by god for one purpose,and that was to give us fossil fuel.with out it we would be where we are right now,and destroying the planet at the same time.
Nonsense. We were created by God to act as a galactic whipping boy for the great race of alien moulds, the real focus of all creation, to calibrate their weapons in their holy war against the devilish alien scums. All the stuff he told you about being made in his own image is wrong - see how quickly moulds grow? This universe is designed for them!

Crude oil is decayed organic matter. Mostly thought not to be dinos, but deep sea sediment from dead ocean creatures. eg. plankton, fish etc.
 
  • #33
So far, from what I can tell, nothing can have a meaning in and of itself. Meaning is ascribed to an object or entity through it's relationship with other objects and entities. What is the meaning of a fork? Ask the knife. What is the meaning of life? Ask the Universe. How do you ask the Universe a question? Science.
 
  • #34
The meaning of existence is 42... :wink:
Now, what's the question ?
 
  • #35
Originally posted by drag
The meaning of existence is 42... :wink:
Now, what's the question ?

What is 6 multiplied by 7?

BY GOD YOU'RE RIGHT! :wink:
 
  • #36
Originally posted by drag
The meaning of existence is 42... :wink:
Now, what's the question ?

I just learned that the other day.
The question is : What is infinity - infinity?

And I wagered 10,000 by the way. Alex Trebec: pay me !
 
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  • #37
Originally posted by Deslaar
What is 6 multiplied by 7?
Naah... that's too easy !
We need something complicated and undefinable
that will sell... :wink:

How about: "How many roads can a man take ?"
 
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  • #38
the meaning of life is for us to ask what the meaning of life is.so when we ask each other.we B.S. with each other because we all don't know what it is.so then we assume god or the universe knows because it created us.but we can't get an answer from god or the universe.so where right back where we started,asking each other what we think the meaning of life is!
 
  • #39
Meaning of Life

Perhaps the meaning of life is the meaning we GIVE it...


The meaning I give it starts off with a basic premise: that the Universe is a living, conscious Entity that goes from incarnation to incarnation (via Big Bang, Big Crunch, etc.) for the purpose of HAVING AN EXPERIENCE...a very complex one that includes the life experiences of everything that has, is or will ever live in THIS --plus past and future -- incarnations.

If I want to add a little MORE meaning, I could say that It's out the "evolve" -- perhaps spiritually -- via our (and other beings') life choices and consequences.

I might even add that, if the Universe had a Primary Question at the moment of every Big Bang, it might be: "What can I create THIS time?"

I do not believe there is an "outside forces ("God") that "created" the Universe. I believe the Universe is an eternal entity of energy that lives to think, feel, act and create...among other things.
 
  • #40
my answer to this question is to consistently remember that we are spirits living in a material world...
 
  • #41
Madonna, Hello.

"Yes, we are living in a material world..."

...and we're "here" for a reason.

I do not believe that "God" is an "outsider" -- as I've established above. Further, I do not believe "God created souls" whole and "perfect".

I believe that "spiritual forces" that correspond to natural forces in the physical realm, caused "spirits" to ACCRETE over time, and that we, as spirit, are EVOLVING.

And while the "stuff" of spirit is eternal, not all of us "make it"...there is "waste" in every system. But, eventually, when the next "Big Crunch" comes, all the spiritual stuff (including those that hung together as "cohesive chunks of spirit") will all "come together" into a singularity (again) before bursting forth into the next incarnation of the Universe.

Meanwhile, the physical realm provides a CONTEXT for spirits to interact, to make good decisions, bad decisions, experience consequence, learn compassion, etc...all as part of the evolution of the Universe Itself.

And, it is probably a natural function of the Eternal Entity of Energy that is the Universe, to have some of Its energy "freeze down" to form a physical plane, where the "spirits" it gives rise to in each incarnation of Itself has a "stage" on which to live its particular "drama".

Or am I a nut?
 
  • #42


Originally posted by M. Gaspar
"Yes, we are living in a material world..."


actually that is a quote coming from The Police:wink:
 
  • #43
Originally posted by Kerrie
my answer to this question is to consistently remember that we are spirits living in a material world...

And yet, are we not (in your conception of existence) also physical beings? If so, why is it that we are in a "material" world? Why isn't the world also spiritual as well as physical?
 
  • #44


Originally posted by Kerrie
actually that is a quote coming from The Police:wink:

Are you sure about that? Well, I guess it's off-topic, so I'll leave it alone.
 
  • #45


Greetings !
Originally posted by Mentat
Are you sure about that?
Actually, it's Madonna. But, it IS off-topic
so I guess I should stop boosting the
post count in vain...
Originally posted by M. Gaspar
Or am I a nut?
Don't be so hard on yourself...:wink:
I guess I'm the spirit that didn't make it...:smile:

On a more serious note, in my opinion, beliefs -
although they may inforce plausible visions
of the meaning of life and of how to live life,
overall do more damage than is avoided by the
lack of any. If not direct for some religions
then indirect for others.

Live long and prosper.
 
  • #46
You can't hurt the Universe, I think.

DRAG: What damage do I do myself to think that the Universe is a living, conscious Entity that's responsive to all of its parts?

...or any of the other of my "rediculous notions"...as someone once told me (briefly set forth on this and other threads).

True, I believe some "beliefs" are "harmful"...the belief, for instance, that someone died for you so that you can make all the mistakes you want.

I believe in self-redemption. I believe in taking action. I believe I'm a force in the Universe...but not the only one.

Are all "beliefs" "harmful".

Please expound.
 
  • #47


Greetings M. Gaspar !
Originally posted by M. Gaspar
[BDRAG: What damage do I do myself to think that the Universe is a living, conscious Entity that's responsive to all of its parts?
I'm sorry, but I wasn't adressing you in particular -
it was more of a general statement.

The problem with beliefs is that some of the
people that have them often try to convince each
other they are true. Since these are beliefs
they ussualy fail at some time during the
convincing part which sometimes leads to conflict.
(Again, this is a general statement not aimed at
anyone in particular.)

Live long and prosper.
 
  • #48
correction:

We are spirits living in the material world is a song by Sting...NOT by Madonna, I am sure most of you have heard this song, just don't realize it...
 
  • #49
Originally posted by Kerrie
correction:

We are spirits living in the material world is a song by Sting...NOT by Madonna, I am sure most of you have heard this song, just don't realize it...

Yes, but when the poster said "we are living in a material world...", one assumes (because of his/her reference to Madonna) that afterward would follow "... and I am a material girl" - and would thus be a quote from a famous Madonna song.
 
  • #50
i can't stand madonna...
 
  • #51
Originally posted by Mentat
...his/her...
You disappoint me Mentat.
Originally posted by Kerrie
i can't stand madonna...
 
  • #52
The line by the Police (the audible part anyway) goes "We are spirits... in the material world",
the one by Madonna goes " We are living in a material world"
 
  • #53
Originally posted by drag
You disappoint me Mentat.

Well, I guess one could assume that the member would be male, given the name M. Gasper. However, I'm never sure (there are some strange people out there), so courtesy requires that I don't assume any gender for the member, until informed of what their actual gender is.
 
  • #54
Originally posted by Mentat
Well, I guess one could assume that the member would be male, given the name M. Gasper. However, I'm never sure (there are some strange people out there), so courtesy requires that I don't assume any gender for the member, until informed of what their actual gender is.
You misunderstood me - it was I who mentioned
Madonna in the first place so I assumed you
were adressing me. :wink:
 
  • #55
The universe as we know it has been slowed down from its actual speed giving us time to explore the god set boundries in which we call space. We have evolved from dolphins who stranded themselves on shores purposely to create land capable beings of their kind.
 
  • #56
Netme

Yes, we all need more time.
 
  • #57
Originally posted by drag
You misunderstood me - it was I who mentioned
Madonna in the first place so I assumed you
were adressing me. :wink:

I see. I was referring to M. Gaspar though. I don't call you a he/she (even though I don't have any conclusive statement of your gender) :wink: .
 
  • #58
I play the drums and I'll only listen to heavy metal.but eminem the new rock rap is alright only because just like ice tea when he did body count.a black rapper tried to bridge the gap between rock and rap by doing rock.it was his way of stopping racism.because the war between rock and rap,is just another way for people to have another way of keeping racism alive through music instead of doing it directly.so eminem is sort of doing the same thing trying to be a white person doing rap.and he might just make it.anyway back to the post topic.would'nt it be cool if we where all the reincarnation of the dinosaurs,and for 1 billion years our souls have been advancing through time to this point,living again and again.till human form came into existence,we final understood what it meant to be aware of the universe from primal animals,spiritually i mean!
 
  • #59
Say what...?

Are we off topic here?



The "meaning of life' might be the meaning we GIVE it...

so...?
 
  • #60
Well like i originally posted that started this thread was that the meaning of life,is to be the meaning of life of another being,as part of his existence."god".were what god does to kill time,create us.our thoughts,our lives,everthing we think,do,and are,are his to do,for us, as we do them,as he does them for us,so ever time you ask what the meaning of life is!he's making you ask.and when your done asking,did he give you and answer?
 
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