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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255700 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 12:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MexPirate is currently offline  MexPirate
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gbull, that site doesn't seem to be working atm - but it seems there is a link to dl it, so will try that later.

fl00ded, 3. I think you misunderstood my comments, my point was more that the concept that the people who wrote it talked to god cannot be evidenced - it is something you simply have to believe (obviously hard if you have no belief in God). Assuming that it was indeed Gods words they will have been altered somewhat over time as languages do not directly translate and it seems likely that interpretation of it by the people responsible for copying/translating it would have occured.

Any historical document used as evidence for whatever reason would have its origins/modifications examined. It also seems plausible that due to this particular books status it would have been protected from many things (like some ancient king adding himself or changing the commandments to suit himself as one random example).

4. that sheds a little more light on the subject - it makes the concept a little more acceptable although I still cannot personally agree with it.

My hypothetical view would be that if I have had a good life and done something good for the world and the people in it, that an all knowing God would allow me in to heaven and not punish me for a set of beliefs.



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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255703 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 12:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jnz is currently offline  jnz
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The reason i started this was because i was interested to see what peoples beliefs were on the subject.

In my own opinion, life has no meaning. We're here because we're here. A lot of people say we are here to reproduce, survive and carry on our species. But wouldn't that be the answer to the question "What is the meaning of life on this planet?". I don't think we serve a purpose in this universe, although sad as it may seem.

Religion comes into this because some people believe that they were put here by God or another superior being to serve a purpose. I'm not saying this is right or wrong, i don't think there is a solid answer to this question.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255709 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 12:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fl00d3d is currently offline  fl00d3d
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Don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect and I also have my questions. But the core of the religion is the part about salvation - which is why many people dig so deep into it.

Which comes back to the topic of this thread:
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?

If you mean, "What is the meaning of life, to you?" then it will be a different answer for everyone based on their religious views.

Quite frankly, organized religion has been pissing me off in the last few years (I don't go to church or anything). Take Catholicism, for example: they've recently changed their beliefs to say "we no longer believe in pergatory". WTF is that about? After thousands of years you're going to suddenly change your beliefs? Maybe their eyes were opened after their profit sharing margins went down and molestation went up?

I think that if anyone is going to be able to find peace in their life and have any hope of finding the true answer to the question this thread asks, we need to back the fuck off of eachother -- express our opinions subjectively -- and encourage spiritual enlightenment in a peaceful way. Only then will our sad little species come anywhere near answering what the meaning of life is.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255714 is a reply to message #255700] Wed, 25 April 2007 12:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 13:20

fl00ded, 3. I think you misunderstood my comments, my point was more that the concept that the people who wrote it talked to god cannot be evidenced - it is something you simply have to believe (obviously hard if you have no belief in God). Assuming that it was indeed Gods words they will have been altered somewhat over time as languages do not directly translate and it seems likely that interpretation of it by the people responsible for copying/translating it would have occured.




Just to point something out, as far as ancient text goes, the Bible is reported to be the most accurately translated and true-to-the-original text in history. Even if you don't believe what it says, it still has that going for it. (This is not the church acknowledging the accuracy, but other, neutral, third parties).

However, that's not to say qualifications of a word has not changed. ie. Many people in the old testament are stated to have lived 100's of years. But considering when it was written, what would they have considered a year? Our own Calendar only dates back to the Roman times. (Interesting assumption: assuming a "year" back then would have been decided by phases of a moon, 12 lunar months in our year translates into people mentioned in the old testament to be approximately 70-80 of our years)
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255715 is a reply to message #255709] Wed, 25 April 2007 12:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
PlastoJoe is currently offline  PlastoJoe
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fl00d3d wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 14:42


Quite frankly, organized religion has been pissing me off in the last few years (I don't go to church or anything). Take Catholicism, for example: they've recently changed their beliefs to say "we no longer believe in pergatory". WTF is that about? After thousands of years you're going to suddenly change your beliefs? Maybe their eyes were opened after their profit sharing margins went down and molestation went up?


Limbo. They changed it so that they don't teach Limbo. If you're going to try to take a shot at organized religion, try to get your facts accurate. Otherwise, it makes you look like more of an ass.


http://qntm.org/files/board/current.png


You may be a fundamentalist atheist if...


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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255718 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 13:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
CarrierII is currently offline  CarrierII
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I once saw text running something like this pinned to a bus stop, of all places -
Quote:


As you wait for your bus, consider this -

The meaning of life is different for everyone, for those who say it is about having children, what about those couples who can't or don't want to have children? (It continues in this way for a while, covering most major meaning-of-life theories, I can't remember the whole text)


Any ideas?


Renguard is a wonderful initiative
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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255721 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 13:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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The meaning of life is more than we can currently comprehend. Yes, more than even WE, the almighty masters of the universe, can comprehend. Sadly we will probably blow ourselves and the entire planet to hell before we evolve enough to advance any further.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255722 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 13:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
warranto is currently offline  warranto
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Even those who can't have children can still act toward at least my meaning of life (notice that I did not say procreate, I just said survival of the species). As far as humanity goes, that involves a great deal of things on top of procreation.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255730 is a reply to message #255715] Wed, 25 April 2007 14:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MexPirate is currently offline  MexPirate
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SpyGuy246 wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 14:53


Limbo. They changed it so that they don't teach Limbo. If you're going to try to take a shot at organized religion, try to get your facts accurate. Otherwise, it makes you look like more of an ass.


and there is the unnecassary aggression we have all been expecting.

I think it is a positive step if any religion is prepared to look at their rules and change them if they feel it is right, it's all very well getting hung up on beliefs but that shouldn't get in the way of changing things when it is the right thing to do.

Quote:

The meaning of life is more than we can currently comprehend. Yes, more than even WE, the almighty masters of the universe, can comprehend. Sadly we will probably blow ourselves and the entire planet to hell before we evolve enough to advance any further.


I think there are a few things that the human brain is not and never will be capable of understanding, namely infinity (the infinite universe) and nothing (if it isn't infinite then what is outside it, what happens when you cease to exist). God provides answers to some of those things for many people, it is the things that we can begin to understand (such as weather not being controlled by greek gods, or imo evolution replacing creationism) that cause problems.

Quote:

Even those who can't have children can still act toward at least my meaning of life (notice that I did not say procreate, I just said survival of the species). As far as humanity goes, that involves a great deal of things on top of procreation.


I suppose humans have evolved to the point where they have enough ability and intelligence to look outside their own existance, allowing them to provide their own "meaning of life" by developing traits and ambitions that define them. whether that be for good, evil or just playing lot's of rene


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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255732 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 14:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
warranto is currently offline  warranto
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Oh, I don't mean to provide their own meaning of life, I just mean that what they do acts toward the survival of the species, thereby engaging in the meaning of life, be that procreation, curing diseases, proving food, etc.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255733 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 14:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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SpyGuy246 wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 15:53

fl00d3d wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 14:42


Quite frankly, organized religion has been pissing me off in the last few years (I don't go to church or anything). Take Catholicism, for example: they've recently changed their beliefs to say "we no longer believe in pergatory". WTF is that about? After thousands of years you're going to suddenly change your beliefs? Maybe their eyes were opened after their profit sharing margins went down and molestation went up?


Limbo. They changed it so that they don't teach Limbo. If you're going to try to take a shot at organized religion, try to get your facts accurate. Otherwise, it makes you look like more of an ass.


It wasn't a shot: Catholics changed another belief. I don't see how you can change your beliefs like that. Kinda like how Catholics used to believe that people weren't worthy enough to interact with God directly so they had to go to confession and do it through a priest; which is a load of shit. Catholics = psycho. And that's coming from a Christian. Wink
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255735 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 14:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Why do you assume there is a meaning to life?

cause = time
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255736 is a reply to message #255733] Wed, 25 April 2007 14:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
warranto is currently offline  warranto
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fl00d3d wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 15:40

SpyGuy246 wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 15:53

fl00d3d wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 14:42


Quite frankly, organized religion has been pissing me off in the last few years (I don't go to church or anything). Take Catholicism, for example: they've recently changed their beliefs to say "we no longer believe in pergatory". WTF is that about? After thousands of years you're going to suddenly change your beliefs? Maybe their eyes were opened after their profit sharing margins went down and molestation went up?


Limbo. They changed it so that they don't teach Limbo. If you're going to try to take a shot at organized religion, try to get your facts accurate. Otherwise, it makes you look like more of an ass.


It wasn't a shot: Catholics changed another belief. I don't see how you can change your beliefs like that. Kinda like how Catholics used to believe that people weren't worthy enough to interact with God directly so they had to go to confession and do it through a priest; which is a load of shit. Catholics = psycho. And that's coming from a Christian. Wink


Last I checked, I wasn't psycho....
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255738 is a reply to message #255668] Wed, 25 April 2007 14:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 12:18

[/quote

Nice class - God did it, the end.



Bullz eye! That's the 100% truth.

[Updated on: Wed, 25 April 2007 14:52]

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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255740 is a reply to message #255738] Wed, 25 April 2007 14:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MexPirate is currently offline  MexPirate
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IronBalls wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:51

MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 12:18[/quote

Nice class - God did it, the end.



Bullz eye! That's the 100% truth.


Sarcasm?


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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255742 is a reply to message #255740] Wed, 25 April 2007 14:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:53

IronBalls wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:51

MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 12:18[/quote

Nice class - God did it, the end.



Bullz eye! That's the 100% truth.


Sarcasm?



No, the plain truth. The simple plain truth people are refusing/having trouble believing.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255752 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 15:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fl00d3d is currently offline  fl00d3d
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I was simply saying that the Catholic religion (at least how it has been traditionally) was all wrong. And I can say that factually - one Christian to another - just the same as I can say that to a Mormon.

Why? Because the Bible sits in front of all Christians as is. Some people interpret it differently and have different spinoffs, but nowhere does it say "you can write an additional book, Mormons" or "you're not allowed to pray to me you unholy P.O.S.".

Granted, not all Catholics agree or comply with their religion's full set of beliefs - so my statement was not a personal attack. I just think that every religion has their [as I put it] "psychos" (religious extremists) and misrepresent the core of what the religion is all about: A personal relationship with the infinite being that created you.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255756 is a reply to message #255742] Wed, 25 April 2007 15:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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IronBalls wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 16:54

MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:53

IronBalls wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:51

MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 12:18[/quote

Nice class - God did it, the end.



Bullz eye! That's the 100% truth.


Sarcasm?



No, the plain truth. The simple plain truth people are refusing/having trouble believing.



Your powers of persuwasion are astonishing, now ive seen the light. All this proof that evolution is correct must be fasle now that ive read that statement.

ok, now seroius reply. Life only has the meaning that you give it.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255759 is a reply to message #255756] Wed, 25 April 2007 15:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jnz is currently offline  jnz
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jimmyny wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 23:37


ok, now seroius reply. Life only has the meaning that you give it.


What do you think it the meaning of life is?


Can we please keep this on-topic. Religion and belives is a very hot topic but please stay away from trying to explain why you belive / don't belive / what people do wrong...
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255766 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 16:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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this topic should be locked because IronBalls has already given his opinion and, I don't know if anyone's noticed, but he knows better than anyone else

[Updated on: Wed, 25 April 2007 16:48]

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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255788 is a reply to message #255742] Wed, 25 April 2007 23:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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IronBalls wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 16:54

MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:53

IronBalls wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:51

MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 12:18[/quote

Nice class - God did it, the end.



Bullz eye! That's the 100% truth.


Sarcasm?



No, the plain truth. The simple plain truth people are refusing/having trouble believing.



you're a nut job man


Oderint, dum metuant.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255790 is a reply to message #255606] Wed, 25 April 2007 23:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Scientists say they can prove the Big Bang happened, but they can't say what caused it.
And that's where I put God in the equation. Big Grin
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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255798 is a reply to message #255671] Thu, 26 April 2007 00:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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fl00d3d wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 09:38

You did your part - so stop flooding the seed with so much damn water.


Very nicely put.
Re: The meaning of life? [message #255861 is a reply to message #255788] Thu, 26 April 2007 06:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Sniper_De7 wrote on Thu, 26 April 2007 02:22

IronBalls wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 16:54

MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:53

IronBalls wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 17:51

MexPirate wrote on Wed, 25 April 2007 12:18[/quote

Nice class - God did it, the end.



Bullz eye! That's the 100% truth.


Sarcasm?



No, the plain truth. The simple plain truth people are refusing/having trouble believing.



you're a nut job man


So, you resort to name calling? Me and a million others like me will continue to proclaim the majesty of God Almighty. You dismiss all of God's works and listen to mortal men but surely you will learn the truth in due time.

"Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies."
Psalms 119:157

[Updated on: Thu, 26 April 2007 07:14]

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Re: The meaning of life? [message #255867 is a reply to message #255861] Thu, 26 April 2007 07:18 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
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IronBalls wrote on Thu, 26 April 2007 09:59

So, you resort to name calling? Me and a million others like me will continue to proclaim the majesty of God Almighty. You dismiss all of God's works and listen to mortal men but surely you will learn the truth in due time.

"Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies."
Psalms 119:157


Are you a God Warrior now? *chuckles*


whoa.
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