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Science vs. God, an atheist's view
by Aaron F.
The wonderful thing about science is that it does not pretend to know the answers to the secrets of the universe - it only promises that we continually attempt to give it our best guess based on the facts we have at hand and the tendencies we can explain and/or predict using mathematics.
I do not deny that there may be an intelligence greater than our own. If the universe is indeed infinite and millions of other solar systems such as our own exists, then there is a chance that other intelligent life forms, possibly much more intelligent than our own, exist. However, it is highly unlikely that the human race will ever come into contact with them over the course of the human race's existence, given the extreme distance between us. If we sent a signal at the speed of light to a spot 100 miliion light years away, it would be a minimum of 200 million years before we got a similar response.
Of course, it's also possible that there means of communication faster than light, and it's also possible that these other life forms have mastered intergalactic travel at speeds of a million times the speed of light and care enough to come talk to us. But I doubt it. And it's possible that these being are so advanced that they've figured out a way to bend time and space and influence or even create our existence. If that's the case, they might as well be gods to us. But just one of these super-creatures? And not only is he the master of time and space and matter, but he can also keep track of over 6 billion people and their inner thoughts? Not only that, but he is conceited enough to hand down instructions to the 6 billion people on how to properly worship him, only the instructions are different for different groups of people so that people argue over it and kill in his name? Where do people come up with this stuff?
My opinion of the nature of God is that it's an idea. I think that monotheism is an analogy for a phenomenon we hope to achieve - oneness. I think when the human race achieves godliness, it will have a global consciousness. It will speak with one voice and work harmoniously to accomplish feats that were previously beyond the realm of possibility. I think that the human race is gradually moving towards godliness. Even though it seems like sometimes we take a step backwards, we end up taking several steps forwards. For example - communications technology is helping to bring nations closer together. The development of communications technology is fastest during times of war. Same goes for transportation and surveilance.
If there IS a God, and he CAN keep track of over 6 billion people and their inner thoughts, maybe we ARE built in his image - we are certainly moving towards being able to keep track of everyone on earth. And maybe that is ultimately a good thing, as it moves us closer to godliness.
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