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Purpose -a human perspective 

finding purpose outside God 

the idea of a “life driven purpose”

The film producer, Ingmar Bergman, had some interesting things to say about purpose. He was the son of a Lutheran pastor, becoming an atheist later in life.

The website http://www.celebatheists.com/wiki/Ingmar_Bergman quotes from his autobiography, “The Magic Lantern”. The box on the right gives his human perspective of purpose and how he got to what he thought.
 

The once Christian vicar, now atheist, Dan Barker, has written a book “Life driven purpose: how an atheist finds meaning” - he seems to take the same view, talking about “life driven purpose”.

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what is a “life driven purpose” all about?

I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what “living is its own meaning” and “life driven purpose” might mean. Fundamentally, I think it is really simple and boils down to Howard Thurman’s quote about “coming alive” - see right. 

 

I sense that we fulfill our purpose on a human perspective when we spend time doing what makes our hearts sing, doing the things that we love, the things that we’re good at, the things that express who we feel we are, being "in our element".

“I have struggled all my life with a tormented and joyless relationship with God.  Faith and lack of faith, punishment, grace and rejection, all were real to me, all were imperative.  

My prayers stank of anguish, entreaty, trust, loathing and despair. God spoke, God said nothing. 

Do not turn from Thy face. 

The lost hours of that operation provided me with a calming message.  

You were born without purpose, you live without meaning, living is its own meaning. “

Ingmar Bergman

Dr Howard Thurman, born in 1899, was an influential American author, philosopher, theologian, educator and civil rights leader, alongside Martin Luther King. He wrote:

  • "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

So for me, “life driven purpose” is rooted in the following:​​

  • in who you are - your characteristics and qualities that you were born with and those that your life experiences have created

  • in what’s important to you, your values 

  • in what you love doing

  • in what you are good at doing - your strengths ... and more

and ...

  • finding your "life driven purpose" is a crucial for absolutely everyone.

  • we are all unique individuals, with our very individual bundle of talents, strengths, skills, loves, hates - if we are to fully come alive, then we will want to get really clear on these to be truly authentic

  • my programme is all about giving you the simple tools to do this and create your purpose statement

finding purpose - a God perspective

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