I dont "expect" to be united with anyone (I actually fear many people will not be there, I fear for myself). I have no idea what happens after death. I believe that my soul/mind/consciousness is eternal and that if I can have faith in Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness of all my wrongs I will be one with God. A state of perfect love. That is what I beleve the meaning to life is, and the meaning to all existence, and what "God" is: the perfection of love. I beleve that perfection is incomprehensible. That it is the only meaning. If the consciousnesses of my relatives and such are also one with God I guess I will be with them too, but I'm not even sure how consciousness will operate after-death. I guess I expect a non-locality.
The "real meaning" I am referring to is not a result from a pay-off. in my sense "meaning" just means striving to love. It's a belief in absolute right and wrong. Absolute good and bad. I believe that treating others with respect and loving your neighbor is actually the correct way to live regardless of whether or not I choose to live that way, and even though it often feels better not to live that way It is not an open question. Because I believe this I necessarily believe in God. I can still prove neither, it's just my belief.
I'll give an example (and I'm taking it to the extremes because it challenges our views the most and forces us to make a de):
An absolutist sees his wife murdered and becomes enraged because he believes a great injustice was done. - real meaning; right and wrong actually exist; murder is wrong. It is wrong because it is away from perfect love: the meaning of life,also called "God".
A relativeist sees his wife murdered and believes a great injustice was done because he becomes enraged. - illusory meaning; subjective opinions exist, "right" and "wrong" do NOT exist apart from ones personal feelings.
If you believe that "meaning" is real apart from your personal feelings, you can replace "God" with "meaning" and it's still the same belief. Even if you don't believe in "God", if you believe that right and wrong exist apart from our personal feelings, they must have come from somewhere. There must be an absolute standard. That standard does not subject itself to rigorous proof. It necessitates faith. It is impossible to believe in one and not the other; at least from where I'm standing.
If you are like the relativist and believe that "meaning" is illusory and doesn't exist but for personal feelings then it is the opposite. It is impossible to believe in God and believe that "meaning" is illusory. You are still able to live well and be moral and good, but you can't believe that "moral" "good" or "love" actually exist apart from out personal feelings about them. Once we're done that's it that's all, existence finito.
Hope that helps.
The "real meaning" I am referring to is not a result from a pay-off. in my sense "meaning" just means striving to love. It's a belief in absolute right and wrong. Absolute good and bad. I believe that treating others with respect and loving your neighbor is actually the correct way to live regardless of whether or not I choose to live that way, and even though it often feels better not to live that way It is not an open question. Because I believe this I necessarily believe in God. I can still prove neither, it's just my belief.
I'll give an example (and I'm taking it to the extremes because it challenges our views the most and forces us to make a de):
An absolutist sees his wife murdered and becomes enraged because he believes a great injustice was done. - real meaning; right and wrong actually exist; murder is wrong. It is wrong because it is away from perfect love: the meaning of life,also called "God".
A relativeist sees his wife murdered and believes a great injustice was done because he becomes enraged. - illusory meaning; subjective opinions exist, "right" and "wrong" do NOT exist apart from ones personal feelings.
If you believe that "meaning" is real apart from your personal feelings, you can replace "God" with "meaning" and it's still the same belief. Even if you don't believe in "God", if you believe that right and wrong exist apart from our personal feelings, they must have come from somewhere. There must be an absolute standard. That standard does not subject itself to rigorous proof. It necessitates faith. It is impossible to believe in one and not the other; at least from where I'm standing.
If you are like the relativist and believe that "meaning" is illusory and doesn't exist but for personal feelings then it is the opposite. It is impossible to believe in God and believe that "meaning" is illusory. You are still able to live well and be moral and good, but you can't believe that "moral" "good" or "love" actually exist apart from out personal feelings about them. Once we're done that's it that's all, existence finito.
Hope that helps.
