What is the meaning of life?

What is the meaning of life?
Im 13 years old and i'm in my 3rd year of Secondary school. Therefore going through puberty. I've had a history of OCD, which i attended regular sessions at the piory (a special anxiety clinic). Now im growing up and starting to ask more questions, I have a unsertanty about getting older and dieing, the dieing part which i have made myself accept beacuse its enevitable, but my worry now lies with growing up and leaving home, im a bit of a mummys boy and i love my family an awful lot (which of corse is normal) but part of me gets really upset when i think about not being young and the fact that i wont be for much longer. I dont know wether its my hourmons over reacting to the problem or its normal to feel this way. Im strangley upset over this and dont really want to go back to the priory for treatment. I do want to grow up and have kids but at the same time i dont want to leave my family and more expecially my mum, please help me out, i might just sound like a wineing kid but this has really struck a cord and would like an adults opinion. thanks guys!
Philosophy - 8 Answers - 2009-10-08 10:55:17

Best Answer
Aldous Huxley’s indictment, “Most of one’s life.. is one prolonged effort to prevent thinking,” seems to fit the answers like 42 and nothing, do you want a serious answer? By the way E.W. Bullinger (died 1913) wrote 42's meaning is found in man's rejection of God and the AntiChrist. http://philologos.org/__eb-nis/13666.htm But before I start let me ask questions for you to think about... Why do you want to know if there is meaning? Why do you even care if there is an answer? What difference will it make in your life if there is one? There isn't near enough space for a complete argument but lets start. Here are my pre-conditions for the answer. 1) Yours and many others willingness to atleast question if there is one shows that there is almost a universal need for an answer. Why am I here etc. has been repeated thousands of times on here alone. 2) Some want to deny meaning because a meaningless life frees them of any responsibility and accountability to anyone but themselves but to most this rings false and hollow. Many compensate by creating a subjective meaning with no regard to if there is a higher meaning. 3) The implied and explicit implications of there being an objective meaning and purpose presents the fact there is a standard of accountability, right wrong etc. and to some this is very offensive to their lifestyle. OBSERVATIONS The atheist Aldus Huxley clearly said "I want this world not to have meaning because a meaningless world frees me to my own erotic and political pursuits.". A life without meaning is no more than chemical reactions and has no meaning, no true and false, no love and an empty hopeless end. That idea "frees" some to live the lifestyles they choose and gnaws away at the heart of most mankind who want justice, good to prevail and evil to be punished. C.S. Lewis was an atheist but after spending time with JRR Tolkien and looking at the evidence became a very strong proclaimer of Christian. He says this about life having meaning: "If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning." METHODOLOGY It was the philosopher Francis Bacon that said "A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." So let's we dig past the surface and given the almost universal need for meaning, justice, hope, love, etc. then in my investigation there is the one philosophy that would best fit the heart of man as corrupt but offers the evidence and hope of justice and a changed life is Christianity. Lostness of Man http://www.rzim.org/CA/Resources/Listen/LetMyPeopleThink.aspx?archive=1&pid=1243 http://www.rzim.org/CA/Resources/Listen/LetMyPeopleThink.aspx?archive=1&pid=1249 CONCLUSIONS Given these criteria and evidences of men that were failures in so many ways and yet were greatly used by God that I see in the Bible (King David - murderer...) it implies at the simplest definition, life is a test. In this test the results are based on our relationship to God, how we serve God, did we sincerely repent of sins and accept Jesus as Lord. We must recognize that all have fallen short and sinned, have false pride etc. so we need to humble ourselves and sincerely repent and those that can't or won't are rejecting God's love and Jesus' sacrifice and will fail the test. God has provided a method of passing based solely on the sacrifice of Jesus as seen in John 3: 14-19. Only the rewards mention in the Bible for those that do pass and are as consequence of our actions, not salvation. To find a Purpose we need to find what God wants us to do with our lives. Jesus said, that He came to save the lost, as well as helping those in need (the poor, the orphans, the widows and the sick). By letting Jesus in our hearts and following Jesus we will have a "peace that the world cannot", so that we may "live more abundantly". John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" Henry Drummond talks about our relationship with God and Love in his book "The Greatest thing in the World", it is available for free online. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16739 If you are sincere enough in your search to read this far then finally and simply the meaning is found in worshipping God, Glorifying God, God's Love, Jesus' love and sacrifice and our love to others and that relationship. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:1-8;&version=31; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:37-40;&version=50; "Jesus said The problem in your life and mine is not the availability or the lack of availability of truth it is the hypocrisy in the search." Ravi Zacharias May more find that there is love, meaning and purpose in life. Bai

All Answers
Answer 1
If you find out ,let us all know.Man has been searching for that answer forever.
2009-10-08 11:04:17

Answer 2
The Meaning of Life is Subjective. You create the "meaning" in the time that you are alive. I believe that the whole purpose of living is to create purpose and be purpose. That being said, one can only live a meaningless life if they choose not to define, and construct their Own destiny.
2009-10-08 11:16:49

Answer 3
Don't worry, life just happens, enjoy what there is to enjoy, and challenge the obstacles you face to overcome them and be happy. Remember Winter never fails to turn to spring, and you will have many seasons in your life.
2009-10-08 11:27:47

Answer 4
Each person creates his own meaning in life and it can change with time. It is hard to decide your meaning in life it all goes back to what makes you happy. So my advice do what ever makes you happy be free and decide your own life, let no one tell you there is a certain meaning in life.
2009-10-08 11:30:05

Answer 5
Those thoughts and feelings are well-known to many others besides yourself, so you are not alone. The meaning of life is a difficult question to answer. It's partly the meaning you decide to give it, and part of it is only revealed to you over time and through life experience. I personally feel that we only find meaning through living life honestly and as fully as possible. Why are we here? No one really knows for sure (althoughly they'll often loudly and convincingly exclaim they do), but I believe there is a purpose for our existence, part of that purpose is to experience life in all its emotional glory and agony so we can gain wisdom and pass it on to others, as well as take it with us into the next realm of existence, whatever or wherever that might be. One thing in my life that has become certain is that worrying is not a productive pastime or conducive to happiness. It's certainly ok to question the future and harbor some concerns, but fretting about it is more or less useless and can be harmful to you. It's sometimes easier for adults to have this confidence, but if you look around you, many (if not most) do not. You will do well to heed my advice and avoid worry too much. "Know thine enemy" and "Our greatest fear is fear itself" are very old and wise sayings. Fear generally feeds on itself and is a matter of not possessing adequate knowledge about what we are afraid of. Do your best to confront your fears through constant education, self-learning, and experience. What I can also say for certain from my own experience is that if you try to keep a positive attitude and you do your best to keep faith that everything works out exactly as it is meant to, you'll be fine. It took me 40 years to learn that important lesson. The universe provides, if you let it. Just do not try to walk too narrow a path through life and keep beating your head on "doors" that will not yield. Goals are great, but so can unplanned detours and lay-bys. Keep an open mind and spirit, don't hesitate to question everything, and be unrelentingly curious. This is not to say there will be no bad or sad experiences. Just remember that even negative experiences have positive value in them. Our most important lessons are often learned through tragedy, failure or embarassment, so go boldly and fearlessly forth with the conviction that it's all good for you. The main things to remember are that if you have your health, you can rebuild your life from the worst of calamities should any befall you. Everything else is a bonus. If you don't have your health, you are at the mercy of an often cold and indifferent world. You are primarily responsible for and in control of your own health through how you live. The other important thing to remember is that you may find yourself knocked down by life on occasion and it may not be your fault, but it is 100% your own responsibility to pick yourself up and carry on. And our memory of people we love (whether they are alive or deceased) helps us to do that. The magic of memory of our mum, dad, siblings, friends and others is that we are never truly alone. Try reading some of the very short, insightful and entertaining essays on this website, particularly those under "philosophy". And this: http://www.peace.ca/kindergarten.htm Take care young friend...
2009-10-08 11:43:46

Answer 6
First You may have to answer the question what is LIFE. What is life? Living organisms undergo metabolism, maintain homeostasis, possess a capacity to grow, respond to stimuli, reproduce and, through natural selection, adapt to their environment in successive generations. More complex living organisms can communicate through various means.Thus in my opinion is the meaning of life. If I am truly alive I should eat, grow, respond to stimuli, communicate, and adapt to stay alive. Why stay alive? Every living thing has an innate need to sustain its own life. Why live? Because we want to. As humans we all want to stay alive for one reason or another, according to their individual reality.
2009-10-08 13:03:47

Answer 7
Aldous Huxley’s indictment, “Most of one’s life.. is one prolonged effort to prevent thinking,” seems to fit the answers like 42 and nothing, do you want a serious answer? By the way E.W. Bullinger (died 1913) wrote 42's meaning is found in man's rejection of God and the AntiChrist. http://philologos.org/__eb-nis/13666.htm But before I start let me ask questions for you to think about... Why do you want to know if there is meaning? Why do you even care if there is an answer? What difference will it make in your life if there is one? There isn't near enough space for a complete argument but lets start. Here are my pre-conditions for the answer. 1) Yours and many others willingness to atleast question if there is one shows that there is almost a universal need for an answer. Why am I here etc. has been repeated thousands of times on here alone. 2) Some want to deny meaning because a meaningless life frees them of any responsibility and accountability to anyone but themselves but to most this rings false and hollow. Many compensate by creating a subjective meaning with no regard to if there is a higher meaning. 3) The implied and explicit implications of there being an objective meaning and purpose presents the fact there is a standard of accountability, right wrong etc. and to some this is very offensive to their lifestyle. OBSERVATIONS The atheist Aldus Huxley clearly said "I want this world not to have meaning because a meaningless world frees me to my own erotic and political pursuits.". A life without meaning is no more than chemical reactions and has no meaning, no true and false, no love and an empty hopeless end. That idea "frees" some to live the lifestyles they choose and gnaws away at the heart of most mankind who want justice, good to prevail and evil to be punished. C.S. Lewis was an atheist but after spending time with JRR Tolkien and looking at the evidence became a very strong proclaimer of Christian. He says this about life having meaning: "If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning." METHODOLOGY It was the philosopher Francis Bacon that said "A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." So let's we dig past the surface and given the almost universal need for meaning, justice, hope, love, etc. then in my investigation there is the one philosophy that would best fit the heart of man as corrupt but offers the evidence and hope of justice and a changed life is Christianity. Lostness of Man http://www.rzim.org/CA/Resources/Listen/LetMyPeopleThink.aspx?archive=1&pid=1243 http://www.rzim.org/CA/Resources/Listen/LetMyPeopleThink.aspx?archive=1&pid=1249 CONCLUSIONS Given these criteria and evidences of men that were failures in so many ways and yet were greatly used by God that I see in the Bible (King David - murderer...) it implies at the simplest definition, life is a test. In this test the results are based on our relationship to God, how we serve God, did we sincerely repent of sins and accept Jesus as Lord. We must recognize that all have fallen short and sinned, have false pride etc. so we need to humble ourselves and sincerely repent and those that can't or won't are rejecting God's love and Jesus' sacrifice and will fail the test. God has provided a method of passing based solely on the sacrifice of Jesus as seen in John 3: 14-19. Only the rewards mention in the Bible for those that do pass and are as consequence of our actions, not salvation. To find a Purpose we need to find what God wants us to do with our lives. Jesus said, that He came to save the lost, as well as helping those in need (the poor, the orphans, the widows and the sick). By letting Jesus in our hearts and following Jesus we will have a "peace that the world cannot", so that we may "live more abundantly". John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" Henry Drummond talks about our relationship with God and Love in his book "The Greatest thing in the World", it is available for free online. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16739 If you are sincere enough in your search to read this far then finally and simply the meaning is found in worshipping God, Glorifying God, God's Love, Jesus' love and sacrifice and our love to others and that relationship. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:1-8;&version=31; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:37-40;&version=50; "Jesus said The problem in your life and mine is not the availability or the lack of availability of truth it is the hypocrisy in the search." Ravi Zacharias May more find that there is love, meaning and purpose in life. Bai
2009-10-08 18:06:54

Answer 8
Every one of us, unconsciously, works out a personal philosophy of life, by which we are guided, inspired, and corrected, as time goes on. It is this philosophy by which we measure out our days, and by which we advertise to all about us the man, or woman, that we are. . . . It takes but a brief time to scent the life philosophy of anyone. It is defined in the conversation, in the look of the eye, and in the general mien of the person. It has no hiding place. It's like the perfume of the flower — unseen, but known almost instantly. It is the possession of the successful, and the happy. And it can be greatly embellished by the absorption of ideas and experiences of the useful of this earth. George MatthewAdams
2009-10-16 02:56:31