MEANING-SEEKING BEINGS
If our universe is made up of nothing but atoms and particles, is any search for real meaning a delusion? In this first film of the documentary series, Ard Louis, a Christian, and David Malone, an atheist, embark on a journey to see if they can reconcile meaning and purpose with the workings of a purely material universe.
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You can find more information about the documentary series along with extended interviews, transcripts and further resources at www.whyarewehere.tv/about/
TRANSCRIPT TO INTRODUCTION
NARRATOR: In every place in every age people seek meaning in their lives. It is perhaps what defines us.
BEN OKRI: We're meaning-seeking beings, we're purpose driven beings. You give people everything and they still feel something's missing. And one day you leave your home to go find out what it is.
NARRATOR: Human beings have always pushed out into the unknown seeking answers where other creatures would not.
JOHN COTTINGHAM: No matter how comfortable, no matter how much our wants and needs are catered for, we have that human hunger to reach out for more. To reach beyond the boundaries. We want to ask why.
NARRATOR: The search for meaning makes sense in a universe ordered by God. But there is a common view within science that seeking meaning is itself meaningless and we should accept that we, and the universe, are nothing but atoms and molecules.
PETER ATKINS: People think that there should be meaning in my life, but you know we’re a hiccup on the way from one oblivion to another.
ALEX ROSENBERG: There are no deeper explanations than those that science provides and the mistake is to be dissatisfied with scientific explanations and to try to seek deeper ones.
NARRATOR: This is professor Ard Louis. He’s a new father - and a professor of physics at Oxford University. He is definitely a meaning-seeking creature.
ARD LOUIS: I’m a scientist, I want to have a system that, at least makes some sense of the world and god plays an important part for me in bringing that whole of life experience together in a coherent whole.
NARRATOR: David Malone has spent twenty years making science documentaries. He is also a meaning seeking creature, but one who doesn’t believe meaning points to God.
DAVID MALONE: I’m as puzzled by the people who are adamantly against religion as I am people who believe it. I just think look, here we are, we’re in the world, we have why questions and we think things are meaningful, what is missing?
ARD LOUIS: Meaning and purpose.
DAVID MALONE: Really?
ARD LOUIS: Yeah
DAVID MALONE: Five minutes ago you had meaning and purpose, somebody pops up and says here’s the proof God doesn’t exist, you go oh my god!
ARD LOUIS: I’d be very worried about it. I’d be tremendously worried.
DAVID MALONE: Really. I haven’t been worried about it all these years.
ARD LOUIS: Well maybe you should be.
NARRATOR: Together they are on a journey to see if it is possible to reconcile meaning, purpose and perhaps even God with the workings of a purely material universe.