"The Search for Significance" vs. Nihilism

"Once abolish The God and Government becomes God" -- G.K. Chesterton According to many (amoung them being CS Lewis and Francis Schaeffer), society has rejected the concept that creation in general, and MAN in particular, are the work of a creative intelligence in favor of the concept that they are rather the result of impersonal, random cosmic forces and/or energies. For those who take this hypothesis as TRUTH, they are faced with the reality that rather than MAN (and themselves) being a creature of worth, dignity and purpose, he is rather merely a cosmic confluence of chance matter and energy - the VERY same process that brought into existence the virus, the amoebae, or even the ROCK - with NO more inherent worth, dignity, significance, or purpose then they posses. Even what he may LIKE to call "his thoughts, ideas and ideals" are mere illusions, being nothing more than random electrical and chemical activity of brain cells and synapses. Woe to him, even this so-called "theory" has no meaning, since it too is but a random process brought about by said brain cells and synapses. Within this framework, there can be NO absolutes of right or wrong, no meaningful purpose, no goal to devote ones' life to, no reason to deny SELF whatever it might wish or crave. Ayn Rand, in her book, "Atlas Shrugged", first published in 1957, summed up the full content of modern society's so-called "philosophy" and "intellectualism" in the dialog of one of her characters at a party, a Dr. Pritchett, surrounded by other equally mentally vacant characters: "Man? What is man? He is just a collection of chemicals with delusions of grandeur. Man's metaphysical pretensions are preposterous. A miserable bit of protoplasm, full of ugly little concepts and mean little emotions -- and it imagines itself important !! Really, you know, that is the root of all of the troubles in the world." "But which concepts are NOT ugly or mean, Professor?" asked an earnest matron. "None", said Dr. Prichett. "None within the range of man's capacity". A young man asked hesitantly, "But if we haven't any good concepts, how do we know which ones are ugly? I mean, by what standard do we judge?" Dr. Pritchett continued, "There are NO standards! The philosophers of the past were superficial. It remained for OUR century to redefine the purpose of philosophy. The purpose of philosophy is NOT to help man find the meaning of life, but rather to prove to them that Life has NO meaning !!" A young woman asked indignantly, "WHO can tell us that ??" "I am trying to", replied Dr. Pritchett. A second excellent discourse revolves around a book that one of the characters was supposed to have written. The title on the book's jacket was, "Why Do You Think You Think?" "Thought is a primitive superstition. Reason is an irrational idea. The childish notion that we are able to think has been mankind's costliest error. What you think you think is an illusion created by your glands, your emotions and, in the last analysis, by the content of your stomach. That gray matter you're so proud of is like a mirror in an amusement park, which transmits to you nothing but distorted signals from a reality forever beyond your grasp. The more certain you feel of your rational conclusions, the more certain you are to be wrong. Your brain is nothing but an instrument of distortion -- the more active the brain the greater the distortion. The giants of intellect, whom you admire so much, once taught you that the earth was flat and that the atom was the smallest particle of matter. The entire history of science is a progression of exploded fallacies, not of achievements. The more we know, the more we learn that we know nothing. Only the crassest ignoramus can still hold to the old-fashioned notion that seeing is believing. That which you see is the first thing to disbelieve. A scientist knows that a stone is not a stone at all. It is, in fact, identical with a feather pillow -- both are only a cloud formation of the same invisible, whirling particles. However, you say, you can't use a stone for a pillow! Well, that merely proves your helplessness in the face of actual reality. The latest scientific discoveries have demonstrated conclusively that our reason is incapable of dealing with the nature of the universe. These discoveries have led scientists to contradictions which are impossible, according to the human mind, but which exist in reality nonetheless. If you have not yet heard it, my dear old-fashioned friends, it has now been proven that the rational is the insane. Do not expect consistency. Everything is a contradiction of everything else. Nothing exists but contradictions. Do not look for 'common sense.' To demand 'sense' is the hallmark of nonsense. Nature does not make sense. Nothing makes sense. The only crusaders for 'sense' are the studious type of adolescent old maid who can't find a boy friend, and the old-fashioned shopkeeper who thinks that the universe is as simple as his neat little inventory and beloved cash register. Let us break the chains of the prejudice called 'Logic'. Are we going to be stopped by a syllogism? So you think you're sure of your opinions? You cannot be sure of anything. Are you going to endanger the harmony of your community, your fellowship with your neighbors, your standing, reputation, good name and financial security — for the sake of an illusion? For the sake or the mirage of thinking that you think? (Note: As another character in a different movie responded, "I do not think about those things which I do not think about !!") Are you going to run risks and court disasters — at a precarious time like ours — by opposing the existing social order in the name of those imaginary notions of yours which you call your convictions? You say that you are sure you are right? Nobody is right, or ever can be. You feel that the world around you is wrong? You have no means to know it. Everything is wrong in human eyes — so why fight it? Don't argue. Accept. Adjust yourself. Obey !!!" I HIGHLY recommend a CAREFULL reading of this book, keeping in mind that it IS NOT a "christian" book nor is it a book on "christianity". It is rather a book on ethics and moral philosophy, written by an athiest. Buy your INEXPENSIVE books at one of these sites: Amazon, Alibris, Abebooks. There are also three VERY good movies derived from this book available. I would also suggest that you read another outstanding excerpt from this book [ Here ], which I have entitled, "An Ode to Money and Wealth". Many years ago there was a popular song by a singer named B.J. Thomas entitled, "There are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see." Another man by the name of William James is credited with saying, "Many people think they are thinking when, in reality, they are merely REARRANGING their Prejudices." This precarious predicament is called "existential nihilism", and is, in varying degrees, the prevailing mindset of modern, materialistic, "scientific" society. Is it any wonder that as a society, we are inundated and saturated with aimlessness and purposelessness, escapism of all forms (drugs, sex, entertainment), immorality, perversion of the Arts, unprecedented violence, rebellion against ALL authority, superabounding materialism, devaluation of human life, greed and a TOTALLY self-centered attitude of, "ME First, Last and Only" !! No longer is our "societal house" built upon the "Rock of Ages", but we now rather have a society comprised of (living) Rocks !! (maybe "rock music" is aptly named ??) Writer CS Lewis make the point (in slightly different words) that once you have become what the world calls "totally free" - unrestrained by any forces of morality, ethics, duty, or society - then your "freedom" has truly become a prison from which there is NO escape !! "At the moment, then, of Man's victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected to that in themselves which is purely 'natural' -- to their irrational impulses. Nature, untrammeled by values, rules the Conditioners and, through them, all humanity. Man's conquest of Nature turns out, in the moment of its consummation, to be Nature's conquest of Man. Every victory we seemed to win has led us, step by step, to this conclusion. All Nature's apparent reverses have been but tactical withdrawals. We thought we were beating her back when she was luring us on. What looked to us like hands held up in surrender was really the opening of arms to enfold us for ever. If the fully planned and conditioned world (with its Tao a mere product of the planning) comes into existence, Nature will be troubled no more by the restive species that rose in revolt against her so many millions of years ago, will be vexed no longer by its chatter of truth and mercy and beauty and happiness. Ferum victorem cepit (Translation: Captive Greece captured her rude conqueror): and if the eugenics are efficient enough there will be no second revolt, but all snug beneath the Conditioners, and the Conditioners beneath her, till the moon falls or the sun grows cold." Download and Read "The Abolition Of Man" by C.S. Lewis. For a TRULY frightening, prophetic picture of what our "social planners and manipulators" would make out of mankind and society if THEY had a free hand, read the novel, "That Hideous Strength" by C. S. Lewis. "Man has got to take charge of Man. That means, remember, that some men have got to take charge of the rest --- sterilization of the unfit, liquidation of backward races (we don't want any dead weights), selective breeding --- We'll get on to biochemical conditioning in the end and direct manipulation of the brain." Buy your INEXPENSIVE books at one of these sites: Amazon, Alibris, Abebooks. According to inventor Ray Kurzweil, subject of the documentary "Transcendent Man" , technology is headed right toward us - into us, in fact. Kurzweil has said that by the year 2029, an exponential increase in nanotechnology, genetics, and robotics will result in a brave new world known as "the singularity," in which man and his machines are no longer distinguishable, because machines will become human, and humans will become machines - free from all traces of disease, deficiency, and death. View movie trailer here --->> Based upon the above, is it any wonder that our society is plagued by unprecedented numbers of attempted and/or completed suicides, especially among our younger members (high school and college). However, the REAL wonder is that the number is not MUCH greater! If one TRULY believes the tenets of "existential nihilism", there is NOTHING to live FOR !! If ALL that is and will ever occur is merely the result of random and chaotic matter and energy, where can there possibly be ANY chance for personal, individual significance or for that of our life ?? One more example of the hypocrisy of our society is shown in the fact that attempted (and completed) suicide is, in some US states, still considered an unwritten "common law crime," and as such is a criminal offense. For one person to assist another in their suicide IS a criminal offense. If a person DOES attempt to take their life, ALL that can be done to save it is done, even over the stringent objections of its owner. My question is, "On WHAT grounds do they make this judgment??" If everything is impersonal, random and without meaning of ANY form (moral ??), then what is the loss if a life is taken by its owner?? It had no value anyway!! -- or so, at least, say the "Existentialists". I AM NOT saying that I do or do not support suicide -- I am merely pointing out the mindless inconsistency of "social values". So, true to form, our "social manipulators (engineers)" are trying their best to do to the concept of "human significance" what they have already done in large part in the areas of Faith (God), Family, Morality, Marriage and Male-Female Distinctiveness -- that is, to demolish the structure, plough under the "ancient ways", and leave nothing in its place except "sand castles", ruin and desolation !! They would tear down the massive structures built of granite stone (moral and ethical principles - values - concepts) which have endured the storms for thousands of years, and in their place they would construct "shanties made of rotten wood" (the prevailing "fad of the hour") !! We need to remember ONE VERY important point when formulating new "moral and ethical principles". The fruit of the seed will not become visible for MANY years, and by then it may be too late to undo the results. Take for instance Dr. Spock, whose book "Baby and Child Care", published in 1946, is blamed by many as being a prime cause for the disastrous state of today's youth. Whether or not his ideas were misunderstood and/or misapplied, they still influenced the rearing of millions of children. There is a story told of a parishioner who constantly spread malicious rumors about her pastor. One day, convicted by God as to her error, she went to said pastor to repent and apologize. The pastor said to her, "Certainly I accept your apology, and I pray to God that you have truly learned something. However, I would ask you to accompany me for a moment." He led her up many stairs to the top of the church's bell tower, where he proceeded to cut open a feather pillow that he had brought along, and to shake out its feathers into the wind. He then asked the woman, "Are you able to gather again ALL of the feathers that I have just scattered?" "Of course not", she replied. "No, and neither can your apology of, 'I am sorry' retrieve ALL of the malicious words that you have scattered and undo their damage" !! "Everyone who hears these words of mine (Jesus speaking) and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!" ****** Matthew 7:24-27 Many Philosophers, Psychologists, Theologians and Christian writers agree in general that MAN can not exist, function and grow into healthy (physical, psychological and spiritual) maturity without a sense of personal worth, dignity, purpose and significance, and as a corollary, neither can society. If MAN falls, society MUST fall !! The Apostle Paul expresses this idea in relation to Christianity -- i.e., if the basic tenets of the Christian Faith are NOT true, then only a fool would do anything other than to get ALL that he (she) can get out of THIS life for the few years allotted to them. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone. ...... If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ****** 1 Corinthians 15:13-19,32 Perhaps more than ever before in its history, TODAY our society - and ESPECIALLY its younger members - are obsessed with finding purpose, value and significance in their OWN lives and in the world in general !! This seems to have begun acceleration around the 1960's, giving rise to the "Jesus Movement", the drug culture, the general movement of "spiritism", the rebellion against and rejection of traditional social values and morality, and the general apathy and cynicism so rampant in today's (2011) society. Beginning in the music of the 1960's, you can see and hear the frustration, the emptiness, the confusion and the loneliness in the hearts of the younger generation expressed by their musical artists and music. They are crying out, trying to make sense of life -- THEIR LIFE in particular -- searching for value and SIGNIFICANCE. They are asking, "Who am I, What am I, Why am I here, is there ANYONE there, does ANYONE care ???? Regrettably - for both individuals AND for society - as the years rolled past, the tone of the music and the philosophy of the youth has become more cynical, more nihilistic, more hateful, more violent, increasingly rejecting a society that they felt was turning them into meaningless zombies A secular music artist that I have admired, respected and loved his music from my 20's days until today is Neil Diamond. I believe that what attracted me to him (and STILL does) is the above mentioned quality contained in MANY (not all) of his songs. His music emphasizes the point of this essay from a non-Christian perspective. It points out that, try as it will, the "social machine" CAN NOT erase man's search for destiny, meaning and significance -- it can only produce frustrated, angry, hateful zombies !!! In "I've Been This Way Before", he writes: I've seen the light, And I've seen the flame Some people got to laugh, Some people got to cry Some people got to make it through, By never wondering why Some people got to sing, Some people got to sigh Some people never see the light, Until the day they die But I've been released, And I've been regained And I've been this way before, And I'm sure to be this way again In "I am ... I said", he observes: Well, I'm New York City born and raised, But nowadays, I'm lost between two shores LA's fine, but it ain't home, NY's home but it ain't mine no more I am, I said - To no one there - And no one heard at all - Not even the chair I am, I cried - I am, said I - And I am lost, and I can't even say why Leavin' me lonely still But I got an emptiness deep inside, And I've tried but it won't let me go And I'm not a man who likes to swear, But I've never cared for the sound of being alone In "Stones" he sings: Stones would play inside her head And where she slept, They made her bed And she would ache For love and get - but stones Lordy, child, A good day�s comin� And I�ll be there to let the sun in And bein� lost Is worth the comin� home In "Solitary Man" he announces: I've had it to here Bein' where love's a small word Part-time thing, paper ring I know it's been done Havin' one girl who'll love me Right or wrong, weak or strong Don't know that I will But until I can find me The girl who'll stay And won't play games behind me I'll be what I am A solitary man, solitary man In "Play Me", he continues: For I've been lonely, In need of someone As though I'd done Someone wrong Somewhere, I don't know where, Come lately And so it was That I came to travel Upon a road That was thorned and narrow Another place, Another grace, Would save me Finally, in the sound track for the movie, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull", the ENTIRE experience expresses the searching and longing to find that which the heart and soul hungers for -- to rise above and out of the common, the empty, the profane -- into that life of "spirituality" where we can finally "BECOME" what God created us to be !! I don't know whether or not Neil Diamond ever ACTUALLY connected with the source of meaning and significance that he obviously was seeking (Jesus Christ). I hope that he did. He indicates in one of his songs - "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" live 1970 - that he was certainly pointed down the right path. I don't make these songs available here because they contain the answer, though in some it is hinted at as though "darkly, hidden yet behind a veil". I make them available because they so eloquently voice and express the longing, painful cry of so many hearts, and because God can, if He so wishes, cry out to His lost, hurting children even through the voice of an "unbeliever". I heard this cry through numerous such instruments during many of the years that God was calling out to me !! I hope that you enjoy the following music by Neil Diamond [ Click Here ] as much as I have and STILL do. This issue was the subject of a book written many years ago. You may download a .pdf copy of it here, entitled, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" a story by Richard Bach. Writers CS Lewis and Francis Schaeffer insisted that ONLY the God of creation, Jesus Christ, and Man's Redemption can meet this need FULLY. You may glean some interesting insights and oversights from an excellent book, "C.S. Lewis & Francis Schaeffer: Lessons for a New Century from the Most Influential Apologists of Our Time" Also, "How Then Should We Live?" and a "Trilogy" of his books, by Francis Schaeffer. Buy your INEXPENSIVE books at one of these sites: Amazon, Alibris, Abebooks. I believe that certainly one of the things that awed (and intimidated) people about Jesus was that He was totally confident in Himself and totally without guile or pretense. He knew without a doubt, "Who He was, Why He was here, and Where He was going" !! He knew that He was TOTALLY beloved and accepted by His Father -- and that He was fully sufficient. He did NOT have to pretend to be anything or strive to prove anything. He was TOTALLY sufficient in Who and What He was !! He could be what He was and do what was needful in perfect confidence. As John stated: Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, He got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples feet and to dry them with the towel He had wrapped around himself. ****** John 13:3-5 After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight." Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ****** Matthew 3:16-4:1 By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. We love because he loved us first. ****** 1 John 4:17-19 Jesus was the PERFECT Man -- Holy and "WHOLLY" complete. He was fully authentic -- no pretense, no hidden agendas, no masks, no hypocrisy, no "social, religious or political correctness". He was not fragmented into numerous "selves", each wearing their mask appropriate for the occasion -- the religious self, the business self, the home self, the private self, ETC. With Jesus it was, as they say today, "What you see is what you get !!" For an excellent book discussing the sickness of today's "plastic (fake) society", read "The Tyranny of Niceness: Unmasking the Need for Approval". Buy your INEXPENSIVE books at one of these sites: Amazon, Alibris, Abebooks. You may read an exerpt from the book [ HERE ]. You might also like to read an EXCELLENT article [ HERE ] entitled, Jesus Is Not "Nice" -- But He IS God!