The scriptures tells us, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20)
The greater I examine and explore the creation including everything from the furthest stretches of mass, energy and light down to smallest and most profound quantum level, it clearly reveals to me that the existence of God is undeniable. And when I am humble enough to step back and view the entire picture for what it truly is, I come to realize that It’s All About God.
I wish to share some points and elaborate a bit on Gods existence. To begin with, the criticisms from science and evolution brings me to a point to where my perception is no longer locked within the present moment, and reality submits to the liberty we have to choose our destinies, beyond the physical, into eternity, growing like a tree planted by a river, but we are planted into a universe that allows our roots to be grounded into something endless and stretches beyond the concepts of reality. It brings me to a point in my existence and my being that must boldly proclaim that God does exist, God is required, and it is all about God. I believe there is no way to escape such a profound and absolute truth as God Almighty.
Neuroscience has demonstrated breakthroughs and discoveries beyond that which the common human perception may comprehend. Often are we as a mass society forced into a state of cognitive bias which occurs because the human brain, though powerful and a wonder in and of itself, is nevertheless subject to error, and among the most paradoxical actions that reveal itself upon such error, is the obstacle of the brain comprehending itself, these escort in the contradictions, but when we seek the answers from an infinite Creator rather than a finite “self” which fails to realize the opportunities that come through contradiction, wisdom will reveal to us there is a better way and the wise will find it, not remain stagnate within our contradictions which feed chaos. Man’s most profound inconsistency is his obsession with being consistent. It compels us to ask ourselves, “consistent with what?” Is there a “key” that unlocks the answer in the universe? In actuality? Yes.
First I want to make mention of something relevant to the subject. The universe functions on what we human beings identify with as “laws” but not all of us will conclude the entire reason that exists behind these universal laws, and therefore, we will inflate our ignorance by means of wrong choices or what I identify with as “eggshell theories” and this sets in motion chaos that we are unable to comprehend nor control, human nature simply becomes united with it and we obey it to the fullest extent of the measuring rod which stretches across time, space, and matter.
Inflated ignorance comes by conditioned reasoning and a controlled psyche (mind) which only sees the principles, logic, and morality of a man-made religious system or the selective perceptions of science. It lacks Spirit, and without that all else is futile. This is where we must replace the stumbling blocks with God. To ignore Gods existence is self-defeating, it is a material bondage, and a prejudiced philosophy on the origins of life.
In Response to Stephen Hawking
I wish to make mention of the quote by Stephen Hawking where he said, “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.” —Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow, The Grand Design
To begin with, as I examine what is being said in Hawking’s book by these particular words, it is quite self-contradictory. The reason I say that is because, no “law” can be placed into motion unless there is a giver of such a law. Gravity itself is not “nothing” it is evidently SOMETHING so there is nothing here truly bringing itself into existence from nothing but rather something, that being a law and a force in action which, if never existed, would the universe and all of the life within it, not exist as we know it.
According to science gravity is part of the “four fundamental forces” which are: gravitation, electromagnetism, the weak interaction, and the strong interaction. Gravitation and electromagnetism function potentially over infinite distances throughout the universe, they also mediate macroscopic phenomena. The other fundamental forces act over minuscule or subatomic distances. When specifically analyzing “gravity” there is no doubt it exists for a reason, a cause, and an effect that presents us with the universe we are able to see. Without it things would be quite different and it appears there is a reality to the universe, one with an infinite conscious perception that placed all things in a perfect precise structure, and it demands something with a conscious omnipresent intellect that has no beginning nor end. Scientifically this also brings to mind the phenomena of ENERGY which cannot be created nor destroyed. And does not the Bible identify God in a similar way? Yes, it does.
Physics seems to have a mind of its own, as do all living things in existence, and this tells me there is a greater mind responsible. In many various ways, the universe itself is much like a mind, and something very big, very vast, without measure, appears to have thought it and spoke it into existence. How do we imagine a universe without vibration and sound? It is much like imagining the Bible without “IN THE BEGINNING GOD SAID” or “IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD.” (see Genesis 1, John 1:1-5)
Is it logical if I say that because motor vehicles have what is called an “engine” there is no need for a manufacturer to exist because they can “self-produce” themselves? Obviously this sounds ridiculous, because it is. I also would like to mention, if the universe can and will create itself because of a law known as “gravity” why than are we allowed to defy this law with technology such as aircraft and rockets, or even by means with something as simple as a parachute? Some may read the point being mentioned as ridiculous in itself, but am I truly being ridiculous?
What does the universe and all of its “laws” realistically tell us when we dare to lay aside our prejudices and our selective perception, and genuinely examine such things without bias conditioned responses? If we can also defy the law of gravity which according to Hawking’s statement makes gravity itself a type of ”creator” or ”God” since it supposedly grants the universe such power as to create itself. Yet, finite humans are able to supersede such a force or law as gravity? Clearly, the law of gravity (though it does play a vital role in the function of our universe) was placed into existence by something greater than itself. This is when a “God” must be considered. Otherwise, I may as well conclude that a mortal man created the universe, being mortal man is capable of defying the law which made it all possible. Of course, to seriously believe this is absurd. And even if this were hypothetically possible, and humans were capable of creating universes, it still demands the answer of who created us?
I appreciate scientific genius, but what is “genius” in terms of infinity? What is genius when only focused to the four walls of a point in time or closed system, when it can much more expand with the universe it attempts to determine? Philosophy can be a wonderful thing, but even philosophy often needs a life raft because it cannot explain the turbulence of such an overpowering sea. Man is often distracted by “hypothesis” which commonly causes him to ignore the “life raft” especially when it begins with the letter G and ends with the letter D.
I am by no means making any attempts at disqualifying science nor Stephen Hawking, I am fully aware of who he is and how brilliant of a scientific mind he possesses, as a scientist I have much respect for Mr. Hawking. Nevertheless, no matter how we are seen by the populace or how impressive are our abilities or attributes, it does not guarantee we are correct on every point made across the board. In order to be so correct than one must give us a conclusive, absolute reason accompanied by undeniable evidence as to why the laws of physics exist at all? Since there exists the popular question “who created God?” Than the same question can be asked about the laws of physics, who or what created them?
In Response to Richard Dawkins
Another point I would like to address is one made by Richard Dawkins which was, “To describe religions as mind viruses is sometimes interpreted as contemptuous or even hostile. It is both. I am often asked why I am so hostile to organized religion.” – Richard Dawkins, The Devil’s Chaplain
Firstly and in all sincerity, I could not disagree more with such a statement as this one. Richard Dawkins, as most who share his philosophes, seem to insist on seeing God through the eyes of religion rather than seeing religion through the eyes of God. It may well be the reason why Mr. Dawkins has also said, “We cannot, of course, disprove God, just as we can’t disprove Thor, fairies, leprechauns and the Flying Spaghetti Monster.”
I believe it is “religion” and its effects on humanity throughout history which invokes the expansion of atheism, agnosticism, and every other “ism” against God. The problem rests within the confusion between an “actuality” and a “concept” (God vs. Religion).
It must be understood that you cannot determine an “actuality” by means of a “concept” and religion for the most part, functions within its own “concepts “of God and not the ACTUALITY of God (and this is a great issue that plagues our world).
Religion is nothing more than a coliseum for opposing gods and the same master arms them all to bring ruin upon our purpose, cause, and destiny. In the world do people search for heuristics (mental short cuts) in order to accomplish certain things, and typically, much of what is excluded is that which opposes the material parts of ourselves, this is our “physical” mind which turns us incoherent to the fact that we are also spiritual beings which inhabit a physical reality.
World religion attempts to remedy spiritual incoherence, and the result has far too often been turning people away from God or to inspire us to invent new ones. So in contrary to Dawkins statement, religion has actually shown me how to be quite understanding of the world around me, after all religion is among its greatest functions (for good and sadly for evil), the world as we know it was structured, in great measure, on religion. But prior to this, God made ALL.
I have also come to realize that there is no religion that determines God or that can explain Him, and the fact that we have “religion” reveals how much humanity needs God, because God cannot be found through the concepts of religion. Though there is “no religion higher than truth” as Theosophist Helena Blavatsky once quoted, and I would like to further by saying, and Truth is beneath no religion, because while religion holds parts of truth, there is no absolute truth in religion. With Blavatsky and countless other thinkers in history, most of them recognize a “truth” exists, though the majority of these individuals do not see Christ as being such Truth. With myself, I seen “religion” far more than Jesus Christ and the Truth He identified with, as He Himself was the Truth that was higher than religion.
Religion must be honest in what it determines so that atheism will realize how to determine. How else will belief and disbelieve ever be able to communicate when they fail to comprehend their own what or why systems? Though, when I see God in the brightest light of truth, denial becomes futile because God has revealed my “cause” first through the “cause within the cause” and that cause (God) was first. With this in mind, I have no need for a “religion” no more than Richard Dawkins does, but where we differ is, without religion do I see God much more clearly and I embrace His existence. Others as Mr Dawkins may not desire religion either, but their focus remains upon it, and so long as world religion occupies the mind, it will never truly know the God that religion falls short of knowing.
In Response to Friedrich Nietzsche
Religion in various ways is very “self-confident” within itself, but confident in what and what else can I say of such misguided self-confidence?
In actuality, on the subject of “religion” is where I and the atheist basically agree more than disagree, however, where we differ is I recognize that “religion” and “God” are not the same, in fact, religion is more “ANTI- theist” than most atheists. Almost every religion on earth, in one way, shape, or form is not as much confident in GOD as it is in its own system of belief in Him, they have a “concept” of God but do they truly know Him? Some may call it “faith” but in reality, it is one of the highest and most dangerous forms of pathology and historically has the human race suffered at the hands of this condition of body, mind, soul, and spirit. It reveals that while God Himself is the remedy for the human race, it is often the assumed path to God in which we need to be remedied from. I have come to recognize this.
Self-confidence (in this particular sense) may endure a season only until that season ends. It lacks distance and is bound by time, therefore self-confidence through the eyes of eternity does not exist. It is only through confidence in God alone that will never fail nor end. Search the Lord and He will give you all of the confidence you need. Put God first and you will never notice second. It’s better to take one step in genuine faith than a thousand in fear. Knowing that I have examined the details, I understand clearly why it is impossible for me to ever be an atheist. And remind you, I am someone who once hated, mocked, and ridiculed both religion and God. And then of course I woke up! Nevertheless, with Friedrich Nietzsche his view was quite different, why so?
From his work The Antichrist Nietzsche said, “This eternal accusation against Christianity I shall write upon all walls, wherever walls are to be found–I have letters that even the blind will be able to see. . . . I call Christianity the one great curse, the one great intrinsic depravity, the one great instinct of revenge, for which no means are venomous enough, or secret, subterranean and small enough,–I call it the one immortal blemish upon the human race…” ― Friedrich Nietzsche, The Antichrist
I would first like to confess that I once spoke of Christianity from a similar stance as Nietzsche, but the reason I decided to take that one step from outside of the “anti-Christian” box, is because I came to understand that “Christianity” does not always mean “Christ” no more than “religion” always will mean God.
C.S Lewis once said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” I personally can comprehend such a statement as this, my eyes were opened to what I never suspected prior and once I realized what I was missing in life, I came to understand how much a person shortchanges themselves by insisting God does not exist and to only see Christianity through a blind stereotype, one that makes us react with conflict rather than reason.
Christianity can be and often is quite “impressionable” but in what manner? Impressions are a part of nature and the universe, they inspire us, influence us, and make us search even the deepest depths of curiosity, but when all is said and done, what do we conclude from impressions? The same could be said about things such as “perception” “logic” or “common sense” which also play a massive role in how we as human beings react and interact upon this earth to the things of it.
Then of course there is what we all deem as ”evidence” which is what lays the foundation of things such as theory, faith, and also ideas, opinion, logic, and even common sense. Consequently, something as “common sense” can become quite burdensome because often the problem with common sense is that it is too common. The problem that arises from such a dilemma as this is that though we see something considered as ”common” it offers us no guarantee of any “sense” not by any stretch of the imagination. There must be a line drawn between what is “common sense” and a majority cognitive bias.
A cognitive bias is often poor thinking that may occur when human beings attempt to process information throughout this world and this can often lead to wrong interpretations and poor decisions. In the case with religion, many people may become over reactive because religion is often seen as an offense and a threat, and though religion in most cases can be and often IS a threat and also an offense, it does not and should not disqualify that God exists simply because other peoples interpretation of God has brought much ruin to this earth. It truly makes one wonder where Nietzsche’s particular interpretation derives from and in such a harsh conclusive manner? Many times is a personal interpretation the manifestation of one’s own prejudices, it may come from many different reasons through how interpreting the world will affect the human senses, and sometimes we react by simple blind irritated reason. This was a major part of my own understanding and I once opposed religion and Christianity every bit as much as Friedrich Nietzsche. However, when I truly discovered Christ, with all religion cast aside, I knew without question just how wrong I was in the way I viewed God.
I do consider with science we will notice how a “theory” will eventually be uprooted by a new one. As with religion, what is a religious “faith” if a person finds a new type of faith, and therefore, we have countless world religions, each one disagreeing with the other, and for what and why? Consequently, Christianity itself has countless denominations and sects, into the thousands, all the while do they profess Jesus Christ. My question is how many denominations do we need to acknowledge the same God and Messiah? How many different ways are there to interpret one bible? And whatever has come of it but mass divisions, opposition, and discord as the world observes. How is this a positive witness for Christ to unbelievers? In truth, it’s not. I also do not believe this is an accident, not by any stretch of the imagination. I believe this is on purpose.
I also find it interesting how so many professed atheists were once Christians. Why is this? I can say this much, both the atheist and Christ oppose the same thing which is RELIGION. Religion is what brings many to atheism, just as it was religion that crucified Christ. Sadly, many sects of Christianity are also a part of the vicious circle we know as organized religion and it is the BIBLE itself which clearly reveals this to us, as it blatantly warns us of many things that Friedrich Nietzsche opposed. I discovered this when I finally decided to seriously study the bible and realize there is a difference between things I would comprehend intellectually and that which I would discern spiritually. There is a major difference between them and I could never find it so long as my “impressions” were that which guided my steps. As it is often said, “things are not always the way they seem” but I never realized this while I believed in such a way as Nietzsche.
The bible says, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26). It also says in Isaiah, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart “ far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” (Isaiah 29:13), Jesus also quoted from this in Matthew 15:8. When I seriously see such chapters as Matthew chapter 23 where Jesus rebukes the “religious” of His time, I see the “woes” of Jesus through a similar scope as that which brings the atheist to oppose religious insanity. Jesus Christ also said that “God is Spirit” and perhaps that is the obstacle many human beings have, they do not see God in Spirit but through an intellect tainted with the brutality and incoherence of an afflicted violent world. Surely this is the wrong reason to oppose God and hate Christ. This is also a primary reason why I changed my position.
Nietzsche says that Christianity is the “the one immortal blemish upon the human race” but I must beg to differ as I see man himself as not only his own blemish but as his own ongoing conflict in a merciless world he himself has brought ruination upon. God will always be God, man though will always be searching for the reason why he is a man. I believe the answer will never completely reveal itself unless a man finds the God who made him a man.
In Response to Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens once said, “Well, I’ll put it this way: you can certainly say belief in God makes people behave worse. That can be proved beyond a doubt.”
My first response to such a statement as this is, I myself deem religion as an unseen hypothetical genocide, a type of genocide that eliminates human beings internally, so that externally humans become the most wicked physical force on earth. Human history reveals this, as does geographical, archeological, and philosophical revelations made manifest through the human incoherence of its own hand of destruction, and man’s ideas and perceptions of God is a primary example of this destruction. Nevertheless, God is never found through the consequences of human beliefs, this is not how life was formed nor how we ourselves ought to experience it, and it certainly is not found in the manner of how we replace sincere reasoning with a narcissistic agenda. This is how I personally view the matter. While I and Mr Hitchens disagree on Gods existence, we do agree that the manner in how people will believe in God makes them worse. Even the sincere theist will recognize this point, and it is a valid one.
It was also Christopher Hitchens though who once said, “Religion is not going to come up with any new arguments” but my response to that is simply, “Atheism is not going to come up with any new arguments either.” And what is there to be gained by opposing arguments insisting on proving a point? What exactly is the point or does a point exist at all? I’d rather not make a point perform anything but POINT me into the right direction. This is where the “atheist versus theist” debate fails miserably. Perhaps what the problem is, is that we take everything to personally, everything except God. When I realized that God was very “personal” I myself realized that I wanted to be “personal” with Him as well. I could never find this unless I was willing to lay my pride and my prejudices aside.
And what is the right direction? Evidently few know because opposition tends to guide the hands of conquest in a world divided by two sides that refuse to surrender to the other. Understandably, physics is based on opposite forces, this is natural to the laws of physics, but with human beings, what we cannot find as compared to physics, is we lack the natural “balance” to ever embrace and exist by what we deem as ”truth” in a world forever searching for it. I believe that true perfect “balance” can only be found in God who supersedes every known human path on earth, be it religion, atheism, science, evolution or even creationism. Without God, all of these are wrong, no matter who believes in God or not. This is also why the most perfect balance for me is that which is found in Jesus Christ. I could never know God unless I knew Christ. Jesus Himself said, “And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me” (John 12:45).
Ravi Zacharias once said, “Everyone – pantheist, atheist, skeptic, polytheist – has to answer these questions: ‘Where did I come from? What is life’s meaning? How do I define right from wrong and what happens to me when I die?’ Those are the fulcrum points of our existence.” I believe Mr. Zacharias is correct. I also would like to ad, these fulcrum points do indeed have answers, but much of man’s dilemma in finding them is that he continues to stretch the questions further than need be rather than arrive at a point of what is satisfactory to the human psyche, therefore the answers are made into bias perceptions which become nothing more than a type of “broken compass” to a species that does not really need one. The direction to the answers we seek rests right before us, but we often create new paths because we insist on denying the path that always was.
Atheism presents us with NO GOD while religion presents us with the WRONG GOD. Both of these will lead us to the same place in actuality, and if this be the case, what left could there be to find? I have found, beyond all logic that proceeds from human understanding, there will always be something, and something requires a cause, not just a cause but a FIRST cause. There is never a resolve in the midst of secondaries which deny a first. You may ask me what created God, but in order to ask me this question you must be able to answer what created the universe. This is where my faith supersedes theory.
The bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Prior to finding Christ, I never had any substance to know what there was to hope for, and I have learned in life that the most powerful evidences are the ones we don’t see. This is where the Spirit reveals what physical things fail to find. Therefore, do I believe God exists? Yes, I certainly do. And the greatest absurdity for me would be to ever question that belief. God is so real to me that this remains without question.
The scriptures say, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge. There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3 AMP). Life clearly reveals to me one thing which is absolute, It’s all about God.
Hallelujah!
JMB
© 2015