Man the Source of Meaning?

[nmitchell076]

Hello everyone, this is my first post.

I am in a college writing class on "the meaning of life" in which we examine various theistic and non-theistic viewpoints on the meaning of life while learning how to make coherent arguments in papers. At the end of the semester, we write a 2,500 word paper on our views of the meaning of life. This is what I am getting started on now and would like your opinions on my viewpoints and the way I make my case.

As of right now I would like to discuss this and only this aspect of the meaning of life: That of whether or not a non-theistic viewpoint can be accepted by those of faith.

now, to get started:



I think it is quite obvious that it is impossible for a non-theist (agnostic, atheist, or otherwise) to fully accept a theistic viewpoint on the Meaning of Life, because each of these is dependent upon the existence of God (and the nature of that God being omnipotent, omni-benevolent, and other aspects that Christians hold of God). My view however, is that a non-theistic Meaning of Life does not necessarily have to replace God, but rather it is one that both Theists and nontheists can accept as true and exists regardless of the nature (or even existence) of God or the immortal soul.

To make a good argument, we must be able to appeal to everyone. Someone who argues for capitalism must be able to make his case before socialists, anarchists, etc in order to be a GOOD argument. In the same vein, a discussion of the meaning of life must be able to convince (or at least persuade) those of all walks of life, theistic or otherwise.

Now, here is where I think a theistic person may be able to accept and hold a non-theistic meaning of life. In the bible it is written, “And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.†(Genesis; chapter 2, verse 19. Italics are mine)

Here, what I have always believed can be taken is that God is the source of being, but that man is the source of meaning. That God created us and allowed us to decide for ourselves what is important to us and what is meaningful in life.

I realize that there is a huge difference between naming animals and assigning meaning to an entire life. But, I think the passage clearly shows that God does allow us to make our own sense of the world that He created. And, if God does indeed let us choose what the world means to us, then it would extend to include making sense of what the meaning of our physical life is here while we live.



So, there is my case for the Christian acceptance of a non-theistic meaning of life. Any thoughts or comments would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[crux]

Allow me to share with you my personal perspective, which perhaps you may find dissapointing.

In my view, meaning only exists in the presence of a consciousness. A thing only has "meaning" if there is something there to take "meaning" from it.

In a purely materialistic universe devoid of any God or Spirit of any form, meaning only consists in the heads of the beings that appear to have consciousness, say humans for example. But are they not transitory? Temporary? Will they not go the way of the dinosaurs and will anything with a consciousness follow them to take meaning from them? Won't any meaning they held be erased when all their consciousnesses are erased? And so what if an alien race visits and takes meaning from our remains, are they any more eternal than we and have we not simply put off the inevitble end of meaning? Indeed, as the universe burns it's fuels to a cold placid death in which can be done no Work, no material life can exist in the end, and thus no consciousness (at least according to thermodynamics and all but the most hubristic/wishful of cosmological models). Without consciousness, there is no meaning is there? I thus argue that in a purely materialistic universe the pure Nihilists are correct, and that there is no meaning to life whatsoever and any thoughts about it are delusional.

Christianity however recognizes an eternal consciousness not constrained by this creation we call a universe. Here is a consciousness that survives the fate of mere material and CAN take meaning from it even as it burns out (or is remade as the bible says). It is in this way that I suggest that the focus of true meaning, is the meaning God takes from his creation, and it is only by extension that any meaning the creation took in itself or God has any relevance. Humanity has no intrinsic meaning (or life for that matter) but that which exists by its relationship to God. In your specific example, the names Adam gives to the animals and the meaning he takes from them is only meaningful because God takes meaning from it and carries it eternal (and carries Adam's consciousness with him as well), but Adam's meaning is nothing but delusion and smoke if it is not carried by something eternally.

Similar but separate are notions from other religions that consciousness continues independant of materialism, and they each have their own contexts for meaning.


What we are left with is no possibilty of a grand unified platform for meaning, because it is relative to what it is you postulate everything "means" to, and not all sources are equivalent. Some are temporary and these suggest "meaning" is ephemeral and "but a dream", others are fixed, definite and eternal like a rock of ages. It does tend to boil down to either "nothing" or some flavor of immaterial/eternal something (God, a Soul, or what have you).

If I draw a broad brush and define theism as "any and all systems of viewing the world that allow for the possibility of eternal consciousnesses not strictly linked with matter (i.e. spirit)" and non-theistic as "any and all systems that admit to only a purely material view of the world (i.e. honest atheism) and make no provision for anything such as a spirit or non material consciousness". Then I declare that under these definitions, "meaning" under the non-theistic view is transitory and ultimately delusional and that Nihilism is the only logicall ultimate truth, and under theism, all meaning is bound up in whatever is considered to be the vehicle of eternal consciousness, and how it takes meaning from our lives.

I understand this does not bring you to the "big tent" meaning of life you hoped for, but it is the way I see it. Even if it isn't helpful I hope it was thought provoking.

 

[glorydaz]

Solomon took on this same exercise...

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

 

[JudaicChristian]

Yahwah is The First and Last, The Beginning and Ending. Life has it's meaning founded by God's precepts conceived by Him. The meaning of life is purpose, and for those who have any purpose in life, their lives are full of meaning. For those who are Atheist, these words are nothing more than someones opinion and fantasy. For an Atheist morality is also an opinion, depending on what is conveniently acceptable at the time.