In the history of Western philosophy there has perhaps never really been a question about God’s existence, but there has been puzzlement as to what he/she/it is. The consensus appears to be that there is unquestionably some sort of extraordinary essence or a priori rationality underlying the universe even in face of obvious accidents and chances in the evolvement. The many observations from Aristotle, Copernicus, Kepler and Newton to quantum theories culminating in strings as basic stuff all substantiate an inherent order even midst the chaos, which in the end may be little more than trial and error built into a supra-natural entity to effect a broader, thriving intelligence as the controlling principle into a growing universe.
The observational world indisputably is characteristic of a painful mystery in the course of its objectionable events from black holes to tsunamis. Yet, just as human intelligence develops to make phenomena more comprehensible, coupled with the aspiration to make things better, the underlying contact with rational beings — for surely, no one can dispute there are at least infinitesimal contact points from which mundane and indeed inspired ken develops — must be aggressively involved in the making of a more comprehensible and perhaps even a kinder universe.
When one thinks back fourteen billion years ago when this current universe was in its infancy, it is damnably frightening in the chaotic course of explosives and whirling motion seemingly going nowhere. In considering our own world’s painful development from a fiery ball to putrefaction that brought about life’s elements and its unimaginably cruel exploitation in order to effect an apparent purpose to rational awareness one has to wonder if it is worth it. Given omnipotent powers it is generally agreed that no human would have even considered making such a universe.
However, as Melville said, “the chips of creation have been carted away” and we are stuck with what is and in defiance make the best of it through inventiveness and imagination — with the help of lurking contact switches.
Copyright © 2005 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: January2, 2006.
http://stevendedalus.joeuser.com