Purpose of Life

What is the main purpose of people coming to Earth?

Many people keep circling around this question. In this state of confusion, they eventually try to find answers in concepts of God and the afterlife that have been instilled in them by family and society. But if one thinks a little more rationally, the many inconsistencies in what those who speak of God and the afterlife have said can be exposed. Then it becomes clear that a person has to set the purpose of their own life themselves. Who brought humans into the world, or who sent them here? The simple answer is: no one brought or sent them. Like all other living beings, humans are born as a result of their parents’ love, inheriting their genetic traits and physical characteristics.

While studying at university, I had a supporting course on environmental planning. In that course, I achieved the highest score. I remember that in one exam, the instructor was so impressed with my answer on sustainable development that he presented it in class as a reference. I had actually written it after reading a German magazine. I used to receive five copies of their magazine titled “Deutschland” each issue. One of their editions focused on sustainable development. Sustainable development, as we call it in Bengali, means that no developmental or destructive activity should be carried out in such a way that future generations receive less than what we have today. Future generations must receive more, never less. This is our responsibility to the planet and to the future. That is why the Earth must be kept beautiful.

Even before the emergence of religion, humans began creating laws and rules for their own benefit so that they could live peacefully in society. Perhaps not all of those were ethically perfect, but they had a set of rules. Over time, states have continually revised these laws into their modern forms, prioritizing morality, humanity, and human rights. Criminals are punished, and those who follow the law live peacefully. Beyond that, humans, on their own initiative, take responsibility for helping the vulnerable, the poor, and the helpless—no law compels them to do so. In many of the most peaceful countries in the world, most people are non-religious; their prisons are empty due to a lack of inmates. People there are responsible citizens, and peaceful coexistence does not require the presence of God. Do people do good or avoid bad actions because God has told them to? Ask yourself honestly: if God had not forbidden it, would you rob money from a beggar’s bowl? If so, then you are not human—you are merely an animal.

Humans are only one species among thousands of living beings on this very small planet within a vast universe. Nature has not created any special rules for humans, nor is everything in nature meant to serve humanity. Even if humans and all other species went extinct, nature would remain unaffected. Humans have developed somewhat superior mathematical abilities, thinking capacity, and communication skills, which allow them to ponder these questions. Beyond food, humans require education, clothing, shelter, healthcare, entertainment, and much more. Imagine a world where humans had no agriculture and still had to hunt in forests, competing with other animals. Would they have anything beyond food? It is from agriculture and surplus production that all modern comforts arose. This comfortable, emotionally rich life has led humans to wonder whether life ends with death. At that point, some individuals exploited this curiosity, telling them that there is a life after death, filled with the very things they desired in life but could not obtain. They promised heaven where all desires would be fulfilled, and threatened that those who did not obey God would be punished in fire.

The concept of the soul—something unreal—also originated from this. People already knew that after death, the human body would decay and merge with the soil, like other living things. So the idea of the soul was introduced, even though it has no real existence. Religions then defined life’s purpose as worshiping God, following His instructions, doing good according to His will, and even, if necessary, harming others to spread His message. People, who had already experienced injustice and deprivation, shifted their hopes for justice to the afterlife, finding psychological comfort in these unreal concepts.

But if things like the soul and the afterlife truly do not exist, would the world turn into chaos? At this point, humans establish numerous written and unwritten agreements within families, societies, states, and globally to ensure their own well-being. States must provide security, justice, and infrastructure. God does none of this—everything is done by humans. God exists only as an abstract idea in the human mind, not in observable reality. So let us ask: what is the meaning of life without God or the afterlife?

The meaning of your life is simply what you decide it to be. It is entirely personal. Many humanists understand that they have the mental capacity to define their own purpose in any way they choose. For example, as a humanist, even if I found bundles of money in front of me, I would not claim them as my own. Even if I were lying next to a naked woman, I would not touch her without her consent. I would not intentionally harm anyone. I would not want anyone to be disturbed or hurt by my actions. I can consider fulfilling my professional and social responsibilities as my life’s purpose. Even writing this now, trying to inform others, is part of my purpose.

Your life’s purpose is your own matter—no one else can define it for you. Some people believe the meaning of life lies in the journey itself, while others believe it lies in reaching a goal. Therefore, everyone’s purpose is not the same. Just because some think having a final destination is essential does not mean those who value the journey are wrong. If you believe that by obeying God and doing good deeds you will go to heaven and fulfill all your repressed desires, then you are essentially driven by desire. You wanted to do those things in this world but refrained only because God forbade it. Are you honest with yourself? What, then, is your life’s purpose?

Statements like “life has no meaning because there is no afterlife” do not carry much weight. If there truly is no afterlife, then this life becomes extremely important because it is rare. If diamonds were as common as dust, they would be just as worthless. Since this is our only life, we must try to use it properly. Living longer by being careful, staying well, and helping others stay well—this is the success of life. Since humans have only one life, making the best use of it is the true characteristic of a human being. You will work to survive, be enriched by the love of your loved ones, find joy in loving others, be captivated by the fragrance of a flower, delight in a child’s laughter, be absorbed in melodious music, be mesmerized by ocean waves, rush to serve humanity in distress, and care for all of nature—what more is needed in life? Since there is only one life, live well and help others live well too.

Individually, humans are one of the most vulnerable creatures. Collectively, they are the strongest. From birth, a person depends on others. The recent spread of the coronavirus clearly demonstrated that humans are helpless without mutual cooperation. That is why people must strive to live well together. Those who make the world unbearable for their own benefit must be weakened so that a civilized society can thrive.

Your body is constantly fighting microbes, even though you cannot see or feel it because your senses cannot send those signals to your brain. Similarly, if your leg becomes paralyzed or is numbed with anesthesia, you would not feel pain even if it were injured, because the nerves that transmit pain signals are inactive. In the same way, whether humans consciously understand it or not, like all living beings, they strive to survive. Even at the moment of death, they try everything possible to stay alive. Knowing they cannot live forever, they seek to continue through their genes and their offspring. If you view humans as part of nature, then nature’s “purpose” for them is simply to pass on their genetic imprint through reproduction and raising offspring. They do this because they feel good doing so. But nature operates through them without caring about them as individuals.

Why assume that the meaning of your life must be externally validated? It is something only you can determine. Who decides that our life is valuable? No one needs to. We all have a reason to live—our survival instinct—which has evolved biologically within us. Similarly, our preference for pleasure over pain, for life over death, has also evolved biologically. This does not require philosophical justification. We value life because of biological processes.

Religious individuals are often not satisfied with such answers; they expect responses aligned with their beliefs in God and the afterlife. The issue is that they seek an absolute answer, even though such a definitive answer may not exist. This is life. Whether we accept it or not, life will continue according to its own rules. It may be that beyond the meanings we create, life is ultimately empty and without inherent purpose. But if you are not satisfied with that, it does not prove the existence of God or the afterlife—it is merely your personal assumption. For us, our self-defined purpose is sufficient, where we strive to make life beautiful, peaceful, and secure for everyone. The world should be a livable place not only for humans but for all living beings, now and in the future.

Meaning of Life | Purpose of Life | Human Life