Robert N. Bellah a professor of sociology and his students wrote the "Meaning of Life." Bellah's main idea is the "Finding oneself means among other things, finding the story or narrative in terms, of which one's life makes sense." I believe that this is true. I think of life as everyone has his or her own story. They try to make sense of this story, and put a meaning to the story by the end. I can relate most of these statements as true by using my life as an example. His theories on the meaning of life hold truth.

In paragraph two it is stated that life is composed of many stages that give us coherence to life. Throughout life, it is in a larger generational, historical, and religious context. He also says that every life crisis is of separation and individualism. Bellah says, "Thinking this way may exacerbate rather than resolve the problem of the meaning of the individual life." What he is stating is that we have stages that we go through when we try to find our meaning of life and ourselves through this. The crisis in our lives occurs because of separation and individualism, which has the tendency to make the problem larger than it, really

In conclusion I think this essay provides theories that are true. Bellah ideas of radical individualism and excessive individualism are true. If everyone did break free from patterns of copying others and learning from them, what would constitute whom we are? Overall I agree with all the statements because I compared them to my childhood and early adulthood in which I did all these things in order to find myself.

s way it may just make the problem larger than it is. Bellah then states " the meaning of one's life has derived to a large degree from one's relationship of parents and children." This process involves leaving parents at one time and forgetting what you owe them. Bellah is saying that the meaning of life is derived form parent child relationships. I feel this is true because, when you find yourself you break free from your parents to find own values and meaning. Our relationship with our parents can impact the meaning of one's life by changing what you will be in life and how you will act.

mass com. Many people live isolated lives, because they are afraid of individualism.

Then Bellah states that we try to choose our "values" and be entirely "independent" of everyone else. Also that some people believe that they make sense in relation to God; who challenges promises, and reassures. He is saying we try to be individuals and try to be independent so we can make up ourselves. Then he says some people believe their guide in life is God in which gives them meaning. I know this is true. Many people from this area believe their purpose is to live and die for God. God in turn leads them through the right path. In paragraph eight Bellah says " And yet most are trapped in the language of the isolated self..", that they

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Approximate Word count = 1173
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)