Humanism Meaning of Life
QUESTION: What is the humanism meaning of life?ANSWER:It's all about ME! Finally a philosophy that explains the meaning of life simply: the humanism meaning of life.
As theism is the belief in God, humanism is the belief in humans. And being a human myself, I can clearly understand that, can't I? The meaning of life is whatever I want it to be!
Whew, what a relief. Let's see. I really like going to movies, dancing, sex and getting drunk. So, for me, that's the meaning of life. I just need to find a way to maximize those things and minimize the things I don't like - things like being responsible for others, working, paying bills.
Hmm. The more I think of it, the more I think maybe my own standard isn't the best. I've seen lots of movies and my liquor bill is through the roof, but I don't feel very good about myself. But, hey, there are lots of OTHER humans I can turn to for advice.
After reading some books, I find out the humanism meaning of life might be wealth, or fame, or political power. They all sound pretty good, but how do I choose which one of these human authors to believe? They all seem to have one thing in common: They are humans just like me and they define "success" the same way I do - by whatever seems good TO THEM.
Some humanists act as if by dismissing God they are exempt from the moral dilemmas addressed by religion. But really they just displace the issue. Humanists still have to decide what is good and what is evil - but they must decide for themselves. In the absence of an external standard, it's every humanist for himself - and the only referee becomes the policeman.
In the absence of an external standard, everyone's opinion of right and wrong is equal. So society must be permissive and tolerant. Because humanists believe they are just an advanced form of animal with no "afterlife" to consider, the meaning of life is to maximize pleasure.
But let's look at this with a very humanistic question: Are selfish people ultimately happy? Leo Tolstoy, one of history's most celebrated novelists, tried to find the meaning of life in sex, in gambling, in lavish living. He tried to find it in family, fathering 13 children. Ultimately, he found it in Christianity, saying, "Beware of everything which puts an obstacle between you and God." King Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible, lamented after years of experimentation: "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:13-14).
If the humanism meaning of life is ultimately bankrupt, it might make sense for us to trade humanism for theism - belief in God.
In return, we get a time-tested handbook for living - The Holy Bible. We begin to live in a world where good and evil are known quantities - not millions of competing opinions. And if we accept God, He will begin to work through us not to glorify our mediocre lives but to advance His incomparable kingdom on earth - and later in Heaven.
Instead of spending our time drinking or going to movies, we may find ourselves called into service helping the poor, counseling the depressed, praying with people who, like us, have found this world's offerings less than fulfilling.
John 3:29 describes the wonder we may feel when we, like brides to our Heavenly Father, live for him: "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete."
