One in 10 young people believed life was not worth living or was meaningless, according to an “alarming” new report. A survey of 16 to 25-year-olds by the Prince’s Trust found a “significant core” for whom life had little or no purpose, especially among those not in education, work or training. https://metro.co.uk/2009
Life is ‘not worth living’ for one in ten young people, an alarming study has found. The survey of 16 to 25-year-olds showed that they felt life was meaningless and 27% said they always or often felt down. https://www.marieclaire.co.uk 2009
@philokalia saidHere is the Yakult UK website - https://www.yakult.co.uk/
The survey, conducted by Yakult UK, found that 80 per cent of people across all age ranges felt they were living without purpose, but that number drops to 55 per cent for people over the age of 60.
Where is the survey you are claiming they conducted and publicized?
@whodey saidWell, we are of course animals; we are born, we get sick, we get better and eventually we die, just like other animals, and the glorification is self glorification. What we have over other species is an amazing brain, which allows us to study the world around us, and to imagine, believe and invent, and we invent all kinds of things, like gods, and the abstract idea of an afterlife. Unfortunately our brains have also allowed us to dominate and wipe out innumerable other species which share our small world, so enlightenment is still work in progress, I would say.
They are raised to think that they are a glorified animal whose struggle and meaning in life is for material gain
'My hut is bigger than your hut, and I have more shiny bits of metal than you.' It's an odd way to measure our achievements....
@philokalia saidThis seems pretty rich coming from a proclaimed Christian who admits to fornication with his girlfriend and drinking bottles of vodka in session.
It is also that you see in the very rationale that people use these days, too. People say well, of course teenagers need to sleep with one antoher; they have that biological urge, and this comes to be a means used to justify all manner of behavior that people want to justify. This leads to people being irrational, decadent actors without much healthy self-esteem because they themselves feel like they are just animals serving a biological need.
06 Aug 19
@indonesia-phil saidWe are animals in the sense that we have a body which resembles those of animals. But we operate on a completely different level -- far beyond them.
Well, we are of course animals; we are born, we get sick, we get better and eventually we die, just like other animals, and the glorification is self glorification. What we have over other species is an amazing brain, which allows us to study the world around us, and to imagine, believe and invent, and we invent all kinds of things, like gods, and the abstract idea of ...[text shortened]... hut, and I have more shiny bits of metal than you.' It's an odd way to measure our achievements....
And yes, some things are certainly fabricated. One of the most important parts of being a Christian is the rejection of a great deal of superstition and competing theologies.
The reason, though, that every society has religion is because every society has naturally linked itself to gods and to spirits.
A very classic Old Testament view is not necessarily that the gods of other nations are utterly powerless... but only that they are powerless before God. Indeed, I have heard the interpretation that the gods of other nations are not even to eb mocked because those societies were handed over to those gods at one point... But this is a very, very difficult concept that I am not qualified to speak on.
I may even be getting some of this wrong.
But check it out on this podcast if you are interested:
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-umbc7-642c7cd?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=w_share
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@philokalia saidI think you have stumbled upon half the answer. Yes, 'every society has naturally linked itself to gods and to spirits.' - But we need to ask ourselves (objectively) why is this?
The reason, though, that every society has religion is because every society has naturally linked itself to gods and to spirits.
Logically (to this atheist at least) belief in 'God' or 'gods' or 'spirits' is clearly performing a function to the human condition. And that's really not that surprising. The world is a scary and confusing place, irrespective of where or when we were born. We, as intelligent creatures, have lots of questions to which there are no tangible answers.
God or gods provide these answers instilling well-being and purpose, and make the world a little less scary. That's the reason we create them.
@philokalia saidIf a life is dedicated to pleasure, it will be discovered soon enough there is nothing in that life that is really satisfying, in the end is thing nothing. There are two things that choke the life out of people pleasure and sorrows. We were made for so much more.
Pretty startling.
[quote] A new poll out of the UK reveals that a staggering 89 per cent of young people aged 18-29 feel their lives are meaningless and without purpose.
30 per cent of youngsters complain about being “stuck in a rut,” while 84 per cent say they are failing to “live their best life.”
One of the primary reasons cited for failing to achieve happiness ...[text shortened]... ut people who are without God can feel despair even when wealthy, and that's what we're seeing here.
Luke 8:13-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
@kellyjay saidI am sorry to hear that you have had such a dissatisfying life, aside from the psychological benefits afforded you by your religious beliefs. If, without religion, life "in the end" would be "nothing" for you, then I suggest you stick with it. If "there is nothing in that life that is really satisfying" without your faith, then it's just as well you are religious.
If a life is dedicated to pleasure, it will be discovered soon enough there is nothing in that life that is really satisfying, in the end is thing nothing.
06 Aug 19
@philokalia saidYep, as I said, we have amazing brains, but animals we remain, rather than creatures which resemble animals. We are as prone to the vagaries of health and physical issues as hamsters or porcupines. And one persons' fabrication or superstition is another persons' absolute truth.
We are animals in the sense that we have a body which resembles those of animals. But we operate on a completely different level -- far beyond them.
And yes, some things are certainly fabricated. One of the most important parts of being a Christian is the rejection of a great deal of superstition and competing theologies.
The reason, though, that every socie ...[text shortened]... odbean.com/media/share/dir-umbc7-642c7cd?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=w_share
There's nothing 'wrong' with being a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Hindu, some people need to believe in something beyond this life, and religion can act as a comfort, and a social fabric which binds people and societies together. The problems and lack of credibility start where someone believes that their god is the only god, not only because it's intellectually unsustainable but because it causes conflict, as is amply historically demonstrated.
People who grow up in Christian societies will tend to become Christians (if they 'become' anything ), Muslims will become Muslims, and so on. Beliefs depend on where people are born and the influences upon them, and nobody on these forums has come up with a credible counter to this. We don't each of us invent our gods by intellectual process or divine inspiration, we are given them.
06 Aug 19
@indonesia-phil saidAtheism caused massive conflict in the 20th century. Indeed, Christians are still persecuted by atheists in North Korea, Vietnam, and Laos.
Yep, as I said, we have amazing brains, but animals we remain, rather than creatures which resemble animals. We are as prone to the vagaries of health and physical issues as hamsters or porcupines. And one persons' fabrication or superstition is another persons' absolute truth.
There's nothing 'wrong' with being a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Hindu, some people nee ...[text shortened]... e don't each of us invent our gods by intellectual process or divine inspiration, we are given them.
Do you take credit for that or is there some reason that atheists murdering 300,000 clergy and imprisoning and murdering millions more in the USSR is irrelevant to your logic?
06 Aug 19
@philokalia saidThe youth are ripe for someone to come along and lead them. what do you think, world wide peace, with a false pretense.
Pretty startling.
[quote] A new poll out of the UK reveals that a staggering 89 per cent of young people aged 18-29 feel their lives are meaningless and without purpose.
30 per cent of youngsters complain about being “stuck in a rut,” while 84 per cent say they are failing to “live their best life.”
One of the primary reasons cited for failing to achieve happiness ...[text shortened]... ut people who are without God can feel despair even when wealthy, and that's what we're seeing here.