Life has no ULTIMATE meaning

[wizard69]

OK.. What is the meaning of life? As an atheist I contend that life has no meaning whatsoever.It just is.
No doubt our religious friends here would see that as extremly sad (cough...Theland...cough). However I would contend the opposite, namly that we are extremly fortunate to experiance a moment in time.A moment that is denied countless billions of potential lives (sperm meets ovum type of scenario).
Because i am an atheist does not mean that I do not appriciate life, on the contary, it enhances it.
On the other hand, if you are of a religious persuasion it would diminish it.To believe that life is eternal is not to appreciate your loved ones while you are alive because you can always make up your wrongs when you are all "passed over".
Any thoughts...

[WaldoMcFroog]

Sorry, what in particular is 'my opinion'?

That asking someone to justify their belief in a book isn't persecution? Hardly an opinion, merely obvious, if that *is* what you're talking about. What hardship have you experienced? Having to do a bit of reseach?

Who is forcing you to come back and take part in these debates? Let us know and we'll tell the police for you!

[wizard69]

Theland. No, it wouldnt be better if there was no religion / spirituality thread.These things need te be discussed (and exposed).Besides, I'd have no one to wind up then...
Why do you say "thats your opinion" to waldo when he was stating fact? Fact is NOT opinion Theland.You need to differentiate between the two.You believe in god, THAT is opinion.
It wasn't just the catholics that ruled the dark ages either.The protestants were just as bad.John Calvin made life hell on earth for those that he ruled over in geneva with the death penalty imposed for trivial offences.He even had a man (michael servitus) put to death because he wasnt a trinitarian.Martin Luther was no better with his hatred of jews and his equal hatred of reason.You seem to constantly bang on about the papists while ignoring your own protestants.People who live in glass houses Theland...

[Theland]

Waldo - "Thick, cruel, imaginary." Your opinion.

[WaldoMcFroog]

So what adjective would you use to describe an omnipotent being that created all that exists and then in the full knowledge that it would happen, allowed that creation to suffer and didn't stop it?

Would you say that was 'loving'?

[Theland]

God knew that his creation, given free will, would rebel. But He went on to create anyway.
His love being demonstrated in correcting the inevitable consequences of free will.
The alternative would have been to create robots or puppets.

[Theland]

Wizard69 - Yes you are right. I am not a Calvinist, and to add to your criticism of Luther, he was also anti semitic.
As I have often said, take the Bible, and compare it to how those who claim to live their lives by it.
If there is a difference, like in Luther and Calvins case, then naturally, they are guilty of either ignorance of its meaning, or deliberately distorting it's meaning. Hence your assertion about them wanting a theocracy. Calvin certainly did.

[WaldoMcFroog]

You don't feel this is a bit like criticising the bunny at the greyhound racing?

'Of course I knew it would go in a circle, but now I have to punish it for not going in a straight line.'

[WaldoMcFroog]

Do you cut your hair, Theland?
Do you check how old a the tree from which a piece of fruit comes before you eat it?
Do you think the handicapped can go to heaven?

[mibn2cweus]

Whereas life has a meaning (a self-generated and self-sustaining process with the potential for and the necessity to maintain growth) the term �God� remains undefined and therefore can be whatever, whenever, whoever chooses it to be. Such �definitions� typically ascribed to this term revolve around the presumption that �God� is the creator of all that is good in the universe, including the existence of life, while being exempt from responsibility for anything that goes wrong, such as disease, natural calamity and the mistakes that are an inevitable consequence of the actions of a creature lacking omniscience or omnipotence, the entity we observe as ourselves. Creating such an entity can only be justly described as God�s greatest blunder. Fortunately a God would not be capable of such a blunder and by virtue of this contradiction does not exist and this fact allows for the necessity for growth which by definition is an essential attribute of life and in meeting this requirement gives our lives the potential to derive meaning as well.