# Question on the meaning of Life **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 21, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933 "2010-04-21T23:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/61 "2010-04-22T14:03:01Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I wonder if that says anything about the relative morality of the two … philosophies, or just something about the OP. IMO, it just means the same as it usually does when someone posts one of these religious ‘Ha! Gotcha!’ arguments. They haven’t really thought it through, and they don’t really understand the viewpoints of their opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/62 "2010-04-22T14:06:49Z")
A month of hedonism that I can’t remember? Sounds like half of my 20’s; what’s the big whoop? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/63 "2010-04-22T14:28:44Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I find it interesting that the only person so far who would take up the offer of one month of hedonism that is completely forgotten is the OP, who professes to be Christian. > > I wonder if that says anything about the relative morality of the two … philosophies, or just something about the OP. Well, it’s a creepy offer, frankly. We’ll get our month of unlimited pleasure thanks to his magic powers? I don’t want him or anyone else monitoring what I’d consider a “happy month”. I mean, what’s _his_ angle? The voyeuristic thrill of watching my idea of decadence? And afterward, do I owe him a favour or a tip or something? If he’d said _we’d_ get magic powers for a month to do as we wished but we’d afterward not remember any of it, that would be less creepy and more palatable, though still completely pointless. I’m not even sure what the hypothetical is supposed to demonstrate. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/64 "2010-04-22T14:40:40Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > IMO, it just means the same as it usually does when someone posts one of these religious ‘Ha! Gotcha!’ arguments. They haven’t really thought it through, and they don’t really understand the viewpoints of their opponents. More than likely, they have already given the speech to a group of people that were of like mind(or heard someone _else_ give it), got the positive reception a hive mind usually gives in such situations, and expected the same response here. Such people are not receptive to questioning-in their mind, they are here to teach us, and we are here to learn, and if we don’t learn the lesson we have failed. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/65 "2010-04-22T14:46:17Z")
The meaning of life… is taking personal responsibility for your actions instead of blaming a magical sky pixie. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/66 "2010-04-22T14:50:14Z")
> [@Who\_me\_1](#): > > The meaning of life… is taking personal responsibility for your actions instead of blaming a magical sky pixie. It’s not even that. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/67 "2010-04-22T15:07:32Z")
If there were a meaning to life it would be just…living. But there isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/68 "2010-04-22T15:19:02Z")
> [@Hold\_Fast](#): > > Well, if no meaning of life is the road most of you would like to take, then please don’t start on about being ‘nice’. Like I said, if there is no meaning of life, then as Paul said to do in this situation, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” The only thing left to do is have fun, or find pleasure with the short time that we have. Being ‘nice’, is not pleasurable. So your contrdicting yourselves (those who have said this, which is most), that the general idea is too be nice and have fun. Serial Killers have fun in not being nice. In fact pretty much all of us will be able to find fun in way or another, in being not nice. > > The retort to this would be that you are happy by being nice. Thats true, because in the world that a Chrisitan would present to you, its explained. In the one you all believe to live in, it is an utter contradition. Simply unbelievable. You say to the atheists here that they are _contradicting themselves._ (Leaving the _a_ out of _contradicting_ looks like just a typo, but maybe you should be more careful about using _you’re_ and _your_.) In the same post you quote Paul. You would never see the inconsistency by yourself, so I’ll point it out to you. **Paul repeatedly contradicted the Gospels.** There are far too many examples to list here. Nor will I agree to defend my statement. I am not on trial. Your views are. In the twelve years I have been online I have never seen a successful defense of the Bible as “the word of God.” If you now have an attempt, I’d love to see it. But the burden of proof is on people who make dogmatic religious statements, not on people bombarded with them. Nor have I even seen a defense of it as any kind of Good Book. It is a pro-slavery, pro-genocide, pro-rape document. **Yuck!** And you think you can base morality on it? :rolleyes: Again, it’s simply unbelievable. * * * - The One True (& Blue) Og\*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/69 "2010-04-22T15:19:23Z")
> [@Hold\_Fast](#): > > Serial Killers have fun in not being nice. In fact pretty much all of us will be able to find fun in way or another, in being not nice. If you think it would be fun to be a serial killer, and the only reason you’re not one is that you fear eternal retribution, then you’re a monster. Imagine two kids on a playground - they’re both sharing with the other kids and generally acting nice. One is nice because he’s figured out that he likes being nice and that it’s more fun if everyone behaves like that. The other tells you that he’s rather be punching the other kids in the face and would rather not share anything, but the only reason he acts nice is because his mother has threatened to beat him later. Which is the better kid? I’ll just scratch your name off my list of people I’d like to disabuse of their religious beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/70 "2010-04-22T15:24:05Z")
> [@Hold\_Fast](#): > > First of, I’ll start by getting it out in the open that I’m a Christian, and so therefore it should go without saying what I believe to be the meaning of life. As others have said, it doesn’t go without saying. > [@](#): > > Now I have talked to some athiests I know personally, and the general consensus there seems to be, “for the memories.” I don’t consider this statement credible. Most atheists I know would question the premise of your query. Furthermore, this answer is meaningless. “For the memories” is not a “meaning.” > [@](#): > > Now, would you accept my offer? I’m sure most of you would. I’m sure I would. No, I wouldn’t. > [@](#): > > Which, if you accept that, as I’m sure most of you have, only leads you to the statement made by Dostoevsky–“If God does not Exist, everything is permissible.” Nonsense. What does “permissible” mean anyway in this context? Who’s granting the permission here? > [@](#): > > It crumbles any existence of morallity, No it doesn’t. > [@](#): > > which in turn crumbles any reason for trying in any way to be moral. I don’t know any atheists who “try” to be moral. They act on their morals and if they do something they later decide they shouldn’t have, they do something to make up for it. Do or not do. There is no try. > [@](#): > > You will still say, “I am following the rules of society because I’m not the only one who lives here” I would never say something so nonsensical. > [@](#): > > If anyone else has some different opinions on what the meaning of life is, be sure to lay it on me. Plenty of others have said it here, but since you haven’t acknowledged them: Life has no meaning. In fact, it is impossible for life to have a “meaning” or a “purpose.” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/71 "2010-04-22T15:35:45Z")
“Do you believe in Heaven where you go if you’re good? Do you believe in Hell where you go if you’re evil?” “I believe a man should be beholding to his neighbour, without the reward of Heaven or the fear of Hellfire.” “Then they hung Hezekiah because he didn’t have no religion.” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/72 "2010-04-22T15:40:54Z")
Wait a second, > [@](#): > > we are to judge if people are truly Christians I thought your God said, “Judgment is mine. Judge not lest ye be judged.” ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/73 "2010-04-22T15:41:47Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > If the only thing restraining a person from doing exactly what he/she wants, to the harm or detriment of her/his fellow humans beings, is because God had to instruct him/her not to, that person is better described as ‘Psychopath’ than ‘Christian’. > > If you can’t see the intrinsic ‘good value’ in being ‘good’, then how do you know God is telling the truth when he says that helping old ladies across the street is a ‘good’ thing? And if you follow it without seeing (for and by yourself) that it’s good, then it isn’t the meaning of life at all - it’s meaningLESS. Have to disagree with the Psychopath label. There is intrinsic value in being good and doing good, I agree, but it is even more than that. What “God” instructs people to do, and how to act, changes from religion to religion. Not a very reliable source of morals. There is a law that governs the interaction of individuals: “You will reap whatsoever you sow.” If you treat people in a negative way you will be unhappy with yourself as well as the people you treat badly. But if you help others with no expectation of any reward you will, in fact, help yourself. The greater the good, the greater the reward. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/74 "2010-04-22T15:41:52Z")
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the burning of they dogs. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/75 "2010-04-22T15:43:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That would be a decision for the individual; in my case, it would depend on the specific situation. For example, I might forgo a white chocolate mocha tomorrow and give the money to a homeless person. On the other hand, I might go play paintball and shoot somebody in the butt from close range. > > I wouldn’t call them stated goals, anyway. It’s more a case of “this is what I have chosen to do with my life”. I wouldn’t say my particular view of things is inherently superior to any other. > > That _is_ a purpose or meaning you made up. No, I didn’t make it up, if I had it would have been easier to accomplish. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/76 "2010-04-22T15:46:11Z")
Of course you did. You have no more basis for your personal view of the meaning of life than anyone else does. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/77 "2010-04-22T15:48:54Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > There is intrinsic value in being good and doing good, I agree, but it is even more than that. What “God” instructs people to do, and how to act, changes from religion to religion. Not a very reliable source of morals. There is a law that governs the interaction of individuals: “You will reap whatsoever you sow.” If you treat people in a negative way you will be unhappy with yourself as well as the people you treat badly. But if you help others with no expectation of any reward you will, in fact, help yourself. The greater the good, the greater the reward. Now I’m feeling all disoriented - lekatt has posted something which I agree entirely with. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/78 "2010-04-22T15:51:04Z")
I’m largely an athiest, but have developed the following world view which, whether or not its accurate, seems to work pretty well in its ability to give me a fullfilling life. I imagine the whole universe like a fixed tapestry in space/time. The notions of past and future are largely irrelevant. The fact that my 13th birthday happened is fixed in the tapestry and is no less real now than it was then. My goal in life is to make the tapestry as pretty as possible over the 80 odd years I have that I can influence its shape. I do this by trying to maximize the happiness of those who I can influence, myself included. Based on this view I would probably take you up on your 6-month memory free holiday as my pleasure would also be recorded in space/time regardless of whether I remember it. I don’t fear death because my life will stand on its own as it is/was. When I’m feeling particularly philosophical, I believe (again without proof, but just for the fun of it) that my consciousness is basically the attention of the universe to this particular point in the space/time framework, and that this attention is also displayed in all other people (maybe animals and possibly even rocks?), and so by assisting in their happiness I assisting my own as well. This provides me with a pretty strong basis for morality, and gives my life meaning without resorting to a divine god,unless you view god as universal attention in which case its pretty impersonal. I may be totally off base but if it makes me feel good, do good, and hurts no one else then who can complain. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/79 "2010-04-22T15:52:38Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I’m largely an athiest, but have developed the following world view which, whether or not its accurate, seems to work pretty well in its ability to give me a fullfilling life. > > I imagine the whole universe like a fixed tapestry in space/time. The notions of past and future are largely irrelevant. The fact that my 13th birthday happened is fixed in the tapestry and is no less real now than it was then. My goal in life is to make the tapestry as pretty as possible over the 80 odd years I have that I can influence its shape. I do this by trying to maximize the happiness of those who I can influence, myself included. Based on this view I would probably take you up on your 6-month memory free holiday as my pleasure would also be recorded in space/time regardless of whether I remember it. I don’t fear death because my life will stand on its own as it is/was. > > When I’m feeling particularly philosophical, I believe (again without proof, but just for the fun of it) that my consciousness is basically the attention of the universe to this particular point in the space/time framework, and that this attention is also displayed in all other people (maybe animals and possibly even rocks?), and so by assisting in their happiness I assisting my own as well. > > This provides me with a pretty strong basis for morality, and gives my life meaning without resorting to a divine god,unless you view god as universal attention in which case its pretty impersonal. I may be totally off base but if it makes me feel good, do good, and hurts no one else then who can complain. Life is performance art. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933/80 "2010-04-22T15:58:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Life is performance art. Just so long as I don’t have to cover myself in codfish to protest mans inhumanity to man. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933.md?page=5)