Why do you need external factors to provide the purpose and meaning in your life? Especially something irrational. Your life is your own.
It's not necessarily faith is an external force she was talking about, I presume.
Exactly my point. Faith should never come from an external force. Then again I should clarify: is your meaning of "external force" an entity of some kind? Or a religious institution? (Thought you ment the later but then again I might be wrong.)
Not neccisarily an entity of any sort. Basically, I do not understand why people require other ideas or groups to provide meaning and purpose to their lives. It is your life, after all. It isn't important what other people think you should be doing, or what your life means to them. That's the height of pretension on their part, and it's giving in on yours. I'm saying be the defining force in your life. If purpose and meaning are things you need in life, find the purpose and meaning that will make you who you want to be and live how you want to live.
the thing is, despite all the claims of "well its not important what people think of me" you are affected by their actions/judgements and they yours.
frankly, its more of less bullshit to claim others do not effect your actions: you chose to go with or against their actions based on observation and judgement. you choose wether or not to smoke pot, you chose wether or not to drink, you chose wether or not to drink, to stay single, date, and you'll always have a reason behind it based off previous engagements with both sides of the issue. that's why we have culture and counter cultures.
Its a fundmental law of physics (sp?): for every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction.
its kinda like how children who are molested tend to have a curb to get into failing relationships.