So...just what is your reason and purpose for existence?

[s2a]

This may be difficult for you to accept but it is also difficult to exclude spiritual references when discussing a physical purpose.

This may be difficult for you to accept, but from my perspective, exclusion of "spiritual references" is quite logical, and most reasonable within the context of the topic.

Why do you meticulously plan purpose in another realm only to forget about when you arrive?

WHAT other realm? I only know off this ONE mortal realm. I have no "plans" for any OTHER realms.

If you knew the exact day and time when you were going to die, would you keep the appointment?

That...would depend. But that's also an abstract theoretical, unless I was intentionally and purposefully suicidal (I'm not).

Would you play a video game if the entire game’s contents were revealed to you in the demo screen before you hit the start button?

Perhaps. Maybe I like an easy win. ;-)

Would you go see a movie at a theater where there was a mandatory policy for you to read the scripts before they started the movie?

I might, just to see if the enforcers of such a policy were up to the challenge...;-)

Whether you believe in GOD or not there is one thing you should know about Him. The last thing He wants to do is spend an eternity listening to billions of souls returning from a physical existence with complaints about a misspent life or a life that someone felt they were cheated from or the whining disappointment of purposes unfulfilled.

1) I don't accept the faith-based claims of any existent deity, spirit, destiny, or "force." I'm not purely obstinate in this regard. It's just that all the "evidence" supportive of such claims, is merely evidence of the [adherent's] "belief" that such claims are veritable and true. Evidence of faith is not evidence of supernatural cause/effect. It's only evidence of belief in supernatural cause/effect explanations, rationales, motivations, and myths.

2) How do you know what "HE" does or doesn't want? What source of reference that you consult in such estimable surety/conclusion, should the rest of us employ in attainment of equal concomitant "understanding"?


When you said:
Sometimes there is a basic purpose that a living entity may express. One example may be plants that put oxygen into the air or animals that provide food for other living things. Again, it may not be a desirable purpose for most and one may not understand why an entity would choose such a purpose but it satisfies that entity that has chosen this existence.

I replied:
Ya see? I don't accept the notion that a tree gets to choose to be a tree.

You rebutted:

Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it (pun intended). I don’t accept that a tree gets to choose to be a tree either but I am open to the possibility that a spiritual entity (that may have been a human or a tree in a past physical life) would choose the next physical life and purpose of a tree to incarnate into.

I'd be open to the possibility if you could provide some compelling evidence (subject to full scientific methodology/critical review) that a "spiritual entity" (as you allude) exists.

People who are currently using human understanding may not understand the appeal of becoming a tree. I don’t believe we encourage human (or tree) understanding in the afterlife.

I can see the "benefits" of being a tree, even as limited as my only availble "human understanding" permits. However, had I been offered a choice between being a tree...or my existent self today...I'd still pick the latter (tree sex just isn't that inspiring).

Should I be asking you what your previous "physical life" was? If everyone has a "previous 'physical life'" to draw upon, then who/what were the "originals"? Do (or can) "new" lives spontaneously spawn without the "benefit" of any previous physical life to qualitatively draw upon?

If we are "meant" (or purposed) to be human, then are we also meant or purposed to retain or appreciate the "appeal of becoming a tree"? You imply the answer as "no". Well, why not? Is there a drawback/detriment to such an understanding? Wouldn't a better understanding of the purpose of trees better serve man's own understanding of himself? If so, why impede or prevent such an appreciation?

When I said:
Such a concept implies sentience on behalf of a tree (or some sentient pre-existent, embryonic stem cell-like "something" invoking a choice that consequentially somehow manifests itself ito a specialized and purposed existent "something").

Is there any empirical evidence that exists, or might be obtained, to even test such a concept...much less then subsequently conclude in the absence of estimable/derivative fact that such a concept is veritable and reasonably acceptable beyond a reasonable doubt?

You replied:

Yes, the dreaming. It is not just background "noise" while you are sleeping anymore. Dreaming is a fantastic way to refresh, relocate and reassemble your purpose. It is a reliable way (everyone dreams) to compare your current position, compare it to your past and get glimpses into future purpose.

My mother-in-law is into Jungian dream-analysis. She's 68 years old. She still has no clue as to what her "purpose" is...nor do any of her friends in her group. They might offer that their own reason/purpose in existence is in "finding their bliss", which is fine with me....but that definition/conclusion is hardly unique, or limited to the insights of dream analysis.

Reliability is an assessment of performance, the products of which provide predictably similar results- results predicated upon, and validated by verified experimental procedures. What datum do you reference to support your dreamy conclusion?

Since purpose is personal I believe the deciphering of this information must be also. There are some people who utilize other methods but I find the dreaming laboratory fairly easy to find.

My dreams are predominantly composed of unbridled sexual encounters with numerous nubile - and slightly rubenesque - female nymphomaniacs, that abide my every whim and wish. What does this say about my reason or purpose in existence? Am I "meant" to be an unsuccessful pimp?

When I inquired:
Or does that require...faith?

You said:

Even if it did require faith, I wouldn’t recommend anyone to employ it even for this situation. This is just a belief as it stands with me. What gives me reason to believe this? One thing that I observed, especially from humans (as a human) is that most people like to plan (to some degree) an important venture in order to obtain the maximum objective from that experience. This does nothing to prove a pre-spiritual existence or an after-life but it certainly stands to reason that our strongest efforts come from the best laid plans (ask any experienced military strategist).

Up to this point, I would concur, but also stipulate that such a perspective is not significantly different from one prospectively espoused by an atheist. But then...

Since we have many years to adjust and adapt to this physical existence it stands to reason that these plans would have to be mapped out at some other level of impartial awareness or evolved understanding.

Yet here I stand, unrepentantly devoid of, and nonconforming of, your especial reasoning. WHAT "other level"? What is this elusive, unnamed, unspecified source of truth and understanding from which you draw your conclusions? Your dreams, or something else?

 

[s2a]

You said:
Purpose is best viewed in hindsight.

I replied:
I would offer that any measure in attainment of individualized purpose is best served by examination and introspection of personal experience.

You offered:

Sometimes purpose is hard to discern up close. Pointillist painter George Seurat gave us a great example that can be compared for viewing life or examining purpose with his painting Sunday Afternoon on the Island of la Grande Jatte. If you look close at the painting you will see that it is made up of tiny little dots. If you view a portion of the dots up close, its hard to discern what the artist is going for or that they make up part of a bigger picture (this is usually how some people arrive at their conclusions or opinions) but the further you step away from the painting the better you can appreciate the whole image and the objective or purpose the artist was trying to achieve and share.

Moral of the story: Perspective is essential to art (and artist) appreciation. It's still a collection of dots tho'...

You said:
The execution of Purpose could be equivalent to imagining a human figure, and with a set time, putting a pencil to paper and drawing a human figure without looking at the paper or lifting the pencil. The drawing can be fulfilled and looked at when the picture is done and you can see what you have drawn. Does the picture resemble the subject you have imagined to draw? Do you like the way the picture turned out? Does it matter what other people think of the picture you have drawn?
Sometimes purpose can be easily recognized by objectively looking around to see what you are doing now. Sometimes purpose can be recognized at the end of your life when you are reflecting back on your accumulated experiences. The best way to view your earthly purpose is when you are completely detached from the physical existence.


I replied:
I find your lent analogy, ummm, less than illuminating. Sorry. ;-)

When I become "detached from my physical existence", I will be dead. The dead don't think. The dead however, yet serve a purpose, although not necessarily of their own volition.

To enhance upon that thought, I would submit that, sometimes a rose is a rose. It's only when people project alternate/especial meanings upon that rose that it gains any special or extraordinary significance. Would a rose bear any especial meaning or significance if there were no human to regard it's existence in a field, a photo, a sonnet, or in mere repose?

From your definitive description, it sounds like you have been through this experience before.

Alas, I can truthfully report that I am not returned from the dead. I can also report that I have received neither visitations nor emails from any persons that are, in fact, still very dead.


When I said:
There is no credible evidence of any kind to suggest that people (or birds, buffalo, or bacteria) spontaneously generate themselves from the ether. We are elementaly from what has died before us, and our elements post-death will allow life to continue on in it's myriad of shapes, forms, and "purpose".

You offered:

If you don’t mind me asking, can you produce compelling evidence of the non-existence of the soul?

Not my burden of proof to provide. It's your claim to validate. I make no claims attesting that souls do not exist. I simply assert that there's no compelling evidence to accept such a claim as probable or acceptable "fact" beyond a reasonable doubt.

If you care to claim that some invisible, unmeasurable, unquantifiable, untestable, non-independently verifiable - "entity" - is veritably existent, and you challenge me to somehow discredit your claim, then at least provide me a methodology in which to falsify such a claim. What would constitute concrete disproof of a human "soul"? Every scientifically-derived hypothesis, theorem, or "proof" provides some mechanism/means of falsification. Is a human "soul" a veritable "thing" subject to falsification, or is it merely an inseparable component of a faith-based belief?


When I said:
I have no recollection of my non-existence before my birth, and I have every expectation of the same absence of sentience when I become non-existent (er, dead) once more (bear in mind, I'm not looking to hasten my departure anytime soon, but the clock's a tickin' ;-)).

You replied:

It might not be necessary to your purpose in this lifetime to recall images or recollections or purposes of past existences nor do I think this knowledge is imperative to this existence.

Whew. I hate pop quizzes.

The point I was trying to express with the above illustration is that life seems to be a contour drawing with two eyes looking forward, and a pencil that is constantly moving with two sides of the mind trying to make sense of everything. We cannot derail the pencil or take a break from this life to see how we are doing and then come back to continue the same drawing, so in some sense it would be in our best practice (experience) to continue drawing the picture and as we get better at our talent (wisdom), start discerning the life that we meant to draw.

Like I said...no "do-overs". Some people are just screw-ups. C'est la vie.

One thing I was assured with this understanding of purpose...

One last time...what is the source of this understanding? Is it available in paperback at your website?

...is that no one will be left in the dark concerning their purpose.

Reviewing this thread, I'd say that a few folks could use a flashlight and a path to follow...

Using the illustration concerning the picture everyone will be allowed to see and study the final diagram at some moment. If not this existence than possibly the existence that comes after it.

And in what source shall I find exacting detail (remember, I like pictures) of these alternate existences? What source validates and documents such accountings to sate and bolster your understanding?

Again I must apologize for the inclusion of GOD and the spiritual realm, knowing your stance on both of these subjects I was thinking that I could avoid these issues and still deliver the impression of how important our decisions are/were when deciding on which purpose to achieve and in which form to perform it in.

No need for apology, when candor is in the offing. ;-)

In my estimation, your "understanding" is quite impossible to relate (to a skeptic) without some inclusion of a god concept...as I initially surmised. ;-)

All of which indeed begs the question of you...can a reasoned and purposed personalized existence be realized utterly absent of a (veritable and real) god?

If so, then what purpose or reason does that god serve?

If not, then what reason or purpose do I serve other than to satisfy the whims of a detached god, that may or may not let me return as an oak tree?

 

[s2a]

Hi michel,

You said:

O.K s2a, you crack this one then (of course a quote by René Descartes ):-
'Je pense, donc je suis ';

could not that be reversed to read "je suis parce que je pense "? (as an answer to your question?)

Yes it could. ;-)

But then, neither observation is especially illuminating, nor descriptive of your own personalized reason and/or purpose in/of/for existence.

So there. ;-P

 

[s2a]

Hello NeilF,

You said:

My purpose is God's purpose!

Cool! What is God's purpose?

This is only a hard question if it is asked to a person who does not believe in God, has not accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as his Lord and Savior, and has not invited God's Holy Spirit to dwell within him. Once this happens, and it only takes a short prayer, by the way, the purpose becomes quite clear, and more obvious as time goes on.

Cool! So your purpose is clear to you now!

My purpose is to figure out what God has put me here for...

Hunh? Why do you need to "figure out" something that is "quite clear" to you?

...and do everything possible to carry out God's plan for my life.

Which is...what? What is God's plan for your life? Could you be specific?

Only by doing this can any human being be truly fulfilled. Anything less is going to leave me at least partially empty. We all have a purpose for being here, and God will reveal His plan for you if you ask.

Cool.

So what has God revealed to you as being your purpose for being here? (That was the OP question of the thread).

You asked Him. What was His revealed answer?

 

[steelblue75]

ok first off regardless what y ou seem to t hink your purpose is s2 im sure somewhere yours has to do with typing...... :biglaugh:

the reason i exist is because my parent had sex and *quack* here i was... as for my purpose.... to live and then die accomplishing whatever i do in my life... i could go say that my purpose is to walk around in stockings and high heels waddling like a goose..... but i think this is the wrong forum for that i honestly dont think i have specific purpose only a job that needs done and that is providing for my family and making their lives the best i can:takeabow:

 

[s2a]

Now you've revealed yourself. It's a well known fact that the devil is decidedly dedicated and devourous of alliteration.

You mean to say that Beelzebub is a literary hack as well?

;-)

 

[s2a]

A gentle poke and prodding bump for cardero...

Asked and answered as of 5/7/06.

Call, raise, or fold.

;-)

 

[s2a]

*leg hump* for cardero...

Does this bug you?

Is that a book of favored Psalms in your pocket, or are you just flat glad to see me?

 

[cardero]

My apologies S2a I was unaware this thread was still active, where did you want to pick up from?

 

[cardero]

I can begin by saying my purpose is not GOD's purpose.

 

[cardero]

s2A writes: Alas, I can truthfully report that I am not returned from the dead. I can also report that I have received neither visitations nor emails from any persons that are, in fact, still very dead.

You may provide proof that you do not remember if you are returned from the dead and you may have a sampling of evidence that this is your first visit to this planet but I do not think you can convince me that you understand what it is like to be dead.

s2A writes: Not my burden of proof to provide. It's your claim to validate. I make no claims attesting that souls do not exist. I simply assert that there's no compelling evidence to accept such a claim as probable or acceptable "fact" beyond a reasonable doubt.

Fair enough. But as long as the possibility exists (without factual evidence forthcoming from either corner) you shouldn’t mind if I continue courting the belief.

s2A writes: All of which indeed begs the question of you...can a reasoned and purposed personalized existence be realized utterly absent of a (veritable and real) god?

Yes, definitely. The belief in GOD is unnecessary to personal purpose.

s2A writes: If so, then what purpose or reason does that god serve?

I find as an acquaintance GOD’s purpose is experienced well. Another misunderstanding is that these purposes intersect. For example you may hear the term "God's purpose for mankind" or even "that mankind's purpose is for God's purpose. Purposes do not always have to be served but they should be realized.

s2A writes: If not, then what reason or purpose do I serve other than to satisfy the whims of a detached god, that may or may not let me return as an oak tree?

I think only you would know this question better. A good indication of identifying purpose is to see what you are doing now and comparing it closely to the goals that you want to accomplish. It is a culmination of what you enjoy doing (and what you don’t enjoy doing) of where you want to be (and where you don’t want to be). Now it is a matter of shifting your perspective and focus to a line of work that fits all of those paradigms. Incorporate all those aspects of profession and interests into one occupation (or occupations of you have more than one invested purpose).This will equal your true purpose (or purposes) for this lifetime. First and foremost, I think a purpose is better served for ourselves than for other people to judge and scrutinize. As I mentioned earlier, purposes can extend into others lives and serve other entities but not without your consent, influence, decision or reason for doing so.

 

[kai]

the movie tag line game

 

[cardero]

the movie tag line game

I love that thread.

 

[Purple Thyme]

My purpose in life is to learn my lessons for this life and have fun along the way. I do beleive in trying to make others happy and treating others the way I would like to be treated.:bounce

 

[waacman]

My existance and purpose is to glorify God through obedience to Him.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I think I'll go ahead and add on to what I previously posted, which wasn't really a specific response but merely meditating on the question and smiling.




If I were to define what I believe is the legitimate reason why I'm here. I am here to realize my buddha-nature and to become fully enlightened so that I may be a benefit to all others.



As Chogyam Trungpa once stated...........becoming enlightened, then, is only the beginning of the real journey.




Once attained, the attention is turned to teaching the dharma to all. Like everyone else, I have my work cut out for me.




Peace,
Mystic

 

[logician]

There probably is no "general" purpose for existence, each person must find their own purpose in life.

 

[s2a]

cardero said:

I can begin by saying my purpose is not GOD's purpose.

OK. Could you then end by qualifying how God has any impact or relevance whatsoever upon your own existence, or directed reason or purpose therein? This is not a "trick question".

When I said:
Alas, I can truthfully report that I am not returned from the dead. I can also report that I have received neither visitations nor emails from any persons that are, in fact, still very dead.

You offered:

You may provide proof that you do not remember if you are returned from the dead and you may have a sampling of evidence that this is your first visit to this planet but I do not think you can convince me that you understand what it is like to be dead.

Hunh? Is this rebuttal by some form of non sequiter gobbledygook? Let's remain within the realm of what we can palpably know or experience in the here and now, shall we?


I said:
Not my burden of proof to provide. It's your claim to validate. I make no claims attesting that souls do not exist. I simply assert that there's no compelling evidence to accept such a claim as probable or acceptable "fact" beyond a reasonable doubt.

Fair enough. But as long as the possibility exists (without factual evidence forthcoming from either corner) you shouldn’t mind if I continue courting the belief.

I don't "mind" your belief in any particular unproven quantity. But you errantly suggest [and subsequently infer] that an "existent possibility" [of a god] is left open on my part. This false allusion promotes an unacceptable evaluation of my perspective. In my view, there is more than sufficient reasonable doubt to satisfactorily invalidate all claims of supernaturalistic influence, or cause/effect explanations.

If you were to claim that the (Earth's} moon were made of cheddar cheese, I would not presuppose [nor defend] the "possibility" [probability?] that your claim "might" be "true". Expression of duly tendered reasonable doubt should not be construed to infer equal probability of likelihood or veracity as it may apply to any "unproven" claim. You're welcome to believe and insist that our moon is constructed of some smooth colby cheese blend, as I'm welcome to disbelieve your claim absent provision of any "positive disproof" to the contrary. [It just so happens that the moon is not made of cheese, and I can prove it; but that doesn't mean you can't or won't go on believing in cosmic cows dispensing planetoid dairy byproducts either. Some people are funny that way.]


I inquired:
All of which indeed begs the question of you...can a reasoned and purposed personalized existence be realized utterly absent of a (veritable and real) god?

Yes, definitely. The belief in GOD is unnecessary to personal purpose.

Cool. Then what purpose would a God serve in any determination of a personalized realization of purpose or reason in/of/for existence? In other words, if reason and purpose in a veritable and mortal existence can be realized by anyone, absent ANY god-belief...then what purpose within such an existence would a God need fulfill?

As I then inquired...
If so, then what purpose or reason does that god serve?

You replied:

I find as an acquaintance GOD’s purpose is experienced well.

By whom? Yourself? How is your personalized understanding/experience of any relevance, significance, impact, or import upon anyone or anything else? How does your "acquaintance" with God define or influence your own purpose? Is this "acquaintance" identifiable [or focused] in any way beyond an unbeliever's own deliberative conclusions?
If not, then again I ask; what's the advantage of a believer's understanding of reason/purpose in existence as being pre-suppositionally superior, more favorable, or more enlightened beyond that of an unbeliever's? Is surety and self-conviction of god-belief to be the primary [or lone] applicable standard of acceptable fact and truth from now on?

Another misunderstanding is that these purposes intersect. For example you may hear the term "God's purpose for mankind" or even "that mankind's purpose is for God's purpose. Purposes do not always have to be served but they should be realized.

OK. I'll gladly assume the perspective of an unbeliever for the sake of your premise. You suggest that "purposes" need not "be served"; but that very statement infers that "purposes" are unavoidably inherent [or otherwise bestowed] within us all.
If this is so, then from whence does such inevitability spring? Why should "purposes" be "realized"? By what standard and measure? To whom or what should any unrealized purposes be accountable beyond oneself? Is there any befallen consequence to/of/for an "unrealized purpose"?


As I further inqured:
If not, then what reason or purpose do I serve other than to satisfy the whims of a detached god, that may or may not let me return as an oak tree?

You said:

I think only you would know this question better.

How so? I most earnestly doubt [within and beyond my own standards of applied reason] any claim(s) to an existent God(s) as being veritably real or existent. I consider all claims of existent deities to be pure bunk. Your mileage may vary...

A good indication of identifying purpose is to see what you are doing now and comparing it closely to the goals that you want to accomplish.

And this nugget significantly differs from an atheistic perspective in what meaningful or quantifiable way?

It is a culmination of what you enjoy doing (and what you don’t enjoy doing) of where you want to be (and where you don’t want to be).

I'd like to be wealthy enough not to have to concern myself [ever again] with estimations of personal wealth. That's where I "want to be"...but then again, personal wealth (or accumulation thereof) has absolutely nothing to do with estimations of my personal satisfaction or self-worth.

You sought to counsel me in saying:

Now it is a matter of shifting your perspective and focus to a line of work that fits all of those paradigms. Incorporate all those aspects of profession and interests into one occupation (or occupations of you have more than one invested purpose).This will equal your true purpose (or purposes) for this lifetime. First and foremost, I think a purpose is better served for ourselves than for other people to judge and scrutinize.

"This lifetime"? Have we even yet definitively established that other lifetimes are somewhere down the pike? As far as I know, or you can demonstrably prove, this lifetime is the only one that is assured.

[Forgive me in tendering so blunt a rebuttal...but I remind you that I did not seek your counsel or insight as to what (or where) I might discover my own personal reason or purpose in existence (or the mechanism by which others might do so). I remain confidently self-assured and constantly focused upon such things.]

I bear no purposed intent to appear boorish or rude, but your tendered "insights" [re: my own "path"] are of neither value nor import to me. I unabashedly state that my own reasons and purpose in existence are of my own divination, unattributed to any other source material or faith-based inspiration. I assert that my existence is finite, and will serve no motivationally ulterior [being either "greater" or extended] "purpose" after I'm dead.

If you can acknowledge the perspective that I've offered above, then you must concede that god-belief is quite irrelevant [and unnecessary] to such a perspective.

If not, then please illustrate how god-belief is relevant to any opposing perspective.

If a god has a compelling interest in human choices regarding self-assignations of reason and purpose in/of/for existence, how then can any observant (or piously adherent) "believer" faithfully distance themselves from their (own) god's interests, whilst placating and deferentially serving their own personalized interests?
If god-belief is inconsequential [or nonrequisite] to any personalized understanding and pursuit of reasoned and purposed self-interests...then again I must ask what purpose or reason is then (or thusly) fulfilled by an abject acceptance to/of a particular deity?

[ie., if it doesn't matter (absent meaningful consequence) as to what you say, think, or do - in the estimation/measure of an allegedly interested Creator/god - then how does that perspective differ in ANY significant way from that offered at the behest of an heretical unbeliever?]

 

[s2a]

As I mentioned earlier, purposes can extend into others lives and serve other entities but not without your consent, influence, decision or reason for doing so.

Acknowledged as so qualifiied/mentioned, but then - by such innocuous and free-ranging standards - I might just feel absolutely and equally justified in my assessment that all humans [especially unbelivers] are unworthy of existence, and deserve to die, or perhaps consume only nuts and berries for the rest of their mortal days...just because I think so.

[Note: While I commend your perseverance (not just in the Catholic meaning) in attempts to allude to an irreligiously derived perspective of (a) personalized understanding and acceptance (and/or espousal) of a held perspective of reason and purpose [which I think is not only possible, but verily incumbent upon all those that embrace free-thought for themselves], I submit that such a view is untenable if placed concurrent with a faith-based god-belief.]

You continue to dance about, and avoid concise answer to the question at hand regarding your own personalized understanding of your own reason and purpose in/of/for existence. Your philosophic perspectives, metaphors, and ruminations are interesting in application/contemplation regarding how others might express or manifest their qualifications of a reasoned/purposed existence, but as such, these say nor reflect nothing of your own unique understanding and perspective to the OP premised question at hand.

Can you not, or will you not actually lend answer (of/by/for yourself) to the initial question put?

I applaud your scholarship and success in provision of a salable work such as "Hello It's Me - An Interview with God"; in which you propose to lend definitive answer(s) to such questions as:

"* Where do we go and what do we do after death.
* The true meaning of life.
* How to find our own purpose and utilize it to its full potential.
* What GOD’s true feelings are about memorable events such as the Columbine High School episode and the September 11, 2001 incident.
* The correct meaning of Truth, Love and Understanding and how to apply it in our everyday lives.
* GOD’S formative beginnings and the relationship GOD has to humans and the universe.
* Advice to parents on how to educate and nurture their children.
* The importance other entities have in our lives.
* What questions other people have asked GOD and the responses they have received.
* The real difference between men and women.
* What GOD has in mind for humankind in regards to the new millennium."

Must I buy your book to learn your answer as to the "true meaning of life", or "how to find our own purpose and utilize it to its full potential"? Does God's "mind" have any impact, significance, or bearing upon an infidel's understanding of a personalized "reason" and/or "purpose" in a mortal existence? If so, how so? If not, why not?

I'm always willing to momentarily indulge "The correct meaning of Truth, Love and Understanding"...so long as I am permitted to question and challenge the assumptions and "corrections" tendered for my prospective erudition and benefit.

You qualified your most recent reply in saying:
"I can begin by saying my purpose is not GOD's purpose."

I dare say that He might have an agenda that manifestly differs from your own. You don't have a an entire universe peopled by billions of sentient minds to manage and direct towards ultimate doom and destruction [or maybe happy reward]. If your statement is meant to convey the notion that your god has not bothered to bestow some personalized set of specified reasons and purpose directly upon you [for your subsequent pious and dutiful adherence thereto]...I can appreciate that position, since your god hasn't treated with me in such a manner either. ;-)

Obviously you have enjoyed the benefit of a personal dialogue with the Almighty. Being an enlightened recipient of His personal thoughts and His long-term intentions, you are no doubt uniquely qualified to share His thoughts with the rest of us. Perhaps it is your intensely great personal fortune and opportunity to pursue your own interests as equal to, or beyond, the otherwise plebeian concerns or plans of God Himself. Lucky you. Lucky me too.

Would you now care to enlighten REF members [or just little 'ole me] as to what your especial boundaries/qualities of existence may be, absent some monetary contribution in support of your literary insights?

Put another way....
"So...just what is your reason and purpose for existence?"

Just your own. Personal. Simple...
...whether or not it satisfies or incorporates anything that God may have whispered in your ear...

 

[Æsahættr]

Put another way...if science, induction, or logic are somehow invalid (or incabapble) in determining one's own determined reason and purpose for existence...then what source of illogical, irrational, or unscientific information/inspiration do you utilize in obtaining your uniquely "true" purpose and reason for existence? Can such reasons and purposes be realized absent some externalized someone or something, or are they utterly dependent (perhaps unavoidably so) upon an external source of determination?

Are we allowed to answer this even if we don't believe that science, induction and logic are invalid?

I believe that the reason and purpose for our existance is whatever we want it to be.
I accept the Universe only as it is described by science, and you are correct, that description does not give us any meaning or purpose. As such, I do not believe that there is meaning or purpose somehow built into the world.

However, I believe that part of what makes out species so special is our ability to create purpose out of nothing. That a few lumps of atoms carrying out predictable functions according to the laws of physics could become self-aware, and justify what they were doing, and take pleasure from it...I don't think there's a more uplifting thought *is overcome with sheer humanistic happiness*.

Anyway, great thread btw.