Notes to Self

Dust to Dust.

Bill Bryson writes “a single atom is unaware of its own existence. Because the brain is comprised of atoms, anatomy alone cannot possibly account for the human experience.” There are several arguments for the existence of God and while I lean toward the idea that faith exists in what can’t be known, it would seem that a single atom provides the most complete argument for the existence of an intangible, inexplicable, human experience, given to us/inspired by a force of infinite power.

But what about the big “if” questions? The human sensory experience has evolved over time. How would the conscience differ if we couldn’t see, smell, touch, listen, taste? Would we have any concept of love if not for sex? Would we need one another if we just sat around, surviving time, and never needing so much as a drip of water to go on lounging and rolling every now and again? Perhaps it was a drip of water, splashing onto a rock that started us in the direction of becoming human. Is it enough to have a body? If humans dominate the earth, why don’t other species grow bigger brains? We can’t fight and we can’t climb. We scare easily and we get cavities and breast implants. In all fairness, we cook a mean waffle, but talk about picky eaters.

We perfected the arts of bridgebuilding and bullshitting. And there’s other stuff. I saw the Sears Tower from a plane once. It is very tall.

Guilty as we may be for god-knows-what, we are not particularly good at learning from past mistakes. And yet, it seems that God doesn’t hold it against us. I would even venture to say that science is, in and of itself, proof in the existence of God. Humans are like dirty little kids, playing with matches in a hayfield. God monitors the kids like a cool babysitter who lets you stay out late and do whatever you want. When the kids start a fire, God puts it out. When one of the kids catches a cold, God presents a cure for the illness before everyone gets it. Historically, for every problem, except maybe for the problem of Religion, there exists a solution within the confines of the natural universe.

Suppose we start a fire and don’t survive. The fire will eventually burn out. But who’s to follow? Would God allow it? How long would it take our heirs apparent to piece together a history of the human experience? What might they learn from us? What will be that species’ version of a rootbeer float? Will they have a Thong Song? Will seven still be a lucky number? Or is it unlucky? If buried for a million years, would Larry Flynt’s iron-cast John Wayne statue remain in tact? I bet the Lincoln Memorial would hold up. Who could explain the Taj Mahal? How might the categorical imperative be reintroduced? Who could explain God? I’m rambling, but here’s where I hope to make a point. Humans may be more intelligent than other species, but something special accounts for the fact that our brains and bodies are possessed of a concept of the infinite. While our conflicting ideas about God (any divine power) have all been shaped to serve people in power, each of us is, whether we like it or not, affected by what we can’t control. We have created a great majority of the world’s problems and, with luck and maybe a little bit of grace, we will have a chance to set things straight.