It is often said that God is the source of human (and indeed, animal) purpose, and that without God, there is no purpose.
But what is God’s purpose, and who can say?
Let’s dispense with the common confabulation offered in response: God’s purpose is to do just what he does and to be just like he is. Of course, this response defines the difference between an explanation and an assertion, and when it is stated as an explanation, it makes a very tight circle.
When God acts, he manifests divine will.
God created the world, so the world is meant to be a manifestation of divine will. In other words, it is meant to be just what it is.
Any questions?
But there is no real answer within the common confabulation. Maybe the question can be reframed to elicit a precise response.
Can God say why he created the world?
This is not to say that he need explain himself to us. Is he able to explain it for himself ?
If creation was instrumental to some purpose for God – perhaps a cure for loneliness – then creation is actually dependent upon some set of determinants of divine will, i.e. circumstances to which the divine will responds.
If so, whence those cicumstances? Even if God can say, we all (us via God) are beholden to those circumstances. For all of us, the circumstances simply exist, and therefore, all of us simply exist.
But what if creation was not instrumental? Let’s say God simply willed it. In that case, there is no divine insight in principle – not even a Muse to blame – and again, all of us simply exist.
So, we all simply exist, God too.
Dedicated to the Game 