The Meaning of Life: Kurt Baier

I strongly disagree with Baier's belief that life has purpose in the absence of a "supreme being".

Kurt Baier states there is two senses of the word "purpose". The first, self generated, meaning people themselves sets their goals and the second is an externally imposed purpose, which are arranged by humans. Baier focuses mainly on the scientific meaning of life. He states, " It must be admitted that there is a perfectly natural interpretation of the question, "What is the meaning of life?" on which my view actually proved that life has no meaning?: if we except the explanations of natural science, we cannot believe that living organisms have appeared on earth in accordance with the deliberate plan of some intelligent being.

" (221)

He also states, "I suspect that many who reject the scientific outlook because it involves the loss of purpose of life, and therefore meaning, are guilty of a confusion between the two senses of "purpose" just distinguished." (221) Although scientists can supposedly track the creation of the universe almost as far back as the beginning of time, they are still unable to determine "what" caused the "Big Bang".

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Scientists have made theories about the universe, and still to this day, their theories about the universe have been proven wrong.

These statements are self-righteous and I believe, coincide with 1 Timothy 6: "9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." (Holy Bible King James Version (KJV)) Baier does not mention God's purpose for us in his definitions.

I believe Baier and anyone else who agree with this thesis need to refer back to the Bible. Our answers to our existence can be found there.

First, where did we come from? It is written in Genesis 1:, "(27) So God created man in his own image? Secondly, after our existence, what are we to do? Refer to Genesis (28) ?and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it..." (KJV) God put us here to live with love, peace, and forgiveness, maintain the world in which He created for us, and most importantly, to be thankful of His gifts, and to live by His law. He gave us power and knowledge over all other existences. He also gave us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Now that you know where we came from, what is the "purpose" for our existence? Again, the answers can be found in the Bible for our basic reasons for being. "He [God] made from one every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God." Everyone in the world have stemmed from Adam because God made him. God brought each of us into the world as his children.

God decides when we enter the world at our specific times and when He takes each of us off at our appointed time. "In Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me" (Psalm 139:16) (KJV, 213). God put us in the world, in the particular country, state, and city in which we live. He put us here for a reason. We are to seek Him. That is, we are to look to Him, pray to Him, worship Him, and seek counsel and comfort from Him. "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6)."

I believe after all who seek God for their purpose; they will be able to obtain the answer to their purpose. Living our lives for our "everyday" jobs and way of living, we may never find the answer and even worse grow further away from God. People have become so dependant on the chaos and demands of "everyday" life, which I believe, relate to Baier's meanings of the word "purpose". According to the New Testament, the book of John, 15:5, states, " ?apart from me you can do nothing." (KJV)The people who find their lives meaningless are the ones who have set their lives and hearts on the bonus gifts God has given such as, children, fame, wealth, food and shelter.

In 1 Timothy 6: "7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ?10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." These are the things that drive people nowadays. People focus too much on "human" desires, wants, and needs." People need to focus on God's need for them rather than their own personal desires.

Baier claims, " Without God, human life may still have meaning." (214) Without God, there would be no existence. People avoid God because society does all in its power to discourage belief in God. People have exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man. A famous quote to Baier and his believers by Ashleigh Brilliant, "Life may have no meaning. Or even worse, it may have a meaning of which you disapprove." Search for your quest within the Lord, and He will give you the reason for your "purpose", not Baier.