Tag Archives: philosophy

Making sense of it

21 Wednesday Mar 2018

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There is no meaning to life without there being meaning in life; but meaning in life is generated from one of two sources. It is either something generated from within, or it is something generated from without. Solomon sought to determine meaning to life from the source within (“under the sun”), but he could make no sense of it. He determined that meaning in life can only be understood when there is recognition that life comes from God, and only this way can one make sense of the perplexities of life that man has contributed to and corrupted so badly, and even then he can hardly make sense of it. Nevertheless, the recognition that life came from God is important, but it is only the foundation from which one builds his/her life; the follow-up is to obey the “giver-of-life,” or God.

Many people (most people) assign meaning to life, but they are not sure if the meaning individually assigned is correct, and British philosopher John Powys saw this clearly in his reply to Will Durant’s inquiry; in the meantime, a person does the best one can. In the end, however, one perhaps wonders why he/she even existed in the first place! What is my place in the world? Why was I born at this time and in this place? What did I do to make the world better? Why did I use this standard of right/wrong rather than that standard of right/wrong? Will anyone remember me? What is my legacy? And on and on the questions are asked. Without clarity of knowledge and understanding, the last remaining bit of hope is taken away when life is over because the individually assigned meaning is vanity.

Man & God’s Wisdom

08 Friday Jan 2016

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In the grand scheme of this world’s existence, there are competing philosophies. There is a philosophy that says the material universe has always existed. From this material universe that has always existed comes what man knows to be life. In other words, in the long ago there was nothing but inanimate material that corresponded to rocks and dirt. At some time in the past from this inanimate existence (rocks and dirt) came animate existence (or life). How this is explained is never accomplished.

Another philosophy that gives some explanation to this material universe is the belief that the material universe came into existence, but the source of its existence is itself. In other words, at one time in the long past NOTHING existed. This nothing means there was no one thing; there was absolutely nothing (zero, zip, notta) that existed. Suddenly and without explanation, something came into existence. Some call this a “big bang.” There is an inherent problem with this philosophy, however. If nothing existed in the past, since nothing can only “create” nothing, then it is absolutely the case that nothing produces (creates) nothing—and we don’t exist! Complete nonsense, but some actually believe it.

A third philosophy gives explanation to the material universe by saying that, indeed, there was creation by a source, but that source is unknown. This third philosophy is more in accord with the evidence, but there is a strong determination to keep God, especially the Christian God out of the picture.

A fourth philosophy says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis  1:1-2, KJV).

In giving explanation, scientists are just as much controlled by religious fervor as just about anyone else. Their religious fervor in is making certain that whatever explanation is given to explain the material universe and life within it, it can’t be God, especially God as described in Scripture, the Bible. Why such religious devotion? There may be many reasons, but at least one of them pertains to morality. If the Scriptures are correct in its declarations then there is such a thing as right and wrong and, more than that, there is a judgment day coming. People don’t want to be trouble by such ways of thinking.

Near the end of his life, Joshua told the people of Israel they needed to be very courageous and do all the things written in the Law of Moses (Joshua 23:6-7). This exhortation given them is one that, in part, we need also to hear. In this world with the competing ideologies, there are a great many that mock Christians because of their acceptance of a world-view that has at its source Almighty God. “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew” (Proverbs 3:19-20).

What a contrast to the “wisdom” man offers!

Atheism’s Bondage

18 Monday Nov 2013

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They are “bound by their belief in unbelief” is a line in a recent article concerning atheist mega-churches. The originators of the atheistic mega-church idea seeks to raise just under a million dollars for the perpetuation of their ideology and “Sunday gatherings.” They do this as an affront and with jealousy to the various churches spread abroad in western society. The news report (Foxnews.com) tells us, to the credit of these founders, “They don’t bash believers but want to find a new way to meet likeminded people, engage in the community and make their presence more visible in a landscape dominated by faith.”

One of the intellectual challenges atheists have is in  association with meaning in life. Many atheists feel the need to give themselves meaning in life when their ideology presents no meaning, no purpose to life’s existence. In order to combat the meaninglessness of life, they “copycat” the religious community’s sense of belonging and purpose with their own. “Hey, wait a minute. We are charitable, we are good people, we’re good parents and we are just as good citizens as you and we’re going to start a church to prove it.”

There are many atheistic people in this world who try to live life in such a way to be good, productive citizens in the community. With regard to that effort, they are to be commended. If they are right, however, there is no point to such efforts. If there is no objective reality (God), then everyone can do whatever is liked because there is no ultimate accountability. Simply because someone else, or some group, does not like it is…well, meaningless.

Atheism is not supported by science; it is not supported by morality; it is not supported by philosophy; it is not supported by the nature of man; and it is not supported by the rational component of man. What supports it then? One’s willingness to reject all of the above and allow themselves to be in bondage to emptiness.

As Christians, it is important we take the time and try to persuade those who think and live this way, however good it may be considered by some, that life’s meaning is not in the empty philosophy of atheism.

  • Atheism can’t explain man’s existence, or even the world’s existence (meaning).
  • Atheism can’t explain why man should be moral, or even what morality is (direction).
  • Atheism can’t give any good rational reasons for living or even continuing life (hope).
  • Atheism can’t explain the “component” of man that is non-material (the mind).
  • Atheism rejects history (the Bible) for the sake of an ideology (irrational).

Satan will not let you (or me) engage this fight without being scarred in the battle. Satan is evil, and he desires his philosophy to hold sway with as many as he can get to accept it. Unfortunately many have. “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good” (Psalm 14:1, NKJV).

Does God want us to do morally right?

26 Thursday Jul 2012

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Does God want us to do morally right? Seems like a silly question, I know. Yet, that is the opinion of one who wrote against me in a recent letter to the editor. “God would want us to do what is morally right, to put an end to the moral evils of persecution if that is, there is a God” [sic].

The opinion writer thinks I am confused; she helps me out of my confusion by giving me what she thinks God wants. She does not even know whether or not God exists, and she postulates what God wants. Arrogant? You can judge.

This gets to a larger point, however. Atheism and agnosticism adopt a morality that can’t get any higher than “I think.” If there is a collective response of atheists and/or agnostics, then it is “We think…” That is the highest they can go. In order to give themselves a “high” standard they formed the dogmatic creed of the Humanist Manifestos I and II. This gives them their collective “we.” Still, that is all the higher they can go.

Will Durant, an atheistic philosopher of many years ago, wrote a book “On the Meaning of Life” (1932). In this book he confronts the “bitterest possibilities” of life’s meaning without God. He said, “The growth and spread of knowledge, for which so many idealists and reformers prayed, has resulted in disillusionment which has almost broken the spirit of our race” (p. 4).

I smiled at this lecture in print of hers to me because she thinks I should accept what she thinks God wants.