Finding purpose in life


From the dawn of religion the question of the purpose of life has been a matter of study and discussion.
I don't think that there exists a philosopher who has not struggled with this question.

On the religious side purpose comes from the mind of God.  Wether we know what it is or not,  
the idea that there was a creation almost presupposes a purpose to that creation.

The thing that was probably most disturbing to the religionists of the day about Darwinism
was the removal of purpose.  To suppose that life was an accident or that it was
just part of the random fluctionations of the universe, something normal and naturally
resulting from a certain set of circumstances insulted them to the very core.  
To remove intelligent design from the tapestry of religious thought
was to challenge the very meaning of their own lives.

This however demonstrates the nature of a people steeped in the slavery imposed upon them
by the politically motivated religions of the day. It demonstrates their own lack of free
will and their lack of understanding of the very nature of true freedom.

Slavery at it's core is our willingness to work at the will of and for the purposes of a master.
We largely enslave ourselves out of our own fears or out of our own lazinesses.

The desire to be given a task, to be told what to do, is an abdication of our own will.
That desire I believe is a way of avoiding responsibility.  If it is not our idea,
if it is not our will, if we are "made" to do a thing then if it doesn't turn out
according to our desires we have someone to blame.  

True freedom is the ability or willingness to set our own course, to take personal responsibility
for our own actions.  To set our own purpose.  

I think it is the singular difference that sets some men apart from others.

Freedom is a state of mind.  Life imposes challenges upon us.  It sends tasks to us that we did not
ask for.  It throws flames at our homes and earthquakes at our towers.  The stormy seas of life
are not always of our choosing,  However, the choises we make as a result of those
externally imposed trials is where we demonstrate our willingness to be a slave
or our willingness to be the master.

A free man sets his own purpose.
A slave desires a master to set his purpose


From Invictus:
Out of the darkness that covers me
Black as the pit from pole to pole
I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.

It matters not how straight the gate,
how charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captian of my soul.