Download or read book Pondering the Meaning of Life written by Ian D. H. Smith and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2019-12-13 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: -Will your death be the end of you or is there something more? -Is it credible to have religious belief in the twenty-first century? -Can there be a deeper meaning to life? Pondering the Meaning of Life is a systematic review of the evidence that may allow us to answer these questions. There is no preaching and no saying what some God wants us to do. Written in a clear, accessible style, the only prerequisites are curiosity and a very basic understanding of religion. Whatever you may have thought to be true may be challenged, but there are other uplifting and exciting possibilities to be pondered. To seek for meaning in our lives is surely one of the most rewarding endeavors we can undertake.
Download or read book Pondering Life written by Doctor Ergo and published by . This book was released on 2012-05-01 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Have you ever just wondered about life? What is Life? Is there God? How do we fit into the universe? What is our relationship with other living things? What does it mean to be human? Doctor Ergo provides you with a firm background and vantage point from which to view those questions. You will gain a comprehensive perspective on Life and the human condition - from the Big Bang, through Life history on this planet, to the current condition of our human mind and species, and some solid thoughts on what Life....is. This is a Story of Life. In a Darwinian world, our mental capacity has enabled us to ascend to the pinnacle of the survival pyramid. Therefore, the essence of the story about our species centers on our mind. Our cognitive skills are built upon the neural architectures that originally developed for vision and for speech/hearing. We can be aware of the 2 sides of our mind through introspection of our own consciousness: Vision based - non-verbal emotions, feelings and intuitions coming from our vision-based cognition in our Right Brain. Speech based - words, thoughts, and reasoning coming from our speech-based cognition in our Left Brain. Vision developed quickly in the Cambrian Period (570 million years ago) when the earliest animals with body forms emerged. Vision enabled the animal to see the "world," and gave the animal a sense of "self," i.e. that which was viewing the world. Consequently the concepts of "world" and "self" are deeply embedded in the cognition that developed from the vision neurological architecture. Likewise, Darwinian survival necessitated identification of same-species animals (for protection and reproduction); hence the concept of "group" is also deeply embedded in the vision-based neurology. Our speech-based left brain has no equal anywhere else in Life on this planet. This is what has made possible the major advances of the human mind, separated us from the animals, and enabled us to conquer the planet. This Sensory Mind model clarifies Plato's writings and the psychological models that were developed by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. The personality types tested by Myers-Briggs, which are based on the theories of Carl Jung, are consistent with the Sensory Mind. Major trends in human history have been about the growth of our collective left brain in the governance of human affairs and its interplay with our vision-based (non-verbal) right mind. Our human "advances" have largely resulted from development of our speech-based mind, but the essence and truth of life comes to us from our vision-based mind. Our earliest groupings and civilizations were largely governed by vision-based animal grouping models. These have evolved into newer civilizations and human groupings that include participation and/or leadership of our left brain "group-think." We are very familiar with the concept of Darwinian survival and its role in the evolution of Life. However, Darwinian survival is simply the strategy or tactic that governs the advancement of Life. What is it that drives Life to engage in the Darwinian struggle for survival? There IS a Life Drive that fuels evolution...what is it? The Life Drive permeates all of life and is the force that drives Darwinian evolution. It is theorized that Life is a previously unidentified parameter in Einstein's Theory of Relativity and that it exists at the conditions opposite to the Big Bang conditions. Most religious and belief systems, whether god-based such as Judaism, Christianity, or Islam, or spiritually-based such as Buddhism or Taoism, are oriented towards the ultimate truth that is Life.
Download or read book Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine written by Alan Lightman and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2018-03-27 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the bestselling author of Einstein's Dreams—“an elegant and moving paean to our spiritual quest for meaning in an age of science" (The New York Times Book Review). As a physicist, Alan Lightman has always held a scientific view of the world. But one summer evening, while looking at the stars from a small boat at sea, Lightman was overcome by the overwhelming sensation that he was merging with something larger than himself—an eternal unity, something absolute and immaterial. The result is an inspired, lyrical meditation from the acclaimed author of Einstein's Dreams that explores these seemingly contradictory impulses. Lightman draws on sources ranging from Saint Augustine's conception of absolute truth to Einstein's theory of relativity, and gives us a profound inquiry into the human desire for truth and meaning, and a journey along the different paths of religion and science that become part of that quest. This small but provocative book explores the tension between our yearning for certainty and permanence versus the modern scientific view that all things in the physical world are uncertain and impermanent.
Download or read book Taiz a Meaning to Life written by Olivier Clément and published by GIA Publications. This book was released on 1997 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Does Life Have Any Meaning written by John Blanchard and published by . This book was released on 2018-09-17 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new publication is something different from the veteran evangelist: longer than Ultimate Questions and his booklets such as Why Believe the Bible?, this is nevertheless a short book (82 pages). It won't take long to read but takes the reader from the claims of the science-base mysticism that is so influential in our secular society to the heart of the gospel. Searching for a meaning to life seems to be programmed into us as human beings. We may sometimes try to brush the subject aside, but time and again we still wonder whether there is any point in all our activities, experiences and emotions. Why are we here? What is life all about? Are we part of a bigger picture, or just specks of dust swirling around in a mindless universe? Where can we find a basis for morality or responsible behavior of any kind? On what basis can we differentiate between good and bad, right or wrong, fair or unfair? Can we sail through life without moral responsibility of any kind? If we are nothing more than biological accidents, cobbled together from bits of our ancestors, what is the point in speaking about human values or the quality of life? These are big questions, and it makes no sense to ignore them. In this short and very readable book, John Blanchard faces these questions and shows how the answers are more accessible than many think. He exposes the 'double-think' in many modern attitudes and deals with the ultimate reality"€"a reality that is quite literally life changing.
Download or read book Forgotten Country written by Catherine Chung and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-03-01 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Booklist Top 10 First Novels of 2012 pick A Bookpage Best Books of 2012 pick “A richly emotional portrait of a family that had me spellbound from page one.”—Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of Wild The night before Janie’s sister, Hannah, is born, her grandmother tells her a story: Since the Japanese occupation of Korea, their family has lost a daughter in every generation, and Janie is told to keep Hannah safe. Years later, when Hannah inexplicably cuts all ties and disappears, Janie goes to find her. Thus begins a journey that will force her to confront her family’s painful silence, the truth behind her parents’ sudden move to America twenty years earlier, and her own conflicted feelings toward Hannah. Weaving Korean folklore within a modern narrative of immigration and identity, Forgotten Country is a fierce exploration of the inevitability of loss, the conflict between obligation and freedom, and a family struggling to find its way out of silence and back to one another.
Download or read book Living Life Backward written by David Gibson and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2017-07-14 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if it is death that teaches us how to truly live? Keeping the end in mind shapes how we live our lives in the here and now. Living life backward means taking the one thing in our future that is certain—death—and letting that inform our journey before we get there. Looking to the book of Ecclesiastes for wisdom, Living Life Backward was written to shake up our expectations and priorities for what it means to live "the good life." Considering the reality of death helps us pay attention to our limitations as human beings and receive life as a wondrous gift from God—freeing us to live wisely, generously, and faithfully for God's glory and the good of his world.
Download or read book The Good Life Method written by Meghan Sullivan and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2023-01-03 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two Philosophers Ask and Answer the Big Questions About the Search for Faith and Happiness For seekers of all stripes, philosophy is timeless self-care. Notre Dame philosophy professors Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko have reinvigorated this tradition in their wildly popular and influential undergraduate course “God and the Good Life,” in which they wrestle with the big questions about how to live and what makes life meaningful. Now they invite us into the classroom to work through issues like what justifies our beliefs, whether we should practice a religion and what sacrifices we should make for others—as well as to investigate what figures such as Aristotle, Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Iris Murdoch, and W. E. B. Du Bois have to say about how to live well. Sullivan and Blaschko do the timeless work of philosophy using real-world case studies that explore love, finance, truth, and more. In so doing, they push us to escape our own caves, ask stronger questions, explain our deepest goals, and wrestle with suffering, the nature of death, and the existence of God. Philosophers know that our “good life plan” is one that we as individuals need to be constantly and actively writing to achieve some meaningful control and sense of purpose even if the world keeps throwing surprises our way. For at least the past 2,500 years, philosophers have taught that goal-seeking is an essential part of what it is to be human—and crucially that we could find our own good life by asking better questions of ourselves and of one another. This virtue ethics approach resonates profoundly in our own moment. The Good Life Method is a winning guide to tackling the big questions of being human with the wisdom of the ages.
Download or read book Meaning in Life and Why It Matters written by Susan Wolf and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2012-03-25 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most people, including philosophers, tend to classify human motives as falling into one of two categories: the egoistic or the altruistic, the self-interested or the moral. According to Susan Wolf, however, much of what motivates us does not comfortably fit into this scheme. Often we act neither for our own sake nor out of duty or an impersonal concern for the world. Rather, we act out of love for objects that we rightly perceive as worthy of love--and it is these actions that give meaning to our lives. Wolf makes a compelling case that, along with happiness and morality, this kind of meaningfulness constitutes a distinctive dimension of a good life. Written in a lively and engaging style, and full of provocative examples, Meaning in Life and Why It Matters is a profound and original reflection on a subject of permanent human concern.
Download or read book The Discovery of Being written by Rollo May and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2015-05-04 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Clear, accurate, and interesting. There is no better short introduction to the existential approach to psychology.” —Dallas Morning News The brilliant psychologist Rollo May was a major force in existential psychology. Here, he brings together the ideas of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and other great thinkers to offer insights into its ideas and techniques. He pays particular attention to the causes of loneliness and isolation and to our search to find new and firm moorings in order to move toward a future where responsibility, creativity, and love can play a role.
Download or read book Writing for Bliss written by and published by Loving Healing Press. This book was released on 2017-09-01 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ÿWriting for Blissÿis most fundamentally about reflection, truth, and freedom. With techniques and prompts for both the seasoned and novice writer, it will lead you to tap into your creativity through storytelling and poetry,examine how life-changing experiences can inspire writing,pursue self-examination and self-discovery through the written word, and,understand how published writers have been transformed by writing.Poet and memoirist Raab (Lust) credits her lifelong love of writing and its therapeutic effects with inspiring her to write this thoughtful and detailed primer that targets pretty much anyone interested in writing a memoir. Most compelling here is Raab?s willingness to share her intimate stories (e.g., the loss of a relative, ongoing struggles with cancer, a difficult relationship with her mother). Her revelations are encouraging to writers who feel they need ?permission to take... a voyage of self-discovery.? The book?s seven-step plan includes plenty of guidance, including on learning to ?read like a writer,? and on addressing readers as if ?seated across the table .? Raab covers big topics such as the ?art and power of storytelling? and small details such as choosing pens and notebooks that you enjoy using. She also helps readers with the important step of ?finding your form.? --PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY "Writing for Blissÿis about the profound ways in which we may be transformed in and through the act of writing. I am grateful to Diana Raab for sharing it, and I trust that you will feel the same as you read on. May you savor the journey." --from the foreword by MARK FREEMAN, PhD "By listening to ourselves and being aware of what we are saying and feeling, the true story of our life's past experience is revealed. Diana Raab?s book gives us the insights by which we can achieve this through her life-coaching wisdom and our writing." --BERNIE SIEGEL, MD, author ofÿThe Art of Healing "Only a talented writer who has fought hard to overcome life?s many obstacles could take her readers by the hand and lead them through the writing process with such enormous compassion, amazing insight, and kindness. Diana Raab is a powerful, wise, intelligent guide well worth our following." --JAMES BROWN, author ofÿThe Los Angeles DiariesÿandÿThe River "Writing for Blissÿis far more than a 'how-to manual'; it enlightens the creative process with wisdom and a delightful sense of adventure. Bravo to Bliss!" --LINDA GRAY SEXTON, author ofÿSearching for Mercy Street: My Journey Back to My Mother, Anne Sexton "Uniquely blending inspiring insights with practical advice, Diana guides you on a path to discover the story that is truly inside you?and yearning to be told." --PATRICK SWEENEY, coauthor of the New York Times bestsellerÿSucceed on Your Own Terms DIANA RAAB, PhD, is an award-winning memoirist, poet, blogger, workshop facilitator, thought provoker, and survivor. She?s the author of eight books and over one thousand articles and poems. She lives in Southern California. Learn more at www.DianaRaab.com
Download or read book The Ends of Life written by Keith Thomas and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2010-02-25 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How should we live? That question was no less urgent for English men and women who lived between the early sixteenth and late eighteenth centuries than for this book's readers. Keith Thomas's masterly exploration of the ways in which people sought to lead fulfilling lives in those centuries between the beginning of the Reformation and the heyday of the Enlightenment illuminates the central values of the period, while casting incidental light on some of the perennial problems of human existence. Consideration of the origins of the modern ideal of human fulfilment and of obstacles to its realization in the early modern period frames an investigation that ranges from work, wealth, and possessions to the pleasures of friendship, family, and sociability. The cult of military prowess, the pursuit of honour and reputation, the nature of religious belief and scepticism, and the desire to be posthumously remembered are all drawn into the discussion, and the views and practices of ordinary people are measured against the opinions of the leading philosophers and theologians of the time. The Ends of Life offers a fresh approach to the history of early modern England, by one of the foremost historians of our time. It also provides modern readers with much food for thought on the problem of how we should live and what goals in life we should pursue.
Download or read book Tuesdays with Morrie written by Mitch Albom and published by Crown. This book was released on 2007-06-29 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A special 25th anniversary edition of the beloved book that has changed millions of lives with the story of an unforgettable friendship, the timeless wisdom of older generations, and healing lessons on loss and grief—featuring a new afterword by the author “A wonderful book, a story of the heart told by a writer with soul.”—Los Angeles Times “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was his college professor Morrie Schwartz. Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder. Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you were younger? Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final “class”: lessons in how to live. “The truth is, Mitch,” he said, “once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.” Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie’s lasting gift with the world.
Download or read book Darwin God and the Meaning of Life written by Steve Stewart-Williams and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2010-09-30 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you accept evolutionary theory, can you also believe in God? Are human beings superior to other animals, or is this just a human prejudice? Does Darwin have implications for heated issues like euthanasia and animal rights? Does evolution tell us the purpose of life, or does it imply that life has no ultimate purpose? Does evolution tell us what is morally right and wrong, or does it imply that ultimately 'nothing' is right or wrong? In this fascinating and intriguing book, Steve Stewart-Williams addresses these and other fundamental philosophical questions raised by evolutionary theory and the exciting new field of evolutionary psychology. Drawing on biology, psychology and philosophy, he argues that Darwinian science supports a view of a godless universe devoid of ultimate purpose or moral structure, but that we can still live a good life and a happy life within the confines of this view.
Download or read book Death and the Meaning of Life written by graf Leo Tolstoy and published by Nova Publishers. This book was released on 2000 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents materials that reveal the essence of Tolstoy's beliefs on immortality, death, God, and the meaning of life. Contains two booklets ("About Immortality" No. 751 and "About Death" No. 752) compiled by Tolstoy comprising quotations from various philosophers explaining the meaning that death gives to life; essays explaining the actions that Tolstoy thought must be taken to grow spiritually; and finally, diary entries (translated here for the first time in English) pertaining to spiritual themes made during the last year of Tolstoy's life.
Download or read book Philosophy written by Ayn Rand and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 1984-11-01 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of essays was the last work planned by Ayn Rand before her death in 1982. In it, she summarizes her view of philosophy and deals with a broad spectrum of topics. According to Ayn Rand, the choice we make is not whether to have a philosophy, but which one to have: rational, conscious, and therefore practical; or contradictory, unidentified, and ultimately lethal. Written with all the clarity and eloquence that have placed Ayn Rand’s Objectivist philosophy in the mainstream of American thought, these essays range over such basic issues as education, morality, censorship, and inflation to prove that philosophy is the fundamental force in all our lives.
Download or read book Scientific Approach to the Meaning of Life written by Arturas Vaitaitis and published by Arturas Vaitaitis. This book was released on 2024-01-17 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In "Scientific Approach to the Meaning of Life," science and spirituality intertwine through the captivating narrative of the author's personal journey. This compact yet profound book draws upon a spectrum of scientific fields, while also charting the complex and mixed paths of religion and science through history, aiming to shed light on one of humanity's most profound questions – What is the meaning of life? Personal experiences are beautifully melded with insights from particle physics, evolutionary biology, and historical analyses, crafting an intimate yet lighthearted account of the search for life's purpose. Perfect for readers seeking a personal and intellectually stimulating exploration of life's most significant question, "Scientific Approach to the Meaning of Life" offers a compelling intersection of science, history, and personal discovery. This book promises a unique journey through the dimensions of existence, shaped by the author's scientific insight and personal journey.
