Please excuse my nod to the irreverent Monty Python, but alas I could not help myself. Now, if you will, on to the task at hand... One of the primary philosophical questions that we as humans face is, simply stated, why are we here? In this question we ponder our reason and our purpose. The question is one that every person will face in life at one point or another. What is the reason for my existence?
The Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias states, “No matter how much we try to run away from this thirst for the answer to life, for the meaning of life, the intensity only gets stronger and stronger. We cannot escape these spiritual hungers.” But it is not just those who identify themselves as Christian who ponder this most fundamental question. Alan Alda, the much loved actor weighed in stating, “the meaning of life is life.” Erich Fromm writes, “There is only one meaning of life: the act of living itself.” Pablo Picasso stated, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” So I ask, what brings meaning to life? Are we simply striving to be fulfilled, liberated or enlightened? Or is there something “more” behind our human proclivities?
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| In quiet contemplation I find... |
In my rather limited experience there are two overarching ideologies that broadly everyone will fall into:
1) I am a mere function of biological evolution. I exist because some process occurred in a system, that system being driven by the process of natural selection.
2) I am a created being, and thus made by a creator.
This indeed may be an oversimplification, but I think that it is a fair classification. Whichever worldview one holds, has direct implications on the question of life’s meaning.
If you hold tenet 1, it could be argued, that you are here merely to propagate and proliferate your species. Survival of the fittest is the Darwinian expression of natural selection... You are here to ensure your species continues on and learns to adapt so it may continue to survive. What is our purpose, what is our reason? Why do we even feel the need to answer such questions? As I contemplate this philosophy an excerpt from scene 5 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth comes to mind:
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
These words penned by Shakespeare have haunted my thoughts from the first time I pondered their implications. My question for those holding this worldview delves further into the question “what is man...” If we are merely a function of biological evolution, how do we explain the human capacity to reason? Or for that matter, how do we understand, right and wrong, morality, or our value systems? Are these human specific capacities, merely complex chemical and electrical reactions of the infinitely complex human synapse? You will have to pardon my rudimentary understanding of biology and biological sciences. But I digress. It is worth considering. What further propels my inquiry is the question, can natural selection, and species survival be that which necessitated the development of morals and values? What lies behind the seemingly innate sense of right and wrong? And lending itself naturally from this question is why we do not see these capacities in any other species outside of the human species? Put another way, why is it, in the vastness of the universe that humanity is the only “being” with this inclination?
To argue that people who hold this viewpoint are not capable of morality, or values, or a sense of a greater good would be a gross injustice. Can reason, morality, and value systems be relegated to sociological necessities of survival of the species?
Let us now briefly consider tenet 2. As stated above, those who hold this view see evidence(s) that humanity and the natural universe around it is created. Now I am being very general in this statement as there are many different forms of belief. Simply stated, the individual in this camp hold that life was designed by a designer or designers. Stories of “god” and “gods” go as far back as the beginning of history. In humanities quest for understanding of purpose man has often looked beyond the self, beyond their natural surroundings. There are both monotheistic (one God) and polytheistic (many gods) viewpoints. We will delve into these topics (I am sure), as I progress in writing. But let us focus for a moment on what leads people to hold this viewpoint. There are two types of ways god is said to reveal himself to creation; 1) general revelation, and 2) special revelation. General revelation is the witness found in creation, in nature, the created order. Special revelation refers to “God” revealing himself to mankind as recorded in holy books or scripture.
General revelation looks at the evidences for God in the natural world. When one observes the world around you, you get a sense of wonder from the diversity and how everything comes together. From mountain ranges that take your breath away, to the mighty oceans without end. The diversity of life around, from the insect all the way to the gray whale, pointing to a created order; the stars the sun and the moon hung in the sky. Are you getting the picture I am painting? From the eco-system that is our world to a tiny eco-system found in the smallest raindrop, the mind wonders at the delicate balance that brings life. Though it breaches the category of special revelation, I at this point quote Job 12:7-10:
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
Let us look briefly at special revelation. While there are as many varied different ideologies as found in multiple world religions, due to the limitations of this format, we will limit our inquiry to the doctrines of Christianity. Again we are just interested in outlining some of the beliefs. We will engage in conversation on the validity and interpretation of such texts as the need arises.
The Bible begins by stating: “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Gen 1:1-2). What unfolds from this point is the history of the universe and humanity. A history that ultimately relays how “we” came to be, and how the first human was formed by God in his image (Gen 1:27). What follows documents humanities relationship with the creator God, and gives the framework that he has set up in his creation...
In a nutshell:
· God created the universe and everything in it (Gen 1)
· God created humanity in his own image, (Gen 2) through this we have our capacities to reason, to think, and basis for our morals and values
· God gave humanity a choice and a command (Gen 3)
· Humanity disobeyed God’s command and as a consequence man was introduced to sin and death (Gen 3)
· God gives rules to live by (Ex 20)
· Humanity fails time and time again to attain righteousness
· God the father sends his son as intercessor (Jesus Christ)
· Through Jesus death and resurrection we can be made free of the consequences of sin and death; through belief and confession. (John 3:16-17)
So we have within our scope two differing ideologies. The worldview one holds will become core in understanding where one derives their meaning. If one holds tenet 1, that we are products of biological evolution, the question of objective truth, morals and values and what gives them their pull on humanity has to be considered. Those holding tenet 2, have this ascribed to the creator God, the giver of life and meaning. One then is tasked with finding who this “god” is in the plethora of world religions. To be a thinking disciple of Christ is the goal I set out from the beginning of this adventure... We need to be wrestling with these questions, as we are faced with a present cultural situation where meaning is being lost and truth questioned and subjectified.
Here is the point where I take the step of highlighting where my ponderous thoughts on the subject have brought me. I have contemplated and wrestled with my purpose. I unabashedly declare, I find meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. I see the hand of God evidenced in the created universe around me. I experience God in quiet, in nature, when the wind touches my face. I see evidence of God in the sun, in the moon and the stars. I experience God through his special revelation, as found in the Bible. Absolute truth comes from God… We are created in his image, and our purpose is to be in communion with him. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I encourage you, even if you are a non-believer, or someone sitting on the fence to read Psalm 139 in its entirety. This passage had brought me great joy. I know I am here for a reason. Paul teaching the Athenians at the
Let us look briefly at special revelation. While there are as many varied different ideologies as found in multiple world religions, due to the limitations of this format, we will limit our inquiry to the doctrines of Christianity. Again we are just interested in outlining some of the beliefs. We will engage in conversation on the validity and interpretation of such texts as the need arises.
The Bible begins by stating: “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Gen 1:1-2). What unfolds from this point is the history of the universe and humanity. A history that ultimately relays how “we” came to be, and how the first human was formed by God in his image (Gen 1:27). What follows documents humanities relationship with the creator God, and gives the framework that he has set up in his creation...
In a nutshell:
· God created the universe and everything in it (Gen 1)
· God created humanity in his own image, (Gen 2) through this we have our capacities to reason, to think, and basis for our morals and values
· God gave humanity a choice and a command (Gen 3)
· Humanity disobeyed God’s command and as a consequence man was introduced to sin and death (Gen 3)
· God gives rules to live by (Ex 20)
· Humanity fails time and time again to attain righteousness
· God the father sends his son as intercessor (Jesus Christ)
· Through Jesus death and resurrection we can be made free of the consequences of sin and death; through belief and confession. (John 3:16-17)
So we have within our scope two differing ideologies. The worldview one holds will become core in understanding where one derives their meaning. If one holds tenet 1, that we are products of biological evolution, the question of objective truth, morals and values and what gives them their pull on humanity has to be considered. Those holding tenet 2, have this ascribed to the creator God, the giver of life and meaning. One then is tasked with finding who this “god” is in the plethora of world religions. To be a thinking disciple of Christ is the goal I set out from the beginning of this adventure... We need to be wrestling with these questions, as we are faced with a present cultural situation where meaning is being lost and truth questioned and subjectified.
Here is the point where I take the step of highlighting where my ponderous thoughts on the subject have brought me. I have contemplated and wrestled with my purpose. I unabashedly declare, I find meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. I see the hand of God evidenced in the created universe around me. I experience God in quiet, in nature, when the wind touches my face. I see evidence of God in the sun, in the moon and the stars. I experience God through his special revelation, as found in the Bible. Absolute truth comes from God… We are created in his image, and our purpose is to be in communion with him. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I encourage you, even if you are a non-believer, or someone sitting on the fence to read Psalm 139 in its entirety. This passage had brought me great joy. I know I am here for a reason. Paul teaching the Athenians at the
Areopagus in Acts 17:25-28 said:
“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might look for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being…”
My purpose is to seek the Lord… For it is in the Lord I find truth. For it is in the love of the Lord I find purpose. For it is in the will of the Lord I find my meaning. But as one who strives for knowledge and truth the first step is always to be willing to genuinely seek…
This became lengthier than I ever intended. Thank you to those who made it through to the end... I leave you with this scene from Monty Python’s the meaning of life:
Chairman: Item six on the agenda, the Meaning of Life. Now Harry, you’ve had some thoughts on this.
Harry: That’s right, yeah. I’ve had a team working on this over the past few weeks, and what we’ve come up with can be reduced to two fundamental concepts. One, people are not wearing enough hats. Two, matter is energy. In the Universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this soul does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man’s unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.
[Pause.]
Max: What was that about hats again?
My purpose is to seek the Lord… For it is in the Lord I find truth. For it is in the love of the Lord I find purpose. For it is in the will of the Lord I find my meaning. But as one who strives for knowledge and truth the first step is always to be willing to genuinely seek…
This became lengthier than I ever intended. Thank you to those who made it through to the end... I leave you with this scene from Monty Python’s the meaning of life:
Chairman: Item six on the agenda, the Meaning of Life. Now Harry, you’ve had some thoughts on this.
Harry: That’s right, yeah. I’ve had a team working on this over the past few weeks, and what we’ve come up with can be reduced to two fundamental concepts. One, people are not wearing enough hats. Two, matter is energy. In the Universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this soul does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man’s unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.
[Pause.]
Max: What was that about hats again?
