Most scientists deny teleological explanations and believe that there is no plan, design, or purpose for the existence and functioning of our universe. The scientific belief is that the universe came into being for a yet unknown reason and everything that followed is the result of random actions and interactions that have produced our reality. Therefore, there can be no plan, no prime mover or creator, and everything we see as miraculous or intentionally designed is the result of statistical probability and chance alone. Also, with the universe as vast and complex as ours with trillions upon trillions of stars, planets, and galaxies, even the most remote of probabilities may become realities. Science abhors anything that is not measurable and reproducible. Many scientists are also deniers of human experiences that are not measurable and do not fit into their paradigm of reality of how the universe functions. Some scientists are as ardent in their tenets of belief as religious zealots are in their beliefs. It is good for everyone to value their beliefs but also to keep an open mind to other possibilities.
As I became increasingly more knowledgeable about science, I found a wonderful logic and orderliness in the intricate and complex relationships of all living things and the physical world. This connection underlies our being and is exquisitely beautiful to me. As I consider the intricate structure of the universe, the nature of the subatomic particles and forces, the nature of atoms and molecules, and the great diversity and complexity of life everywhere, it is a powerfully encompassing spiritual experience for me. I still look with amazement at the life in a drop of pond water as seen in a microscope, the physical beauty of rocks and minerals, and the mystical tiny lights of distant stars in a black night sky. I sense a Creator within all existence and feel therein a profound sense of love. I know many people are experiencing reality as I do and I share a common spirituality with them. These enlightened people know that they are a part of the process, part of creation, and have a connection with everything and each other. There is a sense of truth and serenity in knowing that you are part of the scheme of things. In this respect, scientific knowledge is a continually new and exciting elucidation of an incompletely known reality. There are always new and unexpected findings and increasingly more to learn and understand. Every day, discoveries occur that often expand understanding beyond anything we thought possible. This quantum leap in understanding may come from a single unique mind or small group that sees the world with new eyes. In this respect, science continues to build a solid foundation of proven ideas and provides a rational basis for understanding the often-times mysterious physical world.
Religion is a very broad term and is interpreted quite differently by various people. Increasing numbers of people consider themselves to be spiritual and avoid the term religious altogether because of perceived negative connotations surrounding the term religion. At its basis, religion is a formalized collection of ideas related to what we consider to be God or other deities, creation, and interactions with human beings. When the key characteristics of religion are a collection of ideas and principles that cannot be questioned, dogma becomes a sinister guardian and defender of beliefs that should be discussed but have been deemed unchangeable. This is often an issue more of power and control than theology.
As I grew with my inherited religious beliefs, it became apparent to me that I was isolated from many other religious concepts. This fact was due to my being born into a white Anglo-Saxon protestant community in the segregated southern United States. In my youth, discussions of other religions were basically “We are right in our beliefs because we know the true word of God and others are wrong because they don’t”. There was no further room for discussion based on this assumption. Questions about the veracity of any part of the Bible were viewed as doubting all of the Bible. This impasse, of course, meant that you were hell-bound for certain because of your doubts. I wanted answers that the Bible couldn’t provide including how did God create everything in six days? Why not one day instead of six? Why did God create evil people and vicious animals? Does God still create things? If God already knows everything we will do and everything that will happen, so what’s the point? The more I was told about God and the more I read the Bible, the more unanswered questions I had. I was told by religious teachers and leaders not to use my mind but to simply accept on faith “the true word of God”. There is a prominent biblical story of two houses, one built on a rock foundation and one built on sand. When storms came, the house built on the solid rock withstood the storm the house on the sand was destroyed. I had reached a point in my life where my religious faith in an inerrant Bible was built on sand. The most important factor for me in making the transition from being a biblical literalist was changing to a living faith with a personal relationship with the creator. Having a constant connection with the creator is more important to me than church services, rituals, or anything else. I’ve seen people from all over the world who are connected to God and who have let this connection guide their lives. Some are “religious” and some are not but, as a generality, I can safely say that these are easily definable as good loving people. They don’t have the same T-shirt, skin color, or social status as my family and friends. The simply stated fact is that they lead their lives with purpose, direction, compassion, sincerity, and a sense of their spiritual place in the scheme of things. These good, happy people are all about love. If you ask them, they feel connected to the creator or something greater than themselves. Their faith based on connectedness to the Spirit is the kind of faith that all of us need to make our world a better place. It doesn’t require being defended. It doesn’t have to be argued. Wars do not need to be waged for it. It is a rock-solid foundation for living their lives in harmony with each other, with nature, and with God. This faith offers them daily power from within. They are connected to a foundation in God and it doesn’t matter if there are inconsistencies in beliefs, the Bible, or any religious writings that are revered by many as dogma. It doesn’t matter how the earth and life were created and it doesn’t matter if they call themselves Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, or even atheist. Rather, it is about their loving connection with each other and the Creator.
I have come to believe that God, or whatever you want to call the creator, wants to have a relationship with his creation. I think that this is the reason for creation if such a reason exists. We may be the only creatures on earth to have a mind that is sufficient to know the creator, but who can know with any degree of certainty? We have sensed a presence and have seen manifestations of this creative force in many people in the world including those with religious and spiritual beliefs. Each religion provides an avenue to God. There is something we can learn about God from almost all religions and it moves us to try to understand others’ points of view. Connection with God occurs in preparation, prayer, meditation, and developing a constant sense of God’s presence. Preparation involves putting oneself in the right state of mind. This involves putting away anger, hate, negative feelings, hostilities, and ill will. Shortcomings and what we often call sin should be acknowledged and can be forgiven. It is exceedingly important to strive to develop compassion towards fellow human beings by simply asking: “What can I do to make life better for this person or these people?” Very often it takes only a smile or a small positive gesture to lift someone’s soul and show them that we care.
