Is what you believe a means to an end…

… rather than an answer to why?

In the movie the Matrix Reloaded, the main characters meet the Merovingian (a trafficker of information) and the following discourse takes place:

Morpheus: You know why we are here.
Merovingian: … The question is, do you know why you are here?
Morpheus: We are looking for the Keymaker.
Merovingian: Oh yes, it is true. The Keymaker, of course. But this is not a reason, this is not a why; the Keymaker himself, his very nature, is a means, not an end, and so to look for him is to be looking for a means to do…what?

It is interesting how closely this is related to the question of our humanity. Here are the different explanations given as to why we exist (1):

• We are a machine – we are valued for what we do or can do (achieve)
• We are an animal – human nature is defined almost exclusively in terms of stimulus & response (instinctive)
• We are sexual beings – where it is believed that all human behaviour is derived from sexual motivation (Freud)
• We are economic beings – our behaviour is believed to be derived from self-interest (materialism)
• We are a pawn of the universe – humans are locked in a cosmic struggle between forces more powerful than ourselves (not aliens)
• We are free beings – where free will is seen as the essence of human personality and self-determination seen as THE great virtue
• We are social beings – the prime significance of human beings lies in their position and function in a web of social relationships; our human nature is therefore not distinctly defined but relative to our relationships with others

But if you look carefully at them – and as the Merovingian rightly pointed out above – these views simply point to only a part of the reality of our existence, not the why we exist. We could paraphrase the discourse above as follows:

Morpheus: You know why we are here.
Merovingian: … The question is, do you know why you are here?
Morpheus: We are looking for ….

• recognition (machine)
• physical / sexual gratification (animal / sexual being)
• wealth / possessions (ecomic being)
• freedom to do as we please (pawn / free being)
• significance (social being)

Merovingian: Oh yes, it is true. The (insert reason here), of course. But this is not a reason, this is not a why; [recognition, physical / sexual gratification, wealth / possessions, freedom to do as we please, significance] themselves , are by their very natures, a means, not an end, and so to look for them is to be looking for a means to do…what?

To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.(2)

my name is darryl
and this is what i have to say

Notes:
(1) – via Martin Pohlmann’s notes on Systematic Theology, BTC Randburg, South Africa
(2) – Westminster Cathecism, via via Martin Pohlmann’s notes on Systematic Theology, BTC Randburg, South Africa