“Our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.”
Augustine of Hippo (354–430), in Confessions.
St Augustine, who was an early Christian theologian and philosopher, made the above confession after a succession of frantic searches for fulfilment: Excessive pleasures, false religions, philosophy, dissipation and distractions.
However, his quest left him so weary that he finally cried out, “How long, O Lord, how long?”
At the very moment when he uttered that cry, circumstances led his eyes to a passage in Romans that showed him he could be freed from sin. Shortly afterward, he was baptised.
This should be recommended reading for anyone who wants to understand the meaning of life which has seen man stumbling for answers to find sense in a seemingly purposeless world.
For many years writers and philosophers have analysed the world to find meaning in a senseless universe, a puzzle that St Augustine unravelled after many futile attempts.
In their quest to understand the world, different thinkers have come up with their own interpretation of the world rarely agreeing on any plausible interpretation.
The thinkers agree on one thing though – the absurdity of the world itself.
According to absurdism, humans traditionally attempt to find meaning in their lives with the search traditionally resulting in one of two conclusions: Either that life is meaningless, or life contains within it a purpose set forth by a higher power.
The second conclusion is the Augustian theory of life only making sense when man reunites with his Creator.
The first interpretation though has many followers, among them the late Algerian writer Albert Camus and Søren Kierkegaard the Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and religious author both of who explored the absurdity of life in their writings.
In absurdist philosophy, the Absurd arises out of the fundamental disharmony between the individual’s search for meaning and the meaninglessness of the universe.
The interpretations have affected the direction the Western-influenced humanity has taken in pursuit of meaning explaining the promotion of the celebrity culture, among them.
Surprisingly, even earthly leadership rarely promotes the profoundness of citizens relating to God with some leaders usurping the divine role by defying their leadership.
This explains why despite humanity claiming to have advanced, it is still at the same spot like a trainer who despite running on a treadmill remains in the same position.
This reminds a famous speech made by the legendary actor Charlie Chaplin in the satirical film against fascism ‘The Great Dictator’.
Though made in the 40’s, the film is as relevant today, if not more relevant, as it was when Chaplin was demonised for telling the truth back then.
Here is the speech:
I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible – Jew, Gentile – black man – white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men – cries out for universal brotherhood – for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world – millions of despairing men, women, and little children – victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.
To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. …..
Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!
In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!
Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!
I consider this speech to be one of the greatest speeches that speak to humanity, especially now when the world is moving in a wrong direction pursuing the wind and championing laws and regulations from above.
Whether coming from right-winged or left-winged groups, Republicans or Democrats, purported Christians or non-believers, the rules and regulations are just helping in perpetuating orchestrated chaos and confusion that is carefully planned by the masters of deception who serve the devil.