“The Future of God, however, lies in spiritual evolution, and the next step of growth is for people to start to awaken one by one, just as Jesus, Gautama [Buddha], and Muhammad did.”
It is apt given the increasingly diverse population of this country that I find myself--a waspy guy--in the minority.
I believe in evolution.
There I've said it and I'm glad. It seems that the majority of Americans believe God created us just as we are. Does this mean that I'm an atheist? No. But my understanding of God and how God goes about his business seem to be at odds with the majority.
Here's the problem: if God stands outside the laws of his creation--creating the universe in six days and then interceding in mankind's affairs now and then--why is he so stingy with his help?
In the 20th century pehaps 180 million died as a result of wars, massacres and miscellaneous tragedies.
The underlying question is one for the ages and I won't pretend to settle it here once and for all. I know that God created us with free will and that sometimes we make poor choices and, as a result, bad things happen. Further I understand that we humans almost always fall short of what God hopes for us so it's sort of our fault. But come on, 180 million! Some of those people must not have earned untimely deaths through sin. This is why I cannot believe in a God that acts as a capricious superhero coming to the rescue now and again when it suits him. Such a god is either partially impotent or a villain. So I'm an atheist? No.
I believe that the universe--all matter, all energy, time, space and all potential for self awareness--exploded into existence some 13 or so billion years ago. That Big Bang was so phenomenal, so outrageously creative that our minds may never be able to ever fully grasp it. From immutable laws of matter--at core relatively simple--a remarkable number of phenomena arose--stars and planets and life. Of these the most mystifying is the birth of consciousness. Somehow the universe evolved a means of considering itself. And what might the purpose of all this be? Is there a purpose?
I'll answer this question with a story.
The wise man gathered his followers and they discussed the meaning of their lives. For hours they exhausted themselves trying to answer mankind's great questions. Finally the wise man held up a beautiful flower and asked 'What does it mean?'
My faith consists of seeking understanding and, when I reach its limits, embracing the mystery that life reveals with as much of my heart, mind, soul and body as I can tear away from my video games.
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