What’s the meaning of life?

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By: Richard Clark
December 23, 2024

What’s the meaning of life?

When we try to answer questions like this, especially those that are deeply subjective, it’s almost impossible to land on a purely objective answer. This question is no different. It’s as much about interpretation as it is about uncovering some universal truth. But despite this ambiguios state, life seems to have a purpose—it’s here for a reason. The real question is how we find that purpose.

When we try to answer questions like this, especially those that are deeply subjective, it’s almost impossible to land on a purely objective answer. This question is no different; it’s as much about interpretation as it is about uncovering some universal truth. But despite this ambiguous state, life seems to have a purpose—it’s here for a reason. The real question is how we find that purpose.

This question is philosophical in nature, meaning it seeks to understand using higher faculties—something beyond just physical existence, Why is this important? Because it reveals which part of us is engaged in this inquiry. Higher states, such as contemplation and reflection, usually engage our higher self—the soul and mind, which are some of the most elevated aspects of our being.
 

L-I-F-E. – Living Intelligent Fractal Energy

When we look at the vast universe, it’s easy to feel small, even insignificant, under its cold, dark stare. How can life even exist in this seemingly hostile void? Human survival depends on an incredibly delicate balance. We can only survive within a narrow temperature range—too cold, and we freeze; too hot, and we burn. This thin line that allows us to exist is razor-thin. Beyond that, we need the right atmosphere, food, water, and protection from diseases. The odds feel stacked against us.

And yet, here we are, thriving on a small rock orbiting a massive ball of fire that could vaporize us in an instant, moving through space at unimaginable speeds. Think about it: our sun is close enough to provide us with light and warmth, yet far enough that we aren’t scorched. Earth’s atmosphere shields us from harmful radiation, while gravity keeps everything in place. The elements we need for life aren’t just present—they’re perfectly balanced.

This intricate balancing act can’t be brushed aside as mere chance. What if this balance is more than luck? What if life itself isn’t a fluke but the result of a system, one intentionally designed to allow life to emerge and evolve? Seen this way, life isn’t a random occurrence; it’s a phenomenon that reveals something fundamental about the universe itself.

This idea is what we call L-I-F-E: Living Intelligent Fractal Energy. It suggests that life is woven into the universe’s design, a fractal pattern that reveals intelligence and purpose at every scale, from the smallest particles to complex ecosystems. Life isn’t just surviving against the odds—it may well be a core aspect of the universe’s structure and purpose.
 

Why God’s Creation Isn’t Flawless

One argument I often hear concerns the flaws we observe in the universe. If God created the universe and life itself, why isn’t it perfect? Why does imperfection exist? Traditional answers often point to _free will_—the idea that intelligent beings have the freedom to choose, and with that choice comes the potential for both good and evil. While free will is partially responsible, it doesn’t explain everything. There’s a deeper layer to consider, one rooted in the nature of time, growth, and the very concept of perfection.

Perfection is often understood as a fully realized state of completeness. Though this somewhat vague description doesn’t cover every detail, it gives us a foundation for understanding what we mean by perfection.
 

Perfection as a Process

Let’s start with the idea that perfection isn’t a static state; it’s a process, a journey that unfolds over time. If God created life at its simplest level, it would begin in a foundational or “basic” state. For intelligent beings, this state resembles an “imperfect” or “incomplete” beginning—much like a baby, aware but unformed, with vast potential to learn, adapt, and grow. This isn’t a flaw; it’s an intentional design that enables progression over time, a gradual evolution toward perfection.

In this view, perfection is not something we are born with but something we move toward. Life starts with potential, not completion, allowing room for development, choice, and transformation. This unfolding process gives purpose to existence, as each step forward—each choice, each lesson learned—moves us closer to a refined state of being.

This journey of progression gives life its depth and richness, allowing intelligent beings to actively participate in their own growth. In a sense, we are co-creators in our journey toward perfection, experiencing, evolving, and shaping ourselves with each passing moment. Life’s “imperfections” are not mistakes but essential elements that drive the journey forward, challenging us to learn, overcome, and grow.
 

The Wisdom of Nature

Animals, for instance, may not be “intelligent” in the human sense, but they possess an inherent wisdom that enables them to live in harmony with their environments. Guided by instincts, animals have evolved to survive and thrive within the natural balance of their ecosystems. They adapt to their surroundings, responding to the rhythms and changes of nature without significantly altering their environments.

Humans, on the other hand, embody a unique form of intelligence. Unlike animals, we create, adapt, and consciously shape our environments, often reshaping the world around us to suit our needs and desires. This creative intelligence drives us to seek understanding, to innovate, and to pursue personal and collective growth. Through this process, we inch closer to an evolving form of perfection, a state that changes and deepens as we grow.

Humans don’t begin in a perfect state; we start as blank slates, with much to learn and experience. Our journey is one of discovery and self-improvement, where each choice and each lesson brings us closer to realizing our potential. This capacity for conscious growth is part of what sets humanity apart, giving us the ability to transcend instinct and actively engage in our journey toward perfection.
 

The “Zero State” of Humanity

In science, there’s a concept known as Chaos Theory, which suggests that systems tend to move from organized states to chaotic ones. Applied to the origins of the universe, this theory implies that everything should have started in a highly condensed, organized state—imagine a solid orb of matter, stable and dense. If this orb were to explode, as in the Big Bang, we would expect the universe to spread out in disorder, with particles scattering chaotically. Yet, instead of pure chaos, what we observe is a universe that, over time, has moved toward structure and balance. Galaxies, solar systems, and even life itself have emerged from this initial explosion, each layer contributing to a larger stability. This gradual order suggests a “perfected action in progress”—a process of refinement that aligns with the unfolding of a larger, purposeful design.

This perspective sheds light on humanity’s journey, beginning in what we might call a “zero state”—a condition of pure potential, unformed and ready for growth. At this stage, we exist in a state of raw imperfection, a metaphorical “chaos” that is not inherently evil but incomplete, unrefined. This "zero state" is close to a primal existence, where life is primarily driven by survival needs, basic instincts, and immediate desires.

As individuals, and as a species, we gradually move from this edge of chaos toward higher states of awareness, understanding, and harmony. Each choice, lesson, and experience pulls us from this raw, undeveloped state closer to a more refined and elevated existence. The journey from chaos to order, from primal instincts to conscious growth, mirrors the universe’s own path toward stability and structure.

In this way, humanity’s journey toward perfection is not a process of overcoming mistakes or flaws but of actualizing potential. Life’s challenges and imperfections are not obstacles; they are essential catalysts that compel us to evolve, to seek understanding, and to transform. The “zero state” may feel chaotic or incomplete, but it’s simply the starting point of a greater progression—a transformative process that is continuously moving us closer to the perfected state embedded in the design of the universe itself.
 

Time + Experiences = Perfection

To delve deeper into this idea, let’s imagine if God, in a single moment, snapped His fingers, and—_poof_—the universe was created. From God’s perspective, the entirety of creation is complete, a single, finished masterpiece that transcends time. For God, the journey is already over; perfection is already realized. But for us, existing _within_ creation, we’re bound by time. We experience life as a series of unfolding moments, beginning at the starting point and progressing step-by-step toward what we might one day recognize as perfection.

This perspective allows us to see God’s creation as inherently perfect, but not in the sense of a flawless, unchanging state. Instead, it’s a perfect system designed for growth, evolution, and self-discovery. Life within this system encounters imperfections and challenges, which are critical components of the journey. These imperfections push intelligent beings to make choices, confront moral and existential questions, and strive to transcend their limitations. Perfection, therefore, is not a static endpoint; it’s an evolving destination that we gradually approach through time and experiences.

In this framework, time and experience are essential tools that guide creation toward a state of harmony and fulfillment. Every challenge, every failure, and every triumph adds depth to our understanding and brings us closer to that perfected state. The process of moving from potential to fulfillment, from chaos to harmony, from incompleteness to greater unity, reflects the inherent wisdom in God’s design. This journey, rather than a flaw, is a feature of creation, crafted to foster growth and the unfolding of potential.
 

Imperfections as Pathways to Growth

Rather than viewing imperfections as negative, we can see them as essential learning opportunities. As a programmer, I’ve noticed this pattern in self-teaching. When you search for a tutorial, you often start with beginner resources that introduce you to the basics of coding. However, the example code provided is typically not suitable for production. Its purpose isn’t to give you a flawless solution but to teach you foundational concepts. Understanding these concepts requires troubleshooting, refining, and even “fixing” the initial code. In this way, the process of correcting and improving imperfect code is itself a pathway to mastery.

Similarly, God uses imperfection as a mechanism to drive creation forward. Imperfections act as catalysts for transformation, pushing us to develop understanding, compassion, and wisdom. Without these challenges, growth would stagnate, and life would lack purpose. From this perspective, imperfections are not mistakes or oversights; they are integral to a divine design that allows intelligent beings to evolve.

In essence, God’s creation is a dynamic process that takes us from simplicity to complexity, from raw potential to conscious understanding. Perfection, then, is not a destination we are born into but an ever-evolving journey that we navigate through our experiences and choices.

So, while God may see creation as complete and perfect, we, bound by time, see it as a journey—a progression from an initial state toward an ever-deepening harmony. In this way, **Time + Experiences = Perfection** becomes the formula that defines our purpose and the purpose of the universe itself. Through time and experiences, we are not just witnessing creation; we are participating in its completion, moving toward a state that we can one day recognize as perfect.
 

Purpose and Function: The Pattern of L-I-F-E.

To understand life’s purpose, consider how we determine the purpose of anything—a tool, a structure, or a system. For example, to explain the purpose of a car, we first need to understand what a car _is_ and how it operates. Purpose is embedded in its function, and meaning emerges from understanding that function. If we investigate, we discover that a car is designed for transportation, its parts working in unison to enable movement.

Life follows the same logic. When we look at life as a system, we can ask: _What is it designed to do?_ Examining its functions—survival, growth, learning, and adaptation—reveals a central purpose: life is designed to create. Just as a car moves, life’s essential function is to produce, innovate, and manifest new forms, whether they be single cells, complex organisms, societies, or ideas.

Creation isn’t limited to biological reproduction; it exists on every level. Particles form atoms, atoms combine into molecules, molecules create cells, and so forth. Each of these layers represents a new iteration of creation, each furthering the expression of **L.I.F.E.** This intelligent, adaptive flow generates new possibilities, constantly reshaping reality.
 

The Contextual Reality

In exploring **L-I-F-E**, we must also recognize the gap between reality and our subjective understanding of it. To discuss life, we turn objective reality into context—data that we interpret and try to understand. However, this contextual view is not the same as reality itself; it’s a framework that can be manipulated, incomplete, or biased. While reality is objective, our grasp of it often isn’t.

This subjectivity is also affected by time. The further we are in time from an event, the more our understanding of it shifts from firsthand experience to belief. True subjectivity stems from direct, firsthand experience. This holds true for statements about truth itself, as truth can only be experienced personally. You can share your experience, but the person you share it with is not experiencing it in the same way—they rely on faith in your account rather than a subjective experience of their own.

Life exists as an objective fact with an objective “why,” but understanding that “why” is challenging. Science, for instance, offers deep insights into life’s mechanisms but often does so by examining isolated parts. It addresses the “how” of life but struggles to unify these parts into a cohesive whole. Religion, in contrast, offers a holistic context, seeking to understand and convey life’s interconnected “why.” It presents a universal framework for reality, embedding purpose within existence itself.

So, while science explores the mechanisms, religion often addresses the meaning. Neither alone offers a complete picture; together, they serve as complementary perspectives that help us grasp the fullness of reality. If **L.I.F.E.** truly reflects an intelligent, fractal system, then understanding it requires bridging these perspectives, blending the tangible and intangible aspects of existence into a greater whole.


The Divine Drive to Survive, Grow, Learn, and Expand

When we break down life to its essential actions, we see a pattern—life’s core activities of eating, breathing, reproducing, growing, learning, and expanding. In Genesis, this idea is echoed when God grants humanity dominion over the Earth, implying a purpose to cultivate, learn from, and expand within creation. Humanity’s role is thus intertwined with life’s drives, embodying the urge to survive, grow, and influence the world.

Through this lens, religion suggests that life’s purpose isn’t limited to individual survival but includes a broader collective role. Life, by existing, fulfills a vine purpose to steward, understand, and elevate creation, aligning with an inherent drive toward growth, learning, and purposeful action.
 

L-I-F-E.: A Fractal Pattern of Creation

This pattern—the drive to survive, grow, learn, and expand—manifests on every level of human existence, from the organization of atoms and DNA to the intricacies of human culture and emotion. Each layer of our being mirrors life’s core purpose, creating a fractal pattern of growth and understanding.

On the molecular level, atoms combine to form DNA, encoding instructions for life’s growth and adaptation. This principle repeats as cells divide, adapt, and evolve. Moving up to the human level, this drive shows up in our sciences, technologies, and societies. Each discovery or innovation is an extension of life’s instinct to explore, learn, and thrive.

Emotions also play a crucial role in this pattern. Emotions guide us through relationships, fostering bonds, communities, and cultures. Feelings like love, empathy, and curiosity push us to connect, support each other, and build collective knowledge and well-being. At every level, the drive to grow and expand is evident, from atoms to human connections.

This is the essence of **L.I.F.E.**_Living Intelligent Fractal Energy_—a principle embedded in every layer of existence. Each level of life reflects a shared purpose, moving toward growth, adaptation, and creation. It’s as if life itself is a universal language, a divine pattern that speaks through every atom, cell, thought, and emotion. Whether in the smallest particle or the most complex society, the universe’s message is clear: life is here to create, to expand, and to reflect the intelligence woven into reality.
 

A New Perspective

Now we understand the function of life, and with this insight, it becomes clear that there is no other path to pursue. If you can find one, I challenge you to bring it forward. The meaning of life is clear:

The answer!: *"To be perfect in our sphere, even as He is perfect in His."*


 

 

 


 

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