Re: Ralph Peters today in USA today
Hey Stevieray, The night sky, and what Albert Einstein and gaints like Edwin Hubble, Max Planck et al theroized for all of us is an order of ALL things. The order can do good things, (from our perspective), or bad things, (again from our perspective) but order can not come from eternal random chaos, IMHO, and I am not alone in that theory, (the big guns tend to agree). Crunch ranted about a large rock or iron chunk hitting the planet 65 million years back + or -. That was bad for the dinosaur/birds and good for us, but it was part of that same order I have referred to herein. Every living thing we know of compares very favorably to man made machines in the unique design of the life form, (even the misquito or the tape worm or very simple life forms). The fact that it is a good life form or a bad life form is moot and very much based upon one's perception. The sadness you or I feel for a small child suffering from starvation or cancer is again our perception. There is life and life wants to live, sometimes that means preditors eat other living things which seems unfair, (again perception). Why is there any evil? I dunno, maybe free agency, and maybe with consequences, (at least one would certianly hope). The religious types explain that by talking about the Devil, and it works for me as a Christian, (but I try not to focus on negative things). Has Christianity stiffled science? Why yes, but we have modernized so we allow science to proceed these days, (thank GOD). Most problems with various religions are caused by man, (and women but primarily men). If you are a good guy in as many ways as possible yet you reject the grace of God will you burn in hell? I hope not, but the good book would seem to put you at some risk. Again I or any other mortal can't possibly make that judgement call. That is God's call. Is life, or the order we see at night fair? From our perspective it may not seem that way but that is the way it is. When you look up at Orion tonight if the sky is clear there is a very large star: Betelgeuse (upper left: red orange very bright star). We think it is 427 light years from us. We think it would engulf Jupiter's orbit if it were centered where our sun is. It has 300 times the sun's volume 15 times the mass, 500-800 times the diamiter. When she blows, (likely a type II supernova), let's just hope her pole does not point our way, (very small chance that it will). If it does, about 427 years after the blast, (look out Rubber), we could cease to exist from the gamma rays out of the resulting black hole. That would be a real bummer. Would that disprove God? Not on your life or mine. Type II supernovas are what creates the building blocks for life. If I die tomorrow, (which I don't want to do), I know I will and do cornsider myself to be very fortunate. I live in a great country, have a great life, had lots of fun, and have very few regrets. Beliefs can't be proven, nor can one person convince another of free will. This is something very individual, and I for one am glad I have concluded my search. Sorry if I have offended here. Respectfully, JR
