Topic: The Big Ideas / #107. Viktor Frankl: Missions

This mission in life – does it come from outside – as in some one or some thing ordains you with this ‘destiny’ or is it something that you choose for yourself? Personally I am not comfortable with the idea that there is a great director/gardener of life so I find it hard to come to grips with having a mission in life.

Do you think my skepticism is a result of my world view, or is it because I dont understand the mission in life concept?

Topic: The Big Ideas / #36. Friedrich Nietzsche: God Is Dead

Hi.

I am coming in here way out of my league :)

From what I understand from Brian’s distillation of Nietzche’s thoughts, I think what Nietzhe was trying to say is this:

Man, and probably more accurately, society, has needed a god to show right from wrong. In Nietzche’s context (as westerner) that would be the christian god. The “Uberman” has risen above the need to be told what is right and wrong – trading an external locus of control for an internal locus of control? – and as such has no more need for a god. Hence, god is dead. There is no need for god in the same way that the telegraph is dead. They are both constructs which outlived their usefullness – the telegraph machine rendered useless by the telephone and god rendered useless through a responsible humanistic world view.

Something else I would like to bring up.

James, you reference to the “fortunate fall”. That whole argument seems a bit like someone cutting you with a knife and then wanting to sell you a bandage for the wound.

If I am off the mark or out of line, please forgive me.