Purpose of life?

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MaxPower
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Purpose of life?

Post #1

Post by MaxPower »

Why did an all knowing all powerful God put us on this earth? What is the purpose of making us go through this life?

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bernee51
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Re: Purpose of life?

Post #2

Post by bernee51 »

MaxPower wrote:Why did an all knowing all powerful God put us on this earth?
On what groundfs do you claim (if indeed you are claiming) an all knowing god 10 exists and 2)put us on this earth?
MaxPower wrote: What is the purpose of making us go through this life?
Why is not life purpose in and of itself?
"Whatever you are totally ignorant of, assert to be the explanation of everything else"

William James quoting Dr. Hodgson

"When I see I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I see I am everything, that is love. My life is a movement between these two."

Nisargadatta Maharaj

MaxPower
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Re: Purpose of life?

Post #3

Post by MaxPower »

bernee51 wrote:
MaxPower wrote:Why did an all knowing all powerful God put us on this earth?
On what groundfs do you claim (if indeed you are claiming) an all knowing god 10 exists and 2)put us on this earth?
MaxPower wrote: What is the purpose of making us go through this life?
Why is not life purpose in and of itself?
Of course my question presuposes the existence of God, we can debate those presupossitions in another thread.

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Post #4

Post by OnceConvinced »

God needed some entertainment. So he created the universe (his chess board), then got himself an opponent (Satan) and decided to play. Think about it. A massive chess game with pieces that all have a mind of their own. What fun!

Society and its morals evolve and will continue to evolve. The bible however remains the same and just requires more and more apologetics and claims of "metaphors" and "symbolism" to justify it.

Prayer is like rubbing an old bottle and hoping that a genie will pop out and grant you three wishes.

There is much about this world that is mind boggling and impressive, but I see no need whatsoever to put it down to magical super powered beings.


Check out my website: Recker's World

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Celestial Dragon
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Post #5

Post by Celestial Dragon »

OnceConvinced wrote:God needed some entertainment. So he created the universe (his chess board), then got himself an opponent (Satan) and decided to play. Think about it. A massive chess game with pieces that all have a mind of their own. What fun!
Not only that, he is very frustrated that Satan is by and far winning the current game. God doesn't like to lose!

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BirdofPrey
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Post #6

Post by BirdofPrey »

First of all congrats for efficiently and successfully deflecting noise, by proposing another thread. I learned an important lesson here.

While I can see how all this unnecessary trouble in the world makes you wonder whether there's a kid in charge, looking at the world as his own little ant farm, I don't see why presuming such a sadistic cause would be the only possible option. I mean, we heard that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, but there's no such thing as absolute power unless you're God. So, our examples aren't quite reliable. But then, I arrive at the question: If God is all powerful, then why on earth does life, if not for us, for others, suck this bad ? Still, I do not accept the idea with the passion for chess ? Is this the best game God could come up with ? I bet he could find something better than sadistic entertainment.

I too wonder why there's a need for all this, and do so even more in the perspective of all-powerfulness. Actually, it just hit me, all-powerfulness excludes bestness, cause you define what's best. Which makes sense otherwise being all-powerful would give you both the ability to create a better than best plan, but also to skip to the last item in the row, which leads to a contradiction. This is a his choice, and it ought to be perfect. And since he is not limited to options, it is his will. As in, the freest possible will there only is.

I don't see myself how what I just wrote makes sense, taking into account the suffering and existential or religious obscurity in the world though. By the way obscurity http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... hp?t=11272 I don't see doesn't mean it doesn't though...

According to the Bible...
Everything is from him and by him and for him.
Romans 11:36 and... Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, authorities, lords, rulers, and powers; all things were made by him and for him
Which is sort of like a nobrainer. You see, if there wasn't anything but God before He created everything else... It's logical that things were made by Him, since there were no other options. But this for Him sounds like trouble. Cause now there were other options, since he created them. He could have created things for us instead. It strikes me as egoistic that He hasn't. An independent world that doesn't fade away if he looks away. I'd say, that'd been real choice in the matter of: God or not. Obedience or not. On the other hand, if He's all powerful He has no need to be a jack-ass chess-maniac, so He ought to be perfectly justified to do as He has.

Why are we here ? Because He wanted us to be here. Why like this ? because He chose things to be this way. Now, the problem is that you can go on with why-s forever, but I think this is really as deep as you can dig. On the other hand, is you still say, ok, ok, but why this way ? He might have a million and one reasons, or just that one.

What's the purpose of going through this life ? If it's learning a lesson, I bet we could learn differently and with less human collateral damage................. :|

So, these are my ideas on the topic. I might have said something, and might have not. I hope I did better than would have by staying silent. I just couldn't help it, as those two questions are really fundamental and have been around myself since a long time too. If someone picks up something and perhaps starts a thread that leads somewhere, I'm more than happy. Regarding fundamental or ultimate questions... you might want to check another confusing, difficult and abandoned thread http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... hp?t=11013 (What is the ultimate difference...that ultimately makes the difference... for eternity ?)

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BirdofPrey
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Post #7

Post by BirdofPrey »

BirdofPrey wrote:First of all congrats for efficiently and successfully deflecting noise, by proposing another thread. I learned an important lesson here.

While I can see how all this unnecessary trouble in the world makes you wonder whether there's a kid in charge, looking at the world as his own little ant farm, I don't see why presuming such a sadistic cause would be the only possible option. I mean, we heard that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, but there's no such thing as absolute power unless you're God. So, our examples aren't quite reliable. But then, I arrive at the question: If God is all powerful, then why on earth does life, if not for us, for others, suck this bad ? Still, I do not accept the idea with the passion for chess. Is this the best game God could come up with ? I bet he could find something better than sadistic entertainment. So let me rule that out.

I too wonder why there's a need for all this, and do so even more in the perspective of all-powerfulness. Actually, it just hit me, all-powerfulness excludes bestness, cause you define what's best. Which makes sense otherwise being all-powerful would give you both the ability to create a better than best plan, but also to skip to the last item in the row, which leads to a contradiction. This is a his choice, and it ought to be perfect. And since he is not limited to options, it is his will. As in, the freest possible will there only is.

I don't see myself how what I just wrote makes sense, taking into account the suffering and existential or religious obscurity in the world though. By the way obscurity http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... hp?t=11272 I don't see doesn't mean it doesn't though...

According to the Bible...
Everything is from him and by him and for him.
Romans 11:36 and... Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, authorities, lords, rulers, and powers; all things were made by him and for him
Which is sort of like a nobrainer. You see, if there wasn't anything but God before He created everything else... It's logical that things were made by Him, since there were no other options. But this for Him sounds like trouble. Cause now there were other options, since he created them. He could have created things for us instead. It strikes me as egoistic that He hasn't. An independent world that doesn't fade away if he looks away. I'd say, that'd been real choice in the matter of: God or not. Obedience or not. On the other hand, if He's all powerful He has no need to be a jack-ass chess-maniac, so He ought to be perfectly justified to do as He has.

Why are we here ? Because He wanted us to be here. Why like this ? because He chose things to be this way. Now, the problem is that you can go on with why-s forever, but I think this is really as deep as you can dig. On the other hand, is you still say, ok, ok, but why this way ? He might have a million and one reasons, or just that one.

What's the purpose of going through this life ? If it's learning a lesson, I bet we could learn differently and with less human collateral damage................. :|

So, these are my ideas on the topic. I might have said something, and might have not. I hope I did better than would have by staying silent. I just couldn't help it, as those two questions are really fundamental and have been around myself since a long time too. If someone picks up something and perhaps starts a thread that leads somewhere, I'm more than happy. Regarding fundamental or ultimate questions... you might want to check another confusing, difficult and abandoned thread http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... hp?t=11013 (What is the ultimate difference...that ultimately makes the difference... for eternity ?)

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Post #8

Post by Coyotero »

OnceConvinced wrote:God needed some entertainment. So he created the universe (his chess board), then got himself an opponent (Satan) and decided to play. Think about it. A massive chess game with pieces that all have a mind of their own. What fun!
The way the world works, I think the game is something more along the lines of Grand Theft Auto.

Artheos
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Re: Purpose of life?

Post #9

Post by Artheos »

bernee51 wrote:
MaxPower wrote:Why did an all knowing all powerful God put us on this earth?
On what groundfs do you claim (if indeed you are claiming) an all knowing god 10 exists and 2)put us on this earth?
Been waiting to say this since it occurred to me earlier today.

In this sub-forum, because the Bible says so.

Disclaimer: Tongue in cheek remark, however, if you want to take it more seriously than intended, please review sub-forum rules before disagreeing.

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bernee51
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Re: Purpose of life?

Post #10

Post by bernee51 »

Artheos wrote:
bernee51 wrote:
MaxPower wrote:Why did an all knowing all powerful God put us on this earth?
On what groundfs do you claim (if indeed you are claiming) an all knowing god 10 exists and 2)put us on this earth?
Been waiting to say this since it occurred to me earlier today.

In this sub-forum, because the Bible says so.

Disclaimer: Tongue in cheek remark, however, if you want to take it more seriously than intended, please review sub-forum rules before disagreeing.
Thanks for pointing this out - I often forget where I am....
"Whatever you are totally ignorant of, assert to be the explanation of everything else"

William James quoting Dr. Hodgson

"When I see I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I see I am everything, that is love. My life is a movement between these two."

Nisargadatta Maharaj

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