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Life does have a purpose?

Life does have a purpose

This is what Christian propaganda material tells us.

Among the many life forms that evolved on the earth, human beings have done rather well for themselves. We have truly acted as the vice-regents of the earth and utilized most of earth’s resources for ourselves. The purpose of every common man is to seek as much happiness as he can find. This couldn’t be said to be the purpose of our lives. A few of us do go beyond personal happiness and lead a relatively more purposeful life, but this is again purely in the interest of the humans only. Mahatma Gandhi, George Washington, Edison and Einstein are all important to us, not to the universe.

If a creator god has created us with a purpose, then our existence should be important to the universe. Leave aside the universe, are we relevant to at least the earth? How much difference would it make to earth if we were not existing here? Are we more important to the earth than the earthworms? The universe is full of wasted material and space. How much more relevant are we to the universe compared to the wasted material? Are we glorifying ourselves by saying that our life has a purpose?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by G T Bud Martin on December 12, 2012 at 7:46am

As is the case with all other species, the purpose of the latest iteration of homo erectus is ... reproduce. The principal asset of humans is imagination, development of mind (brain function). PURSUIT of "happpiness" is one mode of cultural development. "Ignorance is the greatest evil." Get wise.

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on December 12, 2012 at 8:27am

As for being relevant to the earth ...

I'm pretty sure that as far as the Earth is concerned, it would be better off without us, unless you count the vague possibility of us eventually spreading its biosphere to other planets. I guess you could look at it as reproduction on a planetary scale.

That's assuming we can manage colonization of other planets before we wipe ourselves out.

Permalink Reply by Jamile Oenomaus Williamson on December 12, 2012 at 3:00pm

The basic properties of life is replication, metabolism, organic matter & brain. The brain calculates the difference between the estimated future and the required future, which is the actions that we should take (if possible). As individuals we define what our purpose or purposes can & will be. It is important to me that future technological advances in the sciences are essential to our survival. Colonization of other planets & space exploration should be one of those purposes.

Permalink Reply by Madhukar Kulkarni on December 13, 2012 at 2:24am

We as atheists do not believe that god has created us with the purpose of replication. We are entirely the product of the nature on the earth, not even of the universe as a whole. The earth certainly hasn't produced us for replication, what then is the purpose of our existance in relation to earth or the universe?

Our existance is certainly very important to us in more than one respect. The universe does not recognise any one of them.

Permalink Reply by Pat Hartley on December 13, 2012 at 7:17am

The meaning of life,the purpose if you will, is to live consistently and in harmony with Nature. As far as glorifying ourselves. that is a christian thing to do. We are relevant to the earth as temporary caretakers. We are more relevant to each other.

Permalink Reply by Luara on December 15, 2012 at 3:49pm

You find your own purpose in life. What gives you a sense of purpose? What most profoundly gives you a high excitement?

There's a poem by Stephen Crane:

A man said to the universe:

“Sir, I exist!"

“However,” replied the universe,

“The fact has not created in me

“A sense of obligation.”

Permalink Reply by ROMAN ROMACH on December 15, 2012 at 8:45pm

The sole, purpose of the universe is to create stars, and everything else is a by-product -- including life. And as has been well said, the purpose of life is to create life, regardless of the lofty goals we set ourselves. Since we are really no different from other animals (we have to eat, drink, eliminate waste and are consumed by sex) it is vanity to think we are more "important" than the nematode or the worm or the bacterium. If they disappeared the soil would lose much of its fertility. If man disappeared, I can thnk of nothing catastrophic that would occur.

To argue that there is too much wasted space and material in the universe is a homocentric attitude that the universe was made for us. The universe is hostile to life. If the earth should lose its magetic polarity during a reversal, we will lose our atmosphere and get fried by radiation - or a direct hit by a large comet could destroy us. Life is short and very tenuous, and the universe wouldn't miss us.

Permalink Reply by Philip Jarrett on December 21, 2012 at 4:13pm

Can you tell me the difference between a life without purpose and freedom? They both seem to be expressing the same thing only from different perspectives. Purpose requires obligation, obligation infers limitation, limitation constrains freedom.

Permalink Reply by ROMAN ROMACH on December 23, 2012 at 10:33am

Philip, I'm a nuts-and-bolts type and find philosophy too slippery and unconstrained, so this question may be more suitable for someone else.

On its face I could agree with your arguement, but, since I believe that every living thing has a purpose -- to stay alive -- our freedom is always constrained. So in that case are freedom is limited from the outset.

I hope that made some sense.

Permalink Reply by amer chohan on December 23, 2012 at 10:42am

every living thing has a purpose -- to stay alive as an individual

and to reproduce to stay alive as a specie.

Permalink Reply by ROMAN ROMACH on December 23, 2012 at 12:36pm

That's true, Amer. The reason I didn't include the preservation of the species is because it's a result of the second most poweful drive in the animal Kingdom -- sex -- and not a driver in itself.

Permalink Reply by amer chohan on December 25, 2012 at 3:17am

Thats what species are doing, reproducing their copies. Sexually reproducing are doing it on one step higher level. Reproducing better copies. Coming to orignal discussion, it is a purpose in itself. Leave behind better generations, better earth and a better universe.