the meaning of life

I’ve got a classmate that likes to remind me from time to time of our mortality with the classic phrase, “we’re all gonna die anyway”. He seems more likely to say that if we’re trying to accomplish a task that seems difficult and somewhat redundant. For example, if we have to try to learn something that seems so trivial and pointless, he might say something like “I don’t get why we have to learn this, we’re all gonna die anyway”.

In a sense, he’s absolutely right. We’re all going to die at some point, and if that’s the case, then what’s the point in living? What’s the point in trying to do things that seem so unimportant in the midst of the ultimately reality of inescapable death? This questioning can be taken further: why is there something rather than nothing?

Here’s what I think: the meaning of life is to live a meaningful life, in order to justify the glory of God. We are each obligated to use the unique gifts we were each given for the greater good of humankind, thus manifesting the love of God. Now, evolutionary psychologists may answer the meaning of life question by saying that we exist in order to propagate the species; in other words, to procreate and populate the planet so that humankind can live on. And I agree with that because I think that the life meaning question can be answered in different ways. If these two responses to the life question seem incompatible, as one is from a faith perspective and the other is from a science perspective, they actually are not. They are quite compatible with each other. How?

Life meaning #1: Live to justify and share the love of God.

What is the plan of God for man?

God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. In the fullness of time, God the Father sent his Son as the Redeemer and Savior of mankind, fallen into sin, thus calling all into his Church and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, making them adopted children and heirs of his eternal happiness.

Life meaning #2: Live to propagate the species.

What is the plan of God regarding man and woman?

God who is love and who created man and woman for love has called them to love. By creating man and woman he called them to an intimate communion of life and of love in marriage: “So that they are no longer two, but one flesh” (Matthew 19:6). God said to them in blessing “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28).

So there you have it. Both of those quotes are taken directly from teachings of the Catholic Church, where faith and science can truly co-exist. (If that previous statement on faith on science co-existing has irked your interest on the whole evolution vs. creation debate, then you might find it interesting to know that both theories are entirely acceptable and compatible. How? Find out here, and scroll down to my August 5, 2007 entry.  Enjoy!)