WHY ARE YOU HERE?
Searching for the Meaning of Life
By John Blanchard
EP Books. 281 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 783 970 681
Questions about the meaning and purpose of life have been asked since the beginning of literature. Therefore to re-run the question again in a book should require either a compelling challenge to do so, or an answer written with compelling argument.
I am delighted that this book meets both those requirements. It was written in response to Stephen Hawking’s assertion that ‘the meaning of life is what you choose it to be’. John Blanchard carefully counters Hawking’s arguments in science and philosophy. For those (like myself) from a non-scientific background, it is very helpful to have arguments explained clearly and simply. It is surely the mark of a good author if he can explain complicated things in an understandable way.
Brainwashed
In chapter five, ‘The Restless Search’, there is a particularly perceptive statement about our culture: ‘We are brainwashed into believing that success in life means business success, academic success, sporting success. The question as to whether a person is loving, patient, kind and loyal is viewed as largely irrelevant. How much does he earn? What grades did he get? These are the questions our society operates on and it is producing a hard, lonely and cut-throat world.’ (p.87). The book goes on to give pointers to God in creation and then to point us to Jesus himself.
It concludes with a direct (written in the second person singular) challenge to find the real meaning of life by putting God first through repentance and faith and seeking his glory. The book is well written, with many illustrations from film, television, art, music, literature and especially poetry (which I enjoyed). I recommend it either to get reacquainted with contemporary arguments around the meaning of life, or to give to a friend who may be thinking about such questions.
