I fairly recently watched Bill Maher's movie 'Religiousless' and I loved it. Much to my surprise a fellow Soldier in my company also loved it, and he is a devout Christian. But he's also one of the rare Christians who is not afraid to be challenged intellectually when it comes to the bible. And defending the bible on an intellectual level takes true courage, for certain. Incidentally he's also a college graduate with a degree in Political Science, and an Obama supporter. :)
The purpose of this diary is not to convert or convince anyone of anything. I just like to discuss our existence and see other ideas.
For the record I am not a Christian but I do believe in some form of a "God", or higher being. But the nature of that being and the history of our genesis will always be a mystery to me. I wish Bill Maher had interviewed people like me. People who don't adhere to a religion but believe in some form of divinity. But I guess that wouldn't have kept with the theme and title of the movie.
Now here's the kicker. I am not a faith based believer. I believe in God based on my own logical conclusions. Crazy batshit insane, right? The concept of God, by nature, defies all logic.
There are two main reasons I believe, the first of which is common. It has been debated to death and in my opinion there are merits to both sides. The second reason I think is an infalible one.
Reason number one: I do not believe it is possible for non-living matter to suddenly become self aware. I do not believe there are any conditions in nature where all of the sudden, out comes us. Thinking, feeling and learning about the universe around us. Yes, the universe is so large our puny minds can't wrap our minds around it. It's not that I think it's extremely unlikely, it's that I think it's impossible. As I said before, this reason is very arguable.
Reason number two: First, let me ask you a question. Do you believe in free will? OK, if you answered "yes" and you're an atheist there's a good chance I will change your mind about one of them. You cannot simultaneously believe in free will, but disbelieve in something higher than ourselves. Allow me to explain further.
If you crumple up a piece of paper and light it on fire the outcome is predetermined. You might be thinking, "yeah, genius. it will burn" but think deeper than that. When you factor in every single variable, i.e. the size and shape of the paper, what the paper is made out of, the oxygen content in the room, the size of the flame, what point on the paper you lit, how long you held the flame to it, the ambient air temperature, and too many others to list.... when you factor in ALL variables ALL aspects of the process have a predetermined outcome right down to the subatomic level. This includes the size and shape of the flame, what directions on the paper the flame will travel, where the ash crumbs will fall to the ground, literally every aspect.
The same is true for everything else in nature. How long a star will last is already predetermined by the conditions of the star, and in fact the universe. If a hydrogen atom is at one point on the star it is predetermined exactly where that atom will be 32 years, 3 months, 5 days and 32 seconds from now. We don't have the knowledge of math, science and physics to calculate it but it's predetermined nontheless. Rewind to the big-bang and the placement of that same atom was predetermined.
Now, let's take that further. Let's assume there isn't something greater than random science responsible for our existance. That earth would come about was predetermined. So was the fact that it would be able to sustain life, in fact, create life. Every aspect and every characteristic of that life and the course it would take throughout time is predetermined.
That you would be sitting here reading this (if you haven't fallen asleep) is basically the inevitable outcome that was already decided an infinite amount of time ago! So you see? You do not have free will. Everything you think, feel, say and do is nothing more than math, science and physics playing out it's natural course. YOU have no control over your own actions. You have no control over your own thoughts. You think you do because science has set the conditions for you "think" so.
And since there is no free will, is there really such thing as right and wrong? Afterall, the conditions of the universe, which was random, created the big bang and the predetermined course dictated that some serial killer named Jack the Ripper would become a serial killer trillions of years later. Ol' Jack isn't bad. He's not good. He just... IS as a random result of science.
So, in conclusion, can someone explain how it's possible to have free will in the absense of something other than science?
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Next is an even bigger question. How is it possible for something to defy science?
Answer: I don't know.
But I believe the answer to that question is beyond our ability to conceptualize. Perhaps the answer is bigger than the question itself. What I mean is, perhaps, since the truth is beyond our ability to understand we don't even know the right question to ask.
Take an Intel microchip and bring it into the bronze age. Nobody will have any idea what it is and does. All they lack at that point is the knowledge. They can be taught. Try to teach a monkey the poperties of semiconductive materials and how that ties into the function of a computer and it's impossible for the monkey to grasp. The bronze-age humans only lack the knowledge. The monkey lacks the ability to coneptualize.
We, as humans, often fail to realize there are some things about the way of things that we cannot learn. It's not that we lack the information, it's that we lack the ability to even grasp the concept. We just have to accept that. We are by far the most intelligent form of life on earth, but that doesn't mean we are without limitations.
I believe in "God" because I believe in free will.