If I asked you to guess them, you probably would guess this one. “What is the purpose of life?” you might wonder. That’s indeed an important question. A vision is what steers our life. If there is no purpose in life, then how we live it does not really matter. You could also guess the other three by reviewing my previous post or continue reading this one. In this post, I will elaborate on these questions and their significance.
So, What Are The Other Three Big Questions?
Second, our origin is another hot topic. It is far from being settled by science. Did we arise from matter? Or, are we embodied beings created in the image of God? Our origin determines the value of our lives. Origin is also intimately connected with the purpose of our existence. If our purpose is to know God, how can we possibly achieve this purpose as a heap of particles? How could these particles acquire consciousness and awareness? How could the material perceive and develop a personal relationship with God? Why would we treat any heap of particles, we call human, with unconditional value and dignity?
Third, the question of morality is vital. Morality affects our ethical choices and behaviors. It enables us to understand feelings such as guilt and shame. On a communal level, morality affects our laws, our views on identity, family, and personal rights and freedoms. Morality is also connected with the other two questions. our origin and value determine how we treat each other. If I believe that fetuses were not human persons and, thus, with conditional value, abortion will not be morally wrong.
Fourth, the question of destiny is our final question. What happens to us when we die? Again, the answer depends on our origin. If we are embodied beings, then dust is not our ultimate end. Our destiny is also related to the question of morality. For if we are embodied beings, then our ethical choices have eternal consequences. This will greatly affect how we live and treat others.
But these questions have certain assumptions. Can you tell what they are?
The Assumptions
First, the questions assume that the answer is potentially objective. Objective means that the answer exists independent of our minds and cultures. Stated differently, it means that, somehow, we know that despite our different biases and backgrounds, the answers to these questions exist and we can discover them. For example, torturing babies for fun is morally wrong; this is true regardless of the views of other cultures. However, some challenge this assumption.
Second, these questions assume that the answer is discoverable. You might agree that there is an objective answer but you might also question if we can discover these answers. Some argue, for example, that we cannot transcend our biases to see these objective truths.
Third, the God question sets the stage for the answers we are likely to discover. If the evidence points to the non-existence of God, then chances that we are embodied beings go down significantly. Conversely, if we discover that moral values are objective, then theism becomes more plausible.
Conclusion
In short, it seems that we have two distinct sets of questions. Questions related to the existence of God and these four questions. Each set can be addressed in a somewhat independent manner. However, the findings of each should complement one another like puzzle pieces. Then, we assess which worldview best explains the data we have from natural sciences, reason and philosophy, historical inquiry, and human experience.
In the next blog, I will reflect more on the first two assumptions.