A godless universe

Mankind's plight in a godless universe is little better and probably much worse than in the godlike-force scenario. As individuals, people's lives are less than specks on a timeline of eons. Time rolls ever onward as humans blink and die. Humanity endures, but on the biggest scale has only existed briefly. Humankind cannot be considered the peak of evolution because their world can tame them instantly. Mankind in such a plight cannot escape the crush of a collapsing universe.

In such a world, morality serves only to keep the peace between pitiable creatures. People outline the behavior acceptable for those who are part of their society. Individuals who step outside their boundaries must be removed from the society or their behavior must be changed. But, the mores of the culture are arbitrary -- chosen, descrbed and delineated by men. They cannot be absolute. Any commonality among the cultures' morals can be ascribed only to the genetic, instinctual response to stimuli -- or chance.

It seems unlikely that such strong moral feeling, so prevalent amongst humankind, should stem from instinct. An inclination to turn away from the passions that keep the fittest alive seems hardly likely in an evolutionary scenario. Surely, morality is something that is programmed into us by some being or entity whose purpose for creating us is beyond mere propagation of a species.

Being vs. force or power

If God is merely a force or power that puts events in motion and, in an unconscious but sentient way, guides the path of nature, man is but a portion of that immense whole. Mankind's purpose may be significant collectively, but the individual grows from nothing and returns to nothing, rendering her a wisp in a void.

Such a god does not communicate directly with mankind; nor does it necessarily show any sort of favoritism toward the species. Man, in such a world, is not a pinnacle of creation, but a thread in the cosmic tapestry. The thread may end, but the cloth spans the immensity of space. Our sentience is not the end, but the means to some far different and inexplicable end.

It certainly grates against the human psyche to think our species is unimportant to the cosmos. Such, I suppose is the allure of pure evolution: we raised ourselves from the dust to think and reason and create. We have something to be proud of.

Implications of our existence

If God a sentient and conscious being who created humankind in his whimsy, or as a part of some selfish reason, such as for his own amusement, it is not likely that we are of much consequence to him. Picture, for an example, an artist who is able to draw comic characters that are virtually identical each time he draws them. He can draw one and discard it, knowing there is potential for another just like it at his fingertips. Imagining God as that sort of god can only leave one with a sense of despair. In such a scenario, our existence as individuals is but transitory and fleeting and expendable -- important only in our own mind and, if we are lucky, in the minds of a few close friends or relatives. For a god who has given mankind no purpose, man can serve no purpose.

Why would such a god as this create a creature like humans, who can think and act of their own volition. I can't think of any reason right now.

Where did you come from?

Either there is a god (or a god-like entity or a committee with god-like powers) or there is not. This is a dichotomy from which I see no alternate path. I bring this up merely to set the stage for a series of analyses I will attempt in this blog regarding the nature and purpose of man. I welcome comments and thoughtful discussion. I am interested in exploring this idea from a logical perspective. 

To be fair, I will acknowledge I am a staunch believer in God and will certainly not be swayed from this position in this lifetime. I can't say that I was converted to a belief in God through logic or reasoning but, because I believe in God, I feel there must be a logical basis for that belief. 

I don't pretend that anyone could be swayed away from atheism or agnosticism through reasoning. Logic simply does not have the power that emotional, physical, and spiritual senses have. Similar to those who adhere to a faith in God, those who choose not to believe are generally not swayed by logic in that direction, either; rather, they choose so to believe because acknowledging the existence of God requires a great deal of discipline (especially for the intellectual). Atheism requires no effort.

So, back to the original premise: either there is a "God" or there is not. Put another way, either humans were created or we happened. If these are the only two choices, then we must explore the implications of both. (Anyone who can proffer an additional option, I'd be interested to hear it.) Today I would like to briefly touch on option number one: God created the human race.

If there is indeed a God and if God created man, it stands to reason that he (or she or them or it) created mankind for a purpose. The reason could be any of a number of possibilities. It may have been to practice genetic engineering. Or, perhaps, merely for his/her/their amusement. God might have created us to be a part of some world-building crusade. Whatever the reason, it seems likely that this God is more intelligent and resourceful and more powerful than mankind -- by a large margin.

If we were created by a God who is more intelligent and capable than we, it would make sense to seek out the purpose of our existence. Why did this God create us? What purpose can we as a race or can I as an individual serve? What is God's ultimate goal? I think these are the questions we ask deep in our hearts but which tend to be a little more self-oriented: "Who am I. Why am I here? What will happen to me when I die? 

These are all important questions and they deserve reasoned answers. That is my goal. As I discuss my ideas, I hope to flesh them out and give them more substance and support using anecdotes, logical reasoning, and the words of others who have thought along these lines throughout the ages.

One note for readers who would like to comment: This topic is sensitive and deeply personal to many. I want to approach it respectfully and thoughtfully. If you have ideas you'd like to share, I would be glad to read them and have them posted to the blog; however, I will not cater to those who argue their points using logical fallacies, appeal to emotion alone, or who are belligerent or rude. Any such comments will likely not even be acknowledged or addressed before being removed from the blog.

NEXT TIME: Why would a god create a sentient species?