On Faith

People like to think they're right about things. I do. You do. Chances are you know a lot of people that do too. We like the good feeling we get when someone asks us a question and we happen to know all about that subject. We butt into conversations in public when two people are talking and end up clueless about something. But I think a huge component to this mighty issue of pride are things we ourselves hold to be true. The solid "rocks" we've built our entire philosophical view of life around. When someone challenges one of these; we immediately object. We get a gut feeling of annoyance, and sometimes, of anger. "That they could even say such a thing!" And the main boulder in our foundation of our logic, our reasoning, and our understanding of everything we "know" to be true hinges on whether or not God is real. For those of us who believe with our entire being He's out there, solid evidence against that would send us into a tailspin. For those of us who trust wholly in empirical science; solid proof that God does indeed exist would rock every foundation of our lives. It all comes down to the start: the beginning of our universe. Scientifically, we can look back and understand what happened. Matter can't be created, so before the "Big Bang", the "Great Sneeze", the “Creation” (whatever you may call it) of the Universe, all matter existed within a singularity. Stuffed within the smallest unit of measurement. The lowest common denominator.

Let’s take a break to make an example. The example of a nuclear bomb. What causes such a power, such a destructive force? The splitting of an atom. A tiny, tiny, tiny object. And when shattered, produces enough energy to reduce even the proudest of cities to rubble.

So now let us think of this original singularity. Within it was the matter of the ENTIRE Universe. Yet it still tried to pull into itself. Finally, it split itself. The energy of unimaginable force ruptured, and hurled what is now the entirety of everything we know outward. And today, it’s still flying. Eventually; eventually, it will stop. Slowed down and drawn in once again by its own gravitational pull. If we forget about the insane amounts of time represented, we can focus on the process. The Universe will start moving in on itself, eventually stuffing everything once again into that unimaginably tiny singularity. And eventually, it will happen again. The very speck itself will continue to try and draw itself into itself, and eventually once again split. And once again, the universe will be born. How many times has this happened? Was our “Big Bang” the first? The cycle will continue infinitely, that much we know. And this is where our conundrum comes in. Matter can’t come into or out of existence. It just IS. Every fundament of science points to this fact. Science can’t explain where everything came from. So, it must have always been right? The simple fact is that when it all comes down to it, it is a matter of faith. Faith that matter indeed has always existed, that this cosmic cycle of epic proportions continues to repeat itself. But let me say this now: God too is a matter of faith. I can’t prove to you that He exists, that what I say are “His” works are actually His. Just like I can’t prove to you that our Universe was a product of continuous expansion and contraction. We know nothing of the beginning, only that it happened. It takes faith to believe that the matter of the universe has infinitely existed, continuing its cycle over and over. It also takes faith to believe that God was the cause of the beginning of the universe; willing matter into being. Neither can be proved. Neither can be measured. They both have radically different standings. So when you hear the common argument over where everything comes from, think long and hard about what you know to be true. You may denounce God, but really, how can you through science? It goes both ways. You can’t prove God. Therefore you can’t disprove Him. A trust in science requires as much faith when it comes down to it as a trust in God. Neither is above the other. Neither can be proven through our ways of proving. I believe wholeheartedly that God created this existence. His methods? I have absolutely no clue. You may believe in the scientific creation of the universe. It very well may be true. But if God truly does exist as I believe He does, who is to say that this all powerful being could not create everything we know (and don’t yet know) as aged? It’s an endless debate. One that can’t be won by either side. So take a deep look at what you hold to be true. And you may very well realize that when everything is stripped away, whatever it may be, it ALL; simply; comes down to faith.


3 comments:

Gary Barnes said...

The way I see it, just because the numbers/specifics don't match up doesn't mean both can't be true. It's something that I grasped from my religions class last semester, and it really had an impact on how I came to terms with these two subjects (science vs religion) that everyone attempts to polarize. Oddly enough, the medieval Islamic empire seemed to understand this concept fairly well. Much of our science and mathematics today stems from the developments made by Islamic scientists at a time when the Western world fell apart and went back to its primitive roots. And in their minds, their scientific advancements were made solely for the purpose of trying to understand how Allah made the world, in an attempt to come closer to him. Science became a part of the religion. Within our own beliefs, who's to say that God isn't responsible for the Big Bang? No one can ever know what actually happened, and it saddens me that the subject has become such a strong reason for division among people. It's impossible to know for sure, and that's the beauty of it all.

I really enjoy reading what you write. I feel like it gives me a better chance to truly know you, and it's something that I sincerely appreciate.

Unknown said...

Yeah, (I think?) I sort of said that at the bottom. If anything, modern science only helps prove God. I understand why people are at odds with the two, but I feel like both sides are terribly bull-headed and freaking stubborn most of the time.

Gary Barnes said...

Yeah, I definitely agree. And it happens with any subject, really. I think people are just afraid of "unfamiliar" knowledge from either side. As an example, I'm often afraid now to mention anything that I learned in my world religions class in conversation, simply because people always manage to misinterpret what I say as an offense towards Christianity or God without even giving me a chance to explain. In reality, nothing I ever say could possibly make God any less legitimate in my mind, and it saddens me that people would jump to such conclusions. But it happens, and the only thing you can do is hope that both sides are truly willing to think and listen.