Is the source of the meaning of life God?

Question

Thinking just axiologically (morally) , is the source of the meaning of life God?

This is part of a three part question for my philosophy of religion class, I am having a hard time with it. I am trying to answer the overall question of what the meaning of life is

Answer 1

I don't think so.

There are folks out there who live very fulfilling, meaningful lives without ever believing in any deity -- in fact some adamantly deny the existence of a deity.

Religions would have you think that. But you're the only one that can give meaning to your life. You can sit like a lump until you die of starvation. Whether or not there's a God doesn't alter the fact that your short, meaningless life was a total waste -- except for converting some oxygen into carbon dioxide.

On the other hand, you can be a very good person or a very bad person, and whatever you do, because it affects others gives meaning to your life. You might not like your epitaph, but you accomplished something.

Answer 2

Following a religious argument, yes since all things begin and end with God. But there is another actor on the stage, Man. Man is the determinator. What he understands to be moral, in accordance with his criteria for morality,  is what becomes the source for the meaning of life to him.

Answer 3

If you consider the fact that you have the power to choose a particular religion then this essentially amounts to a muted existential philosophy.

Answer 4

the meaning of life is different for everyone, so the source of the meaning of life is you.

Answer 5

Coming from an atheist, you are correct, if you believe in the existence of God.

If, like me, you believe in naturalism, then the meaning of life is the meaning given to it by Man in his rational capacity to achieve the standards that Aristotle titled "Man qua Man."

It is because "standards of the meaning of Man himself" can exist, independent of God, that even atheists can have morals.

Answer 6

Through trivia and the obscure we find a great significance attached to a higher power, or God, as we understand him.  Over and over again the blanks fill in and again we have come full circle.

The sociology of religion divides the world into the two self-evident classes of meaning: the sacred and the profane.  The student decides, the teacher abides.

God may be the source, if you believe it.  You believe what you want, another dispensation, made possible by free will.  If you call your three part question, Sources of the Meaning of Life.  Me?  Well I don't know, I guess I'd start with God, but the other possibilities include, synchronicity.

That is, the simultaneous events don't always happen at the same time

So that opens up the mind/body problem.  (Trust me).  

You have your three: The problem of faith, the problem from free will/determinism, and the problem of mind/body dualism.

Answer 7

The question is ambigious - who's meaning are we talking about. If we assume for a moment that God exists (which I am in favour of) how does this change things from our perspective regarding meaning and what will we do with this meaning once we have found it?

Sadly philosophy of this nature raises far more questions than it answers.

Does our world cease to exist just because we choose not to believe in God?

Is it rational for humankind to believe we are here by mere accident? What are the odds on that? very remote indeed yet most people  people find more meaning to life in a poker machine that pays out at 1 in a 1000 and takes far more money that it gives back.  So while the source of meaning is important, the acknoledgement of the source and then living accordingly is the key to living a life of meaning, it comes down to individual response and perception.    

Answer 8

There are 2 ways to address this question

The theological persuasion states that all meaning in life is derived from God

The humanist says that people can make their own meaning out of life.

It is up to you to choose what you believe in.

Answer 9

Can we look up at the clouds and see shapes that we can imagine as animals or people?  I think most people can.  But they are not real, just imagined.

Meaning refers to a idea about a real plan.  If life has meaning, it has to have a plan and if it has a plan, then God must exist for who else could have planned my existence?  

If God exists, then our lives can have real meaning and real purpose.  If we reject God, then we're forced to try and find imagined meaning in the clouds.

If God exists, certainly the purpose for our lives is to seek Him.  And if we do seek Him, we will be part of His plan, and that gives our lives meaning.  To be a willing participant in God's plan gives our lives real  meaning.

Answer 10

Absolutely. (hows that for an answer in this culture)

This is what I believe, now you may believe differently but that doesn't have ANY bearing on the truth.

The source is the first cause, the first cause is a definite article. If there was a purpose or a meaning or even the lack there-of, that would still be a contingent to the definite article which was the first cause.

The sources provides the meaning for life. It is not ours, so by definition there is an Absolute answer.

If the source chose to let each of us make up our own meaning, that would still be contingent on the sources decision.

If the first cause was mindless and random that would mean that there is no meaning ABSOLUTELY, and our petty meanings would not matter. This negating of meaning is still an absolute work of the definite first cause.

(so we've established that there is a definate source with a  definate authority over the meaning) (now is it God?)

Now as far as the source of the meaning of life, I believe that it is God.

Moreover I believe that it is Jesus Christ.

Still moreover I believe that we can actually know quite a bit about the actual meaning.  The mind of God is way to big to even comprehend so we will never know all of His meanings, just the bit that He intends us to know. Thats all we need be concerned with.

I don't think that this world or universe or even this very concept of life and reality that we experience is even close to the scope of magnifigance that God is capable of.

As far as that meaning I will try to let you into some of it. See if you think it holds water.

1 God is an eternal, nessesary, Holy being. He is good in all ways.

2 His biggest meaning and glory is to honor Himself and His own glory.

3 Any of His creation would be only to complement that. Not in any nessasary way but of pure soverine choice. You can look at a beautiful thing and take joy from it but it is inhanced, if you are a loving being, to share that joy with someone. You would always preffer to say to a loved one, "come, enjoy this with me." God wants to have us share in His glory, that is what would be best for us (Him) and that's what He wants for us.

God was relational before the beginning, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He take pleasure in relationships. That's why we are made like we are, with families and husbands and wifes. Everything God makes reflects His very nature. He doesn't just make stuff for no good reason.

4 People don't want anything to do with God, we want to glorify ourselves. This is true even in our religion. We honor Him with our lips but our hearts are far from Him. They are on only evil continuasly.

5 Because we are in wanton rebellion against God's very nature He cannot dwell with us the way He intended. Also we are naturally in a state of seperation. He must judge us and punish sin. If He didn't He wouldn't be just. Never ever ask God for Justice, only Grace. Even on our enemies. If we expect God to move into soverien Justice what we will see is Holy Wrath. A thing we cannot phathom.

6 Because of God's soverien grace, and His love, and His ability. He has provided a, and the only, way to restore us to and for Himself.

7 That way is only met by His rightousness, through the life and blood of Jesus Christ. There is nothing we can do to merit or earn it. This is where all other religions fall flat, there is a process of man's rightousness that supposedly can either earn him closer to God, or make him into a God. Either one is false.

8 The only meaning of life that we need be concerned with is that.

The world machine will keep on grinding along towards its destination. It will give the perception that if we can just do so and so then we will be o.k.,

If we make this or that our paradise will be secure.

This is pure ignorance of the plain facts. The world is grinding ever faster to more death and destruction. We may try to build our own paradise, but God spoke and made us a perfect one to begin with.

A paradise where the only meaning of life was to bring honor and glory to God by enjoying Him.

Answer 11

...i disagree as GOD is man made, therefore all in LIFE is making choices...be good, bad or otherwise, when made...take responsibility for your choice and actions...enjoy...