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 Topic: What is the purpose of life?

 (Read 5649 times)
  • 12 Next page « Previous thread | Next thread »
  • What is the purpose of life?
     OP - February 08, 2009, 06:21 PM
    In Islam the purpose is:

    1. To worship God.

    2. To test us.

    "And I have not created the Jinn and man except so that they worship Me" (51:57)

    "He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving" (67:2)

    I would be very interested in people's thoughts on this.

    Also...

    What is the purpose of life according to Christianity?

    Does anybody else have a purpose to life they would like to post?

    Smiley
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #1 - February 08, 2009, 06:47 PM
    Good question.  I am interested to see the degree of convergence amongst non-believers as we have all travelled different paths, and come from different places, yet I wonder if our non-pre-described goals are still the same.

    Here's mine:

    To leave this world in a better state than when I arrived, in whatever small way I can
    To live as happily as possible
    To live as long and healthily as I can
    To experience as much as is reasonably possible
    To attain enlightenment (my definition and please do not ask me to define as its too complicated, variable and can't be bothered - suffice to say perfection)

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  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #2 - February 08, 2009, 07:11 PM
    That verse saved my life (51:57).

    When I was giving dawa I asked a Christian friend what the purpose of life is in Christianity is, and he said,"to spread the Gospel".
    I chose to get circumcised at 17, don't tell me I never believed.
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #3 - February 08, 2009, 07:14 PM
    Incidentally Hass, what's your answer to the question?
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  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #4 - February 08, 2009, 07:17 PM
    Quote from: awais on February 08, 2009, 07:11 PM
    That verse saved my life (51:57).

    Why?
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  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #5 - February 08, 2009, 07:58 PM
    Quote from: IsLame on February 08, 2009, 07:17 PM
    Quote from: awais on February 08, 2009, 07:11 PM
    That verse saved my life (51:57).

    Why?

    It probably helped him see through Islam. That verse would make my heart sink. That's why we're alive?
    "Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name!"
    - Emma Goldman
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #6 - February 08, 2009, 07:59 PM
    Quote from: IsLame on February 08, 2009, 06:47 PM
    Good question.  I am interested to see the degree of convergence amongst non-believers as we have all travelled different paths, and come from different places, yet I wonder if our non-pre-described goals are still the same.

    Here's mine:

    To leave this world in a better state than when I arrived, in whatever small way I can
    To live as happily as possible
    To live as long and healthily as I can
    To experience as much as is reasonably possible
    To attain enlightenment (my definition and please do not ask me to define as its too complicated, variable and can't be bothered - suffice to say perfection)



    Yes. Those are mine too. And finding the truth, which ties in to enlightenment IMO.
    "Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name!"
    - Emma Goldman
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #7 - February 08, 2009, 08:45 PM
    Quote from: Iggy on February 08, 2009, 07:58 PM
    Quote from: IsLame on February 08, 2009, 07:17 PM
    Quote from: awais on February 08, 2009, 07:11 PM
    That verse saved my life (51:57).

    Why?

    It probably helped him see through Islam. That verse would make my heart sink. That's why we're alive?

    No, it defined the purpose and meaning I was looking for in life. Tongue
    I chose to get circumcised at 17, don't tell me I never believed.
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #8 - February 08, 2009, 08:49 PM
    Haha. Some purpose.
    "Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name!"
    - Emma Goldman
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #9 - February 08, 2009, 08:50 PM
    Quote from: IsLame on February 08, 2009, 07:14 PM
    Incidentally Hass, what's your answer to the question?


    To do good in whatever tiny way I can.
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #10 - February 08, 2009, 08:54 PM
    Quote from: Iggy on February 08, 2009, 07:58 PM
    Quote from: IsLame on February 08, 2009, 07:17 PM
    Quote from: awais on February 08, 2009, 07:11 PM
    That verse saved my life (51:57).

    Why?

    It probably helped him see through Islam. That verse would make my heart sink. That's why we're alive?


    Me too, Iggy, I have just made a video that touches on it - I'm uploading it now.
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #11 - February 08, 2009, 08:56 PM
    I serve the purpose of embodying life's positive ideals.
    "At 8:47 I do a grenade jump off a ladder."
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #12 - February 08, 2009, 08:58 PM
    I watch hockey  Afro
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #13 - February 08, 2009, 09:02 PM
    Quote from: IsLame on February 08, 2009, 06:47 PM

    Here's mine:

    To leave this world in a better state than when I arrived, in whatever small way I can
    To live as happily as possible
    To live as long and healthily as I can
    To experience as much as is reasonably possible
    To attain enlightenment (my definition and please do not ask me to define as its too complicated, variable and can't be bothered - suffice to say perfection)




    There is , in my opinion, no "purpose" or "meaning" to life at all. Why should there be?
     
    What you have mentioned above IsLame are your personal philosophies, which are very commendable and I generally agree with. But they don't answer the question of what is the purpose of life in any way.

    I gave up pondering on "why we are here" and "what is the meaning of life" when I stopped being muslim. I assume there is none and just try to live by humanistic and altruistic principles as much as I can.

    We are in favor of tolerance, but it is a very difficult thing to tolerate the intolerant and impossible to tolerate the intolerable.

    -George Dennison Prentice
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #14 - February 08, 2009, 09:36 PM
    OK, similar nihilistic approach here if Hassan was referring to the wider aspect (although Hassan's answer was also a personal philosophy?) 

    I guess we are simply a mid-product of Darwinian evolution.. If there was a purpose then after 100s of thousands of years, I guess we would had a definitive answer to this burning question by now.

    If there is one, and I haven't figured it by the end of my life e.g. an after-life, I think my best bet is to follow these personal philosophies for now, and hopefully (majority of religions agree) they will work towards it..
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  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #15 - February 09, 2009, 02:45 AM
    I agree with Humanoid. I dont believe that there is any great purpose for us humans, especially not a collective purpose. Al though when I think about the way life progresses, i.e. evolution, I see a certain pattern/disposition but I wouldnt count that as purpose. At least not in the ultimate meaningful way...

    I do however believe in personal philosophies. Everyone has a reason to be, and none is greater than the other. I dont see my existence as playing a huge role in humanity, but living out my oen piece of the puzzle.

    The things I can say about myself so far is that I live:

    To experience as much as I can in my short life.
    To make others happy whenever possible.
    To learn, attain knowledge and wisdom.


    Quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius,
    et quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius,
    ad perpetranda miracula rei unius.
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #16 - February 09, 2009, 11:21 AM
    Life's a bitch and then you die, that's the purpose of life.  Afro
    Inhale the good shit, exhale the bullshit.
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #17 - February 09, 2009, 11:33 AM
    Quote from: BerberElla on February 09, 2009, 11:21 AM
    Life's a bitch


    I prefer to think life's a beach - Caribbean here I come.
    Knowing Islam is the only true religion we do not allow propagation of any other religion. How can we allow building of churches and temples when their religion is wrong? Thus we will not allow such wrong things in our countries. - Zakir Naik
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #18 - February 10, 2009, 02:32 PM
    I don't see how heaven gives any more meaning to life personally. You're just living in another place full of meaningless happiness.

    My purpose in this life is to make a difference one day. I'd love to work for an organisation like Amnesty. Don't think I have it in me though.
    Quote from: awais on February 08, 2009, 08:45 PM
    Quote from: Iggy on February 08, 2009, 07:58 PM
    Quote from: IsLame on February 08, 2009, 07:17 PM
    Quote from: awais on February 08, 2009, 07:11 PM
    That verse saved my life (51:57).

    Why?

    It probably helped him see through Islam. That verse would make my heart sink. That's why we're alive?

    No, it defined the purpose and meaning I was looking for in life. Tongue

    Really? When I saw the quote I was disgusted. I thought it may be missing some parts as it seemed so ridiculous and made life seem even more worthless. How were you satisfied with it? This is something that has never made sense to me.
    ~My story~
    ~Collection of unethical hadiths/surahs~
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #19 - February 10, 2009, 04:31 PM
    Quote from: BerberElla on February 09, 2009, 11:21 AM
    Life's a bitch and then you die, that's the purpose of life.  Afro

    More like life's a bitch, then you shag one Tongue
    "At 8:47 I do a grenade jump off a ladder."
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #20 - September 21, 2010, 08:59 AM
    i know its an old thread ... but i was asking these questions the other day ..
    i came to the conclusion that life's purpose is  to pursue  the truth , its a self journey .. to finding ur self identity and simply embracing it
    Confucius:
    "What you do not like done to yourself, do not unto others."
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #21 - September 21, 2010, 09:05 AM
    Sex, drugs & drum'n'bass
    Too fucking busy, and vice versa.
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #22 - September 21, 2010, 09:51 AM
    Prove it.Tongue
    So once again I'm left with the classic Irish man's dilemma, do I eat the potato or do I let it ferment so I can drink it later?
    My political philosophy below
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwGat4i8pJI&feature=g-vrec
    Just kidding, here are some true heros
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBTgvK6LQqA
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #23 - September 21, 2010, 10:05 AM
    The purpose of life, it depends from which angle you look at it.

    1)From point of religion, God is the creator of this universe and everything in it so being a creator he ought to have some reason for doing this. This purpose depends on in which religion you are born eg a muslim is told by his god that he is part of his test scheme ie he has set him some tasks to carry out and if one fails then he will either forgive himor punish him and if one fulfils does as told will be rewarded.

    2)As for atheists, if universe came about all by itself then all things happened due to each other ie cause and effect. So we have purpose for nature which is we are the way we were supposed to be ie nature has a purpose for us which is we are part of it.

    3)Within whatever is there or is happening we being alive and capable of thought process, could set up our own purpose to cope with life at least or make it as better as we can at an individual level as well as together. This means we should concentrate on trying to come up with a best possible ideology and use it to organise ourselves in to best possible human society and try our best to create the best culture we can for our happiness and satisfaction. After all life is just needs, wants or desires of all of us. The more of them we can fulfil the more we are satisfied with life or have less and less regrets at least.

    I am a student of quran and islam and not an exmuslim.
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #24 - September 21, 2010, 10:34 AM
    ..
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  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #25 - September 21, 2010, 10:59 AM
    Quote from: tabun on September 21, 2010, 08:59 AM
    i know its an old thread ... but i was asking these questions the other day ..
    i came to the conclusion that life's purpose is  to pursue  the truth , its a self journey .. to finding ur self identity and simply embracing it

    Evolutionarily I dont think there is a purpose, nor do I think our purpose is to reproduce. 

    Evolution has no intention or direction, we just happen to reproduce pretty well, so there happens to be a whole lot of us around. 

    We choose whatever we want to do with our lives & more likely than not, reproduce in the meantime. Sorry, not very poetic I know, but reality is a bitter pill to swallow sometimes..
    Attached image is missing * what'sit.gif (71.01 KB, 388x241 - viewed 367 times.)
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  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #26 - September 21, 2010, 11:09 AM
    'We choose whatever we want to do with our lives & more likely than not, reproduce in the meantime. '

    It's best if you don't always look at life as clinically and as clearly as this... Get lost in life, get lost in the many pleasures that life has to offer, and be thankful every day that you have been given this chance to live
    Hi
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #27 - September 21, 2010, 11:12 AM
    Quote from: musivore on September 21, 2010, 11:09 AM
    'We choose whatever we want to do with our lives & more likely than not, reproduce in the meantime. '

    It's best if you don't always look at life as clinically and as clearly as this...


    Why not?  It doesnt stop you from pursuing this below even if you do, in fact it might make you more likely to.

    Quote
    Get lost in life, get lost in the many pleasures that life has to offer, and be thankful every day that you have been given this chance to live

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  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #28 - September 21, 2010, 11:31 AM
    If this is all an accident, as it can be claimed, then there really is no meaning to life. But we can put a purpose to it especially as we have evolved into highly sentient beings with such an array of emotions.

    That purpose essentially should be to spread happiness to all including future generations. Service to man not service to an invisible being.
    Knowing Islam is the only true religion we do not allow propagation of any other religion. How can we allow building of churches and temples when their religion is wrong? Thus we will not allow such wrong things in our countries. - Zakir Naik
  • Re: What is the purpose of life?
     Reply #29 - September 21, 2010, 11:32 AM
    Yes you're right Islame. But I spent years being caught up in the fact that we seem to be slaves to our genes....that level of clarity did not serve me well and, in a feeble attempt to rebel,  I did my utmost to go against the grain... As a result,  I ended up not fully pursuing the pleasures that life can offer you when you do actually do go in the direction that your genes want to take you.

    But that's just me, and I accept that very few others will fall into that same trap.
    Hi
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