Everything Is Meaningless
Ecclesiastes 1 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
Solomon is either having a bad hair day, a blonde moment, or some old age reflections. Some would say that he might even be depressed. If I had 700 wives and 300 concubines, I might see life like this.
There are so many philosophical schools and teachings and religious beliefs on the meaning of life that one can get lost and can't remember why he started the study. (that is my experience at least). Science has added its two cents. Philosophy has added theirs and religion claims to have four or five.
My two cents....Relationism
So I have decided to add my two cents and create a new philosophical view that may or not be already stated by some known or unknown philosopher of the past. If there is, then I am either a student or pupil and didn't know it.
This philosophical view is a mixture of religion, science, and philosophy. I have struggled with understanding most of my life. I have been like a boat out in the middle of the sea without rudder, oars, or power to go a desire direction. I have been at the mercy of the wind. In my 64 years (there are days feel like 64 and more and days when I don't), I cannot see life as meaningless or efforts to discover meaning and purpose as futile like Solomon did.
Looking at the universe, I feel like a grit of sand on a beach or a grit of sand in a sandbox, or a grit of sand in a sand dune. I am overwhelmed by all that I see and more what I cannot see yet I know it is there. I feel the gentle breezes and smell the sea. I hear the sounds of birds singing and I see children playing. Looking at the universe, I see the meticulous design that came from something bigger and more intelligent than me. I see acts of love in how each part of the universe give and receive from each other in a relational system that seems to have balance that works based on a carefully system of laws or cause and effects or actions created and set in motion by the power we call "Creator".
The Creator is love and love is the Creator. With the force of love, the power of reason, and the will to make, the Creator gave the ability to reason, the desire for freedom, and the gift of free will to the creation. The Creator saw the creation and knew it was good. So the Creator rested. The Creator decided that the creation should use the free will, the ability reason, and the love instilled in the creation to form relationships with the things in the universe both living and not living without interference from the Creator. The Creator saw four basic relationships: self, others, the universe, and with the Creator.
The Creation changed as time passed by and each new generation interacted and entered into relationships based on what they had been taught, what they experienced, what they read, studied, and learned. They used their ability to reason, the desire for freedom,and the free will they possessed to carve out new ways to think, to live, and to be. They discovered that some of what they had been taught could not be proven. Therefore, they rejected it as truth.
The creation discovered that politics, religion, and economics are tools used to benefit or harm the relationships that exist in the universe. They discovered that rulers or kings or sovereigns are not "divine". The Creator did not create this as a "right". The true "right" given by the Creator gives leaders the right to lead so long as the governed agree. The creation also discovered that some religions claim they are the only true and right way to the Creator. Yet, they have created a power that seeks to control the creation by creating teachings and doctrines that prohibit the free will from using the gift of reason and love to interact with the universe. The creation has encountered the power of economics as it harnesses the free will and the ability to create by the use of reason and logic. Differences of opinion about the role of government, religion, and economics create groups who think in similar ways so they form groups to vie for the right to govern.
Why is there such many philosophical views, theological teachings, and scientific studies on the meaning of life?
We need those who hypothesize about life. We need those who will use reason to analyze the problems we face. We need those who have the free will and determination to show a better way. This may create chaos, stalemate, a change in direction, or change in laws. Years later we will look back and see the value of what we did with the creation. Like the Creator, may we see the good.
Think about it.....
Roy
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