Why?

[Anonymouse]

Early to bed, early to rise, and so continue your life with the cyclic turns, for what purpose? Purpose is the needle which guides the compass of our life pointing to the north. Without purpose you have uncertainty. Whether we deny it, we live for a purpose. To have purpose, is to be certain of what one lives. Do we live merely being tied to the earth and nothing more? What is the reason that you wake up? If you answer that, what is the reason you go to school? Why do you work? Why do we seek to form bonds of love, family, and kinship? Is it simply to keep ourselves from getting bored? Is our purpose more practical than spiritual?

[thedebutante]

Early to bed, early to rise, and so continue your life with the cyclic turns, for what purpose? Purpose is the needle which guides the compass of our life pointing to the north. Without purpose you have uncertainty. Whether we deny it, we live for a purpose. To have purpose, is to be certain of what one lives. Do we live merely being tied to the earth and nothing more? What is the reason that you wake up? If you answer that, what is the reason you go to school? Why do you work? Why do we seek to form bonds of love, family, and kinship? Is it simply to keep ourselves from getting bored? Is our purpose more practical than spiritual?

This could lead to a cyclical argument and I'm not a very big fan of those. While our purpose may be to do practical things, we do those things for spiritual fulfillment...Thus in the end, we are all selfish bastards.

To make things simple, some of us say that we don’t know our purpose but live life thinking that it would lead to something that is predestined to begin with. This relates to Calvinist philosophy and I def. don’t want to get into that…

[Anonymouse]

This isn't meant to be an argument. Just throw out your views. If you don't like cyclical arguments or don't want to get in that, then don't participate. Simple as that.

As far as your point about us being entirely selfish. I disagree with that Randian twist, for altruism is an integral part of human nature. Even those evolutionists whom I disagree with state that altruism is necessary for the survival of species. Religion has its own answer for altruism and selflessness.

[thedebutante]

Yeah, that's why I said that this "could lead to a cyclical argument." I didn't say that it's meant to be an argument.

I will respond to this thread as soon as I can think of one selfless act of altruism.

[Anonymouse]

Yeah, that's why I said that this "could lead to a cyclical argument." I didn't say that it's meant to be an argument.

I will respond to this thread as soon as I can think of one selfless act of altruism.

Perhaps not responding would be just that.

[SagGal]

Well, if you're asking for the purpose of life and existance, I don't really know. But I do think that we

...form bonds of love, family, and kinship...to keep ourselves from getting bored...

Same goes for going to school and working. I suppose it's to survive. If you don't care about your life or what you do, minus well just drop dead, but for some reason, most of us don't do that.

[gevo]

This was a fundamental yet flawed underlying speculation for Darwin's theories.. basically, everything strives to survive, yet what is the driving force of that?... and I beleive only religion answers that, and then ofcourse, which religion among the many seperations of the original church is to be trusted.. blah blah blah.. i dont think we need to make it that difficult, just follow the word of God. and if your an athiest, your just Sh!t out of luck.. u have no purpose.. lol...

My view is one from the Christian perspective, basically the driving force is interwined with free will, and our decisions being based on the anticipated life of eternity, in heaven.. or hell.. lol. ofcourse the latter is also determined by religion.. but then again, to most of you i have noticed religion is opinion... and yes, it is choice,,, so whatever.. this is how i take it.

[Anonymouse]

Well, if you're asking for the purpose of life and existance, I don't really know. But I do think that we

Same goes for going to school and working. I suppose it's to survive. If you don't care about your life or what you do, minus well just drop dead, but for some reason, most of us don't do that.

But that still sort of leaves the "why" for me. Why do you do all those things? Is it really as simple and practical as keeping yourself from getting bored? Then why don't some people work, form bonds of love and families, but instead choose to engage in theft, or bribery, murder, or consolidations of power? If we are all keeping ourselves from getting bored, why does it matter what things we do, we might as well just do anything to keep ourselves from getting bored.

As for gevo's response, I understand your purpose, so to speak, it is religious. It is also the one I happen to agree with. However, it wasn't so much of a religious question, as it is a question more geared to assess what drives us more, practicality, or spirituality. Because this isn't the first time I've stated this, and basically it is that our reasons for being, no matter what endeavors we pursue, are to leave a mark on this life, perhaps extend our name or accomplishments and live beyond our deaths, in which way we can transcend our finite sense of self. By that, thedebutante is correct, in that our goals are more often spiritual, than they are practical. However, some do not see it that way, and hence the question posed to all.

[thedebutante]

Perhaps not responding would be just that.

Indeed. Perhaps you are right.

[XxgoeyxX]

What is the purpose of my life? I don’t know to be honest but I am going to answer as best as I can. I might live like this for the rest of my life or I might have other things happen to me. But from what I have learned so far in life, I agree with thedebutante it is spiritual. Because I believe it is spiritual then I believe my family, my life and the life I will have when I get married will also be spiritual.

I also think the purpose of life is to create knowledge or it can be as silly as having a wonderful conversation with someone. We find identity, meaning, and fulfillment in relationships with our family and community. So why do some people think they have to go traveling all the time and party day in and day out so they can live life. I never understood that. Nor will I ever understand that. If I end up being a good mother, then I have a purpose to care for my children and love them unconditionally. Love or Compassion is the core of Ultimate Reality. When we rise from self-centered attachments and desires then we find happiness.

With that said I’m going to answer all of your questions Anon, will some of it. Why do I go to school? Cause I love school silly. And I love learning. I love the freedom of understand things and having an education when others would kill to have. Why do I wake up in the morning? Because, I have to go to school silly and cause I don’t want to think about death right now. I have experienced things and gone through things in my life I cant even express in words. It’s just emotional and it’s harder for me to think about it. It might not be as harsh as other people’s life but I do feel I am lucky.

And the last question I will answer. Why do I seek to find bonds with family and friends. Well I do that because those people make me happy. They give me hope in my life. They are the reason I feel my life is worth living. I don’t know about anyone else, but my family is so important to me. I don’t even know if they know that I feel this way. Anywho, they are, so I guess they are also my purpose, to live with them and to grow with them.