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One of the most fundamental existential questions humans ask is: what does it mean to be human? What makes us human? What is the purpose of the human race? What part do I, as an individual human, play in the grand scheme of the universe? The world today gives competing answers to this question. On the one hand the secular humanist sees the human as the ultimate, most highly evolved life form. There is not other form of life greater than that of the human. At the same time, the materialist sees no grand, universal purpose to humanity, for humans are merely the result of random evolution. Therefore humans have no greater claim on natural resources than animals. To the materialist, humans differ only in degree from animals, not in kind. Astronomers look to the skies and see the human race as a very minor influence on the grand scheme of the heavens. The ramifications of our understanding of humanity have practical, political and personal ramifications. Our views on abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, environmentalism and human rights all come directly from our belief about what it means to be human. More personally, our self-confidence, self-image and self-worth are all driven by an understanding of who we are and what our purpose is. These are questions and issues which have faced humanity from the beginning. They are questions which the bible has provided answers for thousands of years. Download the NotesListen to the LectureTable of Contents
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