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virus · 08-24-2003, 04:10 PM

fate/predestination is usually associated with spiritual types. but in the end, science is theology. i've been thinking about this a lot lately.

let's say i'm an atheist (that's not too far off the mark from most perspectives). i believe the universe was created in whatever way, and a chain reaction continued until life was made. it could not have happened any different way, because the forces in the universe are natural, and life existing is just how shit works.

the chain reaction continued to occur, life evolved eventually into humans. now here's where i have difficulty holding on to atheism: if the universe flows in a natural untouched order, so did evolution. so did the movements of the wind, the growing plants, and the migration of animals. animals' developed ways to survive and understand their environment, 5 senses.

our synapses fire, my hand strikes this keyboard, i turn on my espresso machine. it could not have happened any other way.

so all this complicated feeling exists, but even my contemplating it now is simply a course in nature that could not have resulted differently. though i have a point of view, and "i think ... i am" it's really just an illusion because, despite my assumption that i can make a choice and change an outcome, that decision was made for me an infinite amount of time before the first organism was born.

either way, what i do with this knowledge leads me to the same road. i live my life, i believe in human law, and i try to do the best i can for myself and my family. i do this because i want to, but i want to because of an endlessly complicated chain reaction.

to be a true atheist means i have to accept that however complicated i think i am, i'm really just the result of an equation. that's a pretty tough leap of faith for me to make.

no point, just sharing.

08-24-2003, 04:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
virus Tilted Location: NYC	atheist predestination fate/predestination is usually associated with spiritual types. but in the end, science is theology. i've been thinking about this a lot lately. let's say i'm an atheist (that's not too far off the mark from most perspectives). i believe the universe was created in whatever way, and a chain reaction continued until life was made. it could not have happened any different way, because the forces in the universe are natural, and life existing is just how shit works. the chain reaction continued to occur, life evolved eventually into humans. now here's where i have difficulty holding on to atheism: if the universe flows in a natural untouched order, so did evolution. so did the movements of the wind, the growing plants, and the migration of animals. animals' developed ways to survive and understand their environment, 5 senses. our synapses fire, my hand strikes this keyboard, i turn on my espresso machine. it could not have happened any other way. so all this complicated feeling exists, but even my contemplating it now is simply a course in nature that could not have resulted differently. though i have a point of view, and "i think ... i am" it's really just an illusion because, despite my assumption that i can make a choice and change an outcome, that decision was made for me an infinite amount of time before the first organism was born. either way, what i do with this knowledge leads me to the same road. i live my life, i believe in human law, and i try to do the best i can for myself and my family. i do this because i want to, but i want to because of an endlessly complicated chain reaction. to be a true atheist means i have to accept that however complicated i think i am, i'm really just the result of an equation. that's a pretty tough leap of faith for me to make. no point, just sharing.