What is the purpose of life? [moved]

[Astrid]

Not in a dog eat dog world of man, but was well received by the victims of that oppression.

As if a slave does not already know not to fight back.
Terrif prophet, there.

 

[timothyu]

Only for the emotionally immature.
Self interest is not the prime instinct of parents.

Maybe not with their kids but what of the rest of the world?

 

[Astrid]

Maybe not with their kids but what of the rest of the world?

Nobody can concern themselves with "the world".
We believe first loyalty is to close, then more
distant, then friends / community, etc. Like
concentric rings. And I think that is human instinct.

Heros in any culture are not the ones who put
their own interests first.
There's no redemption for those who do.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Turning the other cheek is just a part and not nearly all of the message from Jesus, it was metaphorical in describing an approach to accommodate others in keeping peace rather than just starting with a response more hostile.

Sure; and, as I said, it didn't last long once Christianity became popular.

Being peacemakers was important in the message from Jesus, along with acting with love and compassion and mercy...

Indeed, but except for a few, it has often (generally?) been honoured more in the breach. That was my point.

 

[dlamberth]

Turning the other cheek is just a part and not nearly all of the message from Jesus, it was metaphorical in describing an approach to accommodate others in keeping peace rather than just starting with a response more hostile. Being peacemakers was important in the message from Jesus, along with acting with love and compassion and mercy, obedience to godly things, and trusting in biblical promises with following him.

I'm drawn to the medieval Christian Mystics. One of those mystics, Hildegard of Bingen looked to the essence of Christ as "Divine Compassion/Activated". Which falls in line with what your pointing towards.

But, when looking at the Christian Church and what it's come to be, I think Marguerite Porete (another medieval women Christian mystic) is spot on. What she wrote is that there are two churches. The first she called the "High Holy Church". That church, she wrote, "preaches" Love. The other church she called the "Little Holy Church". That church, according to her, "preaches "rules, laws and order. And I think anymore today its that second church that Christianity has become.

Oh...by the way, Marguerite Porete was burned at the stake by the Little Holy Church.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Oh...by the way, Marguerite Porete was burned at the stake by the Little Holy Church.

Presumably a loving incineration?

 

[AV1611VET]

What is the purpose of life?

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Brethren NT Commentary says: While all things were created for the pleasure of God, man was the only earthly creature that was created a rational being. He was, therefore, the only part of God's creation that possibly could displease him. He did displease him. Man did the very thing God told him not to do. (See Ge 2:17; 3:6.) Therefore God sent his Son into the world to give man another opportunity to please him. (Compare Joh 3:16; 1Th 4:1.) All men should now seek, to please God according to his Gospel, else he will be sorely displeased and visit vengeance upon them. (Compare 2Th 1:8.)

 

[Abide with me.]

Everything in life has a mathematical equation, we may not know all the equations as of yet. If this was the case it would demonstrate it has been made by something i.e. planned rather than just big bang theory although the big bang did occur. This was when organic matter was introduced for growth and experimental reasons but without the intelligence. Organic matter was not intelligent at the start of the earth but the start of mankind.

Evolution evolved organic matter to a position where man could be created by inputting intelligence.

Have you ever heard of fractal patterns? They are a mathematical equation that create some of the most stunning patterns in the world, from snowfkakes, ice formations, ferns, crystals, flowers etc, if God was an artist, he was the best, but I believe he was also the creator of all things great and small in a stunningly diverse evolutionary way, if that is true, he knows every cell in my body, and every thought in my brain, I believe the meaning of life is to acknowledge him and come home to him, we can only do this by admitting we can never be as marvelous, wonderful and powerful as him.
This is harder for some people to do than others, it must be really tough for the super beautiful, super brainy, rich, powerful talented etc, it must be very tempting to take credit for absolutely everything, especially when you've worked hard for it, but pride separates us from God, and it's a super tough lesson when pride causes us to fall from grace, as often happens, and we finally, finally take our broken selves to God, and through our humility, God through his good grace, puts us back together again as a better person.

 

[dlamberth]

All men should now seek, to please God according to his Gospel, else he will be sorely displeased and visit vengeance upon them. (Compare 2Th 1:8.)

I'm of the school that the way to please God is to become a more human, Human Being. What's that mean? How do we get there? It seems that the Heart stuff of Love, Compassion, Empathy and Service to those in need are the trajectories that seem to work pretty well in that regard.

 

[SelfSim]

I'm of the school that the way to please God is to become a more human, Human Being. What's that mean? How do we get there? It seems that the Heart stuff of Love, Compassion, Empathy and Service to those in need are the trajectories that seem to work pretty well in that regard.

If it ain't in the Gospel though, you're up for a visit from vengeance!

 

[AV1611VET]

I'm of the school that the way to please God is to become a more human, Human Being. What's that mean? How do we get there? It seems that the Heart stuff of Love, Compassion, Empathy and Service to those in need are the trajectories that seem to work pretty well in that regard.

You can be all the human you want.

You can bestow all your goods to feed the poor, but if you don't have Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you'll end up in Hell.

Look at it this way:

A flea can jump so far, a frog further, and a kangaroo further still. But none can jump the Grand Canyon.

You can be a champion giver, but you'll never jump that gap between Heaven and Earth alone.

 

[Frank Robert]

Maybe not with their kids but what of the rest of the world?

How do you explain altruism?

 

[Hans Blaster]

Where'd this thread start before it was moved to C&E?

It's devolved into a bunch of preaching and theology and bible snippets and doesn't seem to be about creation-evolution anymore, if it ever was.

 

[Frank Robert]

You can be all the human you want.

You can bestow all your goods to feed the poor, but if you don't have Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you'll end up in Hell.

Only 1/3 of the world population are Christian.

Are over 5 billion people destined for hell?

 

[SelfSim]

Look at it this way:

A flea can jump so far, a frog further, and a kangaroo further still. But none can jump the Grand Canyon.

You can be a champion giver, but you'll never jump that gap between Heaven and Earth alone.

Reference, please?

 

[dlamberth]

You can be all the human you want.

You can bestow all your goods to feed the poor, but if you don't have Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you'll end up in Hell.

Look at it this way:

A flea can jump so far, a frog further, and a kangaroo further still. But none can jump the Grand Canyon.

You can be a champion giver, but you'll never jump that gap between Heaven and Earth alone.

We are all alive and living in this world. This is where we need to have God as our reality. It's not about jumping the Grand Canyon or how far a flee or frog can jump. Its about Heart. It's about being a more human, Human Being. Being an activity of God, our Soul is the jump between Heaven and Earth already.

 

[SelfSim]

Only 1/3 of the world population are Christian.

Are over 5 billion people destined for hell?

It would appear so(?)
Exclusionism .. and (literally) to hell for the rest 'em, it seems!

 

[SelfSim]

We are all alive and living in this world. This is where we need to have God as our reality. It's not about jumping the Grand Canyon or how far a flee or frog can jump. Its about Heart. It's about being a more human, Human Being. Being an activity of God, our Soul is the jump between Heaven and Earth already.

One can be a human Human without the need for souls, heavens and gods, too!

 

[TedT]

How do you explain altruism?

Everyone loves...even those addicted to evil which subverts their pure love into a self service and self aggrandisement, making it 'not love'.

 

[Frank Robert]

Everyone loves...even those addicted to evil which subverts their pure love into a self service and self aggrandisement, making it 'not love'.

Sounds akin to nihilism.