Christian "purpose" and "meaning" in life.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Hardship makes some people turn away from God. Others turn to God. I don't know why that is, but I'm guessing that it is the same reason why, when times are good, some people thank God and others simply enjoy the blessings.

Does there need to be a reason other than the physiological changes that occur within the body at any given interaction with the environment? That is, is faith in your God vs. my God vs. No God really any different than your preference for chocolate ice cream vs. my preference for cake?

I guess it also depends on where people look for God and what you expect to find. If only miracles and visions will satisfy someone's need to know then they're bound for disappointment. If a person is truly receptive to the 'still soft voice' and willing to be lead by it, I truly believe they will become aware a spiritual presence in their lives.

I think you hit on a deeper problem, which is that "God" is so ill-defined, people can literally believe they've found "him" on their french toast, if they're "truly receptive" to a "spiritual presence"---by which you mean something supernatural, I mean something physiological (and science seems to vindicate that to some extent, whereas religion doesn't), and we both mean that it does feel magical at times.

If by vindicate you mean that spiritual experiences have physical affects, I don't see that as justification for assuming that spiritual events are entirely physical. And I was careful to say spiritual experience recognizing that different religious traditions interpret these experiences in various ways. That does not invalidate the basic experience.