My son, Isaac, came over to visit on Saturday, and the conversation turned somehow to the idea of a Supreme Being, a subject that is fairly common around our house. Isaac is a committed Atheist and, of course, reminded us that he did not see any evidence that there is higher power, deity, whatever you want to call it. And there is no doubt that there is no scientific evidence for such an entity. By the very nature of such an entity, it would be beyond physical, and not measurable by scientific method. So, it is totally understandable to me, that if you are not going to credit the existence of something unless it is possible to examine it with the scientific method, then you are certainly not going to credit the existence of God. Isaac said, in fact, that if he could see proof of the so-called Creator he would be happy to entertain the possibility, but that he has seen no evidence for it. His position, to me, at least, is totally understandable. He is puzzled that I am willing to base my life directions and actions on something that cannot be proven, in this case Near Death Experiences being the "scripture" that I turned to for an understanding of the spiritual. Of course, Isaac does not believe that a spirit, an essence, our consciousness per se, survives the death of the body. Indeed, to him, consciousness is dependent on the biochemical processes of the human brain, and not on some ethereal ectoplasmic essence. So, we definitely are at odds with each other. And the questioning that he pursued in the process of our conversation was very to the point and thought-provoking. The possibility that I am indeed wrong (and I admit that possibility) about such matters did hit me in a basic way. If there is no afterlife, no soul, if this really is all there is, then it changes the way you look at your life. Isaac says in effect, that you then make it your goal to live as robustly as you can, and that is not a bad thing. However, to me the prospect of nothing beyond the final stopping of my heart is just depressing. I would rather believe that there is a bigger picture and that I will be around for more than 90 years, rather than when I die the light will go out forever. For me, that prospect makes me want to live and gives me the greatest optimism. If Isaac can live and be happy with his Atheism, then I say, more power to him. For me, well, I would rather be happy in my delusion, if that is what it is, than in despair. Perhaps, just perhaps, Isaac is a better, more evolved human being because he can do without a higher power.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 01:09:39 +0000
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