This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 21st, 2010 at 9:29 and is filed under QOTD.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Trite, but I suppose in the context of atheism it makes the point that value is to be found in the one life we have, not in yearning for a jam tomorrow afterlife.
Mind you, purpose is in the eye of the beholder. In theory one could find purpose in a hedonistic life that may seem futile to others.
Eh, I’m not a fan of tautologies like this quote. And besides, any study of life (in Greek, bio-logy) will tell you that the purpose of life is, in the long run, to propogate.
The purpose of your life though (i.e., in the short run)… that’s up to you to define and no one else.
There is no purpose to life. We exist simply because we exist. We can give our lives personal value, but it still would not gain any purpose. To give life purpose is to personify the universe, and the universe is not a person, it is a thing. One only needs to google “hubble deep field images” then go outside and raise a pin to the sky and understand that the picture they just viewed is right at the tip of that pin, and you will soon realize that the universe does not revolve around humanity and it’s “purpose”.
False.
There is no purpose to life. We exist simply because we exist.
Obviously. Purpose really is only relevent to us as conscious self aware beings. I kind of interpreted the quote in a humanistic way rather than it implying any cosmic or divine purpose.
We were all put on mother earth for a purpose, to find that purpose and live it fully,could very be the greatest thing any human could do.If you look you will find.Its not the same for everyone. All the best in your search.
We were not put here for any reason. We are the product of evolution. We are lucky enough in this day and age that we can choose a purpose for our lives. Some choose art, others choose career, family, or several things. Techs purpose for example, is to devote his life to a religious quest. The search for meaning in the worship of a deity.
Of course we are fortunate enough to be able to make our own meaning. Most of the Earths population have no choice and their days are reduced to the logistics of merely surviving another day.
No Ernie. I’ve been on this walk many years. i had my share of troubles but always came true lose heart I don’t so.I have friend that is closer than a brother.His name is Jesus.
Ah I get it your talking about the Christian idea that we are all wretched sinners deserving only a death sentence always and forever but you can submit to this authoritarian god and forfeit your brain and be allowed to worship him forever. Sorry tried it. No freedom there. Freedom is seeing yourself as you really are, accepting it, and not losing heart.
We exist because we exist true but there absolutely is a purpose to life. From a scientific view we are here to make sure our genes continue to passed on to future generations. From a personal view then if there was no purpose to life then the world would be a very grim place.
I don’t believe my atheist views should darken my view of the world. I still find wonder and purpose in this world without god.
One has to wonder if the purpose of life (specifically human that is) might also be the pursuit of knowledge in conjunction with reproduction. Knowledge is what gives humans our adaptability and resultant evolutionary edge. Its also one of the few things that we can leave behind after we die aside from our genes.
Then I’m confused why you were claiming earlier that you were “put here” or “created”. Clearly you weren’t, and you agree (now). In fact you appear to agree now that your earlier position was “absurd.” So what was up with your earlier comments then?
tech. I’m going to go out on a limb here, and maybe get a little personal, while trying to stay on topic.
I get the feeling that you found religion relatively late in life, probably because it met a particular need during a difficult time. Christ has given you a purpose that has become an an anchor or moral compass for something in your past. That’s fine by me and if it works for you great! However, the fact that you are hanging around an atheist blog, “trolling” out Christian apologetics without actually defending your position with argument leads me to suspect that you are not as comfortable intellectually with your position as you pretend to be.
Shoot me down i flames if I am wrong about this. I won’t be offended.
As an atheist I know that it is possible (and in my case preferable) to find both purpose and a moral imperative without resorting appealing to supernatural superiors.
Humans are intrinsically moral; we have to be in order to build the complex societies we currently inhabit. This is the beauty of our species, not fallen in need of redemption, but noble in our compassion for our fellows.
We are not uniformly “good” and we are not as individuals consistently moral. But, we are collectively responsible and collectively we have developed the checks and balances that regulate civilisation as we know it.
The problem with religion is that it is prescriptive, defining morality in terms of the social and political mores of the time that their scriptures were written. These do not always translate into contemporary society, which challenges the conservative mind.
The advantage of critical thought, rational analysis and a scientific approach to the world we share, is that facts (or sound theoretical explanations) can inform us, you and me as individuals, about the things we really need to be concerned about. Religion cannot do that, fossilised as it is in the past and without cogniscence of the present.
The fundamentals of morality may well be hard wired into our primate brains, but a lot of the specifics (sex always springs to mind) are social constructs. That is where religion lurks and perverts. Not everything is the way those in control would have us believe.
tech, you’ve been here long enough to know we are not immoral people; diverse, irreverent and controversial yes, but not immoral…
We all have a purpose, not ordained but self determined, Then we die. Examples of humanity however, live on…
Atheist mc, wow imagine if I were talking directly to you.There is no more room in your head for anything. It would take nothing short of a miracle to convince you of anything.Whats so hard to believe about a person such as myself, that I can be happy in my Christian walk.Just because you haven’t experienced it doesn’t mean it don’t exist. You want to believe you’re ancestors swung from a tree,go ahead. You ended by saying we die , and that’s true.It is appointed unto man once to die and then the Judgment. You don’t have to believe that.It changes nothing whether you believe it or not. As for me hanging around on this site. A little bit of salt is often needed here.
@Tech I think it’s very safe to say that we have all “walked with Christ”. The thing that makes us atheists, though, is that we found out there it was neither a God nor any demon that was filling our minds, but rather our own selves. Go ahead and ask yourself if what you think you feel in your religion can be something that is simply nothing more than mind over matter, and you are allowing your mind to fool it’s own self.
@Mc I view purpose in both an astronomical way and humanistic way. In all reality, this universe doesn’t care because it isn’t a person and can’t think or have feelings, but we as humans who use the equipment of the universe to live, have the ability to think and feel and therefor we have added value to life. Even though we don’t matter, we still matter to each other, and our own selves.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:22
Trite, but I suppose in the context of atheism it makes the point that value is to be found in the one life we have, not in yearning for a jam tomorrow afterlife.
Mind you, purpose is in the eye of the beholder. In theory one could find purpose in a hedonistic life that may seem futile to others.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:48
Eh, I’m not a fan of tautologies like this quote. And besides, any study of life (in Greek, bio-logy) will tell you that the purpose of life is, in the long run, to propogate.
The purpose of your life though (i.e., in the short run)… that’s up to you to define and no one else.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:51
False.
There is no purpose to life. We exist simply because we exist. We can give our lives personal value, but it still would not gain any purpose. To give life purpose is to personify the universe, and the universe is not a person, it is a thing. One only needs to google “hubble deep field images” then go outside and raise a pin to the sky and understand that the picture they just viewed is right at the tip of that pin, and you will soon realize that the universe does not revolve around humanity and it’s “purpose”.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:36
yeah, yeah, yeah……………swell quote.
although i DO agree with ATH.MC……purpose IS in the eye of the beholder.
anyway, here’s some fun…drop “the” and “a” out of the sentence, and you get one of those lines that reads the same forward or back !!!
my personal favorite is ” WAS IT A CAT I SAW ”
best to all !!
October 21st, 2010 at 12:44
Still not really a palindrome robb 🙂
Obviously. Purpose really is only relevent to us as conscious self aware beings. I kind of interpreted the quote in a humanistic way rather than it implying any cosmic or divine purpose.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:47
for the 2nd time today ( ! ) i agree with ATH.MC
October 21st, 2010 at 12:47
I totally agree with today’s quote.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:52
tech………..how about some detail ???
October 21st, 2010 at 12:59
We were all put on mother earth for a purpose, to find that purpose and live it fully,could very be the greatest thing any human could do.If you look you will find.Its not the same for everyone. All the best in your search.
October 21st, 2010 at 13:06
We were not put here for any reason. We are the product of evolution. We are lucky enough in this day and age that we can choose a purpose for our lives. Some choose art, others choose career, family, or several things. Techs purpose for example, is to devote his life to a religious quest. The search for meaning in the worship of a deity.
October 21st, 2010 at 13:11
tech,
We weren’t “put” anywhere. We’re born. And for no other reason than our parents had intercourse.
October 21st, 2010 at 13:19
Of course we are fortunate enough to be able to make our own meaning. Most of the Earths population have no choice and their days are reduced to the logistics of merely surviving another day.
October 21st, 2010 at 15:15
Dan,why don’t you stick to what your really good at.Ernie,there is no freedom like seeing ones self as he is and not lose heart.
October 21st, 2010 at 16:04
Do not follow tech. You are losing heart?
October 21st, 2010 at 16:29
No Ernie. I’ve been on this walk many years. i had my share of troubles but always came true lose heart I don’t so.I have friend that is closer than a brother.His name is Jesus.
October 21st, 2010 at 16:32
Should read, I had my share of troubles but always came through.Lose heart I don’t think so.
October 21st, 2010 at 16:35
Ah I get it your talking about the Christian idea that we are all wretched sinners deserving only a death sentence always and forever but you can submit to this authoritarian god and forfeit your brain and be allowed to worship him forever. Sorry tried it. No freedom there. Freedom is seeing yourself as you really are, accepting it, and not losing heart.
October 21st, 2010 at 16:54
We exist because we exist true but there absolutely is a purpose to life. From a scientific view we are here to make sure our genes continue to passed on to future generations. From a personal view then if there was no purpose to life then the world would be a very grim place.
I don’t believe my atheist views should darken my view of the world. I still find wonder and purpose in this world without god.
October 21st, 2010 at 16:57
Right PEB. Purpose is personal no gods required. I’d go even farther and say my atheist views do not darken the world.
October 21st, 2010 at 17:55
One has to wonder if the purpose of life (specifically human that is) might also be the pursuit of knowledge in conjunction with reproduction. Knowledge is what gives humans our adaptability and resultant evolutionary edge. Its also one of the few things that we can leave behind after we die aside from our genes.
October 21st, 2010 at 18:46
tech,
Are you saying you weren’t born??
October 21st, 2010 at 19:52
No Dan why do you ask such an absurd question?I was born as a baby like you.But I also have been born again.
October 21st, 2010 at 20:26
Then I’m confused why you were claiming earlier that you were “put here” or “created”. Clearly you weren’t, and you agree (now). In fact you appear to agree now that your earlier position was “absurd.” So what was up with your earlier comments then?
October 21st, 2010 at 20:50
Afterall tech, to the notion that you were born as opposed to put here, you said “why don’t you stick to what your really good at.” Which is it?
Please make up your mind.
October 21st, 2010 at 23:32
tech. I’m going to go out on a limb here, and maybe get a little personal, while trying to stay on topic.
I get the feeling that you found religion relatively late in life, probably because it met a particular need during a difficult time. Christ has given you a purpose that has become an an anchor or moral compass for something in your past. That’s fine by me and if it works for you great! However, the fact that you are hanging around an atheist blog, “trolling” out Christian apologetics without actually defending your position with argument leads me to suspect that you are not as comfortable intellectually with your position as you pretend to be.
Shoot me down i flames if I am wrong about this. I won’t be offended.
As an atheist I know that it is possible (and in my case preferable) to find both purpose and a moral imperative without resorting appealing to supernatural superiors.
Humans are intrinsically moral; we have to be in order to build the complex societies we currently inhabit. This is the beauty of our species, not fallen in need of redemption, but noble in our compassion for our fellows.
We are not uniformly “good” and we are not as individuals consistently moral. But, we are collectively responsible and collectively we have developed the checks and balances that regulate civilisation as we know it.
The problem with religion is that it is prescriptive, defining morality in terms of the social and political mores of the time that their scriptures were written. These do not always translate into contemporary society, which challenges the conservative mind.
The advantage of critical thought, rational analysis and a scientific approach to the world we share, is that facts (or sound theoretical explanations) can inform us, you and me as individuals, about the things we really need to be concerned about. Religion cannot do that, fossilised as it is in the past and without cogniscence of the present.
The fundamentals of morality may well be hard wired into our primate brains, but a lot of the specifics (sex always springs to mind) are social constructs. That is where religion lurks and perverts. Not everything is the way those in control would have us believe.
tech, you’ve been here long enough to know we are not immoral people; diverse, irreverent and controversial yes, but not immoral…
We all have a purpose, not ordained but self determined, Then we die. Examples of humanity however, live on…
October 22nd, 2010 at 1:13
Atheist mc, wow imagine if I were talking directly to you.There is no more room in your head for anything. It would take nothing short of a miracle to convince you of anything.Whats so hard to believe about a person such as myself, that I can be happy in my Christian walk.Just because you haven’t experienced it doesn’t mean it don’t exist. You want to believe you’re ancestors swung from a tree,go ahead. You ended by saying we die , and that’s true.It is appointed unto man once to die and then the Judgment. You don’t have to believe that.It changes nothing whether you believe it or not. As for me hanging around on this site. A little bit of salt is often needed here.
October 22nd, 2010 at 1:20
Dan ,why don’t you go get your binoculars and do something more suited for you. Maybe, just maybe a little bird will enlighten you.
October 22nd, 2010 at 1:47
@Tech I think it’s very safe to say that we have all “walked with Christ”. The thing that makes us atheists, though, is that we found out there it was neither a God nor any demon that was filling our minds, but rather our own selves. Go ahead and ask yourself if what you think you feel in your religion can be something that is simply nothing more than mind over matter, and you are allowing your mind to fool it’s own self.
@Mc I view purpose in both an astronomical way and humanistic way. In all reality, this universe doesn’t care because it isn’t a person and can’t think or have feelings, but we as humans who use the equipment of the universe to live, have the ability to think and feel and therefor we have added value to life. Even though we don’t matter, we still matter to each other, and our own selves.
October 22nd, 2010 at 8:22
tech,
So you’re back to being angry that you were born, not made?
October 22nd, 2010 at 11:53
On the contrary, all it takes is good evidence.
October 22nd, 2010 at 12:23
I do not think anyone said you were not happy in your Christian walk tech.
October 22nd, 2010 at 19:25
Yet, Ernie, tech doesn’t seem content to leave others be happy with their perspectives. Which is normal for Christians from what I’ve seen.