The philosophical question "What is the meaning of life?" means different things to different people. The vagueness of the query is inherent in the word "meaning", which opens the question to many interpretations, such as: "What is the origin of life?", "What is the nature of life (and of the universe in which we live)?", "What is the significance of life?", "What is valuable in life?", and "What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?". These questions have resulted in a wide range of competing answers and arguments, from scientific ...

Including:

• Meaning of life - Popular beliefs
• Meaning of life - Scientific approaches and theories
• Meaning of life - Philosophical views
• Meaning of life - Value as meaning
• Meaning of life - Atheist views
• Meaning of life - Existentialist views
• Meaning of life - Humanist views
• Meaning of life - Nihilist views
• Meaning of life - Positivist views
• Meaning of life - Pragmatist views
• Meaning of life - Transhumanist views
• Meaning of life - Religious beliefs
• Meaning of life - Spiritual views
• Meaning of life - Humorous treatments
• Meaning of life - General philosophy topics
• Meaning of life - General philosophy lists

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See also:

Meaning of life, Meaning of life - Popular beliefs, Meaning of life - Scientific approaches and theories, Meaning of life - Philosophical views, Meaning of life - Value as meaning, Meaning of life - Atheist views, Meaning of life - Existentialist views, Meaning of life - Humanist views, Meaning of life - Nihilist views, Meaning of life - Positivist views, Meaning of life - Pragmatist views, Meaning of life - Transhumanist views, Meaning of life - Religious beliefs, Meaning of life - Spiritual views, Meaning of life - Humorous treatments, Meaning of life - General philosophy topics, Meaning of life - General philosophy lists

Read more here: » Meaning of life: Encyclopedia II - Meaning of life - Philosophical views

Where scientists and philosophers converge on the quest for the meaning of life is an assumption that the mechanics of life (i.e., the universe) are determinable, thus the meaning of life may eventually be derived through our understanding of the mechanics of the universe in which we live, including the mechanics of the human body. There are, however, strictly speaking, no scientific views on the meaning of biological life other than its observable biological function: to continue and to reproduce itself. In this regard, science simply addresses quantitative questions such as: "What does it do?", "By wha ...

See also:

Meaning of life, Meaning of life - Popular beliefs, Meaning of life - Scientific approaches and theories, Meaning of life - Philosophical views, Meaning of life - Value as meaning, Meaning of life - Atheist views, Meaning of life - Existentialist views, Meaning of life - Humanist views, Meaning of life - Nihilist views, Meaning of life - Positivist views, Meaning of life - Pragmatist views, Meaning of life - Transhumanist views, Meaning of life - Religious beliefs, Meaning of life - Spiritual views, Meaning of life - Humorous treatments, Meaning of life - General philosophy topics, Meaning of life - General philosophy lists

Read more here: » Meaning of life: Encyclopedia II - Meaning of life - Scientific approaches and theories

The issues of "suffering" and "life problems" should only be deliberated with people who are at the moment relatively happy and carefree. We can then expect some measure of objectivity. It's just too easy to sneer sardonically when you're depressed and watching some overly cheery, toothy, five-hundred-dollars-per-workshop, "successful living" multi-millionaire entrepreneur filling you with platitudes and urging you to pull up your socks ... (Yeah right, buddy. Up yours, and that goes double for your "inner child!")

Read more here: » Spiritual Growth: Spiritual Labor Pains

Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of god(s). That is, all who do not have such a belief - whether they think of themselves as nontheists, agnostics or even Buddhists - are covered under this term. Atheism can also be defined more narrowly as the active denial of the existence of god(s), either of a specific or general kind, or even that god(s) can exist. Generally speaking, atheism refers to a la ...

Including:

• Atheism - Etymology
• Atheism - Types and typologies of atheism
• Atheism - Atheism as lack of theism
• Atheism - Atheism as immorality
• Atheism - Weak and strong atheism
• Atheism - Ignosticism
• Atheism - Gnostic and agnostic atheism
• Atheism - Atheism in philosophical naturalism
• Atheism - Antitheism
• Atheism - History
• Atheism - Distribution of atheists
• Atheism - Atheism in the United Kingdom
• Atheism - Atheism in the United States
• Atheism - Atheism studies and statistics
• Atheism - Statistical problems
• Atheism - Religion and atheism
• Atheism - Spiritual and religious atheism
• Atheism - Judaism
• Atheism - Christianity
• Atheism - Islam
• Atheism - Asian spirituality
• Atheism - Reasons for atheism
• Atheism - Philosophical reasons
• Atheism - Personal and social reasons
• Atheism - Three famous atheists: Freud Marx and Nietzsche
• Atheism - Criticisms of atheism
• Atheism - Atheism is incoherent
• Atheism - Atheism doesn't exist
• Atheism - Atheism leads to poor morals and ethics
• Atheism - Atheism is a belief as much as theism is
• Atheism - Related concepts
• Atheism - Organizations
• Atheism - Satire

Read more here: » Atheism: Encyclopedia - Atheism

Apatheism is a portmanteau (a haplology combining apathy with either atheist or theist) for the position that God may exist but is of no real importance to one's daily life. It was used by columnist Jonathan Rauch in The Atlantic Monthly in 2003. There is also a satiric web page with the title "The Church of Apatheism". There are also instances of the term being used on message boards and other Internet venues as early as July 2000. Apatheism is not precisely synonymous to atheism, but rather holds that the question of whether or not God exists may be meaningful ...

Including:

• Apatheism - Another Point of View
• Apatheism - External link

Read more here: » Apatheism: Encyclopedia - Apatheism

Bharathidasan (April 29, 1891 - April 1, 1964; also spelt Bharatidasan) was a twentieth century Tamil poet and rationalist whose literary works handled mostly socio-political issues. His writings served as a catalyst for the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu. In addition to poetry, his views found expression in other forms such as plays, film scripts, short stories and essays. He was mentored by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi (after whom he called himself "Bharathidasan"). But Bharathidasan, unlike Bharathi rarely us ...

Including:

• Bharathidasan - Life
• Bharathidasan - Literary Works
• Bharathidasan - Awards and Recognitions

Read more here: » Bharathidasan: Encyclopedia - Bharathidasan

Secular humanism is that branch of philosophy that advocates the use of reason, compassion, scientific inquiry, ethics, justice and a presumption of equality within a worldview centered upon human beings. The term was originally coined in the 20th century to make a clear distinction from "Christian humanism". A perhaps less confrontational synonym is scientific humanism, which the biologist Edward O. Wilson termed "the only world-view compatible with science's growing knowledge of the real world and the laws of nature". ^Including:

• Secular humanism - Secular humanism today
• Secular humanism - Modern and historical references
• Secular humanism - Notable secular humanists
• Secular humanism - Secular humanism manifestos
• Secular humanism - Humanist and related organizations
• Secular humanism - Related philosophies
• Secular humanism - Footnote

Read more here: » Secular humanism: Encyclopedia - Secular humanism

Agnosticism is the philosophical view that the truth values of certain claims—particularly theological claims regarding the existence of God, gods, or deities—are unknown, inherently unknowable, or incoherent, and therefore, (some agnostics may go as far to say) irrelevant to life. The term and the related agnostic were coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1869, and are also used to describe those who are unconvinced or noncommittal about the existence of deities as well as other matters of religion. The word agnostic comes fro ...

Including:

• Agnosticism - Variations
• Agnosticism - Some philosophical opinions
• Agnosticism - Thomas Henry Huxley
• Agnosticism - Bertrand Russell
• Agnosticism - Logical positivism

Read more here: » Agnosticism: Encyclopedia - Agnosticism

The problem of Hell is a variant of the problem of evil, aimed specifically at religions which hold both that: An omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnibenevolent (all-loving) God exists. Some people will be consigned to Hell forever, and will be eternally tortured. Problem of Hell - The debate. While Hell has traditionally been regarded as a punishment for wrong-doing or sin in life, the problem arises primarily from the severity of the punishment, if Hel ...

Including:

• Problem of Hell - The debate
• Problem of Hell - Issues of Justice
• Problem of Hell - Hell as a choice
• Problem of Hell - The argument from ignorance
• Problem of Hell - Denying the assumptions
• Problem of Hell - Bibliography

Read more here: » Problem of Hell: Encyclopedia - Problem of Hell

Historical and modern Deism is defined by the view that reason, rather than revelation or tradition, should be the basis of belief in God. Deists reject both organized and revealed religion and maintain that reason is the essential element in all knowledge. For a "rational basis for religion" they refer to the cosmological argument (first cause argument), the teleological argument (argument from design), and other aspects of what was called natural religion. Deism has become identified with the classical belief that God created ...

Including:

• Deism - Overview
• Deism - Deism and prayer
• Deism - 18th century popularity
• Deism - Appellations for divinity
• Deism - Decline in popularity
• Deism - Current status

Read more here: » Deism: Encyclopedia - Deism

Sin has been a term most usually used in a religious context, and today describes any lack of conformity to the will of God; especially, any willful disregard for the norms revealed by God is a sin. The word is from the old English synn, presumed to be from Germanic *sun(d)jō (lit: "it is true"). [1] It is recorded in use as early as the 9th century. The most common formal definition is an infraction against religious or moral l ...

Including:

• Sin - Etymology
• Sin - Jewish views of sin
• Sin - Jewish conceptions of atonement for sin
• Sin - Hebrew Concept of Sin
• Sin - Christian views of sin
• Sin - In General
• Sin - Roman Catholic Views
• Sin - Eastern/Oriental Orthodox Views
• Sin - Protestant Views
• Sin - Christian teachings on Atonement or the Remedy for Sin
• Sin - Muslim views of sin
• Sin - Hindu views of sin
• Sin - Atheist views of sin
• Sin - Notes and references

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Anomie, in contemporary English, means a condition or malaise in individuals, characterized by an absence or diminution of standards or values. The word comes from Greek a-: "without", and nomos: "law". This term was used by the Greeks to define anything or anyone against the rules or a condition where the present laws were not applied (illegitimacy, unlawfulness). The contemporary English understanding of the word anomie differs from how the term was originally defined and used by Greeks, often becoming a ...

Including:

• Anomie - Anomie as individual disorder
• Anomie - Anomie as social disorder
• Anomie - Anomie in literature and film

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Many arguments about the existence of God have been proposed by philosophers, theologians, and other thinkers. This article lists some of the more common arguments, especially those covered in the area of philosophy of religion. In philosophical terminology, this article introduces schools of thought on the epistemology of the ontology of God. Existence of God - What is God? Definition of God's existence. See main articles: Definition, God, Deity, Ontology What does it mean to ass ...

Including:

• Existence of God - What is God? Definition of God's existence
• Existence of God - The problem of the supernatural
• Existence of God - How do we know?
• Existence of God - Positions on the Existence of God
• Existence of God - Theism
• Existence of God - Atheism
• Existence of God - Agnosticism
• Existence of God - Arguments for the existence of God
• Existence of God - Inductive arguments for
• Existence of God - Subjective arguments for
• Existence of God - Arguments against the existence of God
• Existence of God - Notes

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The afterlife (or life after death) is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual and experiential, beyond this world, or after death. This article is about current generic and widely held or reported concepts of afterlife. See also: Underworld, for a comprehensive catalog of specific traditions about afterlife. Afterlife - Afterlife as a belief. Many people believe in an afterlife. It is generally described as a non-verifiable and non-falsifiable belie ...

Including:

• Afterlife - Afterlife as a belief
• Afterlife - Afterlife as an individual existence
• Afterlife - Afterlife as reward or punishment
• Afterlife - Afterlife as reincarnation
• Afterlife - Related studies
• Afterlife - Criticism
• Afterlife - Philosophical arguments

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Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरु) (1856 - 1928) was a great sage and social reformer of India. Born in Ezhava/Thiyya community (a Backward Community in today's parlance), he demonstrated a path to social emancipation without invoking the dualism of the opressed and the opressor. In contrast to certain other reformers who critized Brahmins and "upper caste" Hindus for the conditions of the "lower castes", Nārāyana Guru stressed on the upliftment of the community through its own efforts by the establishme ...

Including:

• Narayana Guru - Early Life
• Narayana Guru - Transformation as Master Yogi and Seeker of Truth
• Narayana Guru - Enlightenment and its Poetic Expression
• Narayana Guru - Consecration of Siva Lingam at Aruvippuram
• Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru’s Philosophy
• Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru Rationalism and Atheism
• Narayana Guru - Works by Nārāyana Guru
• Narayana Guru - In Malayalam
• Narayana Guru - In Sanskrit
• Narayana Guru - Notes
• Narayana Guru - Bibiliography/Reference

Read more here: » Narayana Guru: Encyclopedia - Narayana Guru

This article is about the Abrahamic belief; creationism can also refer to origin beliefs in general or, centuries earlier, to an alternative to traducianism. Creationism or creation theology is the belief that humans, life, the Earth, and the universe were created by a supreme being or deity's supernatural intervention. The intervention may be seen either as an act of creation from nothing (ex nihilo) ...

Including:

• Creationism - Overview
• Creationism - Political context
• Creationism - History of the concept of creation
• Creationism - Types of creationism
• Creationism - Jewish creationism
• Creationism - Christian God as absolute origin
• Creationism - Prevalence of creationism
• Creationism - United States
• Creationism - The western world outside the United States
• Creationism - Criticism of creationism
• Creationism - Scientific critique of creationism
• Creationism - The Christian critique of creationism
• Creationism - Creationism and naturalism

Read more here: » Creationism: Encyclopedia - Creationism

Humanism is a broad category of active ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on our ability to determine what is right using the qualities innate to humanity, particularly rationality. Humanism is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems. Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests. In focusing on our capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects transcendental justifications, such as ...

Including:

• Humanism - Aspects
• Humanism - Religion
• Humanism - Knowledge
• Humanism - Speciesism
• Humanism - Optimism
• Humanism - History
• Humanism - Renaissance
• Humanism - Modern humanist philosophies
• Humanism - Secular humanism
• Humanism - Religious humanism
• Humanism - Other forms of humanism
• Humanism - Educational humanism
• Humanism - Related topics
• Humanism - List of Humanists
• Humanism - Founding documents
• Humanism - Forms of humanism
• Humanism - Related philosophies
• Humanism - Organizations
• Humanism - Other
• Humanism - Web resources
• Humanism - Founding documents
• Humanism - Introductions to humanism
• Humanism - Organizations
• Humanism - Web articles
• Humanism - Web books
• Humanism - Web directories

Read more here: » Humanism: Encyclopedia - Humanism

Religion (see etymology below) —sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system—is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine; and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions and rituals associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankind's relationship with the universe. In the course of the development of religion, it has taken ...

Including:

• Religion - Etymology
• Religion - Religion and science
• Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics
• Religion - Esotericism and mysticism
• Religion - Spirituality
• Religion - Myth
• Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions
• Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs
• Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion
• Religion - Development of religion
• Religion - Religion today
• Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others
• Religion - Exclusivism
• Religion - Inclusivism
• Religion - Pluralism
• Religion - Syncretism
• Religion - Universalism
• Religion - Systemization
• Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe
• Religion - Related philosophical stances
• Religion - Compare with

Read more here: » Religion: Encyclopedia - Religion

Most world religions condemn abortion on demand, though most do consider abortion acceptable under very limited circumstances: Anglicanism: [1]. Buddhism: [2] Catholicism:[3] (abortion is always morally prohibited and laws that permit abortion are unjust) Hinduism:[4] Islam: [5] Judaism: [6][7] Sikhism:[8] Likewise, some atheists are also opposed to abortion.[9][10] Abortion, Abortion Law, Morality and legality of ab ...

Including:

• Religion and abortion - General
• Religion and abortion - Buddhism
• Religion and abortion - Christianity
• Religion and abortion - Catholicism
• Religion and abortion - Eastern Orthodox
• Religion and abortion - Protestant
• Religion and abortion - Mormonism
• Religion and abortion - Hinduism
• Religion and abortion - Islam
• Religion and abortion - Judaism
• Religion and abortion - Orthodox Judaism
• Religion and abortion - Conservative Judaism

Read more here: » Religion and abortion: Encyclopedia - Religion and abortion