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IWantGod
Guest
As a society what are we trying to achieve or create here on earth? Is economic prosperity the goal?
What exactly are we doing here?
What exactly are we doing here?
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Bradski
Guest
Pretty much the same as you, I guess. All this talk about ultimate meaning seems to pass most people by in the daily grind to get that particular project out, organise the next holiday, pay the mortgage, get the kids in a decent school, get the car fixed…
There are more important things like a healthy family and a loving wife. But they seem to be more the luck of the draw. A touch of fatalism comes in handy.
Maybe in all comes down to doing our best to leave the place in a better condition than we found it. For our children and (warning: incoming cliche) our children’s children.
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tonyrey
Guest
Why only a touch of fatalism? It would be more consistent to believe we are simply cogs in the universal machine which have no effect whatsoever on the sequence of events. How can we if **all **our thoughts and decisions are caused by events beyond our control?
As for “doing our best to leave the place in a better condition” we are fooling ourselves if there is no ultimate value, purpose or meaning in life. Why try to insert arbitrary, temporary goals where they don’t exist unless it’s because wishful thinking makes us feel comfortable? It amounts to self-deception instead of accepting harsh reality…
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STT
Guest
We are blindly following our instinct. I don’t know if there is any meaning.
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pianistclare
Guest
NO. The ultimate goal is the next, eternal life.
Be kind, do good work, love as God loves us, and see if things don’t work out beautifully.
When you ask people who don’t believe in God, you get all kinds of negativity.
When you ask people who love God, you get hope and goodwill.
Ask yourself,
Which is the more worthy path?
Be kind, do good work, love as God loves us, and see if things don’t work out beautifully.
When you ask people who don’t believe in God, you get all kinds of negativity.
When you ask people who love God, you get hope and goodwill.
Ask yourself,
Which is the more worthy path?
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runningdude
Guest
Yes. To love God before all, and to love ones neighbor as themself.
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Dorothy
Guest
Amen!
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IWantGod
Guest
Okay, but how about exploring the universe? Mastering the universe? Are we only here to be moral and worship God?
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pianistclare
Guest
Why do you assume are mutually exclusive?
God is not opposed to Science.
God gave us the knowledge.
You seem to think that worshipping God or being a moral person is a worthless endeavor.
Why?
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IWantGod
Guest
I don’t think these activities are worthless endeavors, but considering how vast the universe is it would seem to me that we are also here to create and explore and understand creation, and also master it. We are here to create just like our creator. It would seem a bit limited to think that we are only here to be morally good to one another. Is that the only point of creation?
I agree with Bradski when he says that we should all leave creation a little bit better than we found it. I think that idea is consistent with Christianity.
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setarcos
Guest
From a Christian point of view, we are not trying to achieve prosperity on earth as it is now. This world is done. It has fallen and will be destroyed. Economic prosperity is a zero sum game. In order that one prospers another must not or at least equivalently prosper less in what ever endeavor is taking place. The balance sheet is never quite equalized. In a world that hasn’t fallen or has been perfected anew one can only speculate. Perhaps contemplating Adam and Eves position in Eden before the fall may give some clues as to the original intent that God had for man in creating him. I suspect prosperity would be equalized among all so that the word itself would be meaningless. Its also clear that man was made to be a thinking machine desiring to learn and experience new things so I suspect any environment God includes man in would be a stimulating one. In essence, I believe man was made to please God by being perfected humanity, this would include communing with him and enjoying what he has made for us. This is mere speculation though.
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IWantGod
Guest
I don’t think i agree with this doomsday narrative. Yes we are fallen creatures. But i’m not sure its correct to say that the universe is fallen or that we are not here to do anything with the universe. You seem to be suggesting that the universe itself is nothing more than the reality we just so happen to exist in and there is no purpose for it beyond that because its doomed. It makes the universe and its evolution a bit pointless.
I agree that capitalism will never allow us to achieve universal economic prosperity.
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IWantGod
Guest
One thing i notice about the end of mass, the priest always says go out there and love one another (or something to that effect). But i never hear the priest say, go out there and create something.
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pianistclare
Guest
You’re a glass half empty person I guess.
I create. When you serve another, you create something good in their life, right?
Does the priest have to spell out every possible scenario?
Serving God is using my talents. It serves people. At that very Mass in fact, as I am the Music Director.
Sometimes God wants us to think outside of the box., you know?
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IWantGod
Guest
I see. I guess then this would extend to other spheres of human experience and activity. One could say that Scientists are doing God’s work.You’re a glass half empty person I guess.
I create. When you serve another, you create something good in their life, right?
Does the priest have to spell out every possible scenario?
Serving God is using my talents. It serves people. At that very Mass in fact, as I am the Music Director.
Sometimes God wants us to think outside of the box., you know?
Would it be correct to say then that being masters of the physical universe is a command from God or a God worthy Goal?
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pianistclare
Guest
God already made us masters of the world He is the master of the universe. Being a good STEWARD of the world and the universe would be a worthy thing to do. Scientists often work in concert with God.
Everything can have an element of goodness or be done for the greater good. It’s up to us to choose well.
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Nap66
Guest
For human beings, we seem to care the most about economic prosperity. But God could care less about it. Of course God will provide you what you need economically, but that still may mean you are poor. After a lifetime of chasing economic prosperity, I have turned it all over to God and am happy with him providing what I need in my daily bread. This has freed me up to focus on becoming a better person, loving other people better, and enjoying this planet Earth God has provided to us.
Wish I knew. Sometimes I think we are just here to bide time and the Earth needs our carbon dioxide that we expel during our lifetimes. Other times I think we all have a purpose by God and we must fulfill that purpose before we die, but unfortunately we are not notified of that purpose (otherwise we would probably screw it up). Then, still other times I think that we are here to refine our spiritual character and hence we may be coming back over and over until we are what God wants us to be - reincarnation. Who knows? Supposedly when we die, it all becomes clear.
po18guy
Well-known member
It seems that you lack a sense of purpose. If you ask honestly and not rhetorically, then go before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. If he is not on the altar during adoration, then sit before Him in the Tabernacle - it is the same Lord. Allow yourself to be in His presence and ask Him the question that He anticipates you asking.
Then, be as patient with Him as He has been with you. And, when you have your answer, you will be changed.
Then, be as patient with Him as He has been with you. And, when you have your answer, you will be changed.
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BarbTh
Guest
Our goal here on earth is holiness and sanctity. Our very human nature is created for this. Holiness and sanctity is the greatest and most fulfilling, challenging, quest ever for those who embark on the road. The happiest people are our saints. It is the great paradox.
Economic prosperity has some value in this life but as prime it is a false god and will not fulfil human nature at all.
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reggieM
Guest
As a society? It’'s mixed with contradictory goals, unfortunately. Secularism and atheism have no real goals or purposes - except something selfish. There is no reason for anything in that worldview anyway.
As the Divine Society which is all the members of God’s Holy Church?
We have a goal for all of the earth. At one time, that was actually spoken and proclaimed. Now most Catholics don’t know, want to know, want to admit it or some combination of that.
Every day lots of souls are going to hell for all eternity.
It’s our job to try to stop that. For ourselves, first - yes of course. But we want everyone on earth to be in God’s kingdom - and the more that happens, the more the earth will be transformed for the better.
The great saints and missionaries of the past went around the world seeking to make everyone Catholic. Were they wrong?
As the Divine Society which is all the members of God’s Holy Church?
We have a goal for all of the earth. At one time, that was actually spoken and proclaimed. Now most Catholics don’t know, want to know, want to admit it or some combination of that.
Every day lots of souls are going to hell for all eternity.
It’s our job to try to stop that. For ourselves, first - yes of course. But we want everyone on earth to be in God’s kingdom - and the more that happens, the more the earth will be transformed for the better.
The great saints and missionaries of the past went around the world seeking to make everyone Catholic. Were they wrong?
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