What is infinity? Science tries to answer this question. Science tells us that before the Big Bang, before the creation event, nothing existed. Can we define nothing? Can we define ‘infinity’?
Science tells us that the universe is not infinite. It is extremely large, and growing larger, but if we could travel far enough, fast enough, we might find an end. Which begs the question: What exists past the edge? This is similar to the question of what came before creation. Neither question can be answered satisfactorily because the answer must rely on the observation of ‘state’. But the act of observation changes the result.
In all of human experience, there is nothing we can see or experience that is infinite. Everything we can touch or interact with has limits. Our lives have a defined beginning and end. Rocks are formed and will eventually break down into pebbles, to sand, to dirt, to dust. Even the stars we see at night will eventually die. There is nothing we can ‘see’ that exists outside these perceptible limits.
Yet we are told that God is eternal. He is the cause of all creation. He loves us ‘forever.’
What does forever mean? Our parents tell us they will love us unconditionally and they will love us forever. But they grow old, they die, and they leave us. Often our experience (if not our memory) of their love dies with their bodies.
So how is it possible for the frail, limited human mind to fully understand an infinite, limitless idea of God? Everything we see and experience has limits. How do we imagine an intelligence without a beginning or end? How can we talk about something that always has been, always will be, and wants us to know and care about him? Something that cares about us?
It is a mind-blowing concept and by definition, outside any possible experience. We are told that to believe in God we are to use faith. Faith is the belief in something that lies outside physical experience — to accept that which cannot be demonstrated or fully explained, but might be felt and shared.
To make matters more complicated, there is more than one version of God. And each version is different. So once again we are asked to ‘take it on faith’ that our particular version of a creator is the single deity worthy of our attention. Some religions claim that if only we will believe, we shall be saved… while all others are damned to suffer eternally.
Schrödinger's cat had it easy.
Charles is a retired professional who constantly asks difficult questions. He has been accused of being annoying and been advised to stop. He won't.
