<p>I'm feeling really down nowadays, and has nothing to do with my social life, or academic life. I've been having furious disputes about life&death and religion lately, and my grades at school have suffered A LOT for the past 2 weeks.</p>
<p>Is it that I'm losing my marbles or is it something that has to do with 'coming of age'?</p>
<p>meh you'll get over it</p>
<p>just preoccupy yourself with something less heavy and more solvable. develop a crush on someone or something.</p>
<p>The questions you are asking are probably very important, so don't totally disregard them like 4390116 suggested. Rather, I suggest that you do take the time to think them through, but it'd be better if you try and keep up with day-to-day life as well.
You're not losing your marbles, you're just asking big questions that everyone should be asking themselves (I'm assuming, I don't actually know the specifics of course).
I think this just calls for mental discipline, as useless as the suggestion is. Is there someone you could talk to about all these disputes (preferably someone older, smarter, and more "settled" so to speak)?</p>
<p>^Yes.. I am currently taking Canucker's good advice, and I felt (for the last 2 weeks) that I was getting depressed, and I thought, "Me of all people, depressed!?? (I'm a really cheerful person and always had friends beside me). Arrg... This problem really disoriented me from my life, especially when I thought about the purpose of life, our place in this humungous universe and I thought about how worthless tommorrow's physics test is compared to this universe (and "life" after death).
BTW, I'm a pretty religious person (christian)</p>
<p>You could talk to someone whom you think could answer any questions you have about life and death. Those questions are very, very important ones to ask. </p>
<p>An example: My religion teacher (Catholic school) last year was open to any questions, and one of the first ones he got had to do with the meaning of life. He's the kind of person who will thoughtfully try to answer any question. Find someone like that, and chances are you'll feel relieved from this problem once you hear someone else's views.</p>
<p>you're basically becoming a teenager. accept that you are asking these questions--that your mind is growing and finally beginning to wonder at the size of infinity. however, don't let it consume you either, or else you will become like my friend, who responds to every question with 'what does it even matter, we're all going to die anyway so there's no point.'</p>
<p>basically, don't become eeyore. no one likes being near that ass for too long. but think about why eeyore is the way he is.</p>
<p>I'm going to say this, because I was thinking about it: there is no definite meaning to life. No one knows for sure whether there's life after death or not-in the end it all comes down to what you believe. At the same time we shouldn't be too preoccupied with death; it's something inevitable and we can't prevent it, but that's all the more reason to live life to the fullest. Part of the meaning of life could be to give meaning to your life, and that can't happen if we are all too worried about dying. For life to hold meaning, you have to <em>live</em>, if you know what I mean.</p>
<p>Sorry, that was a bit long, but it was just something I was thinking about on the subject of life and death.</p>
<p>There are two types of people in this world: eeyores and Poohs</p>
<p>A lot of your confusion probably stems from you faith... which is unfortunate.</p>
<p>I had this problem too (catholic) and it took a friend to fix me. We basically relized that nothing really matters, and it took a lot of pressure off. Just find something that you can explore and seems like it fits, christianity was taught 2000 years ago to farmers and fishers. Thinking about it too much will leave you with some questions.</p>
<p>4390116, i still can't get over the weirdness of you not being mj93 anymore. :)</p>
<p>op, every once in a while, i feel like that too, you just have to find something to keep you busy and make you happy. watch a funny movie, go out with friends, or go running for that awesome runner's high. these temporary solutions can help.</p>
<p>thanks guys, for all the consolations. But I still seem to be a lil' bit down upon the realization that everything that has a beginning has an end... including Life. This made me feel melancholic, and philosophical (in an arrogant, but thoughtful way)</p>
<p>Read Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. It's pretty existential (read: grim), but for some reason it made me feel a lot better.</p>
<p>If God gives you lemons...,</p>
<p>...you find a new god.</p>
<p>I thought about this recently, and what I came to is, although there is no technical evidence of life after death, I just am trying to do my best to be a good person, and so that when I leave, people will only remember good things about me and that I did, not the bad things. Though we cannot attain perfection, we must try to help our friends and even people we don't know, because life is only worth living if one gives back to those who gave so much to him/her.</p>
<p>And I don't really follow religion much either. Sure, I believe in a higher force (note: not same thing as higher being), but I believe that religions were created as a way for people to harness the spiritual power around us (what I think is the soul, and what becomes of it after life), and have something to follow and something to guide us. :)</p>
<p>that thinking, speaking, and acting philosophically is considered arrogant is exactly why our civilization is going to hell (metaphorically speaking).</p>
<p>it's ok to question everything. don't think of it as arrogant, or pessimistic, or anything else. it's called looking for truth. but also remember that when it comes down to it, everyone must make their own truth. find your subjective reality, accept it, and you'll find happiness.</p>
<p>if you do come to the realization that your religion really doesn't make any sense, don't feel guilty, or afraid, because you've just fulfilled the meaning of your life: to create your own meaning, regardless of others' perception. </p>
<p>we're all going to be fine, just take it a day at a time. also, FOCUS ON SCHOOL! i personally read a lot of philosophy books, and i designate that time for my gloomy revelations.</p>
<p>i apologize if this sounds arrogant to anyone; it really shouldn't, seeing as it is just my opinion. if you're offended, just pretend the phrase "i think" is present in front of all my assumptions.</p>
<p>it's only arrogant when you believe that your opinions are fact--that is, when you attempt to make others believe that what you are saying is true. that is when people cross the line.</p>
<p>"Life sucks and then you die."</p>
<p>I thank everyone for their views and the consolation you've given me. I've already been forming my own philosophy and view on life (and death and religion), which is why my emotions were so confused. I sincerely thank everyone for their help, including the poster above me</p>
<p>I don't see philosophy as arrogant at all. It is definitely more looking for the truth than imposing a truth (which is more arrogant). </p>
<p>In the end, concerning life and death, no one knows. There's really no concrete evidence to support the existence or non-existence of life after death, or of a greater being, or even that we actually have souls and it's not all in the brain. It all comes down to what you personally believe. Not everyone believes the same thing. I'm Catholic, but I don't necessarily believe the exact same thing as other Catholics. And everybody is different, so everyone has different beliefs. You just have to find what works for you.</p>
<p>The uncertainty is part of what makes life interesting. If we had nothing to wonder about and nothing to question, we'd become very bored with our lives.</p>
<p>Personally, when I ponder about these subjects I'm filled with feelings of awe and amazement at the vastness and complexity of our universe. The only tinge of sadness I feel is that the full extent of its beauty is beyond our comprehension. Realizing the transience of mankind is just part of growing up. Use your findings to make yourself a better person, not to fall into gloominess and despondence.</p>
<p>Make life worth living.</p>