Can 'scientifically-minded' individuals....

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Can 'scientifically-minded' individuals lead substance-filled lives?

Is it possible to believe that there is 'purpose' in life while being a 'scientifically-minded' person? Like, if you believe in the big bang, evolution, etc., is it still possible to believe that there is 'purpose' in life? I've been wondering this for a long time now, and it's been bothering me lately. I've been 'tinkering around' with astronomy for a while now, and it's hard to decide whether or not there can possibly be substance in life. It's got me quite scared to be honest with you.

I have chosen my own purpose in life - to learn as much about the universe, and how it is put together, as possible, and to pass that knowledge to all who come after. It is my impression that most "scientifically-minded individuals", as you put it, find their own reasons for existence.

This should not be frightening, but liberating. You don't have to be told why you're here - you can decide for yourself what your purpose in life is! What greater gift could be given? (Aside from a winning lottery ticket, perhaps...)

This depends on your definition of 'substance'.


Absolutely. In my case, my 'scientifically-minded' reasoning has led me to choose my purposes in life. The default purpose for every one, of course, is to be used as a bad example for others.


Yes. Religionists are inclined to believe in determinism or 'predestination', while science-minded people are more inclined to believe in free will. Thus, people are free to choose their purpose. Of course, they must also have the ability to realize this purpose.


You're a little vague on your concept of 'substance'. If you mean 'wealth' then professional astronomy may not be for you. If you mean 'fulfilment' then it depends on what you make of your choices. And if you mean 'spiritual enlightenment' then you'd be better off entering a monastery. As for fear...

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." -- Frank Herbert, "Dune" - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear

Those two subjects aren't even related to each other. Why are you trying to combine them?

I agree with DeaconBlues. There is no "purpose", in the limited sense you seem to ask for. It is up to you to make your choice. I choose thought.

No, life (as in The Life) has no purpose of itself. But there's no reason why it should.

Your life, on the other hand, is yours to shape and follow whatever purpose you set to it. It's your decision. Your life. Yours only to decide.

Most religious people are unwilling to face the overwhelming responsibility of being accountable only to themselves for every tiny decision they make. You must choose your own purpose, and be careful to make decisions you can live with.

Thus, the belief in Predestination, which is the abdication of personal responsibility, and accounability for one's own actions; as in, "It was God's will for me to smite thee."

Scientists that assume proof of the futility of life go insane.

For example I once heard a scientist freaking out because he thought that everything
is chemicals - THEREFORE - everything is pointless. I immediately said, "Hey you're
right, I never realized it's true that everything is chemicals, BUT that doesn't make
everything pointless. What do you think pointful stuff should be made of?"

I have abilities and the point of my life is to use them.
People without any abilities can still experience the wonders of living on this planet.

So the point is to be what you are and do what you can do while you are here.
All you do will fade away and you'll be forgotten but it's not pointless if you enjoyed it.

If you believe in God then you also believe you will leave this planet
and live happily ever after in paradise.
And if there's no God, then you won't have any time to find out and be sad about it.

But everything is pointless! For it is written:


Now, doesn't that make sense to you?

Yes. Most of Ecclesiastes is about thinking everything is meaningless.

At the end of the-whole-thing he says it tires the mind,
and God will judge the meaningfulness of everything.

A non-observant Jew had an interesting series of comments to make on Ecclesiastes last year:

http://www.slate.com/id/2164909/entry/2164910/

I think you're mistaken about this. Free will is more typical of religionists, who take it to be the choice to sin or to follow God's will, while some form of determinism is more common among atheists, who see it as a way of describing actions as physically inevitable in the same way that a cue ball colliding with a billiard ball inevitably leads to a physical reaction.

In fact, both Islam and Calvinism are radical examples of determinism, while secular humanism stresses personal responsibility.

Both of the religious traditions you mentioned have some form of predeterminist philosophy, in which a divine being has scripted out every thought and action of every being in the universe, thus damning a large portion of beings before they are even born because "God wanted it that way." So, if a Islamist or Calvinist kills someone, their conscience is clear because the death was "part of God's plan."

Secular Humanism actually stresses ethical conduct, of which personal responsibility is only one factor. The 'Six Pillars of Character' of the 'Josephson Institute of Ethics' are:

1. Trustworthiness (Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty, and Reliability).
   
2. Respect (Civility, Courtesy and Decency; Dignity and Autonomy; and Tolerance and Acceptance).
   
3. Responsibility (Accountability, Pursuit of Excellence, and Self-Restraint).
   
4. Fairness (Process, Impartiality, and Equity).
   
5. Caring.
   
6. Citizenship.

Now, why can't Christian churches teach these things?

Because they don't read their bibles.

Oh, they read their Bibles, alright. But why instead do their leaders twist the meaning to suit their own agendae?