What is the meaning of life?

42....... Well maybe not, but it's a good guess.

After some discussion last night I was inspired to write this post. After all this is a common question worthy of attention. A deep philosophical question with so many answers and thoughts that I can't go through them all. A lot of this is direct from the conversation as well.

I imagine the Christian explanation like this...We are the byproduct of a bored supreme being who wanted someone to play with, watch, do his bidding, honor him and worship him because of his abilities. That is our TRUE purpose. Everything else we wish to do is second to him.

Here's some Sagan with some lovely insight.

I really love Sagan. When he talks about the universe, I can't help but be awed by his words. I am sure the second video is from Pale Blue Dot, but am unsure of the first.

[We long to be here for a purpose, even though, despite much self deception, none is evident.] The significance of our lives and our fragile planet is then determined only by our own wisdom and courage. We are the custodians of life’s meaning. We long for a Parent to care for us, to forgive us our errors, to save us from our childish mistakes. But knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable… If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal…

A response from a Christian might (more like did) go like this.

Dear [suffering person],

I've got comforting advice for you all.
You may long for a higher purpose, but none exists, so deal with it.
Create your own purpose, but remember it's just an illusion.
Science has proven your childish longing for real meaning to be simple ignorance.

Carpe diem, and tough luck.

Sincerely,
Carl Sagan

That's the most dismal thing I've ever heard. Just because we make our own meaning for life, doesn't make that life worthless or that meaning an illlusion. The reason to make this planet a better place to live is one huge reason out of many others. Is it meaningless? It's rather sad that one's reason to live is to serve and worship a god. I guess God isn't so humble.

Then what is the meaning of life? Whatever we make it. We are a cosmic coincidence, one of the few lucky planets that has the capability to support life, and we can do whatever we want. We could have simply continued to exist as hunters and gatherers or we can continue to learn and grow and eventually venture off into space. We can watch the poor starve and the sick die or we can help them by giving them food and medicine. We can make this planet a better place for all life.

Carpe diem. Seize the day. You can put as little effort into changing the world with your life or you can do as much as you want in changing it. Life is tough, but we rarely go at it alone. We have our families and our friends, and we want them to be happy and live successful joyous lives. And I will, to the best of my abilities, make that happen. When we're in a time of despair, some turn to God. Rather than turn to an almighty being THAT CAN'T DO A DAMN THING for anyone. Why not turn to our family and friends where you can actually hold their hands and feel their love. I understand that turning to God can be a good thing when one has no family or friends in a time of suffering. Imagining there is a being who cares about your existence can help you. (There are also telephone help lines now). But once that has passed it's time to realize that we are fully capable of anything ourselves. That drunk who sobered up and moved back in with his wife and kid doesn't need to thank God. He needs to thank himself. For he actually found the will power within to change his lifestyle, to go to rehab, to talk to people, to understand his problem. He did it. I don't know how many times I see and hear, "it's in God's hands now." Take your hands off the steering wheel next time your driving down the highway and tell God it's in his hands now... See what happens.

Whatever meaning we choose, it takes hold of our life and drives us wherever we want to go.