The Meaning of Life :: Philosophy essays

In approaching the meaning of life we have to examine the nature of meaning itself. Meaning is by definition the point, or the intended goal. Consider the point of humans and the universe as seen from monotheistic religion. If life and the universe is some sort of toy or form of entertainment for some prime mover, his point, his own entertainment, would then be the meaning of humans and the universe. Consider the goals of the deities of various cultures. Some strive for a eternal sleep between the forces of good and evil. This balance seems to simply be a choice of the deity, the way he thinks it ought to be. The concept of a prime mover as a cum of the meaning of life is fl devotiond, because in talking about an actual point to absolutely everything, we are simply considering the goals of a being more powerful than ourselves who has elect one of many possible goals that humans can conceive of. This is to say that, if a god like this exists, his goal for life and the uni verse is not needs valid as a meaning of life, the universe, and himself. For instance, the Bible claims that the Christian deity created the universe and placed humans in it that they might be in awe of his power. If this is so, why is worship the correct response? The meaning of the universe as created by theology is the entertainment of God, but what is the meaning of the larger system containing God and his creations? We could conceive of an even primer mover, but that simply takes us all the way back into the wall of infinite regression. When I first read the Bible, it struck me as neutral on the idea of worship. The Bible flat out tells you that God created humans so that they would be in awe of him, which amounts to saying God created us to inflate his ego. We are to God as our pets are to ourselves, sources of unconditional love. In the book of Job, God essentially makes a gentlemans bet with Satan that Jobs worship is bona fide and not inspired by Gods kindn ess. In other words, you throw a rock at my dog and Ill swing my arm so it looks I