And if you weren't, I'm sure you'll catch on in a minute. When folks say things like "the purpose of sex is procreation", what do they mean? A variety of things, but for now... Let's take the classic example of the oft (mis) quoted Augustine on the topic. He is credited with taking all the fun out of sex because he said the purpose of sex was to make people. Let me tell you straight up, as a married man with 3 kids - I've been reading Augustine for 22 years, and he hasn't taken any fun out of my life...
Now, TB et al, in ways can something have a purpose? Let's look at food. What is the purpose of food? Is it the sheer enjoyment of eating? Is it creation of culnary delights? Is it nourishment of the body? In the most simple sense, it is nourishment of the body - that is the purpose of food. But does having that purpose eliminate the possibility that we can enjoy food?
What is the purpose of a car? Evidently the fundamental purpose is transportation - to get from point A to point B. Does that mean that we are not allowed to enjoy the ride? Of course not. But if your sole purpose of getting a car is to show it off to the neighbours, to use it as a status symbol, to annoy other drivers on the road, or simply to use it so that you can burn up non renewable resources, then you are probably not using it properly.
So our question becomes - do things have a primary purpose ordained by God, and if so, how do we discover what that is? Does something having a purpose preclude of enjoyment of it? More later... and yes there is a whole bunch unsaid.
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