Hey,DC85...this IS a difficult concept, and all that each of us have is our opinions, beliefs, and conclusions. Lets start with the definition of the word, "purpose".
Websters writes:
1purpose \"pr-ps\ n 1 : an object or result aimed at : intention 2 : resolution, determination purposeful \-fl\ adj purposefully adv purposeless adj purposely adv
2purpose vb purposed; purposing : to propose as an aim to oneself
Keep in mind that my explanation is influenced by my belief paradigm, DC. God has a purpose unto Himself as a proposal to Himself. This makes no sense from a human objective viewpoint but from the viewpoint of an eternally existing Creator it makes perfect sense.
NIV writes:
Prov 19:21=Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Isa 46:10= I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand...
So what is mans purpose? The so called religious "experts" in the time of Jesus rebelled against the evident authority which Jesus carried with (and within) him.
Luke 7:29-30=(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
For an atheist, quotations from the Bible to explain the Bible never impresses. Let us turn to the only OTHER source besides the Word of God.....human wisdom. By the way, when I discuss issues pertaining to God and faith with people like you who do not accept the Bible as any more than a fallible book, I am mindful and respectful of the fact that you, like I, wish to learn more. For me, I habitually use Gods Word as a comparitive standard...a yardstick of philosophy, as it were. What do philosophers say about "purpose"?
Wikipedia writes:
Purpose is deliberately thought-through goal-directedness.
According to some philosophies, purpose is central to a good human life. Helen Keller wrote that happiness comes from "fidelity to a worthy purpose", and Ayn Rand wrote that purpose must be one of the three ruling values of human life (the others are reason and self-esteem). Some people think that God assigns purposes to people and that it is their mission to fulfill them. Others say that purposes are freely chosen by individuals, or not chosen, in which case their lives lack meaning. Among these, some say that natural propensities may determine what sorts of purposes a person needs to pursue, but do not guarantee that he or she will pursue them, that being dependent on free choice.
Pursuing a career, raising a family and acquiring property are perhaps the most widespread of long-term purposes that make life meaningful according to such philosophies. Helping the needy is an oft-cited, but less popular example.
I really can't define Gods purpose beyond what one can gather concerning such a thing. I believe that all of us are part of His overall purpose and plan.
DC85 writes:
I don't understand why you feel you need a purpose?
And I can't imagine why anyone would not want one!
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