Connection Choices:
THE MEANING OF LIFE IN...
Psychology
Psychology Today states that there is more than just one entity that gives life meaning: They suggest that Hedonism: To live and have a good time, Materialism: To get as much as possible, Altruism: To give as much as possible, Longevity: To live as long as possible, Sensationalism: To experience as much as possible, Biologism: The genetic imperative of passing on your genes to the next generation, Theism: To worship the God or gods, Psychologism: Self-actualization or being the best you can be, Militarism: Survival or just staying alive (not dying), Loveism: To love (and be loved), Rationalism: To know or to gain as much knowledge as possible throughout one's life, and lastly my most favorite; Existentialism which is simply to exist and be. So its apparent that there may be more than one answer to what gives life meaning.
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The Bible
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Though sometimes the bible is known to be vague, ambiguous, and at times contradictory, it is clear that this excerpt from Ecclesiastes says that the meaning of life is to follow the rules of god. It says this which much gravity, this mandate being "the whole duty of man". It is possible that the message boils down to just doing the right thing at every given moment, because in the end, all of your deeds, "good or evil," will be factored in on judgement day. |
A Single Shard - By Linda Sue Park
A Single Shard is book about a very poor orphan boy named Tree-Ear, who grew up under a bridge with his self-proclaimed guardian Crane-man. Despite his extremely poverty-stricken lifestyle, he remain's happy throughout the novel until - {SPOILER ALERT} - Mrs. Fajardo I suggest you skip everything in the parenthesis if you are planning to read this book- its very good... (upon returning from his journey, he finds that the "stable" bridge that he and Crane-man had lived under their whole life dissembled and crushed his guardian in his sleep. After hearing this news, he becomes depressed.) This shows that although Tree-Ear had no material possessions, the connection he had with Crane-man gave him happiness, thus giving his life meaning. One can infer that true friendship is what gives meaning to life, but ultimately the real message that this book provides is that whatever the meaning of life is, it can't effusively be found in materials, but with something less tangible and more of a feeling... like happiness.
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