The meaning of life can be broken into various questions like "Why are we here?", "What is life all about?", and "What is the meaning of it all?"
The meaning of life is deeply mixed with philhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifosophical and religious approaches to life, whereas science tends to ask "how?" instead of "why?"So what is the meaning of life according to the main religions and belief systems? The following info has been condensed from a meaning of life site here.
CHRISTIANITY AND THE MEANING OF LIFE
The meaning of life is to seek divine salvation through the grace of God and intercession of Christ. In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the first question is: What is the chief end of Man? The answer is: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever. God requires one to obey the revealed moral law saying: love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
ISLAM AND THE MEANING OF LIFE
A human's ultimate life objective is to serve Allah by abiding by the divine guidelines revealed in the Qur'an and the Tradition of the Prophet. Earthly life is merely a test, determining one's afterlife, either in Jannat (paradise) or in Jahannum (Hell). Allah likes to be worshipped by humans, as spelled out in the Qu'ran: "And I created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship me."
THE MEANING OF LIFE ACCORDING TO BUDDHISM
The Buddhist sūtras and tantras do not speak about "the meaning of life" or "the purpose of life", but about the potential of human life to end suffering through detaching oneself from cravings and conceptual attachments. Suffering can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels that ultimately results in the state of Nirvana. Nirvana means freedom from both suffering and rebirth.
HINDUISM AND THE MEANING OF LIFE
In all schools of Hinduism, the meaning of life is tied up in the concepts of karma (causal action), samsara (the cycle of birth and rebirth), and moksha (liberation). Existence is conceived as the progression of the ātman (similar to the western concept of a soul) across numerous lifetimes, and its ultimate progression towards liberation from karma. Particular goals for life are generally subsumed under broader yogas (practices) or dharma (correct living) which are intended to create more favorable reincarnations, though they are generally positive acts in this life as well.
HUMANISM AND THE MEANING OF LIFE
Okay,it's not a religion but is a major belief system worldwide. Generally humansists believe there's no absolute truth or meaning decreed by a supernatural being, or none that can be verified at this stage (unless the supernatural being drops by and makes it REALLY obvious with, say, a press conference).
Sound depressing? Nihilism is one possible apphttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifroach, arguing life is without objective meaning or morality, purpose, or intrinsic value. Not surprisingly, this perceived pointlessness of existence can lead to depression, despair and not brushing your teeth in the morning, if you are simply a biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context.
However, most humanists argue that human beings are currently the most complex objects in the known universe and should be highly valued as a result. This more positive approach is used as the basis for developing a meaning of life that suits each individual. Humanists generally believe that pursuing one's individual happiness (if it doesn't cause suffering to others) is good, and that we should value other human beings and live in a way that can achieve happiness for them too.
Another interesting blog to check out here.
