In the biblical Greek of the New Testament, "Zao" means to live.
"How shall we then live" is the eternal question, once we have defined
if life is simply worth existing. Do we exist as a spiritual person or
as an indifferent individual? Are atheists dead to existing? Are Christians, Muslims or Jews dead to existence? Jean Paul Sartres wrote " L'existence precede et commande l'essence. Existence precedes and rules essence."

The existence of a person does not equate with a quality of life, a joyful
belief in a providential way of living. To really exist we need to have a belief
to find a reason to live. "Jesus wept, Voltaire smiled. Of that divine tear and of
that human smile the sweetness of present civilization is composed." Victor Hugo.
Today, in the modern age, working is existing. Without work, we cannot exist or live.
The Hebrew word for work is "miakah" reflecting a meaning of "ministry, service, business, employment, trade, errand, goods gained by labor and task for specific purpose."

Is existence an illusion? How do we approach a reasonable theory of existence
by numbers of facts as Hume reasoned? How do we formulate the essence of merely existing when faced with challenges in life? A good philosophy of existence starts with a good belief in a divine being for some and nothing for others. Who is right? If we think right - can we exist - in a rightful manner? Many questions border on what to believe about existing. Does it really matter? It is mind over matter and to exist is to think it really matters.

I choose not to exist but to live a fulfilled life of happiness, creativity, simplicity and care for my family and neighbors. The best is yet to come about existing in this life for a meaningful purpose of service to others as they say in Geneva, Switzerland where I once worked. "A votre service. At your service." The final analysis is on the depth of existence. How do we live a deep, meaningful existence? Inside values based on faith bring a deep sense of a well lived life over one of mere existence. Many will challenge my assertions and rightfully so. We do not act by presuppositions - only by a strong conviction of a meaningful existence - directing our lives by providence. Louis Pasteur wrote so well "There are no such things as applied sciences, only applications of science. It is the same for how do we know we exist? By applying life to our existence.

Learn more about this author, Michel Kordas.
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