Originally written 8/30/07.
Why are we here? I guess that’s one the biggest questions of the mystery of life and the basis of existentialism. Everyone has their own beliefs, but no one really knows for sure. Some believe that there is/are (a) God(s) that created life and gave us all meaning, depending on who you talk to. There are those that don’t believe in God(s). Then there are the other others that have other beliefs or even a mixture of both, but the whole God(s) versus no God(s) is definitely the most common argument to the question of our existence.
There are many people out there who are baffled by our existence. Some people see meaningless in life which can have huge affects on how we live. For some, if they can’t find any meaning, then why live? What’s the purpose of life? Why not just die now (Even though some do)? Or just do whatever you want and ignore the rules of society? The big question has always been why. It’s a good question. I can't answer that and I’m sure no one can, but I really believe that we all must have some kind of meaning to life, whether for ourselves, for others (the ones we love), or for something even greater than ourselves. If not, I’m not sure how anyone could sustain a healthy life, and there are many people that don’t.
There are primary two kinds of existentialists, according to French existentialist philosopher Jean Paul Sartre; atheists and theists. Theists believe in a God, or Gods, depending on the religion. Atheists, on the other-hand, don’t. I'm a theist. Although I'm not too religious like many out there, I’ve been Catholic all my life (Or rather, a Christian--You believe in Christ or you don't, that's the only two groups to Christianity that I see) and I personally believe in God. It definitely gives much meaning to my life, as it surely does for anyone else who believes the same. Theists believe that essence precedes existence, meaning that God (or Gods) created the world and humans to live life for a purpose. That purpose varies from religion to religion. For many, this purpose is what keeps them alive and living life to what they believe is right based on their beliefs. Is it right? Who knows? Even though I believe in God, I’m not even sure if it’s factual; it’s just my belief. No one knows for sure.
Atheists don’t think that's right; the other side of the God versus no God battle; and that’s fine. Does that mean they have no purpose to life? Maybe some don't, but for the most part, most of them do. The key idea to an atheist is that existence precedes essence, meaning that they existed on this planet before they could come up with their own purpose to life (unlike a theist who already has one). It may not be a God, but it’s still a purpose. For many, it’s for themselves to just live a good life and be happy. Some just want to live life for the ones they love. Ohers might want to just benefit a community or even for the world as a whole; to make it a better place for all and to make them feel good about themselves. I think as long as it has good intentions, it’s a great purpose to live by.
Then there are those people who may somewhat believe in a God and somewhat don’t. Sometimes throughout my life, especially through hard times where I sometimes question my faith, I can see myself in this category. There are probably many others that are in this group as well. Many out there probably grew up believing in some God, but as time grew, they stepped away and continued their life away from that and gave some other meaning to life, like a family or helping others. Their belief in God is still in their mind, but more in the unconscious and probably only brought out in hard times when they can’t seek anything else. Then there are others who are just not sure if a God exists or not. They don’t go out there refusing a God, they just don’t know, and are probably very open to anything, but even those people probably have something else that gives to meaning to their life.
Lately, atheism has been on the rise, particularly in Western society. One might have to blame the religious freedoms that much of the world has been given as now everyone seems to have all kinds of beliefs, whether are not they are derived from a form of God. Many of those are just beliefs on how to better the human life; no God(s) have to be the basis of a purpose in life. To many today, it’s more about living a good life for oneself and for others, and that’s a good thing, whether you're an atheist or a theist (who says you can't live life for yourself, for others, and God?). Even as a believer of God, I don’t think everyone has to believe in Him. You either believe in Him or you don't. It may be right for me, as it’s what I believe in. Is it right? Who knows. I for one hope so, but if others believe in something that gives them a purpose, something that’s good, then that’s fine with me. Anyone could be right or we could all be dead wrong. No one knows. It’s the mystery we call life.
Why are we here? I guess that’s one the biggest questions of the mystery of life and the basis of existentialism. Everyone has their own beliefs, but no one really knows for sure. Some believe that there is/are (a) God(s) that created life and gave us all meaning, depending on who you talk to. There are those that don’t believe in God(s). Then there are the other others that have other beliefs or even a mixture of both, but the whole God(s) versus no God(s) is definitely the most common argument to the question of our existence.
There are many people out there who are baffled by our existence. Some people see meaningless in life which can have huge affects on how we live. For some, if they can’t find any meaning, then why live? What’s the purpose of life? Why not just die now (Even though some do)? Or just do whatever you want and ignore the rules of society? The big question has always been why. It’s a good question. I can't answer that and I’m sure no one can, but I really believe that we all must have some kind of meaning to life, whether for ourselves, for others (the ones we love), or for something even greater than ourselves. If not, I’m not sure how anyone could sustain a healthy life, and there are many people that don’t.
There are primary two kinds of existentialists, according to French existentialist philosopher Jean Paul Sartre; atheists and theists. Theists believe in a God, or Gods, depending on the religion. Atheists, on the other-hand, don’t. I'm a theist. Although I'm not too religious like many out there, I’ve been Catholic all my life (Or rather, a Christian--You believe in Christ or you don't, that's the only two groups to Christianity that I see) and I personally believe in God. It definitely gives much meaning to my life, as it surely does for anyone else who believes the same. Theists believe that essence precedes existence, meaning that God (or Gods) created the world and humans to live life for a purpose. That purpose varies from religion to religion. For many, this purpose is what keeps them alive and living life to what they believe is right based on their beliefs. Is it right? Who knows? Even though I believe in God, I’m not even sure if it’s factual; it’s just my belief. No one knows for sure.
Atheists don’t think that's right; the other side of the God versus no God battle; and that’s fine. Does that mean they have no purpose to life? Maybe some don't, but for the most part, most of them do. The key idea to an atheist is that existence precedes essence, meaning that they existed on this planet before they could come up with their own purpose to life (unlike a theist who already has one). It may not be a God, but it’s still a purpose. For many, it’s for themselves to just live a good life and be happy. Some just want to live life for the ones they love. Ohers might want to just benefit a community or even for the world as a whole; to make it a better place for all and to make them feel good about themselves. I think as long as it has good intentions, it’s a great purpose to live by.
Then there are those people who may somewhat believe in a God and somewhat don’t. Sometimes throughout my life, especially through hard times where I sometimes question my faith, I can see myself in this category. There are probably many others that are in this group as well. Many out there probably grew up believing in some God, but as time grew, they stepped away and continued their life away from that and gave some other meaning to life, like a family or helping others. Their belief in God is still in their mind, but more in the unconscious and probably only brought out in hard times when they can’t seek anything else. Then there are others who are just not sure if a God exists or not. They don’t go out there refusing a God, they just don’t know, and are probably very open to anything, but even those people probably have something else that gives to meaning to their life.
Lately, atheism has been on the rise, particularly in Western society. One might have to blame the religious freedoms that much of the world has been given as now everyone seems to have all kinds of beliefs, whether are not they are derived from a form of God. Many of those are just beliefs on how to better the human life; no God(s) have to be the basis of a purpose in life. To many today, it’s more about living a good life for oneself and for others, and that’s a good thing, whether you're an atheist or a theist (who says you can't live life for yourself, for others, and God?). Even as a believer of God, I don’t think everyone has to believe in Him. You either believe in Him or you don't. It may be right for me, as it’s what I believe in. Is it right? Who knows. I for one hope so, but if others believe in something that gives them a purpose, something that’s good, then that’s fine with me. Anyone could be right or we could all be dead wrong. No one knows. It’s the mystery we call life.
✗ Brian
That was beautifully written Brian!
Thanks, even though I know it could've been improved. I don't really tend to proofread what I write and this needed a lot of it. There was so much awkward sentence structure and a huge double negative that I got wrong that could've put what I meant to say in a whole different direction. Anyways, I did a quick proofread right now and hopefully fixed everything that I needed to fix. I wrote this long ago and figured I would post it now. I also have a follow up to this in the form of a narrative that I'll post soon.