Firstly, I apologise if this blog doesn't read as coherently as some of my others, I have been meditating and reflecting recently upon the meaning and purpose of humanity. I have recently read two very stimulating and spiritually and intellectually invigorating books by Antony Flew and Francis Collins. Both discuss the various classical philosophical arguments for the existence of God, as well as the implications of modern scientific discoveries and developments to the question of the existence of God. This blog, and my thoughts in it, are very much in an embryonic form (in a philosophical sense).
As I read and assimilated the information and arguments it struck me that the most important question in life is the existence of God. If God exists and has created the universe and all life within it, then naturally...and I would say logically, learning about this Creator God would be the most pressing concern of all humanity. To dismiss this question is to dismiss the potential purpose of all humankind. It is to dismiss the objective meaning to our lives. Some people seek the answer to this question and do not find God. Conversely, I believe it is a question that cannot be ignored. The implications are too great.
If one finds that God exists then logically the quest and search for which God or what type of God this divine essence and superior mind is follows. Richard Swindburne, Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion at the University of Oxford states in his book 'The Existence of God' about the plausibility of the existence of God:
"Furthermore, if some actual or postulated entity other than God is to provide a complete (or ultimate) explanation...it needs to have added to it (in the case of a person) specific powers, beliefs, and intentions, or (in the case of inanimate substance) specific powers and liabilities to exercise them. We need both the 'what' causes, and the 'why' it causes. The advantage of theism is that the mere existence of God provides most of that extra 'why'."
What Swinburne is saying is that the hypothesis that God exists explains why the universe exists not just how it came to exist. All other current scientific theories to explain the origin of life (multi-universes etc) have failed to justify how these other causes are a simpler explanation than God. When evaluating the plausibility of the existence or non-existence of God the simpler the hypothesis, the more plausible it is. God is a simpler answer than the current scientific speculation by the very virtue of His nature: because He is God and therefore Spirit He is eternal and infinite, requiring no beginning and no primary cause. As God He is an agent, who acts intentionally not coincidentally or accidently; but purposefully. Thus the existence of the universe and the origin of life are not arbitrary or accidental but deliberate and purposeful. How can consciousness come from unconsciousness? Nothing creates nothing. We are sentient beings thus an intelligent designer is a far more plausible and simpler explantion for the origin of life.
Given therefore that the plausibility of there being a creator God is extremely high, it follows that knowing God has to be the next most pressing concern. Knowing this God is the ultimate purpose of life. Once we have discovered, by way of deductive and inductive reasoning and Revelation who this God is then pursuing a life in connection to and communication with God is the ultimate meaning of life. That is the conclusion I have come to in my recent studies and meditations. It is this purpose and meaning to my life that I will endeavour to pursue and grow in. Life is a journey. That journey can be physical and literal, emotional, intellectual or spiritual. I believe that the journey of faith and of the discovery in the character and nature of God is a neverceasing pursuit. To be close to God, to walk in His presence and to connect with His divinity is ongoing. I hope that I never stand still in this journey. To be a godly person is the highest calling of humanity.
I hope to further consolidate, assimilate and learn the deeper truths and spiritual revelations of this journey of faith and the goal of achieving the ultimate meaning to life as time goes by. Maybe in the future I will write with some further meditations and thoughts, which hopefully by then will have germinated and grown into a more fully developed worldview and personal philosophy.
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