The meaning of life – Asking yourself the question to the meaning of life = is my
life worth living, is the life of all people worthwhile, is life in the end worthwhile? 6 groups:
1) What’s important in my life – Is health or money more important?
2) Who am I? – Can I be myself?
3) How do people have to associate with each other? - How to educate children, deal with
discrimination
4) What does time mean in human life? - Questions about eternity, future, time flies
Medium Vital Questions
5) Questions related to nature – Environment, The essence and threat of water
6) Questions about suffering and death – Afterlife, Suffer before dying, sense in suffering
Big Vital Questions
Popular answers to the Question ‘What is the meaning of life?’
*To realize your potential and ideals
To chase dreams
To spend it for something that will outlast it
To matter/stand for something
to become the person you want to be
*To achieve biological perfection
To live as long as possible
To replicate, reproduce
*To seek wisdom and knowledge
To follow clues and walk out the exit
*To do good, to do the right thing
To leave the world as a better place then you
found it
To end suffering
To be generous, give more than you receive
To help others
To learn as many things as possible
To face our fears and accept the lessons life offers us
*Meanings related to religion
To understand and experience God
To go to heaven
To live a life with the least sins as possible
*To love, feel, enjoy the act of living
To love those who mean the most
To love other the best we possibly can
To have fun and enjoy life
*To seek pleasure
To eat, drink, be happy
*To have power, to be better
To strive for power (rule the world)
*Life has no meaning
There is no point in life, that’s why it is special
*Life is Bad
Life is a bitch, and then you die
Why do people ask themselves question about life and death?
- Look further ahead than just today
- What to do with nonsense, like pointless violence
- The need for meaning
When do we ask ourselves these questions?
- When life is no longer accepted: unexpected suffering, (traumatic) experiences
Norms – Unwritten laws, telling you what’s right to do (ethics).
Values – Ideas and Principles, when you follow a norm, you have certain values
* There is a big difference in norms and values in certain countries. Especially when it comes to:
Eating, Dealing with people and Behavior in public.
* Norms and Values can change over time
Difference norms and values:
Norms:
Social behaviors that people in a society are expected to follow
Play a role in building up of values in the mind of an individual
Are imposed from outside
Values:
Our beliefs what is good, right or wrong.
A set of beliefs an individual has to guide his behavior
Made inside the mind of an individual
Love as the basis for a Christian Living
*Christians believe that Jesus was the only person to fulfill the ideal of ‘the love of your fellow human
is more important than building up your own riches or possessions on earth’.
*The golden rule: Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
How do world religions give meaning to life?
Judaism:
* ‘It’s what you do that counts’ – People should be judged on the way they live their faith
* Jews try to live up to the ‘thirteen principles of faith’. Each principle begins with the words:
‘I believe with complete faith that…’
*Jewish life is life in community: The Jewish prayer book uses ‘we’ instead of ‘I’
*Most of the Jewish believe that the meaning of life is to do at least one noble act:
*Donating an organ
*Preparing your loved ones to survive your death
*Asking forgiveness
*Changing one negative or selfish pattern
Christianity
*Christians recognize Jesus as the Son of God who was sent to save mankind from death and sin
*Christians believe in justification by faith – through their believe in Jesus, the Christians have a right
relationship with God.
*The biggest sin is to turn away from God
*Christians believe that many spiritual experiences give them an idea about ‘eternal life’
*Saint is the word to refer to a Christian who has lived a good and holy life on earth, and with whom
miracles are claimed to have been associated after their death
Islam
*Muslims believe in the fact that Allah decided everything, good or bad
*Muslims believe in predestination and in life after death
*they prepare for a day of judgment
*Muslims have to share their wealth
*they believe life on earth has no meaning without divine justice being applied
*The five pillars of Islam help Muslims put their faith into action: These are five obligations that
every Muslim must fulfill in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam
- Shahadah = declaration of faith
- Salat = ritual prayer 5 times a day
- Zakat = giving a fixed proportion to charity
- Swam = fasting
- Hajj = pilgrimage to Mecca
Arguments for God’s Existence
The ontological argument – This argument seeks to prove the existence of God from the laws of logic
alone. It argues that once we mentally grasp the concept of God, we can see that God’s nonexistence is impossible.
The first cause / cosmological argument – This argument seeks to prove the existence of God from
the fact that the universe exists. It came into existence, and since nothing can come to existence it
must have been created (by God)
The Argument form design/teleological – The argument from design seeks to prove the existence of
god from the fact the universe is ordered. The universe could have been different from the way that
it is now. The vast majority of these possible universes would not have allowed for the existence of
life, so we are very fortunate indeed to have a universe that does.
The Moral argument – This argument seeks to prove the existence of a perfect being that created
the universe, has authority over it, and takes an interest in humanity.
Condensed versions
1. Ontological – It is possible to imagine a perfect being. Such a being couldn’t be perfect unless its
essence included existence. Objection: You can’t define or imagine a thing into existence.
2. Causal – Everything must have a cause, so there must have been a first cause. Objection It can be
that the universe is the only thing that doesn’t have a cause.
3. Design – Animals, plants etc. show clear signs of being designed for specific matters, therefore
they must be designed and created. Objection The evolution theory
4. Experiential – A very large number of people claim to have personal religious experiences of God.
Objection: We can’t assume that everything imagined in mental experiences is actually true.
5. Pragmatic (Moral) – Human societies require ethics to survive. They are more effectively enforced
if people fear God and hell. Objection: The usefulness of a belief does not prove its truth.
Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans). He was born in Assisi in
1181, and died on the 3rd of October 1226. He restored several ruined churches and he found the
order of the Friars Minor and the Order of the Poor Dames. He always helped the poor and he was
well-known for his love of nature and environment. He was given the title Saint 2 years after his
death by the pope Gregory IX. And every year, on the 4th of October, St Francis’ feast day is observed.
Which god do you want to prove?
The unknown
1. Answers to the unknown
2. Something > nothing
3. The awe inspiring
4. Source of meaning
The mover
A presence
5. Created universe
9. Sense of union/love
6. Sees and knows everything 10. Sense of nourishment
7. Controls everything
11. Sense of continuity
8. The matrix of existence
A community bond
12. Supports community
13. Supports morality
14. Supports identity
A miracle worker
15. Heals illness
16. Provides prosperity
17. Protects from disaster
A Judge
18. Wants to be worshipped
19. Benefits obeyers
20. Punishes disobeyers
21. Decides about afterlife