h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What is it that makes us need to believe that there is some sort of Greater Purpose to Life, The Universe and Everything (is anyone suprised by the Adams reference? If so - SHAME ON YOU!!)

Now I know what y’all are thinking (it’s a gift I have….) “Why would I listen with any degree of interest to some 20ish year old girl philosophising on the Meaning of Life?” Well, the fact that you’ve gotten this far is proof that you’re willing to some listen to a 20ish year old girl philosophising on other stuff, why would this be any different? I’m not claiming that any of this is true or SANE, just a few random thoughts that I thought I’d share with the world….

I personally would like to believe that there is no meaning to life. That it’s all just some scientific anomaly, some cosmic practice in extreme probability. I mean, in a universe that is so (theoretically) expansive, chances are that something that we would qualify as “living” was bound to exist. (Don’t get me started on the notion of an “infinite universe” either – that does my head in entirely, and I don’t want to put anyone else through that!!

The whole “greater purpose” thing has forever been the thorn in my side, for several reasons:
1) It insinuates that my life has a purpose – which it is greatly lacking.
2) It insinuates that the lives of those around me have some sort of purpose – which is PAINFULLY lacking in many cases.
3) The whole notion of cosmic responsibility bothers me.

I see so much suffering and pain around me, and I wonder what possible purpose it could serve, and can think of nothing.

Then there is the religious point of view, which, regardless of how hard I try, I cannot ignore (God bless the indocrination of children into Organised Religion before they learn how to think for themselves!). I have always felt a sense of empathy for my fellow Man and have always tried (and sometimes it’s really, REALLY tricky) to do good by others. I don’t know if that’s because of religious guilt, cosmic consciousness or to aid my martyr complex (which is coming along nicely, thank you very much), or because I’m just a nice person (which is a bit of a leap…), but I do try to be a good person.

What kills me is that we seem to need a reason to be nice. I’ve always thought (and to varying degrees at varying stages of my life, believed) that religion was initially created as a kind of horror story. Except, instead of “Why can’t you be more like that nice girl down the street?” or “If you don’t watch out, I’ll give you what for!”, it has become “Why can’t you be more like Jesus?” and “If you don’t watch out, you’ll go straight to Hell when you die!”. Sometimes it just seems like Religion is a natural, and somewhat extreme, progression from parents that were just trying to keep their kids under control….

I suppose the point I’m trying to make is that, no matter how hard I try, I can’t help but believe that there is some sort of bigger picture for all of this mish mash of maniacal mayhem (i.e. “life”). And that really irks me. What is it about my life that makes me feel that it MUST be part of something bigger? There’s just seems to be something inherently egomaniacal in the assumption. I don’t understand why I believe that my life serves some sort of purpose above and beyond itself. I mean, I don’t think that other animals are part of any bigger picture (although they should be I think most animals are far nobler and in tune with it all then we are…). Why do I feel like my life MEANS anything? Why do any of us? And why are we all so intent on finding out what it means?

Bottom line (and ultimate cop out, after blabbering incoherently for so long) is that I don’t know. More to the point, I don’t particularly want to know. I’d rather live this life rather than sitting around trying to analyse it (says the girl writing about every little inconsequential thing that pops into her mind!). You know what, damn it all! I’m going to step away from the computer for a moment and do something completely frivolous and nonsensical (probably pump up the radio and dance like a lunatic, then go out and play pool). I suggest you all do the same…!

Yeah, I know what you mean I've pretty much had most of those feelings at some point...some stronger, or at least, more reinforced than others. You make a great point about getting children indoctrinated into Organized Religion, before they learn how to think for themselves...I certainly don't think it's done me any harm, I think it really gave me some moral grounding. Like you say "I have always felt a sense of empathy for my fellow Man and have always...", but there're people out there that really test your ability that way. I've just sort of come to look at it as one big jigsaw puzzle, & there're going to be a few other pieces that I can 'connect' with - whether or not they're the right pieces is another question -, & there're going to be other pieces that...nuh-uh, no how, no way!

And I have to agree with you on the topic of some animals, they do have a nobility that almost gives you the feeling they know something that we don't...that they're a bit more 'connected' or 'in tune' than some of us humans ever will be!

No, that was all pretty coherent, tanzen, my main pool playin' buddy's not feeling himself right now, so I'll have to wait awhile before we can go 'shoot some stick'. But, I've got plenty to keep me busy in the next while.

Hope to 'talk' again soon, but I'd best be getting to bed, got a fairly busy day... in about 7 hours - bye for now.

I knew you'd understand!!

Actually, I'm just really stoked that there's somebody else out there in the world, with the exception of my family and close friends, who can understand me at all !!

I have this habit of rambling incoherently. I find, especially when I write (but also very much when I talk ) I tend to jump from subject to subject. Luckily, I have the knack of going backwards on tangent to find out where I started.....but not everyone has that .

As for my admiration of animals, it's always been something I've very strongly felt. I mean, everything that animals do seems to be purely for survival. Here we are messing up the earth so we can have meals ready before we can blink - it hardly seems right to me...but then, I've always been weird like that .

Sorry your pool buddy's out of action. It's Friday here now, so I'll definitely be on the tables tonight....and if I'm out long enough, possibly under them.......mmmmmm..... !

I was kind of assuming that I'd agree with most of your postings, based on our first few 'conversations'...we just seemed a bit 'sympatico', like we were sort of coming from the same place - which of course geographically couldn't be much further from the truth! It's always nice to make that kind of connection with someone, it's that much more special when it's someone on the other side of the world! Kind of shows you that despite borders, etc, we're really pretty similar, when you start talking things over.

And I know just what you mean about animals (most of the one's I've had close dealings with really impressed me with their serenity), as opposed to humans...it's like they already know the final score, while we're still worrying about getting a decent team on the field, or whether our uniforms look just right, or whatever! And if they don't know the final score, you can be sure they could lay better odds than any bookie...if they actually cared about that!

About 5:44 Thurs. evening here...I'll be sure to raise a Guinness or two...maybe three , to you tomorrow...well, gee - late tomorrow night...so I estimate, Sun. evening your time!

I must admit it's somewhat comforting to know that they still breed them strange on the other side of the planet !

..Well, I've always felt like a fish out of water here - mayber the problem is I'm just in the wrong hemisphere??

Possibly ? And, yeah, I'm definitely one of the stranger ones...not the strangest, I don't think...but strange enough.

Ahh, one of the great problems in my life, to strange for the normal folks, and too normal for the strange folks....

Thats basically it, alright! , but not too

Maybe we should set up a club for people "somewhere in the middle"??

...Or would we be the only ones??

Well,possibly...but look at it this way, at least we'd be in good company .

Well,possibly...but look at it this way, at least we'd be in good company .

Well,possibly...but look at it this way, at least we'd be in good company , right?

Well, that's true!

And we could just relax

And be ourselves ....whatever that is !

Hey, don't worry about it, too much worrying & its not you anymore.

j~z~c

But I am a natural born worrier!

Ah, ok...then it's you!! No problems , right?

That's about it!

I worry, that's what I do, and all is well an dfine and good....