reply to post by Mr_skepticc
Religion to me is: the interpretation, organization and promotion of something that is present in almost all people(IMHO).
That presence being: a sense of spirituality.
Is this delusional? That is a big statement that would raise the ire of many. But it seems valid in a rationalized world that secularized and
distanced itself from supernatural and spiritual senses.
Perhaps the beliefs inspired or interpreted from this spiritual sense that we have, seem delusional!
It could be argued that it would be delusional to assume that there is no meaning from existence, or even delusional not to sense that there is a
bigger "something or being" that inspires our sense of spirituality.
You just need to look at the many scientists that say as much when they contemplate the universe and what it entails.
My take on the whole thing is that the truth of the meaning of life would be infinite to us, and therefore all our beliefs are represented by our
finite characteristic. Being finite would give us an infinite number of possible truths as a way of explaining the mystery of life. A mystery that
seems infinite to me.
Each possible truth(religious or spiritual or materialist...etc) we realize or arrive at is only a finite point of the overall infinite truth. Our
truth is finite because we are finite, and it would be impossible to realize infinity.
So, we are all right.
We are all realizing our own possible finite truth derived from the infinite truth.
Cool thread. S and F.
The Greatest Mystery Ever (LIFE), page 1
privacy
Pages:
ATS Members have flagged this thread 1 times
ATS Members have flagged this thread 1 times
reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 06:05 AM by Lasheic
The answer to the meaning of life is about as hard to answer as the meaning of lightning, or the meaning of snow. The answer is deeply unsatisfying to
many, mostly because the "mystery" has been exaggerated and blown out of proportion. Religion has often been the preeminent domain offering answers,
but since they cannot come to a consensus on what that answer is - the question has not abated. The answer is generally assumed to be beyond our
capability, or converted into a rhetorical form meant more to make you ponder than to provide clarity.
So the answer to the meaning of life has been pretty much answered: Life is the expression understandable (though not fully understood) natural physical processes such as chemistry, competition, reproduction, etc. For a more detailed explanation, I expressed my view in the second post of this thread a few days ago.
The harder question to answer (which is perhaps why so many want to look towards an objective purposed deigned upon them by a higher power) is: What meaning have you assigned to your life? That answer requires introspection, consideration, and the risk of criticism or rebuttal from others leading to "wasted lives". It's much easier to simply assume a grander purpose beyond yourself. Beyond criticism and knawing doubt. A direction or ethic code to tell you what to do with your life, as well as the ego-boost associated with aligning with a position that no other merely human reason can trump. (circle back to religion: rinse repeat)
(Note: Even if you don't follow a religion, but still consider yourself spiritual or spiritually minded, religious influence on culture is so deeply ingrained that you can't really escape it in most cases. New religious views are constructed out of patchworks and frameworks of existing abandoned religions. Concepts such as a fall from grace into sin, redemption, reincarnation, salvation/rapture, end of the world judgment, rewards or punishments after death, a soul of some sort which carries your essence, an interaction with past souls and physical space, etc.
For instance, Michael Crichton once famously pointed out that - in the anthropological sense - the environmental movement could be considered a religion of the Judeo-Christian flavor. Both feature an ecological paradise in which we lived in harmony. The Noble Savage replaces Adam & Even in this myth, and our expulsion from paradise (the start of civilization) began the tale of man's taint with sin (pollution). This sin/pollution will eventually cause the creator/mother earth to punish us with horrors and an end to all things unless we seek redemption (green/ecofriendly/sustainability). While environmental issues are very real and their impacts on humanity can be rather detrimental, many environmentalists take it to the level of religious belief rather than a naturalistic view.
Common around here is the idea of Government/NWO playing the role of Satan, banks a signifier of greed & sin, and Aliens playing the role of Angelic beings sent to save us from ourselves. Often engaged in another war with evil aliens (demons) over Earth... similar to the "war in heaven" and the Devil's struggle to corrupt and destroy souls. Saviors can take many forms, be it the poster themselves, David Icke, David Greere, Alex Jones, Jim Marrs, Blossom Goodchild, Z. Stichin, whoever.
I've also heard some claims being made in regards to how some transhumanists view the H+ movement in a semi-religious fashion, and regard people like Aubry DeGray & Ray Kurzweil in the same framework as prophets or saviors. And I agree that such claims are not without merit, as I've talked to examples of which. Though there is a noticeable effort in the community to squelch this concept and correct the misconception.
In your search for meaning to your life, be careful that it truly is your meaning you assign - and not the second hand rationale excised buffet style from a religious source and handed to you as if profound wisdom hidden from the rest of humanity.)
[edit on 23-2-2010 by Lasheic]
So the answer to the meaning of life has been pretty much answered: Life is the expression understandable (though not fully understood) natural physical processes such as chemistry, competition, reproduction, etc. For a more detailed explanation, I expressed my view in the second post of this thread a few days ago.
The harder question to answer (which is perhaps why so many want to look towards an objective purposed deigned upon them by a higher power) is: What meaning have you assigned to your life? That answer requires introspection, consideration, and the risk of criticism or rebuttal from others leading to "wasted lives". It's much easier to simply assume a grander purpose beyond yourself. Beyond criticism and knawing doubt. A direction or ethic code to tell you what to do with your life, as well as the ego-boost associated with aligning with a position that no other merely human reason can trump. (circle back to religion: rinse repeat)
(Note: Even if you don't follow a religion, but still consider yourself spiritual or spiritually minded, religious influence on culture is so deeply ingrained that you can't really escape it in most cases. New religious views are constructed out of patchworks and frameworks of existing abandoned religions. Concepts such as a fall from grace into sin, redemption, reincarnation, salvation/rapture, end of the world judgment, rewards or punishments after death, a soul of some sort which carries your essence, an interaction with past souls and physical space, etc.
For instance, Michael Crichton once famously pointed out that - in the anthropological sense - the environmental movement could be considered a religion of the Judeo-Christian flavor. Both feature an ecological paradise in which we lived in harmony. The Noble Savage replaces Adam & Even in this myth, and our expulsion from paradise (the start of civilization) began the tale of man's taint with sin (pollution). This sin/pollution will eventually cause the creator/mother earth to punish us with horrors and an end to all things unless we seek redemption (green/ecofriendly/sustainability). While environmental issues are very real and their impacts on humanity can be rather detrimental, many environmentalists take it to the level of religious belief rather than a naturalistic view.
Common around here is the idea of Government/NWO playing the role of Satan, banks a signifier of greed & sin, and Aliens playing the role of Angelic beings sent to save us from ourselves. Often engaged in another war with evil aliens (demons) over Earth... similar to the "war in heaven" and the Devil's struggle to corrupt and destroy souls. Saviors can take many forms, be it the poster themselves, David Icke, David Greere, Alex Jones, Jim Marrs, Blossom Goodchild, Z. Stichin, whoever.
I've also heard some claims being made in regards to how some transhumanists view the H+ movement in a semi-religious fashion, and regard people like Aubry DeGray & Ray Kurzweil in the same framework as prophets or saviors. And I agree that such claims are not without merit, as I've talked to examples of which. Though there is a noticeable effort in the community to squelch this concept and correct the misconception.
In your search for meaning to your life, be careful that it truly is your meaning you assign - and not the second hand rationale excised buffet style from a religious source and handed to you as if profound wisdom hidden from the rest of humanity.)
[edit on 23-2-2010 by Lasheic]
reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 06:38 AM by XXXN3O
reply to post by Mr_skepticc
What is the meaning of life?
Spend your whole life trying to find an answer only to realise that this was indeed the meaning of your life. Dont you see how we trick ourselves into cells?
Lets say I want to find an answer, I need to find the right question first otherwise nothing makes sense and how would I ever know I had found an answer without a question?
If I spent my whole life trying to find a meaning of life, I would die without meaning because thats the meaning I gave it.
The meaning of my life for me is to learn through experience. How else can you possibly find out what the meaning of life is?
It answers itself.
With Knowledge comes power, with power comes responsibility, with responsibility comes accountability, with accountability comes maturity, with maturity comes wisdom and with wisdom comes infinity.
Live your life and find out for yourself, thats why you are here just like me and everyone else.
[edit on 23-2-2010 by XXXN3O]
What is the meaning of life?
Spend your whole life trying to find an answer only to realise that this was indeed the meaning of your life. Dont you see how we trick ourselves into cells?
Lets say I want to find an answer, I need to find the right question first otherwise nothing makes sense and how would I ever know I had found an answer without a question?
If I spent my whole life trying to find a meaning of life, I would die without meaning because thats the meaning I gave it.
The meaning of my life for me is to learn through experience. How else can you possibly find out what the meaning of life is?
It answers itself.
With Knowledge comes power, with power comes responsibility, with responsibility comes accountability, with accountability comes maturity, with maturity comes wisdom and with wisdom comes infinity.
Live your life and find out for yourself, thats why you are here just like me and everyone else.
[edit on 23-2-2010 by XXXN3O]
reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 07:16 AM by Lasheic
reply to post by XXXN3O
If the meaning of your life was the pursuit of the answer to "what is the meaning of life", then you didn't live your life without purpose. You may think such a purpose is trivial or transitory, but that doesn't mean a life dedicated to that meaning could not be a rich and full life lived to the fullest. The pursuit of that meaning could (and often does) open doors of experience and education, perceptions and passions. Even if the question is inapplicable, the life which explored it is not.
A greater tragedy to me would be a life forfeit to the edicts of dogma and shackles of ignorance and fear. A life lived in service and devotion to a figment of the imagination. Still, this is only on the level of rigid fundamentalism - as even religious believers both moderate and casual live lives which are not wholly consumed by religion, and which can appreciate and explore the joys of life - rather than sacrifice it to self-prostration while expecting their chance at enjoying life to come after death.
If I spent my whole life trying to find a meaning of life, I would die without meaning because thats the meaning I gave it.
If the meaning of your life was the pursuit of the answer to "what is the meaning of life", then you didn't live your life without purpose. You may think such a purpose is trivial or transitory, but that doesn't mean a life dedicated to that meaning could not be a rich and full life lived to the fullest. The pursuit of that meaning could (and often does) open doors of experience and education, perceptions and passions. Even if the question is inapplicable, the life which explored it is not.
A greater tragedy to me would be a life forfeit to the edicts of dogma and shackles of ignorance and fear. A life lived in service and devotion to a figment of the imagination. Still, this is only on the level of rigid fundamentalism - as even religious believers both moderate and casual live lives which are not wholly consumed by religion, and which can appreciate and explore the joys of life - rather than sacrifice it to self-prostration while expecting their chance at enjoying life to come after death.
reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 07:24 AM by XXXN3O
Originally posted by Lasheic
reply to post by XXXN3O
If I spent my whole life trying to find a meaning of life, I would die without meaning because thats the meaning I gave it.
If the meaning of your life was the pursuit of the answer to "what is the meaning of life", then you didn't live your life without purpose. You may think such a purpose is trivial or transitory, but that doesn't mean a life dedicated to that meaning could not be a rich and full life lived to the fullest. The pursuit of that meaning could (and often does) open doors of experience and education, perceptions and passions. Even if the question is inapplicable, the life which explored it is not.
A greater tragedy to me would be a life forfeit to the edicts of dogma and shackles of ignorance and fear. A life lived in service and devotion to a figment of the imagination. Still, this is only on the level of rigid fundamentalism - as even religious believers both moderate and casual live lives which are not wholly consumed by religion, and which can appreciate and explore the joys of life - rather than sacrifice it to self-prostration while expecting their chance at enjoying life to come after death.
You have missed my point.
Where did I once mention religious fundamentalism and if that was not directed at me then fair enough but the reply seems to be.
All I am trying to say to the original poster is, live life and experience it, nobody can give you the answer to that other than you through living.
[edit on 23-2-2010 by XXXN3O]
Pages: ^^TOP^^
Newest topics, updated in real-time:
Newest topics getting flags, in real-time:
Toxic legacy of US assault on Fallujah 'worse than Hiroshima'
Breaking Alternative News: 17 hours ago, 27 flags
Breaking Alternative News: 17 hours ago, 27 flags
Fart joke leads to college student being arrested and charged
Social Issues and Civil Unrest: 16 hours ago, 22 flags
Social Issues and Civil Unrest: 16 hours ago, 22 flags
As Commandos Raid Tampa, US State Dept Demands Power to Declare War?
New World Order: 9 hours ago, 12 flags
New World Order: 9 hours ago, 12 flags
Code Name** Stellar Wind. Objective** Infiltrate All. Chances For Sucess** High.
General Conspiracies: 8 hours ago, 12 flags
General Conspiracies: 8 hours ago, 12 flags
How many Vietnam Veterans does it take to screw in a Light Bulb?
General Chit Chat: 15 hours ago, 9 flags
General Chit Chat: 15 hours ago, 9 flags
Newest topics getting replies, in real-time:
Fart joke leads to college student being arrested and charged
Social Issues and Civil Unrest: 16 hours ago, 70 replies
Social Issues and Civil Unrest: 16 hours ago, 70 replies
Toxic legacy of US assault on Fallujah 'worse than Hiroshima'
Breaking Alternative News: 17 hours ago, 55 replies
Breaking Alternative News: 17 hours ago, 55 replies
The Above Top Secret Web sites are a
wholly owned social content community of
The Above Network, LLC.
This content community relies on
user-generated content from our member contributors.
The opinions of our members are not those of site ownership
who maintains strict editorial agnosticism and simply provides
a collaborative venue for free expression.
ATS Server: www3.theabovenetwork.com
Header data: 0.006 seconds
Page processed in: 0.164 seconds
wholly owned social content community of
The Above Network, LLC.
This content community relies on
user-generated content from our member contributors.
The opinions of our members are not those of site ownership
who maintains strict editorial agnosticism and simply provides
a collaborative venue for free expression.
ATS Server: www3.theabovenetwork.com
Header data: 0.006 seconds
Page processed in: 0.164 seconds
