Finding your purpose in life

Without gods one may have as many or as few valid purposes as if there were gods.One might ask onesself if there are gods, what purpose would they have in creating people with purpose? What is the purpose for having such a purpose?In Abrahamic mythology, adam and eve do not seem to have been given any set purpose in Eden. God seemed intent for them to simply live and do. Once removed from Eden they were given instructions on how to do things, and some later individuals a purpose in order to gain power on earth, but most seem to have no real purpose at all.I'm kickin' it pretty much like adam and eve in the garden, or any of the humans under pagan or buddhist or taoist settings: I live. I find purpose as I invest time in things that I enjoy, but not more than that. Sometimes I find others have desires which if I accept will also give me a temporal purpose.The gods, if there are any, and if they have some purpose for me, will do as they please.This message has been edited by holmes, 03-15-2006 02:24 PM

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holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

No offence, but isn't that what anyone would say if they were in fact faking to make a person feel good? I'm not saying I believe that you are, just saying his position is one of those things that can't be rebutted.I have to say that I was actually shocked to read zhimbo's post. I didn't want to say anything however, until you responded about it. It seemed uncharacteristically uhmmmm... sexist.His purpose in life is to give you huge orgasms? If my gf or any other girl stated that her purpose in life was to give their male partners huge orgasms, I suspect that would not have been met with the same acceptance.Indeed if a girl found purpose in delivering many men huge orgasms, would that sit well with you? What if a guy said his purpose was to give as many women as possible huge orgasms, and that he was achieving that goal (the women say so)?Actually I'm all for zhimbo's stated purpose. Sounds great, I was just taken back that such a crude and graphic statement about such a limited purpose (especially related to your sex life) would be acceptable to you.

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holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

I got it was a joke. My point was if someone else had said that, particularly if it was a woman stating her purpose was to please a man sexually, I don't think you would have found it acceptable... as a joke or other. Your dire lack of humor in the past on this subject is what gave me that idea. And you about me and many others. At least it was a pleasant surprise, unless it was just base hypocrisy. Time will tell.As far as being a gadfly, check when's the last time I pursued anything with you, and what the last couple replies were to you from me. I can't help that this was the subject which raised a question, based on your prior statements.Anyhow, this isn't important.

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holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

This makes sense and I am glad for you... for you both actually. I take it there is a better life outside Michigan? Just for clarification...
1) I am a relativist about morality, not about knowledge (facts). It was the latter I was discussing.
2) As a relativist (subjectivist to be specific) I believe that everyone has a moral position they feel strongly about. These positions may conflict with those of others. Relativism states that one cannot determine one position to be any more "right" than another (outside facts/consistencies) and so people are free to be quite judgemental. I meant this discussion was unimportant. Although I felt I had a point to make, I realized afterward it was only negative and not likely to produce anything worthwhile. Though maybe with your last post something positive has come out of this.

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holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

Well it used to in Chicago, but it is almost hard to believe that was real since moving to the Netherlands. I've almost forgotten its possible. It is amazing how much a clear sky can have on one's overall emotional states.This message has been edited by holmes, 03-18-2006 10:32 AM

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holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)