WHY Live for GOD and HOW: Short Readings and Reflections for Growing Christians by Daniel L. Espiritu Let me find answers to your spiritual questions in 'WHY Live for GOD and HOW', by how we affect Him. God gives us to live with or without life change or why I am here to stay for what. continue my statement

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.Philosophers starting from Socrates, who lived in the 5th century B.C., to Bertrand Russell of “Why I am not a Christian” fame, have fascinated me for a long time. The only reason for my fascination is that all of them used to think differently, mostly on abstract subjects such as “What is the purpose of life?” or “What is justice?” or “Why are we here?” Not only do they think differently, but also expose sophisms, spot fallacies and guide our reasoning. Philosophers spend many years, nay decades, honing their skills on thinking vertically or laterally. They use their own tools to regiment their thinking. Their main tools are inductive and deductive logic. Students who study logic as a subject know the intricacies of learning it.1)  Philosophers from Socrates to Bertrand Russell have captivated me due to their unique approach to abstract questions about life and justice, excelling at identifying logical fallacies and guiding reasoning through inductive and deductive logic, which requires years of disciplined study.2)  The fascination with philosophers like Socrates and Bertrand Russell stems from their unconventional thinking on concrete issues, using inductive and deductive logic that takes a lifetime to master and is primarily studied by students of logic.3)  Philosophers, including Socrates and Bertrand Russell, are known for their distinct thinking on problems such as the purpose of life and justice, using sophisticated tools like inductive and deductive logic, which are difficult to learn with or without formal education.4)  Philosophers from Socrates to Bertrand Russell intrigue me because they apply unique and practical reasoning to questions about life and existence as their study and use of inductive and deductive logic are essential for understanding the complexities of human thought which they have mastered over the years.

Not yet answeredMarked out of 1Flag questionTipsQuestion textIt is a special call from God to follow a particular way of life.Question 1AnswerA.AbsolutionB.ConfessionC.ContritionD.Vocation

. This realization can lead individuals to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.2. However, some people may struggle to find their purpose or become overwhelmed by existential questions.3. Understanding one's purpose in life is a fundamental aspect of human existence and well-being.4. Through self-reflection and exploration, individuals can identify their passions, values, and goals, which can provide a sense of direction.

1. What is meant by being a spiritual individual?2. Adolescents today equate their spiritual identity to their religious affiliation. With due respect to your friends, peers or classmates, jot down some similarities and dissimilarities of practices with your present affiliation?3. In what way you have been connected with the world around you? Give at least two scenarios depict your connectedness to your environment.4. Have you find meaning your existence? If so, jot down five of your goals and write how were you able to accomplish them.

Critically analyse the wellbeing benefits of investigating theological answers to one of life’s big questions - “Should the goal of life be to pursue happiness?” Throughout your response you should also consider the impact of not investigating the question at hand on one’s wellbeing. **Structure your body paragraphs around themes and maintain a clear thesis throughout your response. Be sure to support your ideas with logical reasoning, evidence from credible sources and examples wherever appropriate. THESIS: Finding answers to life's existential questions, such as whether the goal of life should be to pursue happiness, provides individuals with a framework for reflection and guidance. This exploration can lead to enhanced well-being through a greater clarity of purpose, emotional stability and a deeper sense of fulfillment in one's journey. 1) Why people ask the “big question” and seek answers for it? – Humans are curious of the existential meaning of their life - Innate curiosity - Everyone longs to understand the purpose of life. Without purpose, life becomes as they say, “rearranging furniture on the Titanic“—killing time until the inevitable end. 2) What is ‘happiness’? – material happiness and enlightenment Temporary or personal happiness Biblical happiness – joy, blessed state 3) The benefits of finding answers? 4) The three different ‘answers’ – Christianity, Buddhism and Sikhism Christianity: Our ultimate pursuit is not personal happiness, but to bring God glory, which will, in turn, will have human happiness and fulfilment as a byproduct.  We could even say the purpose of life is to be happy. But not with happiness as an end in itself, happy in God, which is the greatest kind of happiness. God wants us to experience the deepest joy we possibly can—joy in him. Anything less does not glorify God, and it cannot fully satisfy us either. (Yes – indirectly) Buddhism: The goal of human life is to seek enlightenment – to reach the state of Nirvana. Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. (Yes) Sikhism: The Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, declares that the purpose of human beings is to achieve a blissful state and to be in harmony with the earth and all creation. P1: Materialism ≠ true happiness Christianity, Buddhism and Sikhism all support the claim that happiness in terms of “Feeling happy all the time” should not be the goal of life and is impossible to achieve. Many people seek happiness/contentedness through material possessions. However these are transitory and fading, and many even lead to greater desire within people. There’s always another dollar to gain and another pound to lose, a better car to drive and a nicer place to live. USE YOUR ANSWERS FROM THE RELIGIONS TO SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENT/THESIS 5) The downsides of finding answers – feeling confused and overwhelmed 6) The downsides of not finding answers – on wellbeing