Category: philosophy/religion topics
If we are to take the meaning supplied by most dictionaries, we will utterly be misled.
life [lîf]
(plural lives [lîvz])
noun
1. existence in physical world: the quality that makes living animals and plants different from dead organisms and inorganic matter.
The dictionary defines life as the physical existence of humans and other living organisms. This is not the truth (the whole truth)!
There are now more than six billion living people on earth. If we go back to the early 19th century, there are only about six hundred million; earlier,
few hundred millions; further, few millions, and if we continue to travel back in time, we will end up finding only two human life on earth. The inevitable
conclusion is that before human beings and other forms of life came into existence, life does exist. It came from the original source of life — God.
(Acts 17:26-28) And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed,
and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though he be not far from every one
of us: For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring.
In the 19th century global population grew by only 600 million, but in the 20th century it grew by 4.4 billion. There are twice as many people today as
there were in 1960. Even with a continued decline in fertility rates, the United Nations projects a population of 8.9 billion in 2050. With current trends,
world population isn’t expected to stabilize until after 2080. UNFPA ‘99 http://www.overpopulation.org/faq.html
So, life existed even before the physical world and human life came into existence. The Bible calls it the life of God.
(John 1:4) In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
(Ephesians 4:18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart…
The question being asked to me is “What is the meaning of life?” The biblical answer is: life is the cause of existence of everything there is; and the
purpose by which it was made to exist.
The life we have now on earth is both temporal and eternal. Our physical being will cease to exist when the spirit that sustains physical life leaves the
body.
(James 2:26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The spirit, after leaving the body, returns to the origin of life.
(Ecclesiastes 12:7) Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
We can not understand the true meaning of life without understanding its purpose. A life lived not with its purpose was lived in vain and wasted.
(Ecclesiastes 6:12) For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man
what shall be after him under the sun?
A life spent for the purpose by which it was meant for is a meaningful life.
(Acts 20:24) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
A life must be lived and be given willingly by somebody who understands its purpose.
(Mark 8:35) For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
God gave us life for us to spend in service to Him, with our entire being and faculties.
(Luke 10:27) And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your
mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
The end of our earthly life and existence is the beginning of the next phase of life, which is life eternal, after the resurrection.
(1 Corinthians 15:36, 42-43, 51-54) Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die…
…So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown
in weakness; it is raised in power…
…Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought
to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Therefore, the true meaning of life is existence and awareness without end, without death, misery and troubles.
(Revelation 21:4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Life is existence without end or death being lived with its eternal purpose just like the life of God; the source of temporary life on earth.
(Ephesians 3:11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord…
Http://www.esoriano.wordpress.com
Whew, That was a very deep and complex explanation. From the subject line, I thought you were just asking what the meaning of life was, but you answered your own question.
I agree with what you put down, but I think Rick Warren summed it up a little more simply. We all have a purpose, and that purpose is to serve God as He has called us to serve. If we want to find the meaning to our individual lives, it will be by discovering the purpose He has for us. You said all that, so I’m not contradicting you, just breaking it down into simple language.
Actually, that write up is not mine. I just posting here the write up of the site that I recently discover. I just want to share. Thanks for the comment.
Well, in my religion, we do not exist to serve The Gods. That is not to say that we shouldn't serve them, for we should. But that's not why we're here. They'll exist whether we continue to do so or whether we don't. We serve them because we love them and in the hopes that they'll be kind to us. As for the meaning of life, I could probably dig up something from Hesiod's Theogony or Works and Days, but that would only explain how we got here in the religious sense. It would be more appropriate, I think, to quote the philosophers here. But since each of them had their own view, according to the school that they followed, this could get a bit confusing. Plus, most of what I read had to do with how we should live our life, not why we're here. (Referring to the Hellenistic works, not Christian etc.) However, I am interested in the religious view of life as separate from the philosophical, so it may do me some good to read some of the myths. I also think that the earlier works of Plato are very thought-prevoking and could lead to good mental stimulation. As for my own beliefs, I follow a mixture of evolution and religion. I think that we evolved as any other creatures did and that there were indeed many different animals, plants etc before we came along. The fossil record proves that. However, I do believe that we as individuals have some kind of purpose, usually known only to The Gods. I think we may be able to learn from oracles (which can be extremely helpful if we use them wisely), from experience and from truly examining ourselves at least part of what that purpose is. As for the spirit and the afterlife, while we don't believe in sin or salvation, we do believe in leading a good life. What that "good life" is varies from individual to individual on most points (things like rape, murder etc being obvious exceptions), but I for one don't want to wind up in Tartaros and I want to leave a positive mark on the world.
For the Christian, the purpose of life is to serve god in all we do and to love him and others. This service should come from love. As Christians we believe that God gave his life for us. Of course, i certainly believe in an afterlife, but to serve God just to expecta reward would be kind of selfish. Not something God wants us to be. Just my two cents. Great topic!
Amen! First poster you do it splendidly.
Yes, we are here to serve, and life today has lost it.
actually there is one thing that i disagree with the christians about how can god die? god is eternal, forever, so therefore, god cannot, and has not ever died.
Of course, he doesn't die. His son in human form has, but the god inside him has not.
Somanea, if you really want an explanation of Christian belief about Christ’s death, I will be happy to tell you, or answer any questions you have. From some of your posts on other boards though, I think you have a very negative view of Christians, and do not like being subjected to hearing what they say. If you are serious though, pm me, and I will do my best to explain things without coming across as preaching.
I can do that too, but look around at what I posted, and you can learn some things too. Post topics, and I can explain.
Lol! Of course she doesn't understand. She's Muslim and if I'm not mistaken, they have a different belief system with Muhammad as there prophet. That religion is very interesting. What do you call God again?
nah. it is not really a different belief system. i used to be a muslim but i do not really practice anymore. and as for me having a negative view on christianity. no, i do not have a negative view of it at all. just when people come up to me and start asking me if i have heard about it and when they try to convert me is where i have the problem.
Oh, didn't you have to where those things on your head and all?
it is not required to wear them, but i chose to. it all depends on which sect that you belong to. i was a sunni, and i really believed that concealing your beauty was a very good thing because it prevents men from lusting after you, and you get alot more respect from people. now, islamaphobes are a different story. but i got alot of respect from people, due to the fact that i concealed my beauty and only saved it for the one who i am now married to. i still believe that conservatism is a good thing though. dressing that way is not opressive at all. in a matter of fact, it is very liberating because you do not get men looking at you and thinking to themselves that you would be a good piece of tail or something.
Us christian sorta believe in the same thing, sorta. Not covering the head perhaps, but waring proper clothing. You know some girls show the mid sections, or where pants that shows their selves too much. We discourage that, but not actually banning it. We also believe this, don't know if it's the same for you all or not. We believe that no sex should be have until marage, so no intercourse until said partner has been married to you.
oh yes. we believe in the same things as well. we also believe in no premarital sex, however, when i moved in with my boyfriend who i am now married, it was thrown out the window because i knew in my heart that he was the one that i would spend my life with. now when the islamic community found out about that, i was ostrisized from them. but of coarse, they really had some extreme views. such as, black dogs had the devil in them, living with a man if you werent married was a sin, and things like that. but what is instilled in me until this day is the whole concealing your beauty to other men. i try to do that, but we live in a community full of hard core christians who think muslims are the scum of the earth. there is a mosque on my street, and people sit out there waiting for a muslim to come in or out so they can pick on them. so as of now, i have my islamic garments folded into a box on a high shelf in our closet.
Yeah, for the extremest it was always that way. I tolerated with it for like six months, and the extremest ideas went away. Seriously, it was wrong to hold hands. I am glad I trashed that idea.
No sex before marriage would drive me nuts. I used to think that way, but luckily for me, I changed my mind. I waited until I was 19, so I was a legal adult, and I'm glad I made that decision. I certainly don't hold anything against those who choose to wait, but it's not my bag. I was never really into fashion or going out of my way to look good, unless I was going somewhere special. That said, I do wear shorts and bathing suits in the summer (two piece but not bicinis cause they're just uncomfortable). I'm not into skirts/dresses, so it's not as if I'd wear outlandishly revealing clothing. That said, , when I was single, I liked it when men noticed me. It's not that I'd give myself to just anyone (I was very particular) but it felt good. I think I would still enjoy it, only they wouldn't have a chance with me cause I've got a boyfriend and am no longer doing the friends with benefits thing... at least, not while I'm in a relationship.
Well, I would wear mini skirts in the summer, but I'd make sure it wouldn't show too much. It usually covered half of my thighs.
i was very conservative even as a teenager believe it or not. i hated guys to gauck at my sister and i because of the way that they would look at us. my sister went up to this guy who was asking her for help. when she got up to his car window, he asked her to look down. when she did, she saw something that she did not want to see if you catch my drift. and then he and his friend just drove away laughing. since then, both of us have been really warey.
I would've gotten a kick out of that, so long as I was an adult and he didn't try to touch me or anything. *smile* Of course, not being able to see means I couldn't have an experience like that, but anyway.
gees girl. wth?
Well, the joke would've been on him cause he wouldn't have gotten anything, and if he just drove away like that, I could've afforded to laugh.
he did not get anything. but men like that really make me sick, especially ones who would pull that kind of crap on a teen aged girl.