The Three Components of Meaning

Augustine believes that everything in the world is moving towards goodness and away from evil. He argues that Christianity combines the purposeful movement of the world with the transformative power of love. According to Augustine, the narrative order of Christianity tells a great story of history's course towards a final consummation, guided by God's love. He also suggests that meaning in life involves coherence, significance, and purpose. Coherence refers to how things fit together and make sense, significance is about the value and goodness in one's life, and purpose pertains to the direction and course of one's life.