wdog

I get a little tired of the standard xtian claim that their life has meaning and 'a point to it' while my agnostic life does not. I think we all know that life really doesn't need a point to be enjoyed, but let's assume that the xtian life has some meaning beyond existence. From what I learned in church it is simply that you are part of god's plan. So being part of another being's plan suddenly brings meaning to one's existence? If that is true, then why not join the marines and become part of some 'plan'? And nobody knows exactly what the plan is, god could have you asssemble color TVs for eternity.

What could possibly be the point of an afterlife other than continued existence? The same 'point' we make about life, just enjoy your existence.

Captain Pedantic

I have always wondered why, if we are creations of God (or a god, or gods), and if we are loved and wanted in heaven, we should be put on the earth at all - why should we not just have been created to be subjects in heaven?

It seems like an entrance exam for a prestigious (sp?) school to me. The school obviously wants to secure entrants, but only the best will do.

But it seems to me supremely pointless to create beings just to test them on their ability to adhere to the rules. Why do this? Why create the planet and the subjects at all?

A girl on another board (which has since closed down) explained that God created the world because he was bored - an assumption so fantastic, I'm not even going to take the piss. But it does seem like some sort of useless scientific experiment done for the hell of it, to see what would happen (although if God is omnipresent and omnipotent, surely he would know the outcome?). Oddly, this is the belief held by that Calvinist MOG, who came from the Walk Away board.

Pitshade

This would be better off in Misc. Religion.

beoba

For some reason, I'd never thought of it that way. Good point.

-RRH-

The purpose of existance is to produce soap operas.

Everybody who doesn't directly create soap operas, is indirectly helping to provide inspiration for the writers.

Captain Pedantic

Now it makes sense!

wdog

thank you RRH for bringing a refreshing clarity to my life.

I was just venting at the self-assured people who feel so good that their life stands for something and they really don't know what. It seems I have heard it more than a few times in recent days about how empty it is to be an atheist. When I look at most religion, not only are they kidding themselves, they don't even know really what they are so happy about. At least the muslims detail about how you will get 72 virgins (sort of like the bachelor show but you get to keep em all), and the mormons tell you that you get your own planet.

Marz Blak

Your own planet? That is, like, the weirdest, coolest thing I've ever heard!

On a more serious note, though, I happen to agree with you that all this talk about purpose and significance of life, seen from a cosmic point-of-view, seems pretty, well, silly sometimes.

[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: Marz Blak ]</p>

Captain Pedantic

Do the Mormons get a planet each when they die, though? I don't think they do, I think they merely believe that heaven is another planet.

Mind you, Mormons are a bit funny.

wdog

that's what I was told by a mormon, you get to be a god for your own world like earth. I remember it well since I always told him that he would just end up with an asteroid probably