Religions help individuals to form certain beliefs regarding the purposes of existence and the overall value of their lives. For instance, the view on the meaning of life in the majority of monotheistic religions implies that the goal of human existence is to serve God. Besides the compliance with major religious principles, rules, and values mentioned in various sacred texts, this type of service frequently involves attending to the needs and interests of other people. Thus, religions can guide persons throughout their lives “by influencing their fundamental ways of construing reality and by structuring their global goals.” In this way, religion-defined meaning motivates and helps to cope with various misfortunes.
Nevertheless, it would be wrong to presume that the rejection of the religious view of life’s meaning automatically makes life meaningless. Every person is free to decide what endows their life with importance and value, and such individual, non-religious beliefs in life purpose can be as motivating and comforting for them as the religious ones for devotees. When judging from this perspective, life will look meaningless from the universal perspective yet may obtain significant unique meaning on the subjective level of every human being.