Simple question it is not. Scientist and theologians pretty much agree on this explanation which falls short. They both point out creation was formed containing both time, matter and energy. The problem is we get bogged down with this word existence. Existence is where we live. Existence itself is a product of this intelligent force. Not the other way around. Hence why labeled the creator of all "things".
Imagine if you will someone creates the most intelligent computer in the world. One that never existed before. It then sets out to discover it's creator by whatever limited means were given to it. Would it one day be able to become coequal. Perhaps it's possible over time it might be able to somewhat comprehend it's maker. Even become a close companion, but it's impossible for me to imagine it becoming human. Look, I enjoy the Story of Pinocchio as much as anybody, but really?
I think realistically this is the fix us humans find ourselves in. Just perhaps even the "creator" itself. Could it be possible this creator found itself wondering the very same thing. "Where did I come from"? Since the "eye cannot see itself" just suppose he/she/it set all this in motion hoping we'll come up with an answer. Could this be the motivation behind all of this?
It's been said "God" is complete and has all the answers. Does he/she/it? Hellva assumption from how little we understand. Lonely alone not knowing would be a hellva motivating factor for going to all this fuss. Perhaps we have a lot more in common then anyone's willing to believe. Not just curiosity but possible vulnerability as well in the not knowing.
We can safely assume is there's not a old grey bearded guy sitting on a throne fretting over every little detail of some 7 billion peoples' lives currently living on Earth. The proof lies in the fact millions upon millions have killed each other since leaving the womb... NOTHING. Governments and their leaders find no favor (despite what you heard). Storms, fire, earthquakes meteor impacts... NADA either.
We need to take a logical approach. One which assumes God isn't coming in a flaming chariot with a booming voice. If indeed this intelligence lies beyond "our existence" we need to focus on it's goals. If our purpose is for the creatior to greater understand itself it's seems to me we best align ourselves with that if we wish to remain useful.
As a scientist with two physics doctorates, and who debated Richard Dawkins in 1986 at the Oxford Union (UK) on the subject of "the doctrine of creation", I would appreciate the hospitality of your column to draw attention to two books I have written that bear directly on the subject of this article. The first is "Who made God? Searching for a theory of everything" (2009) and "What is Man? Adam, alien or ape?" (2018) both available from the usual sources. Respectively WMG and WIM). In WMG I examine the nature and limitations of science and adopt a scientific approach to the question of the existence of God, namely, to propose as a hypothesis that the God of the Bible exists and follow through the implications of the "hypothesis of God" to show that they provide a far better explanation of "life, the universe and everything" than does a belief that such a God does not exist. In WIM I explore in depth the current secular views of Man's origin and nature and show that they lack explanatory power ... whereas the biblical view of Man really does provide answers to the question "What is Man?" Both books are written in a lay-person-friendly style. Free copies available for review purposes for anyone interested. Thank you for accepting this comment. Edgar Andrews, Emeritus Professor of Materials Science, University of London, UK
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