Does
life have meaning? This and the follow on question, what is it,
are perhaps two of the oldest questions mankind has faced since we
began to walk the planet. Well to some in the scientific
community, the argument would be that in fact it would be since our
cerebral thought process began. Never the less this question
combination is one of the oldest and most valuable questions in terms
of evaluating morality, decision making, and ultimately religious
thought.
life have meaning? This and the follow on question, what is it,
are perhaps two of the oldest questions mankind has faced since we
began to walk the planet. Well to some in the scientific
community, the argument would be that in fact it would be since our
cerebral thought process began. Never the less this question
combination is one of the oldest and most valuable questions in terms
of evaluating morality, decision making, and ultimately religious
thought.
The
very concept of meaning, that is a deeper meaning beyond what we
assign to it, involves the belief in something greater than
ourselves. A god if you will. This isn’t the Christian,
nor any other modern concept of a god, those concepts will be differentiated with the capital God, or for specifics the names given
throughout religious texts YHWH (pronounced Yahweh). The god,
the little god if you will, is the very concept of creation without
any story to go along with it.
very concept of meaning, that is a deeper meaning beyond what we
assign to it, involves the belief in something greater than
ourselves. A god if you will. This isn’t the Christian,
nor any other modern concept of a god, those concepts will be differentiated with the capital God, or for specifics the names given
throughout religious texts YHWH (pronounced Yahweh). The god,
the little god if you will, is the very concept of creation without
any story to go along with it.
Over
the coming weeks much of America, and indeed much of the world is
going to be asking the scientific questions about the Universe
through FOX’s reincarnation of the “Cosmos:
A Space Time Odyssey” starring world renowned scientist Dr.
Neil deGrasse Tyson. These questions of where did we come
from, what else is out there, are we alone, where are we going…
These are all worth while questions, and they should be examined
through both the lens of the scientific mind but also through the
lens of Philosophy and yes even Religion.
the coming weeks much of America, and indeed much of the world is
going to be asking the scientific questions about the Universe
through FOX’s reincarnation of the “Cosmos:
A Space Time Odyssey” starring world renowned scientist Dr.
Neil deGrasse Tyson. These questions of where did we come
from, what else is out there, are we alone, where are we going…
These are all worth while questions, and they should be examined
through both the lens of the scientific mind but also through the
lens of Philosophy and yes even Religion.
In
our current times there seems to be a misconception that the three of
these schools of thought are in-congruent and have no business being
taught together at all. Some Atheist circles in particular have gone
at great lengths to remove any discussion of religion from schools,
and the public place all together. This has been a great
disservice, not just to religion, but in fact to the progress of
Science, Philosophy, and human kind at large.
our current times there seems to be a misconception that the three of
these schools of thought are in-congruent and have no business being
taught together at all. Some Atheist circles in particular have gone
at great lengths to remove any discussion of religion from schools,
and the public place all together. This has been a great
disservice, not just to religion, but in fact to the progress of
Science, Philosophy, and human kind at large.
The
disservice can be seen first with the continuing and growing moral
decay within the Western World. As Religion has slowly died out
in the West, we have seen a rise in crime, in fatherless homes, in a
devaluation of human life.
disservice can be seen first with the continuing and growing moral
decay within the Western World. As Religion has slowly died out
in the West, we have seen a rise in crime, in fatherless homes, in a
devaluation of human life.
From
the Religious side, the removal of Religion from schools and the
public eye has encouraged a very bad belief that Science is
incompatible with Religion. Many very intelligent, capable
believers feel pushed out of Universities because of the elitist view
that God is dead. Indeed this has become so true that in just a
week a new movie “God
Is Not Dead” debuts. The movie discusses this trend
that is harming critical thinkers from a different point of view and
discouraging believers from earning an education that would lead to
making a difference in the world.
the Religious side, the removal of Religion from schools and the
public eye has encouraged a very bad belief that Science is
incompatible with Religion. Many very intelligent, capable
believers feel pushed out of Universities because of the elitist view
that God is dead. Indeed this has become so true that in just a
week a new movie “God
Is Not Dead” debuts. The movie discusses this trend
that is harming critical thinkers from a different point of view and
discouraging believers from earning an education that would lead to
making a difference in the world.
There
was a time where the simple question, “Does Life Have Meaning?”
was discussed pondered and thought upon with great depth. These
days it is usually glossed over not necessarily with the same words
“god is dead”, as Kevin Sorbo’s character puts it in the film, but
often with the same sardonic and condescending overtones.
was a time where the simple question, “Does Life Have Meaning?”
was discussed pondered and thought upon with great depth. These
days it is usually glossed over not necessarily with the same words
“god is dead”, as Kevin Sorbo’s character puts it in the film, but
often with the same sardonic and condescending overtones.
Ultimately
there are two answers to the question. No, the only meaning
life has is what we attribute to it. Yes life has meaning,
though as to what it is we are left to search for it.
there are two answers to the question. No, the only meaning
life has is what we attribute to it. Yes life has meaning,
though as to what it is we are left to search for it.
Now
there are variations to those two answers no doubt. Many of a
religious persuasion may give an answer specific to their religion.
Others may try to insert meaning, but ultimately we are left to
search for it. Amusingly those inserted meanings, even many
with religious overtones or origins fit better into the secular
category of No.
there are variations to those two answers no doubt. Many of a
religious persuasion may give an answer specific to their religion.
Others may try to insert meaning, but ultimately we are left to
search for it. Amusingly those inserted meanings, even many
with religious overtones or origins fit better into the secular
category of No.
The
Materialists, those who in one way another adhere to the Philosophy
of Materialism (everything is made up of materials and what exists and
is is a bi product of various materials interacting) fall directly
into the first category. Ultimately there is no god not one,
not many there is simply none. As such they believe life is
utterly has no meaning, except of course the value they attribute to
it and possibly the value ascribed from society. This is of
course dangerous.
Materialists, those who in one way another adhere to the Philosophy
of Materialism (everything is made up of materials and what exists and
is is a bi product of various materials interacting) fall directly
into the first category. Ultimately there is no god not one,
not many there is simply none. As such they believe life is
utterly has no meaning, except of course the value they attribute to
it and possibly the value ascribed from society. This is of
course dangerous.
When
Life has no ascribed meaning it in fact becomes meaningless by
definition. The value is gone. We can see this manifest
in a number of ways in the modern world. Take a look at Belgium
for instance.
Life has no ascribed meaning it in fact becomes meaningless by
definition. The value is gone. We can see this manifest
in a number of ways in the modern world. Take a look at Belgium
for instance.
Just
recently the people of Belgium allowed children under the age of 18
to make the decision for assisted suicide.
http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/14/news/la-ol-assisted-suicide-children-belgium-says-yes-20140214
The issues of course were debated over what was humane, arguing that
children should not live in pain and that if the child believes
suicide is the answer then it is right for society to assist in
ending that pain by way of death. It isn’t a decision of malice, it
is in fact a logical
outcome if we superscribe to the theory that the only meaning of life
comes from what we give to it. Of course in Belgium these children
that now have a legal right to suicide do not have a legal right to
vote, they aren’t deemed wise enough to make choices that effect
society (and arguably rightly so), nor are they allowed to drink (for
beer and wine the drinking age is 16, for hard liquor 18).
recently the people of Belgium allowed children under the age of 18
to make the decision for assisted suicide.
http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/14/news/la-ol-assisted-suicide-children-belgium-says-yes-20140214
The issues of course were debated over what was humane, arguing that
children should not live in pain and that if the child believes
suicide is the answer then it is right for society to assist in
ending that pain by way of death. It isn’t a decision of malice, it
is in fact a logical
outcome if we superscribe to the theory that the only meaning of life
comes from what we give to it. Of course in Belgium these children
that now have a legal right to suicide do not have a legal right to
vote, they aren’t deemed wise enough to make choices that effect
society (and arguably rightly so), nor are they allowed to drink (for
beer and wine the drinking age is 16, for hard liquor 18).
Then
you have issues like abortion. Yes a very hot button issue, but the
very core of this issue comes down to the question. Does life have
meaning? When the meaning of life is only assigned by the individual
or by society, then other rights trump that of a fetus. The right to
reproduce the way an individual choses, the right to do with one’s
body what one wants to do with one’s body these rights take
precedence over the right of a human being in its most formative
stages. This fundamental transfer of meaning of life and is effects
was perhaps best documented in this video
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/07/23/msnbc-host-life-begins-when-parents-say-it-does-not-based-on-science/
There has become a part of society that is so vested in this belief
that life’s meaning does not come until the individual can give it
meaning that there are people who argue in favor of the right not
only to abort a baby, but to actually kill a baby outside the womb.
In
fact, last year a fake
petition
was pushed on George Mason University that would legalize “4th
trimester abortions”.
Now the petition was only circulated for an hour (it received 14
signatures) and during that time both students and faculty signed it.
you have issues like abortion. Yes a very hot button issue, but the
very core of this issue comes down to the question. Does life have
meaning? When the meaning of life is only assigned by the individual
or by society, then other rights trump that of a fetus. The right to
reproduce the way an individual choses, the right to do with one’s
body what one wants to do with one’s body these rights take
precedence over the right of a human being in its most formative
stages. This fundamental transfer of meaning of life and is effects
was perhaps best documented in this video
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/07/23/msnbc-host-life-begins-when-parents-say-it-does-not-based-on-science/
There has become a part of society that is so vested in this belief
that life’s meaning does not come until the individual can give it
meaning that there are people who argue in favor of the right not
only to abort a baby, but to actually kill a baby outside the womb.
In
fact, last year a fake
petition
was pushed on George Mason University that would legalize “4th
trimester abortions”.
Now the petition was only circulated for an hour (it received 14
signatures) and during that time both students and faculty signed it.
Of
course there are other things that come to play here, and even well
meaning people or people who believe life has meaning will at times
place other priorities above that of the meaning of life (hence the
example of the Christian Feminist)but in the end this is what
materialism boils down to.
course there are other things that come to play here, and even well
meaning people or people who believe life has meaning will at times
place other priorities above that of the meaning of life (hence the
example of the Christian Feminist)but in the end this is what
materialism boils down to.
Radio
host Dennis Prager has been
talking about this issue now for over 30 years. In this classic
example, he would go to a high school and ask the students a simple
question. “Who would you save from drowning if you could only save
one: your dog, or a stranger?” Overwhelmingly students have been
answering this question by stating they would save the dog, after all
it is their dog, they love their dog. They don’t know or love the
stranger. Here again we can clearly see how the value of life has
lost its meaning, it is now only truly measured by the individual.
This has been going on for 30 years, the children originally saying
this are now the parents but their parents were actually appalled by
this statement for the most part the modern parents are not. Even
this however has begun to degrade bit by bit.
host Dennis Prager has been
talking about this issue now for over 30 years. In this classic
example, he would go to a high school and ask the students a simple
question. “Who would you save from drowning if you could only save
one: your dog, or a stranger?” Overwhelmingly students have been
answering this question by stating they would save the dog, after all
it is their dog, they love their dog. They don’t know or love the
stranger. Here again we can clearly see how the value of life has
lost its meaning, it is now only truly measured by the individual.
This has been going on for 30 years, the children originally saying
this are now the parents but their parents were actually appalled by
this statement for the most part the modern parents are not. Even
this however has begun to degrade bit by bit.
In
Phoenix, Arizona a four year old boy was recently mauled by a pit
bull. People
all over the Internet have come together to support the pit bull and
in fact the dog has a criminal defenses attorney defending its right
to live. Let me state that again. A dog mauled a child, and
people are coming to the defense of the dog not the child. In this
last example the life of a human child (yes the child survived) is
treated with equal value of the dog.
Phoenix, Arizona a four year old boy was recently mauled by a pit
bull. People
all over the Internet have come together to support the pit bull and
in fact the dog has a criminal defenses attorney defending its right
to live. Let me state that again. A dog mauled a child, and
people are coming to the defense of the dog not the child. In this
last example the life of a human child (yes the child survived) is
treated with equal value of the dog.
Materialism ultimately boils down to this, there is no way around it. While some Materialists will of course come to their own conclusions on that life has meaning, this is an individual impact it is rarely a philosophy that extends beyond that individual and they are an exception not the proven rule.
