THE MEANING OF LIFE
A Critical Comparative Examination of Non-Christian and Christian Views on the Meaning of Life
Abstract
This research seeks to find an accurate explanation of the meaning of life that is widely discussed by the 'world' with its various philosophies. Of course, there will be encounters and separations when the philosophical study of the meaning of life in general is re-examined by the study of Christian theology - which in this context the researcher uses a biblical review. The Bible is a book of mystery; revealing with 'secret' sentences like an abstract painting. Yet it contains many philosophical expressions that are no less profound, accurate, and relevant than the philosophical views of the 'world'. In this way, Christian excellence will appear to 'shine' among the various human inventions in the search for the meaning of life. Through a rigorous comparative approach, the study aims to identify common themes, points of divergence, and underlying philosophical assumptions that underpin these diverse views on life's meaning. It delves into concepts such as purpose, morality, suffering, and transcendence, seeking to uncover the underlying principles that guide individuals and communities in their pursuit of a meaningful existence. By critically evaluating these non-Christian and Christian perspectives, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding the question of life's meaning. It provides readers with a nuanced appreciation of the various intellectual and spiritual traditions that shape our understanding of human existence, ultimately inviting reflection and dialogue on this timeless and profound topic.
Downloads
References
Affolter, J., 2007, “Human Nature as God's Purpose”, Religious Studies, 43: 443–55.
Alexis., A., 2011, The Meaning of Life: A Modern Secular Answer to the Age-Old Fundamental Question, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Audi, R., 2005, “Intrinsic Value and Meaningful Life”, Philosophical Papers, 34: 331–55.
Audi, R., 2005, “Intrinsic Value and Meaningful Life”, Philosophical Papers, 34: 354-55
Baier, K., 1957, “The Meaning of Life”, repr. in The Meaning of Life, 2nd Ed., E. D. Klemke (ed.), New York: Oxford University Press, 2000: 118–20.
Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of Enchantment. (New York: Knopf, 1978), 3.
Brown, D., 1971, “Process Philosophy and the Question of Life's Meaning”, Religious Studies, 7:13–29.
Cottingham, J. (ed.), 2007, Western Philosophy: An Anthology, Oxford: Blackwell.
Cottingham, J., 2003, On the Meaning of Life, London: Routledge.
Cottingham, John. 2005. The Spiritual Dimension: Religion, Philosophy and Human Value. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Craig, W., 1994, “The Absurdity of Life without God”, repr. in Exploring the Meaning of Life: An Anthology and Guide, J. Seachris (ed.), Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013: 153–72.
Craig, W., 1994, “The Absurdity of Life without God”, repr. in Exploring the Meaning of Life: An Anthology and Guide, J. Seachris (ed.), Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013: 153–72.
Craig, W., 1994, “The Absurdity of Life Without God”, repr. in The Meaning of Life, 2nd Ed., E. D. Klemke (ed.), New York: Oxford University Press, 2000: 40–56
Craig, William Lane. 2008. “The Absurdity of Life Without God.” in Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, 3rd Ed., 65-90. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
Davis, W., 1987, “The Meaning of Life”, Metaphilosophy, 18: 288–305.
Ellin, J., 1995, Morality and the Meaning of Life, Ft. Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace.
Frankl, Viktor. Man’s Search for Meaning. (Boston: Beacon Press, 2006), 99.
Goetz, S., 2012, The Purpose of Life: A Theistic Perspective, New York: Continuum.
Hanfling, O., 1987, The Quest for Meaning, New York: Basil Blackwell Inc. 22-24;
Hooker, B., 2008, “The Meaning of Life: Subjectivism, Objectivism, and Divine Support”, in The Moral Life: Essays in Honour of John Cottingham, N. Athanassoulis and S. Vice (eds.), New York: Palgrave Macmillan: 184–200.
Kahane, G., 2011, “Should We Want God to Exist?”, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 82: 674–96.
Karl Britton, Filsafat Kehidupan Dekunstruksi otos Makna Kehidupan, (Terj. Inyiak Uidwan Muzyir, (Yogyakarta: Ar-Ruz, 2002), 16.
Kraay, K. (ed.), 2018, Does God Matter? Essays on the Axiological Consequences of Theism, New York: Routledge.
Levine, M., 1987, “What Does Death Have to Do with the Meaning of Life?” Religious Studies, 23: 457–65.
Lougheed, K., 2020, The Axiological Status of Theism and Other Worldviews, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Metz, T., 2012, “The Meaningful and the Worthwhile: Clarifying the Relationships”, The Philosophical Forum, 43: 435–48.
Morris, T., 1992, Making Sense of It All: Pascal and the Meaning of Life, Grand Rapids, MI: Willliam B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 26.
Murphy, J., 1982, Evolution, Morality, and the Meaning of Life, Totowa, NJ: Rowman and Littlefield, 14–15
Nozick. 1981. Philosophical Explanations, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Pratama, Felix Josef. 2015. Tuhan Mendekati Manusia. Yogyakarta: Kanisius.
Setiadi, Elly M. Ilmu Sosial & Budaya Dasar, (Jakarta: Kencana, 2017), 44.
Singer, I., 1996, Meaning in Life, Volume 1: The Creation of Value, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 29.
Trisel, B. A., 2002, “Futility and the Meaning of Life Debate”, Sorites, 14: 70–84.
Wijaya, Hengki. 2018. Khotbah untuk Pendidikan Warga Jemaat. Jakarta: Sekolah Tinggi Theologia Jaffray.
Williams, G., 1999, “Kant and the Question of Meaning”, The Philosophical Forum, 30: 115–31.
Copyright (c) 2022 Hengky Andrian, Sutrisno Sutrisno, Henoch Budiyanto
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
