Meaning of Life

What is the meaning of life? This question has been asked by billions of people for thousands of years. The question is usually first asked by individuals during their teenage years. Because of their advanced knowledge and intense curiosity, gifted individuals may begin to ask these questions as children. The question tends to resurface at many times—often during times of crisis and often around the issue of death.

People are interested in the meaning of life, in part, because human beings are aware of their mortality and the shortness of life. Many people care whether their lives matter beyond their small circles of life and after their deaths. These feelings prompt individuals to seek a transcendent meaning for their lives. Religion and psychotherapy offer two different ...