Does life itself really matter?

[dreamer]

A couple of question on my mind, Does life realy matter to anybody? Do you care what lives or dies in this world? Have we all forgot what we are here for? what do you think life was given to use for? Do you think your life means anything? Do you think life lasts for ever? Do you think life ends the day you die? If life does not end when you die, what do you think is next in your life?
what do you as a person think life was created for? What do you think life is?.

[kubedawg]

Life matters more to me than death. I was obviously born, and I will take advantage of that to it's fullest until I die.

[Jack]

Dreamer, your questions are ones that have occupied the thoughts of theologians and philosophers for centuries.
I don't believe there is any purpose to life since I believe life occurs on this planet simply because it can. Atmosphere forms when the conditions are absolutely right, as does life as we know it. That does not mean that each of us can't supply our own reason for our existence should we feel we need one.
I don't believe there is any overall purpose to my life, but daily I develop reasons to live that day.
Once I die, th...th...that's all, folks.

[iahag]

Be yourself, an individual. Do what you want and act the way the want. Let not the eyes and ears of the world hold you back. Be respectful, considerate and open minded. Appreciate what you have and more importantly, the infinite oppurtunities you have. Pursue your goals and find your place in this world.
--My way of things

I dont need a reason to be on this board other than the fact I want to be, and life is beautiful.

[The Bacon Guy]

Quote by: Dreamer Does life realy matter to anybody?

Life doesn't matter to the individual in question since, after losing it, he can't care about it. It does however matter to those associated with him, in that they would suffer as a result of his death.

Quote by: Dreamer Do you care what lives or dies in this world?

Not in the slightest, unless they are in some way affiliated with me.

Quote by: Dreamer Have we all forgot what we are here for?

I don't think we have forgotten; I think we are misguided. Misguided in thinking that we are here for any purpose at all.

Quote by: Dreamer what do you think life was given to use for?

It wasn't. It's just how things worked out.

Quote by: Dreamer Do you think your life means anything?

Not to me. I don't care if I lose it. However, it does (hopefully) mean something to those I care about.

Quote by: Dreamer Do you think life lasts for ever?

Nope. I think it ends when brain activity stops.

Quote by: Dreamer Do you think life ends the day you die?

Yah.

Quote by: Dreamer If life does not end when you die, what do you think is next in your life?

N/A

Quote by: Dreamer what do you as a person think life was created for?

It wasn't.

Quote by: Dreamer What do you think life is?.

A living organism is something which undergoes metabolism, possesses a capacity to grow, responds to stimuli, reproduces and, through natural selection, adapts in succeeding generations. There are of course some exceptions to this rule, such as viruses.

A broader definition of life is anything containing nucleic acids, with the ability to replicate the nucleic acid molecules.

[RickHodgin]

Quote by: dreamer A couple of question on my mind, Does life realy matter to anybody? Do you care what lives or dies in this world? Have we all forgot what we are here for? what do you think life was given to use for? Do you think your life means anything? Do you think life lasts for ever? Do you think life ends the day you die? If life does not end when you die, what do you think is next in your life? what do you as a person think life was created for? What do you think life is?.

We are here. God put us here. He has a purpose for us and has revealed it in His word. We are to teach everyone who does not know Jesus Christ about Jesus Christ. We are to share with them the joy and the peace which comes through a close, personal relationship with our Savior and Lord so that they, too, might be saved. We are a world in rebellion. We are opposed to God while in the flesh. He has provided us with a means of escape, but that teaching runs contrary to that which we see and feel in the flesh.

Our purpose is to serve and worship God. That is all of our purpose, and it is the mission of those of us who have come to know Jesus that we should, while alive here in the flesh, spread the word to as many as will hear. It is not our responsibility to make them believe, only to spread the word.

[zynner]

Does your life matter to you?

If it did not, then you would not take actions to stay alive.

The fact that you are alive is evidence that you have taken steps to stay alive, which is evidence that your life does matter to you.

The fact that you ask questions about what is important is evidence that some things are important to you.

Why? I would say because they enhance your life.

If you consider that (a) you have only one life to live and (b) that you *should* strive for a life of long-term happiness (because, what's the alternative?), then these questions are either answered or not imporant.

~ zynner

[RickHodgin]

Quote by: zynner Does your life matter to you? If it did not, then you would not take actions to stay alive.

You seem to enjoy breaking things up into individual, component arguments, rather than taking the philosophy and applying it in a blanket manner to address the greater sum or whole. But I will answer your questions:

God put within us the desire to stay alive. But to the true Christian, the desire is greater to be with the Lord, and therefore to be absent from this body (dead). However, we know that we cannot serve Him to reach others who are lost when we are gone, except possibly in our memory and the memory of that which we did or held to (belief-wise) while here. We choose voluntarily, therefore, to live. We will stand for His truth in all situations, up to and including death. But we would prefer to live because we can reach souls and have the opportunity to affect their lives by His teachings.

The fact that you are alive is evidence that you have taken steps to stay alive, which is evidence that your life does matter to you. The fact that you ask questions about what is important is evidence that some things are important to you. Why? I would say because they enhance your life. If you consider that (a) you have only one life to live and (b) that you *should* strive for a life of long-term happiness (because, what's the alternative?), then these questions are either answered or not imporant. ~ zynner

Is your purpose here to bring up questions for the sake of bringing up questions? You ask many to which there are, undboutedly, a wide array of personal responses.

We have life. We are here in the flesh. It is as I have written above.

[iahag]

Are you implying that if you werent trying to save god forsaken 'atheists' like me then you would kill yourself? Gosh, im flattered, what a generous notion. But Im afraid, im my case, its never gonna happen.

[zynner]

Quote by: foxmuldr You seem to enjoy breaking things up into individual, component arguments, rather than taking the philosophy and applying it in a blanket manner to address the greater sum or whole.

That's because I like to get at the real issues.

Most discussions are superficial, in that they are discussions about opinions which are derived from deeper beliefs. I like to dig down and get at those deeper beliefs and understand why someone believes what they do, not just what they say they believe on the surface.

That's why I like to isolate points people make, so they know I am not addressing their entire post, but that one particular thought (which is usually their primary beliefs, but not always).

God put within us the desire to stay alive.

Since there is no god, you really do not have any evidence for this. It is just made up stuff that you have made a choice to believe. And you do that because you think it will give you long-term happiness, which is my point.

Is your purpose here to bring up questions for the sake of bringing up questions?

Nope. It's to see how people think. And maybe I'll learn something along the way; maybe others will. The overall process is kinda fun sometimes, as long as it's not done all the time, and that tends to help bring me my own brand of long-term happiness.

We both have the same goal: a life long-term happiness. We just choose different paths.

~ zynner

[zynner]

foxmuldr --

One other point: You view your own life as a means to somebody ELSE'S end. Either you are trying to please your god or you are trying to covert others to your way of beliefs. You view your life as good or not based on someone other than yourself.

This is one of the primary problems with religion.

Shouldn't your life be for YOUR own benefit?

I think it should, since you are the one who must take the actions (or not) and you are really the only one who can benefit.

~ zynner

[copabeat]

I sure hope so, because I am having a blast. If I find out it was just a dream I am going to be pissed.

[Kamehameha34]

I don't know what will happen after I die, so I will make the years I have the best I can.

[RickHodgin]

Quote by: zynner Since there is no god, you really do not have any evidence for this.

"We walk by faith, not by sight" is often heard.

It is just made up stuff that you have made a choice to believe. And you do that because you think it will give you long-term happiness, which is my point.

"long-term happiness"? You mean the 100+ years I have the potential of living here in this flesh, with many of those years being as a person incapable of getting around on my own and what have you?

Christians do not live for the flesh. When we get baptized we die. We are dieing to the flesh and seeking a life of spiritual fulfillment to serve God, who is Jesus Christ. We are no longer living our own lives. We have chosen a path whereby we voluntarily lay down our lives and follow His teachings.

We both have the same goal: a life long-term happiness. We just choose different paths.

Long-term happiness has a much longer-term ramification than nonbelievers realize. We are here but for a tick of the clock. What we do, all we gain, all we achieve, here in the Earth, all of it will pass away. There is nothing which will last here on Earth. Everything disintegrates and fades over time.

The long-term goal of happiness is exactly what Christians (true Christians) are seeking. We want a life lived with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We want to never want for anything. We want to drink from the living waters and to never age or see decay.

What we are after is nothing short of the ultimate goal of everyone here on Earth (who is a nonbeliever) is seeking, that of eternal life without any enemies, without any pain, without ever growing old or weary. It is promised to us in the Bible and we have chosen to lay down our flesh and blood lives for this tick of the clock and, instead, turn toward the hope that Jesus Christ has offered us.

We walk by faith, not by sight. And we do so because we believe.

[RickHodgin]

Quote by: zynner One other point: You view your own life as a means to somebody ELSE'S end. Either you are trying to please your god or you are trying to covert others to your way of beliefs. You view your life as good or not based on someone other than yourself.

I am not trying to please my God, per se. I am trying to live the life He has commanded to us in the Bible. He has given us a "recipe" (if you will) on how to survive this life of sin and how to bypass what the Bible calls "the second death" where all nonbelievers will be cast into Hell. The Bible teaches that this "recipe" will insure that if it is followed precisely, eternal life will be ours. And, as a reinforcement to that "faith walk" of following the recipe, there is an internal feeling beyond description which comes over a believer as they are doing good works. It is a glimpse of what will come.

This is one of the primary problems with religion. Shouldn't your life be for YOUR own benefit? I think it should, since you are the one who must take the actions (or not) and you are really the only one who can benefit.

If you boil down the root of your arguments here you are suggesting that you know better than God, that your life should be lived the way you see fit and not the way God has commanded. You are denying the wisdom and teachings of the Bible and putting your personal viewpoints ahead of those which have been laid out before you. The Bible sums this up in the following way: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

To deny God is to deny all that is around you. Science today cannot explain why the universe is here. Science today cannot explain how life works. Science today cannot even explain how electricity works, we can simply use it.

To accept the fact that it works, and that it is beautiful, and that it is flawless, is to recognize that it must be created by God. To look at a tree, or a bumble bee, or a hummingbird and not see God is to deny the largest component of reality which encompasses those objects. To look at those things and to see only the life before you, only the flesh-enabled understanding (through your mind) of what's there, and to then place your hopes of eventually mankind knowing that which you are not able to know today (because mankind has not yet figured it out) is to act upon a type of faith, albeit misguided.

God has given us a way out of our sin (that is to say, He has given us a way out of our flesh and all of the destructive characteristics which exist therein--stemming from pride mostly). He has offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice for all we have done to Him. All we have to do to be able to receive His free gift is believe.

The life of a Christian is a most difficult life. We walk by faith, not by sight. We believe in things not seen, and we do so with vehemence and passion. We are placing our hopes on things this world would just as soon kick down a ravene if it were possible. We stand in the day and we stand in the night. We stand against the teachings of this world because the Bible teaches us that they are falsehoods. We stand upon the rock of God, that is His teachings and the sacrificial, atoning offer of Himself to us upon the cross wherein ALL works were completed.

No longer do we HAVE to do things to attempt to achieve salvation. Now we have a free pass through His grace. He will extend to us an offering of eternal life in paradise with Him if we believe. And that belief is not a transient one time meeting at the cross. It is a lifetime devoted to service and to doing acts like that which I am doing here, spreading the word and explaining in a way whereby I can reach nonbelievers and convey to them the better life that exists in Jesus Christ.

And that desire does not come from haughty places. I am not doing it to make myself feel better, although I do feel better being obedient to God's word (the Bible). The natural desire bubbles up now from within me. I believe, I read the Bible, I pray, I fast, I do many things which the Bible says will increase my faith, and in so doing I have a feeling deep from within which impels me naturally to seek after these acts. I enjoy doing it, though I often find myself at the pointy side of this world's rod.

Jesus Christ, which is truth, came into this world and the world received Him not. This world does not know Jesus Christ, hence its outright, blanket condemnation. However, because He came into the world we now have a hope. All we have to do is believe, and in order to believe, all we have to do is earnestly seek. Jesus has promised us that. All who seek (earnestly) will find, and all that find will be saved.

Again, I will pray for you. I have actually added you to my prayer list. And whether you are able to see it (or not), or will now choose to chastize me for my beliefs and actions (or not), know that the act I do for you is in line with God's word and is very powerful, according to his word (the Bible).

We (each of us individually) have the capability of achieving so much more than this world offers. What we see before us is a lie from top to bottom. What we read in the Bible is truth from top to bottom. The two are in conflict, but there is a component of your existence which is already in line with the truth. When we put on this flesh and blood suit (by being born) we distanced ourselves greatly from that component, our spirit. It is there and if we begin to align ourselves with the teachings of the Bible, then all will begin to operate as it was intended and a world will open up, one which seemed previously impossible.

A better life awaits for believers, despite all outward appearances to the contrary from a nonbeliever's point of view.

[RickHodgin]

Quote by: Kamehameha34 I don't know what will happen after I die, so I will make the years I have the best I can.

You owe it to yourself to find out. There are resources everywhere. Study all religions and every foundational principle the various people of the Earth stand upon and choose for yourself which one you will believe in or follow. And if you disagree with all of them, then make up your own. But be absolutely certain you are making the correct decision and are choosing truly.

The Bible teaches that if Jesus Christ be lifted up, then all men will be drawn unto Him. What does it mean to be lifted up? It's a metaphor explaining the act on the cross, but also it is the revelation in ones own mind about what His life meant, why we needed Him, what His truth is, why we are here, and all of the rest He has explained to us.

And why does this work? Simple, He created the system. He holds its keys. He knows a man. He knows a man's heart, and His way is the true way despite all "evidence" (which is really "appearance") to the contrary. The bottom line: you cannot come to the foot of the cross, look into His eyes, behold an understanding and walk away from Him without knowingly walking away from the truth. And if you choose to do so, you are choosing a life lived apart from God (apart from Jesus Christ), and that is the very definition of what it means to be "damned."

The life lived here in the flesh is not our final destiny and it is not all there is. The Bible describes us seeing things as "through a glass, darkly", meaning it's not close to what will be there in eternity. There is no doubt, there are rewards and riches and pleasures and reasons why it is desirable to seek after much here in the flesh. Sin feels good. Pleasure feels right. All of our flesh and blood senses tell us that we are okay. But all of it, all of it is transient, fleeting and it does not last. In the tick of a clock it will be over and there will be nothing left except our choices and the decisions we made as a result of those choices.

What Christians seek is an ever-lasting, forever-loving, never-wanting, always-caring life lived with Jesus Christ (which is to say, with "truth") forever, and therein lies the greater "prize".

[Nathan Struth]

Jesus Christ Rick Calm down!

[Chava]

life has to matter to some extent but not too much. Don't take it too seriously.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: dreamer A couple of question on my mind, Does life realy matter to anybody? Do you care what lives or dies in this world? Have we all forgot what we are here for? what do you think life was given to use for? Do you think your life means anything? Do you think life lasts for ever? Do you think life ends the day you die? If life does not end when you die, what do you think is next in your life? what do you as a person think life was created for? What do you think life is?.

WE are Life, and we are a part of that Life.
No idea what Life is all about.

(I PM you, in case I would have found it out.
But, do not tell that anybody : let them suffer :-) )

[Jack]

What Christians seek is an ever-lasting, forever-loving, never-wanting, always-caring life lived with Jesus Christ (which is to say, with "truth") forever, and therein lies the greater "prize".

So life does matter to you, but reality scares you (especially death) so you made up a story to make you feel better. That's understandable.