| Topic: why are we here? |
| Posted : 01/08/08 / Views : 4328 / Replies : | |
|  | | On this blue/green planet.... |
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| Reply #1: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 20/02/08 | |
| | | We are here because the surrounding circumstances allow us to be here.It is like saying 'why does a blade of grass grow?' It grows because the sun shines and the rain rains and the soil contains nutrients, etc :-) sorry, Im new to the site so have not yet completed my profile. I like the artwork HG |
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| Reply #2: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 21/02/08 | |
| | Yes, taking a literal view we are lucky that our planet was at the "right" distance from the sun, in the "Goldilocks Zone" (why do they call it that?).... not too far and not too close.
But I imagine the question is posed in a more philosophical way, i.e. what is the purpose of life etc.; quick answer to enjoy life and fulfil our potential but also do some good for others and do something useful with our lives. |
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| Reply #3: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 21/02/08 | |
| | God knows. Actually, he probably doesn't. Some clever scientist will come along from time to time and let us all know why, but he doesn't know either.
I'm just happy to accept that there is reason for us at all, but that I'm glad we are here, most of the time.
Having said that, we might be an experiment... |
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| Reply #4: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 21/02/08 | |
| | | Does there have to be a purpose to life? Of course if it makes you feel better to think that there is then thats cool but that doesnt mean that there is a purpose. Does it matter if we fulfil our potential (which may be infinite so can we ever know if we fulfilled our potential)? Is there a God and if yes, is it capable of knowing anything? Thats a whole new discussion. I agree that no-one knows the philosophical answer because it isnt capable of knowing. We are here because circumstances allow us to be. Whose experiment? :) Maybe we are here to find all of the answers within ourselves through meditation? |
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| Reply #5: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 21/02/08 | |
| | | Sometimes I wonder if we'll be debriefed when we die. If not, it was just a bloody waste of time! |
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| Reply #6: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 22/02/08 | |
| | I'm on jury service at the moment so have been very bored most of the time waiting for cases to come up. Four days have passed and I have spent a total of five minutes in a court room. So, plenty of time to think. I have a made a friend in a Asian bloke who is about half my age, we both have seen little action in the court room so we sit and talk a lot. He is Moslem, and he spent about 30 minutes the other day trying to convert me to Islam. The subject of the after life came up; him being Moslem, and me being atheist, we are at opposite ends of the scale. So it was interesting.
I find it fascinating that there are people who believe wholeheartedly in another life after this one. I know that there is nothing, I've weighed things up over the years and that is the conclusion I have come to. I will not be swayed, some people might call it "not having an open mind", but for me it let's me get on with this life knowing I have to enjoy it.
Anyway, my response to him when questioned what I thought was the meaning of life was virtually exactly the same as what Summersea said earlier in this thread. But there doesn't have to be a point to everything does there? |
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| Reply #7: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 22/02/08 | |
 | | anonymous |
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| | | Well I'm sticking around because I have a voice. It is my intention to use it to try and help those who don't and unfortunately it is the majority of Earths inhabitants that are voiceless so they depend on us to fight their corner. I might not make much impact but I'm doing what I can and it is my chosen purpose. As for life after death well that is subject to ones own personal opinions according to their experiences or lack of as in most cases, but no one can prove that there isn't life after death however there are many documented cases of events and such like were life after death is the only explanation, so I am very open minded, either way I think it's irrelevant to the here and now. |
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| Reply #8: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 22/02/08 | |
| | No, there doesn't have to be a purpose or meaning to life, as said. I knew someone would pick up on that! So really there are 2 questions, is there some point to life and if so, what is it?
I guess if there is no purpose to it, there is not much point in the discussion.
I hear it said a lot that if there is no afterlife, there is not much point to the whole thing and I can see that point of view. I don't think there is an afterlife but hope there is.
I think in a hedonistic world we do see that attitude, that we may as well enjoy ourselves and sod everything else. People are free to do that of course, but to me it's a futile life that's spent merely seeking self-indulgence. I admire asolo's views, to me life is pointless unless we help others. Good on you! :) |
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| Reply #9: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 22/02/08 | |
| | anonymous |
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| | To find out that by helping others (non-humans too!) that we ourselves will become happier.......
Actually, everything is ONE, we are all bits of the overall supreme being, hiding from each other just to make life more interesting!!! Death is the least of our worries... |
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| Reply #10: Re: why are we here? |
| Posted : 23/02/08 | |
| | | The after life thing can never be proven to exist or not exist can it? |
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