Is there a purpose to your existence?

[Mike]

You are arguing points I didn't make. Again, being able to read context coincides with the ability to abstract. When did I say as A whole, or state that they believed that it was the answer to ALL life's spiritual questions. Go back to my opening statement "OFTEN" the scientific community". You are reading your own eisegesis into what I wrote and basically arguing with yourself. No one said any of what you are arguing. I honestly don't know if is a reading comprehension, pride or purposeful misunderstanding issue, but it is getting a little labored. If you are going to argue my point make sure they arE MY POINTS. You probably skimmed what I wrote and I don't blame you but it is annoying.

Like I said in the bolded I quoted it seemed pretty clear to me what you were arguing and implying, but hey it's late and maybe you weren't trying to say what I thought you were. As far as people misinterpreting your points, seemingly on purpose, I feel you. That's my experience every day here. As you said maybe some skimming, maybe just some mis-communications. Communication purely through text is a tricky thing.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

well it might explain why you claim you don't have a care if you're accidental.

Everyone is to the extent that none of this was planned.
I get that you're coming from a Jesus angle.

 

[Elija Mcwilliams]

Like I said in the bolded I quoted it seemed pretty clear to me what you were arguing and implying, but hey it's late and maybe you weren't trying to say what I thought you were. As far as people misinterpreting your points, seemingly on purpose, I feel you. That's my experience every day here. As you said maybe some skimming, maybe just some mis-communications. Communication purely through text is a tricky thing.

NO PROBS.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

It's something I've given a great deal of thought to.
I'm currently considering the end of things, as my midlife goes on. I've enjoyed life greatly, and if I have a purpose, I suppose I've biologically filled it by becoming a father. To some degree, our purpose is to reproduce and once we've accomplished that, our biological goal is finished in life.

Philosophically, my purpose is to make myself and others happy as much as possible, and to avoid hurting others.

 

[colby25]

Meh, science is an imperfect tool to be sure. But I'll take the system that is interested in honestly finding out how the world works, over the system using bronze age philosophy to brainwash people. And I really don't mean that offensively. You've always seemed like a nice enough guy, but religion is bullshit. People were afraid of death, and afraid of natural phenomena they didn't understand. So they created this idea of god as a security blanket.


Is there an actual god? I dunno man. Nobody knows. Maybe. If so he's more Apocalypse and less Gandalf. Our science, that has to actually work. We are at the pinnacle of human existence, and we owe it all to science. In a very real applied way, our science powers every industry. Our entire way of life and this very conversation would be impossible without technology. Your way requires a LOT more blind belief than mine, but either way we're going to be left with assumptions when you go back billions of years. I'd rather have a system that rigorously researches what could have happened, that isn't afraid to say sometimes we don't know everything. I'll take an educated guess about what happened a billion years ago over random, completely made up bullshit.

you see I would disagree that the science community is honestly interested in finding out how the world works.

They are seeking to find how the world works without the possibility of God- which is not taking all factors into consideration. In fact I would say they would go out of their way to try and disprove God at every and any chance they get and even belittle those who profess faith in Christ.

And believe it or not- Atheism is rare. It's natural for a man to look around and say we believe in God. It is far more UNNATURAL to come to the conclusion that this all by accident. Nevertheless- how can you discredit millions upon millions of Christians who profess to have a RELATIONSHIP with God? You can call them whacky or dismiss them as delusional I suppose- or perhaps there's more to it then you know about it.

 

[colby25]

It's something I've given a great deal of thought to.
I'm currently considering the end of things, as my midlife goes on. I've enjoyed life greatly, and if I have a purpose, I suppose I've biologically filled it by becoming a father. To some degree, our purpose is to reproduce and once we've accomplished that, our biological goal is finished in life.

Philosophically, my purpose is to make myself and others happy as much as possible, and to avoid hurting others.

Fair enough- that's a noble way to live life.

I would agree your job to reproduce is God's will even according to the bible- "be fruitful and multiply".

But I think you really have nothing to lose to seek out God and Jesus Christ of the Bible- at the very least- perhaps you can think of it as an educational experience. I do believe religion will actually be more relevant in the future as the bible does predict that a one world religion will arise in the end days that kills and persecutes those who don't profess the same beliefs. Ironically enough- I think we're beginning to see that now as there has never been a time before where more Christians are killed and martyred for their faith.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

Fair enough- that's a noble way to live life.

I would agree your job to reproduce is God's will even according to the bible- "be fruitful and multiply".

But I think you really have nothing to lose to seek out God and Jesus Christ of the Bible- at the very least- perhaps you can think of it as an educational experience. I do believe religion will actually be more relevant in the future as the bible does predict that a one world religion will arise in the end days that kills and persecutes those who don't profess the same beliefs. Ironically enough- I think we're beginning to see that now as there has never been a time before where more Christians are killed and martyred for their faith.

I think that having been raised a Christian and having gone to church every day of the week but Saturday for fourteen years was enough.

But I get that you have to testify.
I'm with ya on Jesus except the divinity. I see no reason to believe in anything supernatural.

My personal Jesus is a relaxed sort.

 

[JAEGERX]

i think i can sum up part of what i think with a Rick and Morty quote

alot of nihilism in there but i find it a message that brings quite alof of peace of mind

 

[colby25]

I think that having been raised a Christian and having gone to church every day of the week but Saturday for fourteen years was enough.

But I get that you have to testify.
I'm with ya on Jesus except the divinity. I see no reason to believe in anything supernatural.

My personal Jesus is a relaxed sort.

What made you stop going to church? Just the chance that you could choose for yourself to go or not to go?

 

[scorpipede]

Is that it?

Yes indeed. I have a child that I'm going to be putting through college soon so that's my purpose but the reason we're all here is due to cosmic happenstance.

 

[Deleted member 110072]

Your dealing with observational bias of course with the specialness of humans current position, yes were the first advanced sentient life forms in earth history but as a result were also the first lifeform capable of making that observation.

I would point out that Darwin himself commented against "survival of the fittest" being something to live by and I think it also ignores the specifics of human evolution. Its arguably that really we've been more a case of "survival of the kindest" as strong empathy is essential for a society to function, not just directed at your offspring but at everyone.

So really there is not the claimed divide between science and religion, we evolved to be empathic hence it feels fulfilling to be so.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

What made you stop going to church? Just the chance that you could choose for yourself to go or not to go?

I nearly became a priest but my sponsor told me he didn't think it was for me, I was too "other-minded".

I've always been a skeptic, and my belief in God as a reality was always tenuous. Once I started to mature, I began to see God and religious principles as a means of controlling a society, in a good way, but also I saw that doesn't successful society doesn't require the God hypothesis.

As moral behavior doesn't require the God hypothesis. It helps, sure, but belief also removes the need for examination, which is why I've spoken to many religious people who seem never to have examined their beliefs or morality.

 

[colby25]

I nearly became a priest but my sponsor told me he didn't think it was for me, I was too "other-minded".

I've always been a skeptic, and my belief in God as a reality was always tenuous. Once I started to mature, I began to see God and religious principles as a means of controlling a society, in a good way, but also I saw that doesn't successful society doesn't require the God hypothesis.

As moral behavior doesn't require the God hypothesis. It helps, sure, but belief also removes the need for examination, which is why I've spoken to many religious people who seem never to have examined their beliefs or morality.

During that time when you almost became a priest you never felt a closeness to God? Seen miracles, prayers answered? Nothing?

What made you want to be a priest?

Sorry for all the questions- just curious .

 

[Organic Damage]

The Very Bad Wizards podcast had an excellent episode discussing this very topic (well, more Absurdism, but as it relates to there being a meaning or purpose to ones existence)

https://verybadwizards.fireside.fm/126

I have definitely thought (probably too much) about this question, but mainly because the purposes society, religion and culture have supplied for my life seem unconvincing to me.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

During that time when you almost became a priest you never felt a closeness to God? Seen miracles, prayers answered? Nothing?

What made you want to be a priest?

Sorry for all the questions- just curious .

I felt a sense of spirituality. But I felt the same thing looking through my telescope at M31, or when listening to Paganini's 24 Caprices. Not any different. Profound, but the same profundity.
And I very much wanted it to be unique, felt it ought to be. Maybe that wasn't a realistic expectation on my part, maybe it was all the same for a reason.

I think a lot of the reason I wanted to become a priest was family pressure. Honestly.

I never saw any miracles, nor prayers answered, and I really was ready to interpret anything as a sign- a prayer book falling in the back of the church, anything.

But that's the way of God, belief can't rely on a burning bush moment to happen and remove doubt.

 

[genecop]

Well first off, he's a known ultra religious poster. Just heading off the inevitable bs I know is coming.


Second, logically we're not at all in the same position. I am not the one making a claim, the religious person is. I can't disprove invisible keebler elves or magic unicorns either, and that isn't proof of their existence.


The burden of proof is always on the person making the claim. There's absolutely no evidence whatsoever that any deity exists. The logical assumption is that there is no such being, it chooses not to communicate with us, or it doesn't care about humanity or share our value system.

If we are in a court of law, yes the burden of proof is on the plaintiff.. That law only applies here as a convenience to the argument...it has no real fundamental basis...This incredibly complex system that we live in just randomly occurred...no one behind it..I cant logically assume that is the case...I don't disagree with you, I just think the factors that drive each side of the argument are both based in nothing more than opinion...

 

[ClubFoot]

And neither are satisfying are they?

In the moment sure- but immediately after? It's like a drug addict isn't satisfied with one hit, or the alcoholic with one drink. Always seeking the next high.

You're doing it wrong.

 

[squeezewax]

Why would anyone worship a super-being who, when the first innocent, naive human female got tricked by 'the master of lies'[satan] went completely ape-shit?
The punishment he meted out to the two most naive humans to of ever lived was crazy. The punishment far outweighed the crime.
Not only chucked the two out of the garden of eden, but also condemned every single human that was to be born right up to this second. Basically sentenced humans to have a hard struggle in life, unhappy and to toil away for next to no reward.
Also decided he'd make sure that females would experience severe pain when giving birth.

This god is a psycho! If anyone thinks that punishment isn't over the top and incredibly cruel, then you must be mental yourself, or just not being honest.
That is ONE of the reasons i've never believed in a god, because it doesn't make sense. A being that is super intelligent, more smart than anyone can even imagine, wouldn't act that way imo.
He wouldn't act like a tosser and barbarian!
We are told he loves us more than a mother loves her child, but where is the evidence? He did some really awful things to people including ones that loved him, he is mad!
He creates these two perfect humans and the first thing that goes slightly wrong he does something that is devastating to them and the rest of us, that is not love.

Even if he did exist i think lots of people wouldn't worship him because he is a bastard and a half!

Oh yeah, there is no point to our existence except to keep the species alive.

 

[TAK47]

Jerk off and play video games.

 

[Craigslist]

When was the last time you sat down and really thought through is there a purpose to my existence?

You are standing on a giant ball that is 2/3 water spinning at a 1,000 mph.

And then there is another ball of fire that is 93 million miles away that never burns up that is keeping us warm.

What is the purpose of you? Are you just an accident?

Where does it come from?

According to wiki:

The formation and evolution of the Solar System began 4.6 billion years ago with the gravitational collapse of a small part of a giant molecular cloud.[1] Most of the collapsing mass collected in the center, forming the Sun, while the rest flattened into a protoplanetary disk out of which the planets, moons, asteroids, and other small Solar System bodies formed.
​

Is that it?

That the whole story that somehow there was a molecular cloud that was always there that exploded into ours solar system that you see now.

Or maybe there is something greater? That this was wasn't accident. That you weren't an accident.

Our purpose is to give glory and honor to God. He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for me, so I will live for Him.