Life (Under the Sun) Is Meaningless: Now What?

Hofburg Imperial Palace

I am increasingly aware that life is meaningless. That may seem like a really dour or depressing thing to say. But it really doesn't have to be. And importantly it is true. Not every true statement is the most exciting thing to hear - such as "death is inevitable" or "you must pay your taxes." But thinking about the meaninglessness of life doesn't have to be bad! It can actually lead to finding true meaning!

Why Should the Human Race Continue?

Extracts from: ‘How Should We Then Live?’ by Francis A. Schaeffer

A great quote

The final chapter of "How Should We Then Live?" is entitled “Manipulation and the New Elite."  It discusses futurism and some philosophies of man based on biology.  These extreme materialistic ideas lead to the desire to manipulate DNA and decide who should have children, who should not, and how many children should be produced.  This also leads to the idea of chemically controlling aggression in world leaders.  The following passage summarizes this section:

“In the light of this discussion about social manipulation, three questions arise.  First, who will control the controllers?  Second, what will happen now that people have no boundary condition indicating what they should do in contrast to what they can do?  Third, if mankind is only what modern people say it is, why does man’s biological continuation have value?”

Good question.  Thank God for the meaning we find in Christ.

What is Existenstialism?

Extracts from: ‘How Should We Then Live?’ by Francis A. Schaeffer

A good explanation of Existentialism:

“… Kierkegaardianism did bring to full tide the notion that reason will always lead to pessimism.  That is, one must try to find optimistic answers in regard to meaning and values on an “upper level” outside of reason.  Through a “leap of faith” one must try to find meaning without reason.

You will remember that in the High Renaissance, humanistic man, starting only from himself, had problems concerning the meaning or value of things and of absolutes for morals.  With Rousseau it became an AUTONOMOUS FREEDOM / AUTONOMOUS NATURE problem.  With Kant it was NOUMENAL WORLD / PHENOMENAL WORLD.  With Kierkegaardianism it went a step further and now became:

NON-REASON = FAITH – OPTIMISM

REASON = PESSIMISM

So optimism will now always be in the area of non-reason.”  Pg 163

“This (dichotomy) is the mark of modern man.” Parenthesis mine, Pg 164

Philosophy FC

Someone overthought the game of soccer with the intention to "subvert the bi-polar class struggle of late-capitalism" - three teams on a hexagonal pitch anyone? Check out the video here.

Link

 

Christianity vs. Naturalism

My friend and I were recently discussing the importance of the Bible's teaching that God created the world in six literal days. It seems that the true motivation for doubting this teaching has more to do with the current spirit of the day than any lack of reasonableness related to the teaching itself.

Dr. Byl addresses the claims of Christianity compared with counter-claims from recent philosophers and scientists in this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBZOtHjs5uQ

Please consider the current bias in the scientific literature regarding creation and supernatural causes when building your worldview.

For the Joy Set Before Us

How Long O Lord?
Reflections on Suffering and Evil
D.A. Carson
Ch 8 - From the Vantage of the End

Thoughts on the monthly book study with members of Andover Baptist and Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian.

It is absurd to suffer for Christ if we do not have a clear view of what we are hoping for in the future.  The quintessential example for us is Christ Jesus Himself: "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Carson: "Without that prospect [of "vindication and resurrection"] ... Christianity does not make much sense..."

"if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others." First Letter to the Corinthians 15:19. 

Christianity, Math, and Science - Lectures

How do recent breakthroughs in Math and Science relate to our faith in God?  Have Math and Science completely debunked all that we've previously learned about God?  Click on the Link below to find out more about an upcoming conference by a noted scholar - I hope to attend and hope to see you there.

http://www.andoverbaptist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166&Itemid=124

"What seems to a man, is to him"

"What seems to a man, is to him".  So says Protagoras.  Basically, truth is whatever it seems to be to that individual.  Certainly nothing has changed under the sun as this seems to be espoused by many today.  There are many corollaries such as, "live and let live" or, "to each his own" and so on. 

But these are simply the mantra of those who refuse to stand for truth.  It is much easier to be a relativist than to espouse objective truths and defend them.  Perhaps the only "good" thing about relativism is the ease and comfort it affords those who espouse it. 

However, it is an incoherent and illogical system.

"If you say there are no universally valid truths including the claim that there are no universally valid truths, then you have contradicted yourself. You have said the claim both is and is not universally valid."
- John Searle "Refutation of Relativism"