Christians will often point out to atheists that if there is no God, then there is no objective meaning and purpose to life. Atheists will typically respond by saying that they create their own meaning in life. They find meaning in what they do, in family, etc. There are at least four problems with this, however.
First, they are substituting subjective, proximate meaning for objective, transcendent meaning. When people ask what the meaning and purpose of life is, they are not asking for advice concerning what meaning and purpose they should invent for their life. They are searching for something transcendent. They are looking to discover something that is already there, not invent something new. By substituting objective, transcendent meaning for subjective, proximate meaning, the atheist is referring to an entirely different understanding of meaning.
Second, but related to the first, when it comes to meaning and purpose in life, people are looking for something that is bigger than one’s own will and preferences. The self is not big enough to fulfill our longing for meaning and purpose. That’s why the atheist’s own invented meanings cannot satisfy the soul. Something more is needed – something transcendent.
Third, finding meaning in such things as family is understandable because such relationships are objectively meaningful. So the atheist is not wrong to find meaning in family. He simply can’t make sense of why family is meaningful.
Fourth, if meaning and purpose are invented by the self, does that mean anything and everything can have meaning? If one chooses to find purpose in stamp-collecting, does that make stamp-collecting meaningful? If one chooses to find purpose in torturing people, does that make torturing people meaningful? Clearly something more than the human will is required for something to have meaning and purpose.
Meaning and purpose are not inventions of the human will, but objective features of the world God created. We can only find meaning and purpose if we choose to live the way God created us to live and do the things God desires for us to do.
Thinking to Believe 
July 7, 2021 at 1:06 pm
Jason, I can sum it up in this…..
Know Jesus know peace….No Jesus no peace.
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July 7, 2021 at 3:18 pm
With all due respect, I would HIGHLY recommend actually asking atheists questions before posting claims about them. I’m always available to answer such questions.
“When people ask what the meaning and purpose of life is, they are not asking for advice concerning what meaning and purpose they should invent for their life. They are searching for something transcendent.”
It may be true that theists search for “transcendent meaning,” but that’s not true for many others, including atheists. After all, if you don’t believe in the existence of a creator god and consider existence the result of natural forces, then there is no transcendent meaning, only what meaning we make of our lives. There’s no desire or reason to search for that which doesn’t exist.
“The self is not big enough to fulfill our longing for meaning and purpose. That’s why the atheist’s own invented meanings cannot satisfy the soul. Something more is needed – something transcendent.”
I’ve yet to meet an atheist who experiences such longing, or who feels unable to create his or her own meaning and purpose.
“Third, finding meaning in such things as family is understandable because such relationships are objectively meaningful. So the atheist is not wrong to find meaning in family. He simply can’t make sense of why family is meaningful.”
I’m not sure where you get that idea. As social animals with an especially long and vulnerable childhood, we evolved the need to find meaning in family–because the offspring of those who didn’t have that drive had less of a chance of surviving. Thus, social bonding in the family unit is hardwired into our genes (there are, of course, factors that can weaken or break those bonds for individuals, but all human populations possess strong familial bonds). Thus, it’s not hard to make sense of why family is meaningful through purely natural means.
“Fourth, if meaning and purpose are invented by the self, does that mean anything and everything can have meaning?”
Yes.
“If one chooses to find purpose in stamp-collecting, does that make stamp-collecting meaningful? If one chooses to find purpose in torturing people, does that make torturing people meaningful?”
Yes it does. That doesn’t mean we should tolerate torture, but pretty much anything can give an individual meaning and purpose. And that self-created meaning and purpose is ALWAYS going to be more meaningful than anything imposed on them from an outside source.
“Meaning and purpose are not inventions of the human will, but objective features of the world God created.”
You would have to demonstrate that to be true. And that starts with demonstrating that God exists. Without that, any claim of divinely imposed meaning or purpose isn’t going to be meaningful to a nonbeliever.
One important last point: I’ve asked quite a few Christians who claim God is necessary for meaning and purpose in life what their meaning and purpose is. Not even once has anyone had an answer for me that WASN’T self-created. If nobody can articulate what their divine meaning and purpose is…then what reason is there to believe there is any?
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