I agree 100% with Kika, Stephen...
I think the orginal idea is maybe that there is a wise bearded old man sitting on a throne in the clouds who has our grand purpose, or meaning to life... our mission is to receive it from him and we'll be happy afterwards...
If he doesn't exists, then there is no purpose, or meaning to life, because he created everything and knows everything and therefore, holds the meaning of life....
I feel that is another example of an extremist view,
or an extremist conclusion, like, ' money is bad and it's impossible to ever become enlightened as long as you have it' ....
What I have found concerning this concept is, if you're doing something that you enjoy, like for example, exploring ocean life and discovering bizarre new life forms, painting your ultimate painting, going out to dance every night, simply growing your favorite flowers as hobby, dating a beautiful woman or handsome man or women and men, ect, you'll rarely find oneself wondering if life has any meaning...
When someone has these things to do each and every day, their life is too filled with activities that energize their minds and bodies to wonder if life has any meaning... to put it bluntly, they're satisified and busy having too much fun!
They think about these things less.......
But another opinion I have is that with the idea of whether life has any meaning or not, you have to be specific with what you mean... 'life has any meaning' is too vague...if there is a higher power or intelligence that grants what you seek, it will still not "understand" the request because it's not clear enough...I've learned that the mind and subsconcious tends to respond to specific requests or try to respond as best as possible....
....... that's why I like to use 'happy' as an example....
When someone says ' I just want to be happy' we can understand the basic idea, but, what does that person mean by happy?
What would make them happy? If that person asked you to make them happy, what would be the first thing you would ask that person?
So when you think of a meaning to life, what is it that you really mean when you think about it? Perhaps something like, is there another life
beyond this life? Would it make you feel more comfortable to know that for example, and lead you to feel there is a purpose? Then pursuing this concept would make a great purpose!
I agree kika, having more than just one grand purpose makes sense...it protects one from the "Ok, I've done it, NOW WHAT?" scenario.....
Take care everybody, see you later....