The FUNCTION of life is to survive and reproduce. Individuals may form societies or family units that increase the odds of survival and procreation. And through trial and error we find that there are some ways that promote a general well-being in society , which increases the odds for success for everyone, or we compete for individual success at the expense of others. Religion may enter into the mix as a way to entice, cajole or enforce social cooperation from others, either for the good of society or to secure power for the elite. But I don't feel it is so cut and dry for one reason. Joy. I have felt joy, and witnessed joy in so many other beings. Human and animal. And the joy seems to come from the sole reason of being alive. So my answer would be the purpose of life is to be alive. The question may actually be, what does it mean to be alive?

The answer is 42

I consider that purpose and meaning are human concepts which have no actual reality outside of human perception. In short, "life" has neither purpose nor meaning, it's just there. We CAN give it purpose and/or meaning if we so desire, but it's not a property of life, it's something we project on it.