(wildxx;21388)
The possibility that there might not be a God?
Yes, I was an atheist for the first thirty years of my life.Ironically, scientists can prove there is a God. Under current scientific theory there exists a Singularity which exists outside of the space-time continuum. He can be proven mathematically. He is also thought to act upon the multiverse. This does not prove that he does indeed exist, but only that he needs to exist to explain reality. It also tells us nothing of his nature.What this does show is that science and religion are not as far apart as many people think.Religion starts with the notion that there is a God and looks at the evidence from a theological viewpoint, which is God down. It explains reality as the creation of an all-knowing, all powerful, ever present being. It describes history in terms of God's revelation of himself to those whom he created, us. Because we are finite, our understanding of God is limited.Science starts with mankind and looks out, egocentrically. It tries to explain reality in terms our own intellect and observation. Because we finite, we cannot comprehend infinity.Infinity does strange things to matter and energy. The theory of relativity, string theory and chaos theory try to explain what happens as we approach infinity. Things change. Relationships change. Old truths no longer hold. Scientific "laws" need to be changed to compensate.When I was an atheist, I thought that science could explain everything. I believed in scientific empiricism as the only test. After I became a Christian, I thought that science had limitations and could never fully explain reality. Now I am not so sure. I think that I was right in the first place. I think that we can come to a mutual place from both perspectives that explains both reality and God.I think that miracles are not a violation of scientific law, but scientific law taken to its extremes. For if God created matter and energy and natural laws then he would not need to suspend them, he would just use what he has already created knowing how to manipulate them to serve his purposes.This of course, is conjecture on my part.Most people reach a point in enquiry where the are stymied. They think that saying that it began in a Big Bang is sufficient, but that does not explain anything. All it does is provide a label for a process. Matter and energy can be neither created nor destroyed, so something had to pre-exist the Big Bang. If someone does not believe this then they need to review Newton's laws of thermodynamics.So at the very least, an atheist needs to explain this apparent dilemma to his own satisfaction. Even some scientists get very uncomfortable at this point. Some are content to leave it to others, such as nuclear physicists to figure out, which is a cop out.There is a scientific solution, but it also leaves many scientists feeling decidedly uncomfortable. For if there is a Singularity which exists out of the known multiverse, how can we ever get to know his nature? In other words he cannot be observed and measured so science is at a loss to explain it, so in the end they may be at a loss after all.This of course brings us back to the theological perspective. If God does exist out of space and time then we can only know him, if he wants us to know him. Which is what religion is all about.Atheism is on the surface compelling. It takes the position that there is no God and then asks for those who say there is a God to prove it. Unfortunately, atheists need to come up with an explanation of their own which answers all of the questions without copping out. In practice, atheism tries to obfuscate and avoid more issues than it grapples with. It comes like the old Monty Python sketch the Argument Clinic where questions are asked for sake of asking them without trying to find any answers. I know people who take a completely Darwinian perspective. They believe in evolution, so it must follow that here must be no God. They think that biology can explain life, but it can't. Scientists can map the human genome and they can clone but they can't make life. We can tell you that water is made of hydrogen and oxygen, but they can't make hydrogen atoms. Knowing what the basic building blocks are does not explain how they work or where they came from. We can measure many things, but we cannot measure a thought or feeling. We can guess at what part of the brain is responsible for them, but cannot tell you what they are. A Darwinist will explain that animals seek to reproduce their kind and this is their motive for existence, but then why would a person run into burning building to save a complete stranger. If we are mere animals then fear of death and risking not reproducing should keep us for risking our lives for others. Nor can science explain what drives us to create. Art does nothing to propagate the species. There is so much to explain.I am curious why you might think that there is no God, if that is indeed your position.Blessings, Dunamite