Purpose? No idea what it is.

[robvalue]

I guess some people would say the purpose of the next life is to worship god, or whatever. But unless he mindjacks you and forces you to do this, then that would presumably be up to you to decide. It would just be another intended (narcissistic) purpose. Some people say the purpose of this life is to worship as well, but fuck that.

[Joods]

My dad's life had a purpose. He helped work on and launch the Apollo missions that got us to the moon. That's pretty noteworthy in my book.

[brewer]

(sex)

(A close second to Sunday dinner)

You're not doing it right, or they're not. Not sure where to point the finger on this one.

[Cod]

Plus the argument that some theists make that there is no [ultimate] purpose without God isn't actually a logical argument against the soundness of atheism, but rather an attempt to point out some supposed "oh-so-negative" implication of atheism.

I don't see that pointing out a lack of purpose is a negative implication of atheism though, I see it as just being realistic. If theists insist that without God there is no purpose to life then show me what possible purpose another life could have, and why it would differ from this life except in terms of time.

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My dad's life had a purpose. He helped work on and launch the Apollo missions that got us to the moon. That's pretty noteworthy in my book.

Agreed. Noteworthy in the here and now.

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Not sure where to point the finger on this one.

I think that's where I went wrong.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

My dad's life had a purpose. He helped work on and launch the Apollo missions that got us to the moon. That's pretty noteworthy in my book.

BZ to your dad!

I had a clear purpose for twenty years, then I found a new purpose when I went to Purdue. I'm still working on that one.

[Belacqua]

While I agree, there is a vast qualitative difference between a transcendent purpose and one that is contingent and limited.  Religion does have the edge in that department.

That's true! 

But it makes me wonder... why do people even want a transcendent purpose? Do people feel a lack if they don't imagine one?

Does the fact that I've never been religious account for the fact that I feel no need for transcendent purpose? 

Does asking a whole bunch of academic questions give me purpose?

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I think too many people see themselves as special or important.

Yeah, that makes sense. Realism is important here. 

The reality is that we are no more special or have no more purpose than a cow or a sheep.

You know now that you mention it, cows and sheep are pretty amazing things. We have raccoon-dogs and badgers come to our veranda every night, and I find them kind of wonderful. 

Maybe that wonderfulness is autotelic?

[onlinebiker]

Eternity with 72 virgins. If that doesn't count as purpose I don't know what will.

The proponents of that " reward" don't think it through.

Consider -

IF virginity in a woman is important - essentially you are going to spend eternity with no nookie. Think it through. Once you bang her, she' s no longer a virgin, thus undesireable.

Infinity divided by any number is still infinity.

So your time between your first piece and second - providing you' re rationing them out - is infinity.



If I gotta do infinity, a couple of sluts seems like a better bargain.

[Cod]

why do people even want a transcendent purpose? Do people feel a lack if they don't imagine one?

Yes.. Although some people don't like to admit that they are of little consequence, secretly they desire to be special and do actually have some sort of worth.

Does the fact that I've never been religious account for the fact that I feel no need for transcendent purpose?

It helps.

Does asking a whole bunch of academic questions give me purpose?

Not at all. Nothing does.

[LastPoet]

Seeking purpose? Don't worry.

In soviet Russia, purpose finds you.

[GrandizerII]

Does asking a whole bunch of academic questions give me purpose?

Not at all. Nothing does.

It really depends on how purpose is being defined.