Some questions are statements. In a certain tone of voice, “What’s for dinner?” really means, “Feed me now!” Likewise some questions about God are statements. They may simply reveal some angst of the asker. But occasionally, the intent of the question is to shift a burden of proof onto an unsuspecting defender of faith. The question says “show me.” As someone who believes in a Creator, I feel no need to take on that burden. Questions we CANNOT answer provide plenty of assurance we live in a created and meaningful universe. Here are a few…
Beauty
In his song, “Stand Up Comedy,” Bono (from U2) asks, “Can you stand up to beauty/Dictator of the heart?” He’s saying beauty is a gratuitous gift which cannot fully be explained. Convince yourself a certain face, masterpiece, song or sunset has no significance beyond its function. You can deconstruct the practical purpose of some beautiful things, but explain why that answer leaves you cold?
A banana
They come in their own, sealed package. They are nutritious and delicious. Each one includes a lever at the top to open them. They fit a person’s mouth and are easy to chew at any age. They have a built-in expiration label when they get too old to eat. They are fun.
Social conscience
People want justice. Even those who deny any an objective moral standard will expect you to treat them fairly, presuming they have some universal basis for what that looks like. Why do they feel justified in appealing to a common moral ground? The beasts do not bear this burden. Is it just social paradigm of evolution allowing humans to thrive through cooperation? Why then can we not seem to dismiss it after seeing through it?
The human eye
Speaking of seeing, 14 Million cells got together one day to party. Okay, you say it took a few thousand millennia but after generations and mutations, they got it right. How did they know about light? Coincidence? Darwin had the same question. In a universe where things are falling apart (entropy), why do things sometimes put themselves together? How come when it happens, the results usually match up with a need–like a an organ that can process light as information, sending it along to a far more complex organ (the brain) for interpretation?
What questions do you have which suggest we are not here by accident?
I want to add one:
Mockingbirds:
Charles Darwin puzzled over the cause
Of the mockingbird’s song:
Could there have been applause
Before humans came along?
Seriously, what’s the point if it isn’t delight?
Cliff