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Important prefatory notes: I do not accept the description of “God” in any religious writing in the nature of a “bible.” Nor do I accept the description of “heaven,” “hell,” “angels,” or any other tangentials in any religious writing. I do not disrespect the person or opinions of anyone who believes any formal religious tenets, nor anyone who does not.
In my view, all religions have been created by mankind in order to (1) explain the inexplicable, and (2) to provide a set of principles and rules for the conduct of life. I do not disrespect any religion for doing so.
This essay is not about religion, but rather about the source of everything in existence, and in particular about the source of “life.” ____________________
I have been studying religion and religion as philosophy almost all my life. I remember as a 6- or 7-year old boy in Religious Instruction classes being taught from a Catechism. [A catechism is a form of teaching and learning by rote from a logically-arranged series of questions and answers.]
I still remember the first questions in my catechism:
“Q: Who made thee? “A: God made me.
“Q: Why did God make thee? “A: God made me to love him and serve him in this life, and to be with him in the next.”
For something being taught to such a young person, with the expectation that it will be understood on his level, that’s actually not a bad start to explaining the inexplicable.
Later in life, however, as I expanded my study of religions of the world and philosophy, it became clearer and clearer to me that those who wrote and taught about religion were trying to explain what they thought they understood to people who did not have the intellect or education to understand it on a philosophical level, so the teachers brought it down to a level they could understand, and often resorted to stories as images of something theoretically more concrete. Importantly, however, the teachers did not tell the faithful that these were poetic stories [fables?] and not reality.
While accepting the concept of a creator and sustainer of life, they were unable to visualize that creator as anything but “a person-like being” with a human-like body, emotions, and thoughts, but with supernatural power, as a simpler description for something so far beyond our ability to conceive.
To complicate my learning process, my study of the sciences and the empirical evidence science provides, gave me an uncomfortable sense that while I could easily reject the fabulous in religious teaching, science kept increasing my conviction that there had to have been a creator and sustainer of life. The longer I lived and the more I learned, the more inescapable that conviction became, as did the other conviction that bible versions of creation were not viable.
I could write for an hour about the observations of Nature which make their origin from a creator beyond question for me. Let me give just a few.
We live in a universe which is literally beyond our comprehension. An untold number of planets are orbiting an untold number of stars in an untold number of galaxies extending across a universe whose immensity is incalculable and actually beyond our imagination. The last numbers I heard are hundreds of billions of galaxies, each containing hundreds of billions of stars. We can’t even imagine the sense of “a billion” anything, let alone hundreds of billions, let alone hundreds of billions of galaxies.
The notion that all of that matter came from nothing is even more difficult to accept; as is the notion that it all came from a “uniformity” — a completely made-up word to name (but not to define, and without proof) what supposedly existed before the universe exploded into existence — and which came into existence all by itself without a creating force named or even defined.
At the same time, we live in a universe which is also small beyond our comprehension. One-celled creatures too small to be seen with the naked eye, yet have life. Bodies in all forms which come into existence from matter that starts with eggs or seeds or parts thereof, also so small as to be unseen with the naked eye, yet having life. Animal bodies which are formed according to a plan to be found in DNA in chromosomes too small to be seen with the naked eye and having distinct parts even smaller. Imagine a distinct life beginning with just two of these chromosomes which combine to begin a process of self-replication followed by self-modification and self-differentiation to make all of the highly-specialized cells in the body.
And those highly-specialized cells cause the most amazing behaviours! Some cells are specifically created to become parts of an eye with connections to other cells which are specifically created to become parts of a brain and allow the animal to “see” everything around it. Others become internal organs which take organic material and turn it into energy, others which burn energy, and others which turn it into waste material, and others which expel it. Others self-differentiate into organs that provide for self-reproduction into organisms exactly like themselves, or more amazingly, into organisms which are not exactly like either parent.
Every organ of the body has its own amazing life story, and all of the “decisions” for all of these characteristics are handed down from the parents within a set of sub-microscope genes within microscopic chromosomes.
And the resulting organisms can live for anywhere from 24 hours (certain insects are hatched, mate, and die within 24 hours) to others which can live for centuries.
[I have not yet scratched the surface of the amazing special characteristics of innumerable astonishingly different species. It would take a good-size library to contain all of the information about distinctive characteristics of different species of animals, plants, and other life forms, all from one lightning strike on some enzymes in a pool of primordial ooze?]
And so we know of things in existence that range in size from sub-atomic to incomprehensibly huge. And we see the outward manifestations of “life” without the faintest knowledge of what life is, where it is, where it came from, or where it goes.
I do know that my body has lived for more than 77 years and that it replaces its own cells in a complex schedule that we can sometimes calculate but can never explain. And it has co-operated in producing three new life forms directly and several others in the next generation, in a process which I can trace in my family back 300 years and which will — or has the capacity to — go on to an unknown moment in future time, and can be expected to continue forward as long as its history is behind.
Did you know that “Otzi,” the man whose frozen body was found in the Alps, who lived over 5,000 years ago, has living “relatives” today, as evidenced by elements of his DNA which have remained unchanged over that time? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24477038
Now. With even that brief statement of the size, complexity, and wonder of this tiny sliver of all creation that we know, how can I imagine that it came about — in all its magnificent complexity — from no cause, or as the result of an accidental lightning strike?
And so I am left with what is difficult for some to accept — a creator and sustainer of life with powers even more beyond our comprehension. [I must repeat here that I am not referring to any biblical “god.”] Some believe that, because we cannot conceive of such powers, and therefore of the nature of any such entity, they must not exist. Tragically, the people who survived the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki could not conceive of such power — or who could have “created” it — yet nevertheless they had empirical evidence that it did exist, and had to have been created by someone. The survivors, like you and me, still don’t know how it works.
I was alive at that time and remember vividly that no-one in my experience had ever heard of an “atomic bomb,” and had no idea what an atomic bomb was, or how it worked, or how much destruction it caused.
This creator/sustainer clearly must be omnipotent — with powers whose effect we can see [if we look with an open mind] but not comprehend — and omnipresent — meaning being everywhere, even within every living organism and thing — and omniscient — knowing all. As a result of having read a number of philosophers on the subject, I see that this creator/sustainer must also exist without reference to time, or is “omnitemporal” in the word I have coined to name it.
Inasmuch as creation continues, with the known creation of more planets, stars, and galaxies, and life itself, it is at least likely that the creator continues also, unless all of creation was set in motion and is simply continuing as designed.
Part of the bewilderment I see in some who do not accept the notion of a creator/sustainer comes from the fact that they cannot comprehend or even imagine such powers; and if they cannot understand the immensity and complexity of creation, they cannot understand a power commensurate with that immensity and complexity. The atomic bomb outcome.
I listen to any of the great pieces of classical music and in my amazed appreciation of what the composer did with nothing but sound, I cannot comprehend how he did it. Imagine Beethovan composing exquisite music while completely deaf, writing on paper the music that he heard only in his mind.
Inventors who were able to use their knowledge of science and their purely awe-inspiring imagination have invented things that we cannot believe can work. Who knew that there was a way to make “radio” waves carry sound across miles — now far out into space and back, demonstrably beyond the limits of our solar system? Who first imagined that radio waves even exist? Or how to harness them, send sound across them, receive them, and turn them back into sound again for our ears? I could go on identifying things man has “discovered” and turned into something useful.
Then explain to me that all of these discovered things — and more — came to be by accident, and how, and from what? Electricity, for example. It’s not a physical entity, but it exists and shocked same puddle of primordial ooze from which life itself emerged, from a random lightning strike?
I first learned from a philosopher whose name has escaped me that it is not the least bit difficult to know that a powerful creator/sustainer brought all of this into existence and sustains it. Just look around you, he suggested. There is nothing but endless empirical evidence that it had to have been created. I add that you have a couple of options — pure chance without impetus, a puddle of ooze, or an unknowable but obvious creator/sustainer.
Some of you will ask me where this creator/sustainer comes from. I don’t know. Neither does anyone who prefers some kind of “big bang” theory know where matter came [comes] from. That the answer, if known, would be astonishing beyond our puny understanding is not a reason to doubt it. The history of mankind is filled with answers beyond our ability to grasp at first, and which have been proven and accepted when known and understood, and those questions are far easier to answer than the source of the creator/sustainer.
Finally, this. Some of you will ask how I know this. I reply by asking how I know that it snowed overnight, inasmuch as it registered in none of my senses, and no-one reported it to me. Well, last night before I retired, the streets, sidewalks, and buildings were clean and dry. This morning everything was covered with snow. I didn’t see the snow fall, but I know it did. Empirical evidence and inductive reasoning. There is no other explanation.
Except perhaps the ever-available puddle of primordial ooze with enzymes struck by lightning — the puddle, the enzymes, and the lightning having come into existence all by themselves in the first place, apparently.
It s where science and individual belief,logic come together at some point and you have to choose what's what.
The answer is of course....no one knows the answer.
All I know is the universe and the laws of physics are one weird place to be, we re only scratching the surface at the moment of it all.
Maybe we never know the truth until we die.
But surely your individual belief should be based on some sort of evidence?
For instance, if you take the same position as Davillin does regarding the big bang theory where because the theory isn't complete and can't explain everything then none of it can be true and then apply that same logic to, say, gravitational theory does that mean you can choose to not believe in gravity or attribute the effects of gravity to a supreme being despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary?
Of course no one knows the definitive answers to anything but we do have best guesses based on our cumulative knowledge up to this point. These are not ideas poofed out of thin air wild haired scientists they are based on years of research and testing, we have real world applications for the science that supports these theories GPS being my favourite example as it can only work if relativity works.
If man evolved from monkeys why do we still have monkeys?
Looking at it from a scientific viewpoint then you are correct.
My point being there is something higher than science that can t be explained with cold hard facts.
An almost higher,super science that quantum physics is only just beginning to understand..,it is out there...
Again it s down to the individual,if I look at it from a spiritual viewpoint,which is personal to me then, I come to a different conclusion.
I really don t expect anyone to take my opinions seriously as they are mine only,I certainly would nt force anyone to agree with them.Everyone make up their own mind,each to their own I say.
PROUD RECIPIENT OF THE THIRD PLANET SWANS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
"Per ardua ad astra"
It's known as "the theory of evolution," and that's what I call it.
I have never denied that the theory of evolution is based on evidence, and I have never denied that it can explain how life forms change; but it cannot explain - and does not attempt to explain - how life forms were created.
you're just doing you're usual twisty thing with words there, you're intelligent enough to know the difference between scientific theory and what creationists try to portray it as, bit pathetic really!
And you're right evolution does not explain how life was created
So do you accept that evolution is a known scientific principle and that is how current life forms came to be (withstanding actual initial creation)
It's known as "the theory of evolution," and that's what I call it.
I have never denied that the theory of evolution is based on evidence, and I have never denied that it can explain how life forms change; but it cannot explain - and does not attempt to explain - how life forms were created.
Therefore God did it?
Sounds an awful lot like the 'god of the gaps' to me.
Why do schools teach natural history and evolution but at the same time religious instruction and the theory of creation?
Now that's confusing for a lot ok kids lol.
May I assume from this post that religious instruction is still taught in schools over there? Genuine question.
When I was in school [1940s - early 1950s] public school had only a short Bible reading to start every day, then once a week one hour of "released time" for any students whose parents wanted them to go to their own church for religious instruction from their pastor and other instructors. I was struck even then that close to 100% of the kids went. The very few [literally in single digits] who didn't go stayed in school for an hour to regular ending time.
Both of those activities were ended quite some time ago. Lasting longer was the practice, under different names, of religious instruction for children on Sunday.
As I reflect on my life, I have realized that those experiences did help me - with major input from my parents and extended family - to establish a personal standard of moral conduct, but never did help me with the other purpose of religion - to explain the inexplicable.
Why do schools teach natural history and evolution but at the same time religious instruction and the theory of creation?
Now that's confusing for a lot ok kids lol.
Unless the school is a faith school then there's no religious instruction and any teaching of the story of creation is taught alongside creation stories of other faiths. It's definitely not being taught as a competing theory to the Big Bang theory or evolution in state schools.
If man evolved from monkeys why do we still have monkeys?
Well when I was in a "normal" school we had something like physics or biology explaining the theory of evolution and the big bang followed by religious education and creationism.
My son went to Catholic school(I m not one) and finished recently,now that creationism really gets prominence in teaching there but also big bang..teachers tell them make up their own minds.....so kids have to leave school with a knowledge of evolution and creationism and decide for themselves I suppose....that s just the way it is.
PROUD RECIPIENT OF THE THIRD PLANET SWANS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
"Per ardua ad astra"
It's known as "the theory of evolution," and that's what I call it.
I have never denied that the theory of evolution is based on evidence, and I have never denied that it can explain how life forms change; but it cannot explain - and does not attempt to explain - how life forms were created.
If man evolved from monkeys why do we still have monkeys?
I sometimes chastise people for moaning about the league table half way through the season. I am more and more reaching the realisation that mankind is mid season in his quest for answers, Things have moved on a lot of late but we are no nearer the answers. I think the mistake that we make as humans is assuming that we are intelligent enough to understand what is really happening in this life. Personally I don't feel that humans are of that much relevance in the grand scheme of the universe. Why should things have happened in a manner which makes any sense to us?
Experiments have shown that human beings don't even see reality for what it really is. We all interpret the same facts in different ways and our senses give us all different information on the same thing. It's to do with how our brains are wired. Actually I should remember that when talking about our performances!!! Some things I think I understand I actually don't, not properly. And some things I don't think I can understand I manage to grasp. But religion and God, is he there or isn't he? Is there a master plan, a grand scheme? Well I'd like to think there is. Purely out of a selfish need not to simply cease to exist when my mortal body fails. I like to think my soul will be floating around somewhere so I can keep an eye on my son. The reality is (or more honestly MY reality is) that I just don't know. The evidence that I have points more towards no. How do I know I am interpreting the evidence properly though? According to the experiments I saw, I cannot trust my own senses AND none of us can. In light of what I think I know I have made a certain choice. I choose to try to be a good person. I try to help others when I can, I try to be nice to people, I try to do good (except on here where my evil alter ego flourishes) and I try to be a good father and husband. And then, when my time comes I shall hopefully find out!! The only thing I am sure of when it comes to religion is, most organised religion is not the shining beacon of hope they purport to be. Most are self serving, full of hypocrites and liars and places where many people go to advertise to the world they are good people when in fact they are not. That's not to say there aren't good people involved in those religions, but there are as many bad as good, in my experiences (if I can believe my experiences) so I will remain a spiritually decent person who avoids church!! PS, Jehovahs witnesses are off their trolleys, as are Scientologists!!
F.uck yeah man...that some real good sh1t you talkin there bro..]]
I have suffered long-winded preachers wagging their tongues. I suspect this speaking in tongues is an accepted and anticipated behavior in this church. It’s expected. It gets lock-step believers fired up. The persons doing this may actually believe the spirit is in them, i.e. psychosomatic behavior.
I suspect the reward for making a fool of oneself is the adoration of members and praise for the person who is so special as to have the holy spirit hop-in and have him or herself a walk-about while spewing gibberish. I can sound like I’m speaking French and with a French accent. It’s gibberish. I did it to impress some naive young ladies. It worked.
Who knows the answers?not I not U I suggest true enlightenment lies in taking the juice of a thousand boiled mushrooms...I did it once with some friends and I swear that is the closest I ve come to having an insight to it all.....just lying there looking up at the stars sprinkled on a backdrop of black velvet...for a while o rea;;uu y was in touch with the universe and felt as one with creation,God,nature and all who sailed in her.
I ve never been right since......
PROUD RECIPIENT OF THE THIRD PLANET SWANS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
"Per ardua ad astra"
Let it go, Thursday. When someone who finds the subject way over his head and doesn't want to admit it instead posts something puerile, there's nothing you can do. Your attempt at correction will only encourage more mindless insults.
This is especially true when their use of the English language is at or below functionally illiterate.
Experiments have shown that human beings don't even see reality for what it really is. We all interpret the same facts in different ways and our senses give us all different information on the same thing. It's to do with how our brains are wired. Actually I should remember that when talking about our performances!!! Some things I think I understand I actually don't, not properly. And some things I don't think I can understand I manage to grasp. But religion and God, is he there or isn't he? Is there a master plan, a grand scheme? Well I'd like to think there is. Purely out of a selfish need not to simply cease to exist when my mortal body fails. I like to think my soul will be floating around somewhere so I can keep an eye on my son. The reality is (or more honestly MY reality is) that I just don't know. The evidence that I have points more towards no. How do I know I am interpreting the evidence properly though? According to the experiments I saw, I cannot trust my own senses AND none of us can. In light of what I think I know I have made a certain choice. I choose to try to be a good person. I try to help others when I can, I try to be nice to people, I try to do good (except on here where my evil alter ego flourishes) and I try to be a good father and husband. And then, when my time comes I shall hopefully find out!! The only thing I am sure of when it comes to religion is, most organised religion is not the shining beacon of hope they purport to be. Most are self serving, full of hypocrites and liars and places where many people go to advertise to the world they are good people when in fact they are not. That's not to say there aren't good people involved in those religions, but there are as many bad as good, in my experiences (if I can believe my experiences) so I will remain a spiritually decent person who avoids church!! PS, Jehovahs witnesses are off their trolleys, as are Scientologists!!
Totally agree, and if everyone lived their lives in this ethos then the world would be a better place! Anyway, if there is a God, we'll beat the scummers!
At the end of the day you can't 'prove' God. God hasn't left that open to us. So, it requires faith - this is what God is interested in, our faith in Him. We each have to examine our own hearts. In fact you can ask Him to give you a 'sign'. You may have to be patient, and serious, but in my experience He'd do that.
Human nature is we all fall-short (that is the literal meaning of 'sin'). God does love us though irrespectively.
There are people out there who are praying for Swansea (FC and the city/people as a whole).
At the end of the day you can't 'prove' God. God hasn't left that open to us. So, it requires faith - this is what God is interested in, our faith in Him. We each have to examine our own hearts. In fact you can ask Him to give you a 'sign'. You may have to be patient, and serious, but in my experience He'd do that.
Human nature is we all fall-short (that is the literal meaning of 'sin'). God does love us though irrespectively.
There are people out there who are praying for Swansea (FC and the city/people as a whole).
Let it go, Thursday. When someone who finds the subject way over his head and doesn't want to admit it instead posts something puerile, there's nothing you can do. Your attempt at correction will only encourage more mindless insults.
This is especially true when their use of the English language is at or below functionally illiterate.
If age makes you think and post like that on a football forum, i want to go now, never underestimate my intelligence via keypad my american friend.......
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the yank is totally insane.i picture a nude american picking up wa nk pace with every bible and viz page......fuuuuuuuukkkkkk meeeeeeee 
