I have done a lot of thinking and studying about the well described “Big Bang” which has been tabbed as the beginning of our universe. I certainly agree that our universe started that way. However, I have developed my own theory about what was here, in this part of the total grand universe before the big bang carved out our universe. I described my theory in Book 1. Again, this is an exercise in logic and does not depend on some divine being that creates the universe, earth and sky. For those that think like I do, this theory is far better and easier to accept than conjuring up some mystical being with unbelievable powers. I am going to keep religion out of this when it comes to creation. As I said before, I think there is a place for religion, but this is not it. The cosmologists, the physicists, and the astronomers have done a remarkable job developing theories and proving their conclusions. Believe me, when I say that science will continue to set the pace and it will force the separation of church, state and science. I like the statement that has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin, “Light houses have saved more lives than churches.” I believe my interpretation of the creation of our universe is logical and accurate. Thus, there is no need to search for a divine being that created the universe or multiverse, if you will. The vast majority of people that are religiously oriented do not equate or understand the scientific explanation of the formation of the universe, so they find comfort in the belief of a “mystical divine being” who can do all of these wonderful things. There is nothing wrong with that belief mode if you are comfortable with it. I just believe that science has a better, more accurate and a logical explanation of how we got here. Thus, I am a non-believer in the concept that there is a god that pulls all of the strings. Then, it is also logical to accept the findings and the conclusions that Darwin developed. Just think of ten billion different types of flowers that evolved and at each opportunity, and in concert with their environment, each genus selected the best direction for its future development---ten billion, all working to improve their lot, concurrently over millions of years. All species on land, in the ocean and in the air have been and are adapting and selecting the best option available, in the past, now, and in the future. There is just too much logic on the side of evolution in the determination of how we got here. There is also a negative side of religion to consider. Probably the most religiously oriented countries on the earth are a part of the Middle East Islamic nations, and yet the philosophy, the pronouncements and the news from that part of the world is filled with suicide bombings and the killing of military, and civilian (men, women and children) generally of the same faith. I have said before, however the comments bear repeating—it doesn’t make any sense to me that the Islamist God (Allah) teaches and/or wrote that Muslims should kill (murder) other Muslims in the name of religious harmony or policy or strategy. There is one other thing that I haven’t said much about but it is important in the religion of the Islamist, and that is if you make the pronouncement that you choose to become a follower of Islam, you cannot change your mind, and the penalty for changing your mind is death. Pretty strict penalty in my book. Now, I must point out that there are other areas of religion that I find objectionable and that is the dogma that goes with many other religions of the world, not only Islam. The Roman Catholic ceremony has many instances where the worshippers are expected to comply with the letter of the law (dogma) of the church. I pointed out earlier in this essay that Galileo had his problems with the pronouncement of the Roman Catholic Church. Again, here is an example of the church getting involved where they should not have ventured. Leave science to the scientists. I say again, that religion is more a part of the problem, than a part of the solution. I want to assure the readers of this essay that I am the last person in the world who would suggest the abolishment of religion. There is a place in this world for religion. For instance, many people have put together prayer groups to assist a friend or a loved one or perhaps a well known leader in the world of politics. The prayers are suppose to assist the ill person to recover. The idea is to solicit a supreme beings’ help. Some of these gatherings have been held under very rigorous scientific conditions in an attempt to prove or to disapprove whether prayers have had a positive affect. The answer has been negative in all cases. Or to put it another way—there has never been a situation where the person who was ill has shown the least bit of improvement that could be attributed to the prayer offered up. I suggest and acknowledge that the people who did the praying probably felt better, mentally. If a person gets some positive reinforcement through their religious efforts, then I say more power to you. Churches have been the center of assistance to damaged communities, and have been the center for distributions of food and medical supplies. However it should be remembered that human beings did those good things, not god. It was good thinking generous human beings that gave of their time and efforts.
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