Morgan BellPurpose: A response to Fringe Faith
July 3rd 2009 07:52
The following question was posed by Samaritan on Fringe Faith:
CLICKHERE to read the question in original context "What's Your Purpose?"
I think it is an interesting and important question. It is one of those defining questions that really highlights the philosophical differences between Theists and Atheists.
I am not speaking for all Atheists, I am just speaking for myself.
I am posting my response on my own blog mostly because of its length, I dont want to dominate the comments section of Fringe Faith, or agitate any of her regular contributors.
What is your purpose?
I dont think we have an individual pre-assigned purpose other than to simply enjoy our existence, as fleeting as it may be. I do however think that as a species we have are driven to replicate ourselves (pass on our genes). The purpose of our lives is to ensure our species does not die out. We should be contributing to the collective pool of knowledge in order to endure and outlast our environment.
When I say "replicate" I do not necessarily mean individual reproduction. Personal procreation is not essential to generational replication of the species. I mean fostering a safe and healthy environment where the next generation of humans (regardless of which individuals sire and bear them) can survive, flourish, and improve.
Our long term goals should be to extend the length and quality of individual lives with advances in medicine and technology, and to use science to figure out how to relocate from this planet before our sun dies.
Our medium term goal should be to maintain our planet as best as we can while we are stuck here, including preserving the other animals and the plants that make up the delicately balanced eco-systems.
Our short term goal (achievable in one lifetime) should be to either advance science and the knowledge pool, or facilitate those who do. To "facilitate" is open to interpretation, different people will consider different kinds of help more important than others. It may be as intangible as moral support entertainment or inspiration. It may be tangible like financial sponsorship or child rearing or education.
My self-designated individual purpose is to distribute information, to encourage others to think, to teach, and to lobby for a social environment where all people are equally empowered to contribute. Poverty, abuse, neglect, and discrimination only hinder our progress as a species. Holding people back, or excluding them, based on sexuality, gender, race, or economic status only reduces the amount of potential researchers and engineers and doctors we have contributing to the knowledge pool.
What are you aiming for?
Im aiming to add a bit of value. To improve the human experience for those who come after me. To contribute a few pages to the human encyclopedia. To help others contribute, improve, and add value too.
Is it something you hope to achieve in this life?
No, not particularly. I want to provide companionship for the friends I love. I want to laugh as much as possible before I die. I want to experience every opportunity I am presented with, without guilt or shame or fear or regret. These are all things I already do. My achievements are cumulative, every day I just add more to them.
And if so, do you really believe that will satisfy you? Or will you still be longing for more?
I am satisfied right now. If i died tomorrow I would not be aware that I am dead so it would not impact on the level of satisfaction I had immediately before I died.
One last thing . . .
Oh and just as a side issue, I dont think people become depressed or suicidal because they lack purpose. I think depression and suicide occur when and individual can no longer relate to those around them. When they feel like an outsider. When they are ostracised or excluded. When they have no strong personal bonds to ground them.
The feeling that noone can understand you is incredibly isolating, and without meaningful human relationships it is easy to start thinking "what's the point?"
If you are not enjoying your life on a day to day basis, and you can't see any way that will change, you will see no sense in prolonging the experience.
People born gay or transgender have much higher rates of suicide because they can struggle to assimilate with the rest of the community. They know they can't change who they are, and they can't change how others treat them.
People don't need the promise of god or the afterlife to be happy, they need real people in this life to accept them and welcome their contributions.
There’s a strong possibility that anyone who doesn’t believe in God has already stopped reading. But if you are still with me, just ask yourself these questions. What is your purpose? What are you aiming for? Is it something you hope to achieve in this life? And if so, do you really believe that will satisfy you? Or will you still be longing for more?
CLICKHERE to read the question in original context "What's Your Purpose?"
I think it is an interesting and important question. It is one of those defining questions that really highlights the philosophical differences between Theists and Atheists.
I am not speaking for all Atheists, I am just speaking for myself.
I am posting my response on my own blog mostly because of its length, I dont want to dominate the comments section of Fringe Faith, or agitate any of her regular contributors.
What is your purpose?
I dont think we have an individual pre-assigned purpose other than to simply enjoy our existence, as fleeting as it may be. I do however think that as a species we have are driven to replicate ourselves (pass on our genes). The purpose of our lives is to ensure our species does not die out. We should be contributing to the collective pool of knowledge in order to endure and outlast our environment.
When I say "replicate" I do not necessarily mean individual reproduction. Personal procreation is not essential to generational replication of the species. I mean fostering a safe and healthy environment where the next generation of humans (regardless of which individuals sire and bear them) can survive, flourish, and improve.
Our long term goals should be to extend the length and quality of individual lives with advances in medicine and technology, and to use science to figure out how to relocate from this planet before our sun dies.
Our medium term goal should be to maintain our planet as best as we can while we are stuck here, including preserving the other animals and the plants that make up the delicately balanced eco-systems.
Our short term goal (achievable in one lifetime) should be to either advance science and the knowledge pool, or facilitate those who do. To "facilitate" is open to interpretation, different people will consider different kinds of help more important than others. It may be as intangible as moral support entertainment or inspiration. It may be tangible like financial sponsorship or child rearing or education.
My self-designated individual purpose is to distribute information, to encourage others to think, to teach, and to lobby for a social environment where all people are equally empowered to contribute. Poverty, abuse, neglect, and discrimination only hinder our progress as a species. Holding people back, or excluding them, based on sexuality, gender, race, or economic status only reduces the amount of potential researchers and engineers and doctors we have contributing to the knowledge pool.
What are you aiming for?
Im aiming to add a bit of value. To improve the human experience for those who come after me. To contribute a few pages to the human encyclopedia. To help others contribute, improve, and add value too.
Is it something you hope to achieve in this life?
No, not particularly. I want to provide companionship for the friends I love. I want to laugh as much as possible before I die. I want to experience every opportunity I am presented with, without guilt or shame or fear or regret. These are all things I already do. My achievements are cumulative, every day I just add more to them.
And if so, do you really believe that will satisfy you? Or will you still be longing for more?
I am satisfied right now. If i died tomorrow I would not be aware that I am dead so it would not impact on the level of satisfaction I had immediately before I died.
One last thing . . .
Oh and just as a side issue, I dont think people become depressed or suicidal because they lack purpose. I think depression and suicide occur when and individual can no longer relate to those around them. When they feel like an outsider. When they are ostracised or excluded. When they have no strong personal bonds to ground them.
The feeling that noone can understand you is incredibly isolating, and without meaningful human relationships it is easy to start thinking "what's the point?"
If you are not enjoying your life on a day to day basis, and you can't see any way that will change, you will see no sense in prolonging the experience.
People born gay or transgender have much higher rates of suicide because they can struggle to assimilate with the rest of the community. They know they can't change who they are, and they can't change how others treat them.
People don't need the promise of god or the afterlife to be happy, they need real people in this life to accept them and welcome their contributions.
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Comment by samaritan
Fringe Faith
Samaritan's Stories
I almost missed this post. I'm glad I saw it. Would you mind posting a link to it in the comments section on my purpose post, saying that it is an atheist response to the questions I asked? I don't think it will annoy my regular readers, because they can just choose not to read it, if they don't want to. And it does provide an alternative view that I think some people would want to read.
I find it hard to separate my purpose from my faith. However, I know there are many atheists who do have a good sense of purpose and are really working towards something worthwhile. I also believe that sometimes atheists and people of faith are working towards the same things. And sometimes we should work together on those things - even if we have different reasons for doing so.
I think that isolation can also be a reason for depression or suicidal thoughts. However, of the people I know who have had depression, usually a lack of purpose is the factor that stands out the most. Many of them have good networks around them.
Samaritan
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i would prefer not to post in your comments section, just because of past incidents with a certain individual, but you are welcome to link or refer to the post as a response
when i think of purpose i think of function, i dont think we were intentionally created by a higher being but i think we are capable of serving a function while we are alive
if that function is to maintain interpersonal relationships, or grow or prepare food for the troops, or work the phones, or report on new discoveries, then so be it, it is different for everyone depending on their skills and capabilities
just on the suicide thing, i think people can be surrounded my networks of family and friends and still feel isolated if they cannot relate to anyone
thanks for the comment, and the challenge of your original article
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
It's a pity my hair won't be coming along for the ride...
My dream is to raise awareness about consciousness...
Kidding. I'm here to crack a few funnies. And put a few noses out of joint.
In other words, my mantra is "knock yourself out".
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I'm a bit of an existentialist on this one.Nothing really means anything. There is no purpose to life. It just is. (That's not to say that we shouldn't be trying to make this world as pleasnat a place to live in as possible, only that we are kidding ourselves if we think there is a particular reason that we are here).
All my little brother wanted was to have a family with lots of children. He died before he got married. What was the purpose in that?
Comment by Deanna B
You sound like a very loving, accepting person. That you want to provide companionship for the friends you love,speaks volumes about your character.
I totally agree that poverty,abuse,neglect and descrimination hinders our progress as a species.
As well, I believe that excluding people for ANY reason is a travesty that only serves to crush their spirits and dreams... prevent them from becoming all that they can be,and having all the wonderful things they deserve to have in life.
It is SO sad that the gay and transgendered population have a higher suicide rate. Are there stats somewhere that show who is in a higher risk category? We sure haven't come very far as human beings, in so many areas, have we?
I really enjoyed this,Morgan. I haven't seen much Orble in almost a year...glad to see you're still here!
I'm happy to see Ruby still here too, and I must say Ruby I am SO sorry to hear about your little Brother. I looked you up too, when I logged back on. I read that awesome tribute to your Brother. I think it read May 21'st 2009...the saddest day. I can't say much more than that right now.I'm going through the different stages of grief too,sometimes all of them...every single day.I am moving on,slowly but surely,but I'm not very good at that talking or writing about it part, yet.
Anyway...it's great to see you ladies again and I look forward to reading more from you both in the near future!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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In other words, my mantra is "knock yourself out".
as with all good satirists, i think you do an excellent job of shining a light on absurdities and hypocrisies . . . you will be remembered as an artist
Comment by Morgan Bell
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yeah we could trash the whole solar system, then the galaxy, then the entire universe!
humans are the ultimate virus!
im pretty much agree with your sentiment, there is no pre-assigned purpose, but as intelligent beings we can use our existence to perform one or more functions or tasks, but we each decide where we will be of the most use
i certainly dont think in this vast vast universe that there is a supernatural creator paying personal attention to my individual life . . . i think it takes a certain amount of ego or arrogance to believe something like that
Comment by Morgan Bell
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thanks for the great comment, im glad im still here too
heres some stats on gay and transgendered suicide:
Several recent studies have shown that gay, lesbian and bisexual people, particularly adolescents and young adults, are at substantially increased risk of suicidal behaviours and suicidal thinking. For gay, lesbian and bisexual young people (up to age 27), studies in the United States have found risk of suicide attempt ranging from 3.5 to nearly 14 times that experienced by heterosexual young people.
A recent Australian study found that gay-identified young men (aged 18 - 24) were 3.7 times more likely to attempt suicide. Most of these attempts occurred after the person had self-identified as gay, but before having a same-sex experience and before publicly identifying themselves as gay.
Wesley Mission
Suicide in Australia, a dying shame (2000)
For further information contact Sharon Hoogland on (02) 9263 5555.
University of Sydney
Really Long Link
Memorial to Transgender Transsexual Suicide Victims
Really Long Link
Comment by Natalina
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
I think it is true that our connection to other human beings is our greatest motivator to pursue happiness in our own lives. Whether it's through fellowship at a church, a close group of friends, a supportive family, wherever we can find it. And I think the other important lesson is that we should accept love when it is given. I think my friend's depression was so deep and consuming that he was unable to see how surrounded by love he truly was. I miss him.
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
None of us know really what the key to life really is but many of us find a way of working our way through life. This might be through religion or other spiritual means or it may be just through some sort of philosophy.
I do agree that connecting to other human beings, no matter how we do it, is one of the best ways of getting through life. People feel ostracised for all sorts of reasons, not only sexual preferences.
This was a really good, thought provoking post, Morgan. Acceptance of everyone, whether or not we like them or not, is really what we need to do, and as hard as it can be.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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what a heartbreaking story, i have never had a close friend of mine commit suicide, it must be devastating for all those left behind
lets hope we can all stay connected with someone and make our lives full of joy and the kind of lives that really count
Comment by Natalina
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
I think you nailed it, though. What we can learn from these tragedies is that life is precious and we need to make sure that everyone that we love is aware of it!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i have always found religion quite fascinating . . . i did not grow up with it so it is quite a foreign concept to me, but from what ive observed many people are drawn towards religion primarily out of habit and out of a sense of community
one of the most interesting things i ever heard was that Martin Bryant (the Port Arthur Massacre) was motivated to kill because the local community ostracised him about his mental illness and his religion
so yes there are all sorts of reasons people can begin to feel like an outsider, and lash out at others or themselves
Comment by Morgan Bell
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what a fantastic sentiment!
Comment by RubySoho
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Cool. Come over some time and we can suck on that existential bong together!
Thanks Deanna. I'm sorry you just lost someone too. I have to say, I find it easier to write about it than talk about it.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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so thats where the existential bong went to . . . your house!
i was researching existential literature the other day (i did a philosophy quiz and came out as an empiricist) and had a chuckle at the title of one of the most seminal existential novels by Dostoevsky being "Notes From The Underground" . . . now thats irony