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The rationale for the creation of all human life--and thus its true meaning--is for human beings to develop a loving/trusting relationship with their Creator to the point that they can be absorbed into the eternal life of the Trinity and participate in that life as full-fledged brothers and sisters of the Son--Jesus Christ.I’ve often heard Christians make statements such as, “Without God, my life would have no meaning” or “God gives my life purpose”. This is something I literally find difficult to understand about Christianity. What do Christians mean by such statements? What is the meaning of your life? What is this purpose to your life that your God provides?
Well, without God, what meaning would my life have? No meaning beyond what I could give it for myself. But that meaning I would give to myself would never erase the accidental nature of my existence. Without God, in the grand scheme of things there is no "grand scheme," just random occurrences called human beings who live and then die, who, in time, fade from memory and are forgotten.I’ve often heard Christians make statements such as, “Without God, my life would have no meaning” or “God gives my life purpose”. This is something I literally find difficult to understand about Christianity. What do Christians mean by such statements? What is the meaning of your life? What is this purpose to your life that your God provides?
Are you saying that your only reason to continue living is so that you can proselytise?My purpose in life is to help other people know God is real.
And for you, Ephraim, the only reason to live is to form a relationship with your God?The rationale for the creation of all human life--and thus its true meaning--is for human beings to develop a loving/trusting relationship with their Creator
Are you saying that without your God, you couldnt love people?The meaning of life on Earth is to learn to become as God wants us to be, Perfectly Loving to God and to our brothers and sisters.
My basic purpose is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.
There are obviously many "meanings" to life. However, you asked about THE (singular) meaning. The reason i consider forming a relationship with God--(He's not just "my God" but your God also, by the way)--is that without that close relationship with God, none of the other "meanings" in life--family, friends, occupation, etc.--can be lived out to the fullest of their potentials and the fullest of benefits to all involved.And for you, Ephraim, the only reason to live is to form a relationship with your God?
i think your major problem in understanding has to do with your confusing Life with mere existence. Being an atheist and considering yourself as nothing more than an evolved animal, you miss the Truth that human beings were Created in the Image and Likeness of God, and thus, for believers, Life--TRUE LIFE--is something very different from the animal existence envisioned by atheists.Don’t any of you consider the love of your family and friends, the pursuit of your interests, learning about the natural world or a host of other things to be reasons to continue living? Would you really have no reason at all for living if you lost your belief in your God? I have no belief in any gods, yet I have plenty of reasons to want to continue living. I find it difficult to understand how Christians can be so dependent on a single belief.
So I guess you aren’t one of those Christians who say, “Without God, my life would have no meaning”? Have you ever said that? I’m guessing you’ve heard other Christians say that so do you think they actually mean it or is it another of those exaggerations or extremes that religious believers tend towards?Without God now, my life would have meaning.. my children, my friends, my work, they are all important.
Now you make it seem that once you believe in your God then your children, your friends and your work all become secondary considerations. Is that really how you see them? Is your God a greater meaning in your life than your children? For atheists, there is no God diverting their love from their children. For atheists, probably the greatest meaning in their lives is their children. I find it difficult to understand how for Christians their children would not provide the greatest meaning in their lives.It doesn't mean that it isn't worth knowing God, though.. because when one does, that becomes the greatest meaning, and all the rest fits into it.
It just seems a shame that you need that persuasion in order to love others, Emmy.You are right sigma, without God`s Commandments, we would not be able to love as God wants us to: love others as we love ourselves, and love God as He deserves to be loved.
That’s because I’ve heard many Christians say, “Without God, my life would have no meaning”, which indicates to me that there is only one meaning in their lives, namely, their God.There are obviously many "meanings" to life. However, you asked about THE (singular) meaning.
The reason I say “your God” is because it appears to me that Christians have widely varying personal views on what their God is, what it does and what it wants them to do. It is only your belief that it is my God also. As far as I’m concerned, I have no God. To return to the point, you also appear to be saying that if you lost your belief in your God then your family, friends and occupation wouldn’t mean as much to you. I find this difficult to understand. Would your family suddenly mean less to you if you lost your belief in your God? That doesn’t make sense to me.The reason i consider forming a relationship with God--(He's not just "my God" but your God also, by the way)--is that without that close relationship with God, none of the other "meanings" in life--family, friends, occupation, etc.--can be lived out to the fullest of their potentials and the fullest of benefits to all involved.
Why the strange capitalisation throughout this sentence? Anyway, what does the belief that you were created have to do with how much your family means to you? Would they suddenly mean less to you if you lost that belief? After all, they are still your family. Nothing has changed in that regard so why should your family expect to mean less to you if you lost your belief in something else? I really do find the Christian way of thinking difficult to understand.Being an atheist and considering yourself as nothing more than an evolved animal, you miss the Truth that human beings were Created in the Image and Likeness of God, and thus, for believers, Life--TRUE LIFE--is something very different from the animal existence envisioned by atheists.
Well, my brother, again there is ONE PRIMARY MEANING in my life--an intimate relationship with God. Orbiting around this central MEANING are other meanings--family, friends, employment, hobbies, etc. It is just a case of needing to keep things in perspective.That’s because I’ve heard many Christians say, “Without God, my life would have no meaning”, which indicates to me that there is only one meaning in their lives, namely, their God.
The fact that "Christians have widely varying person views" does not change the fact that there is only one God--merely viewed from different angles through different lenses.The reason I say “your God” is because it appears to me that Christians have widely varying personal views on what their God is, what it does and what it wants them to do. It is only your belief that it is my God also. As far as I’m concerned, I have no God.
They wouldn't mean less to me but, should i choose to cut myself off from the source of all meaningful Love, i would be much less capable of Loving them as they need and deserve, and i would lose the Spiritual strength to aid and support them in meeting their other mental, emotional, and Spiritual needs. In other words, i would be a much weaker and less competent husband and father.To return to the point, you also appear to be saying that if you lost your belief in your God then your family, friends and occupation wouldn’t mean as much to you. I find this difficult to understand. Would your family suddenly mean less to you if you lost your belief in your God? That doesn’t make sense to me.
Thank you!Why the strange capitalisation throughout this sentence?
Were i and my family merely evolved animals as you aver, i would have to agree. If we only were worried about existing rather than Living, what you say would perhaps be true. Being, however, that these things are not true, the Holy Spirit residing within--the center of our individual and collective lives--is an absolute necessity for the type of home and relationships we have become used to since the Lord first healed me and then my relationships with those around me. There is, therefore, no possible way i could lose the Belief you speak off--it is reinforced moment by moment--27/7.Anyway, what does the belief that you were created have to do with how much your family means to you? Would they suddenly mean less to you if you lost that belief? After all, they are still your family. Nothing has changed in that regard so why should your family expect to mean less to you if you lost your belief in something else?
More's the pity! It is kind of like a blindman finding a sunset hard to understand. However, the blind man is powerless to change his handicap; you are not. MAY GOD OPEN YOUR HEART AND MIND YOU TO DO SO IN SHORT ORDER!I really do find the Christian way of thinking difficult to understand.
So you, like Criada, consider your family and friends to be secondary in your life. Again, I find this strange. Atheists would probably consider their family to be the primary consideration in their lives. As you say, it is a matter of differing perspectives on life.Well, my brother, again there is ONE PRIMARY MEANING in my life--an intimate relationship with God. Orbiting around this central MEANING are other meanings--family, friends, employment, hobbies, etc. It is just a case of needing to keep things in perspective.
You say your family wouldnt mean less to you if you lost your belief, but that you would love them less. That seems like a contradiction to me. It seems bizarre that if your belief in your God was lost then you would love your wife and child(ren) less, but that is what you are continuing to say here. I cant imagine atheists loving their family less if they discovered that something theyd never actually observed didnt exist. Do you really mean that you would love your family less if you discovered that something youd never actually observed didnt exist?They wouldn't mean less to me but, should i choose to cut myself off from the source of all meaningful Love, i would be much less capable of Loving them as they need and deserve, and i would lose the Spiritual strength to aid and support them in meeting their other mental, emotional, and Spiritual needs. In other words, i would be a much weaker and less competent husband and father.
MY FRIEND--In dealing with God--yes, i would say my family would come second, with God as the primary consideration in my life. As our Lord said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37-38)So you, like Criada, consider your family and friends to be secondary in your life. Again, I find this strange. Atheists would probably consider their family to be the primary consideration in their lives. As you say, it is a matter of differing perspectives on life.
Im sorry, but I dont understand what you are trying to say. What do you mean when you say you would have less to love them withless what? Do you mean you would have less love to give them? Isnt that the same as saying you would love them less?It is not that i would love my family less if i did not have God at the center of my life--it is that i WOULD HAVE LESS TO LOVE THEM WITH.
Could you be more specific, please? Which of the meanings for the word serve are you using here? Are you saying that you have no purpose in your life other than to serve your God? Are you saying that nothing else, not your family, your friends or your interests, provide a reason for you to continue living? Or are you with Criada and Ephraim in that the primary purpose in your life is to serve your God and everything else is secondary?That is why it is our purpose to serve him.
Yes, i know.I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you are trying to say.
God IS Love. The Holy Spirit indwelling Believers, being God, is Love. Therefore, without God, the fullness of Love would be an impossibility.What do you mean when you say you would have less to love them with—less what? Do you mean you would have less love to give them? Isn’t that the same as saying you would love them less?
Could you be more specific, please? Which of the meanings for the word serve are you using here? Are you saying that you have no purpose in your life other than to serve your God? Are you saying that nothing else, not your family, your friends or your interests, provide a reason for you to continue living? Or are you with Criada and Ephraim in that the primary purpose in your life is to serve your God and everything else is secondary?
Okay, I see it now. From your point of view, you wouldnt love your family any less because you would be loving them as much as you could. However, from your familys point of view, they would be receiving less love from you because the maximum you could give would be greatly diminished.No, that would not be the same as loving them less--i would still be loving them to the utmost of my capability, but, without God in the picture, that capability would be greatly diminished.
From your posts so far, you appear to be claiming that you love your family more than atheists could love their families. Is that really what you are claiming?Therefore, without God, the fullness of Love would be an impossibility.
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