My point about “true calling” really does presume a Judeo-Christian worldview. It’s certainly not meant to sound like a rebuke or any negative posture towards anyone else, but certainly, I can’t help but now and again post something with my worldview in mind. And in this case it follows that “calling” will make no sense to someone who does not share that worldview.

Further, I’m not sure what to say to an atheist in this matter… Well, perhaps I can say that as a Christian I think it makes no material difference whether you believe in God or not… you are still created in a certain way, with a God-ordained destiny… an optimal path, if you will. I don’t mean to sound arrogant in saying that — as if I’m trying to push my belief onto you.

If I can reflect a little on how this all may differ for an atheist…

As a Christian I have no doubt that I am part of something bigger — that God’s got us all on a trajectory towards a terminus… a goal. Also, I know that although it’s shrouded in mystery and God works with me on a need-to-know basis (and mostly I don’t need to know!), my life has a purpose. He has stuff planned beforehand for me to do, to quote Paul.

The dilemma of atheism, I have to assume, is that you’re in a bit of a philosophical no-man’s-land, in that you have no basis for coming up with something like “divine purpose” or, as you pointed out, “true calling”. Sartre, an existentialist, decided the best he could come up with was a quest for experience; for life being it’s own justification, kind of. And he admitted that he was on the last stop on the philosophical train line, before total nihilism. Sad indeed.

But that would leave me feeling pretty darn empty, to be honest. I thank God that he found me, that he revealed himself to me, because so many of my questions are now answered, or are just not questions any more. I just “know in my knower”, as it were, that I’m ok with him, and that he’s giving my life meaning… indeed giving the world meaning.

I don’t know what direction you were taking with your comment, and I fear I’m not helping much!

One thing I would say… you ARE spiritual. Like it or not. You and I may differ on the definition, I suppose, but I’d mean that to suggest that you and I are purpose-built for transcendence… specifically for relationship with God. All the rationalistic, atheistic, humanistic, materialistic hammering in the world can’t take that “essence” away from a human being. Don’t be afraid of it, either. It doesn’t mean you’re going weird. I see nothing anti-science or anti-intellectual in choosing to accept that there may be “much more” going on than our current scientific apparatus allow us to observe, measure and interact with.

What harm is there in asking the God who may be there to show up for you if he IS there?! If you pray that, then be prepared to call yourself an agnostic, not an atheist, of course!!

Nice post for a newbie like me. I am just starting to promote my site and will try to join some affiliate marketing programs, hope this will work for me.