Are We Universally Addicted to the Search for Meaning?
Thursday, November 5, 2009 - LIFES BIG QUESTIONS
There’s no getting around it: A plethora of addictions are out there, waiting for people to get hooked. There’re cigs and booze, cocaine and celebrity ragazines, and endless outlets for midnight burgers and greasy fries. For some, it’s chocolate; for others, it’s heroin; for others still, it’s porn. Pick your poison.
But if there’s one thing that absolutely NONE of us can seem to live without, it’s the burning desire to understand the ‘why.’ We mine the depths of knowledge for analytical facts and figures, plunge ourselves into the philosophical and spiritual realms for enlightenment, and struggle frantically when meaning eludes us, like a smoker trying to quit who rifles through old kitchen drawers and empty coat pockets for that one, long, last, satisfying drag.
Is the hunger for meaning our universal addiction? And if so, is our meaning fix harmful, helpful, or somewhere in between?
:: @Mayachen
I think the search for meaning is part of our natural makeup as human beings. We know there is something out there bigger than us - whether we admit it or not - and the most important question to ask in life is, "What is life about?" My answer = Christ.
@KaileighJordyn
I have, but not in depth. However, from the basic comparisons I've done, I've noticed that they all have the same basic outline. All monotheistic religions believe in their prophet of choice but through that profit the path to a g-d of some kind is always the same. I don't know, but did you ever think in a thousand years that people might look upon our religions today like we look at Greek mythology?
@blevy25 I am non-denominational, or Christian. Have you sat down and compared a few religions to each-other? It is pretty interesting and you might find some answers. My train of thought is that a belief should make you have some questions, but for those questions to get an answer, not leave you searching even more. :-)
@KaileighJordyn
Not at all. I believe in the ideals of reform Judaism. Not as much as I used to though. Hence the whole search for answers. How about you? (If you don't mind me asking)
@Marlissa_Cakes
regarding which path, I like the native american saying that goes something like,"Choose the path of happiness, for all paths go nowhere."
Not at all. I believe in the ideals of reform Judaism. Not as much as I used to though. Hence the whole search for answers. How about you? (If you don't mind me asking)
@KaileighJordyn
And that it should. I know what i believe in too its just my religion just seems to be all about traditions and rituals rather than believe. It's nothing but nothingness. Just seems to go on forever, (and don't worry you don't sound crazy :))
- LIFE's BIG QUESTIONS
- ATTACK A CHALLENGE
I don't think it matters if this search for meaning is hardwired into us. Do the answers we find for life's why's satisfy us, or do they only lead us to more questions? Do we measure progress spiritually by tallying-off how many recursive layers of why's we recieve answers for? How often does one answer a child's persistant "Why?" with something entirely made up, just to halt the unending barrage of inquery? I feel like that's what we're doing. Attempting to define the indefinite. I think a better question would be this:
Can we live without an answer?
What would life be like if we just lived? What if the answer to all of life's why's was "Why not?"