Social Anxiety Support

Encore · 03-01-2009, 05:33 AM

Well????

I don't want a debate I really want to know where you find meaning?

kpiper0101 · 03-01-2009, 08:55 AM

I find meaning in my belief that we are all pieces of something bigger -- that what I do or don't do has a much larger impact than I'm capable of understanding. I matter as does every other "piece." If you take a look at the intricacies of life around you, some of the tiniest creations are awe-inspiring. I read some pretty angry, downer posts here, but I believe that all of that comes from within -- anger is often directly proportional to how one feels about himself. When I feel crappy about myself, I'm irritable. I find meaning outside of myself. I'm assuming that's why I see that so many are agnostics or athiests here, the nature of SA makes us prone to self-absorption, though not in an arrogant sense. For me believing in a power greater than myself, whether anyone else does or not, has kept me going and given me hope when I otherwise would have had none.

Madison_Rose · 03-01-2009, 09:16 AM

Ooh, interesting question. Why do you think there has to be a meaning? I personally don't believe that we're all part of some divine plan, we're just here, we're born, we die. I'm happy to be alive and I count myself lucky, but I don't believe there is any underlying reason for my existence. I know that a lot of people dislike this idea, but I see nothing wrong with it

If somebody is happy to believe otherwise, if their religious or spiritual beliefs help them, I'm happy for them.

My view doesn't mean that I feel my life is pointless. I'm a hedonist in the original meaning of the word, which is to say I pursue happiness, pleasure and enjoyment. I live according to my own morals which are based on empathy and compassion - I don't want to be hurt, therefore it's wrong to hurt other people. So I'd never pursue my own happiness at the expense of someone else (unless they were really mean :P )

huh · 03-01-2009, 09:16 AM

Meaning in what? Some things don't have to have a deep meaning, and I'm fine with that. There are lots of things in life I find to be interesting, but I don't adhere to any ultimate purpose.

caithiggs · 03-01-2009, 10:33 AM

I love the universe. And science. And the mind. I believe in ideas about world unification and stuff. I'm kind of a hippy when it comes to finding meaning in the world. I think we're all the same, we express our egos differently, but we're all part of the universe, which is just us at its fullest. Time is how we experience the universe, but really it's just a perception thing and the universe is one thing all at once. We just can't comprehend it individually is all. Yeah, I basically believe in all the stuff people find out from drug use and altered states of consciousness.

dax · 03-01-2009, 10:56 AM

I don't know if there is a point- I believe just because it makes sense to me I guess. I don't try to figure out the purpose to the universe really. I just think there is one.

hyacinth_dragon · 03-02-2009, 06:35 PM

when i was younger my views were like that of ms. higgs.......except for the drug use part....now i don't really care or see meaning in anything unless im feeling particularly philosophical.

screwjack · 03-02-2009, 07:30 PM

Historically it is of course a way to ascribe meaning to the universe. Even if you are an athiest you strive to understand the universe around you. I think no matter what you call it or what religion/spirituality you are it boils down to the same thing even if you believe in nothing. Heck even if you where a nihilist and think it's all pointless one way or another it's still a belief in something.

I chose buddhism as my path because I think the illusion of suffering is the biggest impediment to the true reality of the world. A story by the buddha on enlightenment: "If someone shoots you with an arrow you don't spend your time trying to guess who made it, you take it out"

rb1088 · 03-02-2009, 07:31 PM

Does life really need any meaning? Why must we have meaning? When you look at things we as humans are really not that important. When one of us or millions of us die the world still keeps spinning, and the universe keeps expanding. I think it is a big waste of time to think about higher powers or even meaning in life. There might be an answer to the whole thing, but I don't even think we are anywhere close to discovering it. In the grand scheme of things we havn't been here long and we might not be here much longer.

Linus · 03-02-2009, 07:38 PM

There is no meaning.

Bredwh · 03-02-2009, 08:13 PM

I make my own meaning.

slylikeafox · 03-02-2009, 11:07 PM

Like Bredwh said, we make our own meaning. It is the ultimate freedom.

golden · 03-03-2009, 12:23 AM

I used to debate this with myself and then I realized something...it is a complete waste of time and emotion. I would rather spend my time and emotion living life instead of pondering what the entire point of it is. Besides, no mortal human being knows the answer to this question and ever will, so it is just a waste to battle yourself and others about it.

I like investing my time and emotion in myself, my family and friends, not into something the god's have to worry about.

I'm agnostic btw.

Aurora · 03-03-2009, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slylikeafox

Like Bredwh said, we make our own meaning. It is the ultimate freedom.

caithiggs · 03-03-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyacinth_dragon

when i was younger my views were like that of ms. higgs.......except for the drug use part....now i don't really care or see meaning in anything unless im feeling particularly philosophical.

Heh, I don't actually do drugs. I just agree with what people have found by doing drugs.

I don't like the idea of not caring about meaning. But that's probably because I'm obsessed with literature (in school) where you have to constantly contemplate meaning in everything. Which is fun.

But I see why meaning is a low priority for a lot of people. In fact, if you say say "meaning" a whole bunch of times it starts to lose its meaning...

03-01-2009, 05:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
Encore Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Jersey Gender: Male Age: 21 Posts: 207	What's the point?, atheists, devout, indiferent Well???? I don't want a debate I really want to know where you find meaning?

03-01-2009, 09:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
Madison_Rose Status: conservative gay hamster Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Gender: Female Age: 27 Posts: 1,307	Ooh, interesting question. Why do you think there has to be a meaning? I personally don't believe that we're all part of some divine plan, we're just here, we're born, we die. I'm happy to be alive and I count myself lucky, but I don't believe there is any underlying reason for my existence. I know that a lot of people dislike this idea, but I see nothing wrong with it If somebody is happy to believe otherwise, if their religious or spiritual beliefs help them, I'm happy for them. My view doesn't mean that I feel my life is pointless. I'm a hedonist in the original meaning of the word, which is to say I pursue happiness, pleasure and enjoyment. I live according to my own morals which are based on empathy and compassion - I don't want to be hurt, therefore it's wrong to hurt other people. So I'd never pursue my own happiness at the expense of someone else (unless they were really mean :P ) __________________ Freethinker? Skeptic? Agnostic? Atheist? Not sure? www.the-brights.net

03-01-2009, 10:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
dax Status: Losing Ground Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boston Gender: Male Posts: 2,237	I don't know if there is a point- I believe just because it makes sense to me I guess. I don't try to figure out the purpose to the universe really. I just think there is one. __________________ My Youtube Page I just don't fit in this place Their thoughts cast me out of here Their home has run out of space My mind's already out of here Won't you come along dear? Won't you come along?

03-02-2009, 08:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bredwh Status: Single White He-male Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Delhi, NY, USA (in the Catskills) Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 811	I make my own meaning. __________________ my intro thread + history/description of my SA

03-02-2009, 11:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
slylikeafox Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Michigan Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 1,685	Like Bredwh said, we make our own meaning. It is the ultimate freedom. __________________ "Aim at the sun, and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if aimed at an object on a level with yourself" - Joel Hawes

03-01-2009, 08:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
kpiper0101 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Eugene, OR Gender: Female Age: 46 Posts: 354	I find meaning in my belief that we are all pieces of something bigger -- that what I do or don't do has a much larger impact than I'm capable of understanding. I matter as does every other "piece." If you take a look at the intricacies of life around you, some of the tiniest creations are awe-inspiring. I read some pretty angry, downer posts here, but I believe that all of that comes from within -- anger is often directly proportional to how one feels about himself. When I feel crappy about myself, I'm irritable. I find meaning outside of myself. I'm assuming that's why I see that so many are agnostics or athiests here, the nature of SA makes us prone to self-absorption, though not in an arrogant sense. For me believing in a power greater than myself, whether anyone else does or not, has kept me going and given me hope when I otherwise would have had none.

03-01-2009, 09:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
huh Status: Statistical Anomaly Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: WI Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 1,037	Meaning in what? Some things don't have to have a deep meaning, and I'm fine with that. There are lots of things in life I find to be interesting, but I don't adhere to any ultimate purpose.

03-01-2009, 10:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
caithiggs Status: n00b Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: no trace Gender: Female Posts: 215	I love the universe. And science. And the mind. I believe in ideas about world unification and stuff. I'm kind of a hippy when it comes to finding meaning in the world. I think we're all the same, we express our egos differently, but we're all part of the universe, which is just us at its fullest. Time is how we experience the universe, but really it's just a perception thing and the universe is one thing all at once. We just can't comprehend it individually is all. Yeah, I basically believe in all the stuff people find out from drug use and altered states of consciousness.

03-02-2009, 06:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
hyacinth_dragon Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA Gender: Female Age: 26 Posts: 740	when i was younger my views were like that of ms. higgs.......except for the drug use part....now i don't really care or see meaning in anything unless im feeling particularly philosophical.

03-02-2009, 07:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
screwjack Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pacific NW Gender: Male Posts: 986	Historically it is of course a way to ascribe meaning to the universe. Even if you are an athiest you strive to understand the universe around you. I think no matter what you call it or what religion/spirituality you are it boils down to the same thing even if you believe in nothing. Heck even if you where a nihilist and think it's all pointless one way or another it's still a belief in something. I chose buddhism as my path because I think the illusion of suffering is the biggest impediment to the true reality of the world. A story by the buddha on enlightenment: "If someone shoots you with an arrow you don't spend your time trying to guess who made it, you take it out"

03-02-2009, 07:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
rb1088 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada Gender: Male Age: 21 Posts: 682	Does life really need any meaning? Why must we have meaning? When you look at things we as humans are really not that important. When one of us or millions of us die the world still keeps spinning, and the universe keeps expanding. I think it is a big waste of time to think about higher powers or even meaning in life. There might be an answer to the whole thing, but I don't even think we are anywhere close to discovering it. In the grand scheme of things we havn't been here long and we might not be here much longer.

03-02-2009, 07:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Linus Status: Permanently Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 54	There is no meaning.

03-03-2009, 12:23 AM	#13 (permalink)
golden Status: Permanently Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: WA Gender: Male Age: 26 Posts: 165	I used to debate this with myself and then I realized something...it is a complete waste of time and emotion. I would rather spend my time and emotion living life instead of pondering what the entire point of it is. Besides, no mortal human being knows the answer to this question and ever will, so it is just a waste to battle yourself and others about it. I like investing my time and emotion in myself, my family and friends, not into something the god's have to worry about. I'm agnostic btw.