Does Higher Intelligence exist?

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Atheism, Christianity, God, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality

The following question was posted on Quora by an atheist and received several answers.  Here is the question followed by my answer.

Larry Langston‘s answer to:

Religion: What would Christians (or other theists) on Quora like to discuss about belief/faith/God/Christianity with longtime atheists?

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Thanks for the question, but I can’t think of a thing I wish to ask an atheist.  I do not seek greater understanding from those who believe the greatest intelligence of the universe is limited to human understanding.  I do not seek it from those who believe the oxymoron of nothing producing something.  My reasoning does not accept that intelligence just “happened” from some spontaneous quirk out of an infinite void.  Nor do I seek it from those who believe physicality produces intelligence instead of the other way around.   I do not look for wisdom from those who assert that taking one side of an issue amounts to belief while choosing the other reflects a lack of it when no “physical” proof exist for either.  Nor do I hope to learn from those who tend to scorn others who cannot hand over proof of that which is beyond human understanding while not being able to do the same with the “belief” of their own.

Rather I seek greater understanding from those who derive their inspiration from Infinite Source as did Einstein.  Love his quotes, “Imagination is more important than knowledge”, “Logic will get you from A to Z, imagination will take you anywhere”, “That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God”.   Or on the lighter side, “If you’re kissing a pretty girl while driving,
you’re not giving proper attention to the kiss”.

Mr. Einstein was an humble and humorous man who never claimed genius but stated that the information just flowed to him from a higher intelligence, just as do most creative giants as the greatest composers, musicians, authors, artists, etc.  There was no doubt in the mind of Mr. Einstein that higher intelligence existed.  What a marvelous specimen of humanity he was.

The foregoing plainly points me to look for my inspiration from that which is beyond physicality.  But, of course, to each his own.   Take something as basic to life as one human cell.  It is beyond science to know how many make up the body but is estimated to be in the range of 100 trillion. Obviously, each of these little fellows are incredibly small but behave as if they have a brain of their own.  Each one is an incredibly complex organism central to the function of the human body.  It is composed, among much other, of specific sensors that sense minute changes in body chemistry, reports such to the central nervous system where the information is appropriately responded to so that the systematic functioning of the organs and entire body is sustained.  At the more obvious level, we don’t have to think about breathing, regulating our heart beat, digestive system, etc.  Human intelligence could not begin to sustain the body even for a few seconds but somehow it continues.  This interconnected and interdependent complexity is multiplied to the infinite throughout the wonders of the universe.

There is no way human intelligence could sustain life for even a split second let alone the infinite universe.  So, if I’m an atheist, I can only say, thank God for random happenstance for it is constantly accomplishing that which is infinitely beyond the capabilities of human intelligence.

I believe the Infinite exist because my logic does not accept that there can be boundaries.  If there were, what would exist beyond them?  One guy said to me, well, nothing, of course.  Obviously, that makes no sense because if boundaries exist, there has to be something containing them and it is an oxymoron to claim nothing could contain something.  However, I realize it would be foolish of me to demand proof before I would accept such because, by definition, the finite will never prove the Infinite.

I believe we will all agree that there is a mysterious energy or force constantly at work in the universe.  Something is causing the wind to move the leaves, our hearts to beat and the planets to move.  Is that force blind or intelligently guided?  How one answers that question determines whether he accepts higher intelligence.  There is no proof to be had of either view, it boils down to deductive reasoning.

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Albert Einstein

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Apologetics, Atheism, Christianity, God, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one learned in school”

“Imagination is more important than knowledge”

“Logic will get you from A to Z Imagination will take you anywhere”

“That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God”.

And this one on the lighter side, “If you’re kissing a pretty girl while driving, you’re not giving proper attention to the kiss”

Mr Einstein was a very humble and remarkable gentleman.  He never claimed genius but stated that the information simply flowed to him as do many creative giants as great composers, authors, musicians, poets, artists, etc.  He was well aware of a greater intelligence.  Although he did not accept Christianity, he was very religious nevertheless.

Love the guy!

What is wrong with desire?

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Chrisitianity, God, Health, Philosoply, Relationships, Religion, Spirituality

Desire and peace are opposites.  Desire is never fulfilled but only leads to more wanting.  There is only now.  Desire is dissatisfaction with “what is”.  But there is never anything else!  Consequently, desire can only mean unhappiness.  Having a preference for something different is fine and working toward it is fine but we must be careful not to be attached to, or desirous of, a certain result.  We only control the effort, never the result.  There are many factors far beyond our control that influence the result.  If we concern ourselves with the result, we are setting the stage for possible failure and disappointment.  If we simply apply ourselves to the task at hand seeking only satisfaction from the doing of it well, we cannot fail and happiness, peace and accomplishment will be ours to a much greater degree than we could ever have hoped for otherwise.

How do you define Right and Wrong?

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Christianity, God, Health, Philosophy, Relationships, Religion, Spirituality

I am wondering if morality could be redefined as cause and effect?  It seems to me that when it comes to morality or right and wrong people tend to retreat to their ingrained beliefs, religions, what a particular society deems as norm or what seems right to an individual based on his formative experiences or inherited tendencies.  Or put another way, I find nothing but ambiguity and differences of opinion as to what constitutes right or wrong.  Of course, religion points to the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule but take something as basic as “thou shalt not kill”.  There is so much grey area as to render is meaningless.  On the one hand God commanded such and on the other time and time again commanded the slaughter of entire nations.  We interpret it as fine for defense but who decides such.  How many innocent women were burned at the stake because some over zealous fundamentalist thought some were “strange”.  Or the Crusades which murdered thousands because they did not believe as some thought they should. We had no problem justifying the invasion of Iraq and the killing of thousands of innocent men, women and children.  We had no problem dropping atomic bombs and killing thousands of innocent in Japan.   And every day we see how people of all religions justify whatever they wish.  I am always amazed at how people quote the Bible to confirm the “truth” they wish to promote.  You can find scripture to justify most any action one wishes to indulge in.

I propose that there is, indeed, an absolute regarding right and wrong.  Every thought or act of an individual upon another carries with it a resultant effect upon the one thinking or acting.  It is what I term the Heaven/Hell factor.  Kindness begets kindness, evil begets evil.  We move from darkness to light or we remain in darkness.

Could this be the realization to overcome religious or cultural intolerance?

A common self-destructive oversight

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Christian, Christianity, God, Health, Philosophy, Psychology, Relationships, Religion

From where do negative emotions arise?  Are they not from wishing things were different?  But is that not wishing for the impossible?  What is, IS.  Our negativity may arise from regrets about the past, from disappointment of what we are now experiencing or worries for the future.  In either case, what possible good is disappointment, worry or resistance?  Carl Jung said, “that which we resist, persists”, and he was, of course, absolutely correct.  As Eckhart Tolle points out, there is only NOW.  Worries and concerns about past and future are not relevant Now.  Yes we should make plans but not from a worried or apprehensive state of mind.

A friend who is a retired psychologist tells the story of a woman he treated who had suffered from severe depression for many years over some past events in her life.  He reassured and reminder her that concerns about the past are completely useless and only spoil our NOW and that every NOW is opportunity for a fresh start.  She had an almost immediate recovery trading her depression for happy expectation.

What is the most powerful force in the universe?

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Apologetics, Christianity, God, Health, Non Duality, Non resistance, Philosophy, Relationships, Religion

I suggest it is our attitude.  I believe the mental creates the physical, never the other way around.  I do not believe it is necessarily positive thinking because that is still trying to force change.  I suggest it is simple acceptance of “what is”, gentle tolerance of others and trusting that which is beyond to evolve the better.

Actually, I do not believe there to be any separation between the mental and the physical.  I believe the physical to be the manifestation in form of the mental activity underlying it. Collectively it determines the activity of the planet and individually that which each experiences. (or something along that line) 

Does an Angry God send People to Hell?

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Apologetics, Christian, Christianity, God, Health, Non Duality, Nonresistance, Philosophy, Psychology, Relationships, Religion, Spirituality

I believe the best way to answer that question, if we believe in a God of love, is to simply ask the question, would loving parents submit a child to eternal suffering or separation?  For that matter, would any loving person even send a mad dog to such an eternity?  My, how we have desecrated God and love!

I am always amazed at how parents are so afraid one of their children might get caught up in the world, become lost and be condemned by God.  There is no way they would do such awful thing but they are afraid God might while at the same time claiming God’s love is much greater.

What Free Choice?

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Apologetics, Christian, Christianity, God, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality

We are taught that man is given complete freedom but is a sinner by choice and has consequently condemned himself until he accepts God’s remedy.  Let’s take a closer look.

I suggest that according to Christianity there is no freedom.  First, we’ll consider the choice of sin.  According to the Bible, man is incapable of living a sinless life regardless how hard he tries or desires to do so.  Consequently, where then is the choice?

Secondly, let us consider the idea of acceptance of God’s plan of salvation.  The belief teaches that we are free to choose to accept or not.  However, the teaching is that accepting means great reward and rejection means terrible suffering.  That is the same “freedom” a thief, with gun in hand, gives his victim when he demands his wallet or take a bullet to the chest.  In my mind that is coercion, not freedom.  That is exactly the same freedom King Nebuchadnezzar gave his people when he said, worship me or face the fiery furnace.

Would love really resort to force or coercion for followers?

Faith, Freeing or Unenlightening?

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Apologetics, Christian, Christianity, God, Health, Non Duality, Non resistance, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion, Spirituality

According to many more popular religions, faith is believing in something one must accept without any strong evidence supporting it and that God considers such very positive.  If it includes some doubt that is even better.  This suggests that God does not allow open questioning of one’s hand-me-down dogma and most likely is the reason most refuse to hear anything that reflects negatively on their ingrained beliefs.  I question the wisdom of such as I do not believe love, omniscience or perfection would make such requirement.  I suggest the same is also the reason for a major part of world conflict.  I read a quote some time ago that I thought was quite appropriate, “Everyone is going to hell according to someone’s religion”.

How do you define Love?

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Christianity, God, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

Some religions believe God created humanity because He desired fellowship but even though He is omniscient, had to test each to determine worthiness.  Those who pass are greatly rewarded and the rest must suffer eternally even though they did not ask to be created. Not only did they not ask to be created but found themselves here incapable of living sinless or meeting God’s standard but were required to ask for forgiveness for the way they were created.

Now things get really scary.  This God is an emotional basket case, happy when someone does good and sad when not.  He even has a tendency to become angry and jealous and is so insecure that He requires worship under the threat of severe suffering for failure to do so.

And we call it love.  Furthermore, the belief is that God does not condemn anyone but those who fail choose hell by not listening to God.  Do you know anyone who has or is choosing an eternal hell?  Some have said to me, “well, they may not realize it but they are making that choice by not listening”.  If such is the case, they are making their decision out of ignorance or without understanding because absolutely no one would make such a decision willfully.  And a God that would condemn and horribly punish those who fail by misunderstanding would be a most dreadful and unloving creator imaginable.

One would wonder why omniscient perfection would create such misery for Itself.  Maybe we have misunderstood what God is all about and He really is love, huh?