I Know I Know Nothing

It may be said that I ask too many questions. I'm certainly not trying to be annoying, contentious or controversial. I'm simply interested in people, and why they believe certain things like they are facts. Those who believe deeply in science, many of whom are atheists, claim things I can almost guarantee will be disproven ten years from now. And those of faith, who believe with even more conviction than those on the other side, take strength from the FACT that they will never have their ideologies disproven. And because neither side can prove much of anything, it is for me less about proof and more about accepting and facing this reality.

The Large Hadron Collider is searching for what is termed 'The God Particle', and although this has little to do with the existence of God, it will most certainly change scientific attitudes and theories (once again).


Long ago, in a cave or village, a young couple had the misfortune of losing a child. The Sharman, seeing their grief, wanted to console them. He then told them (whether in his absolute truth or because he had empathy) that one day they would be reunited. This belief had a profound effect on those who needed something more than nothing...and from that time on, debate has raged.

I don't present this story as truth, but merely as a possibility. And who knows, perhaps the existence of God may one day be proven. Just as one day there may be a proper understanding of the universe. And although I doubt either one will come true, almost anything is possible.

I have no idea if there is, or isn't, a higher being. But, when someone tells me they KNOW there is, based solely on religious teachings or the way they were raised, is patronising, to say the least.

I've never read the bible, and I have no intention of ever doing so. My mother was a Christian. She was my sounding board...a person I could trust to give a balanced opinion on worldly things. Someone I bounced my questions off and who never belittled or judged me for it. I trusted her, and even someone as cynical as I am could see there was something in what she was telling me. Although, what that something is...well, that's where the difficulty exists, especially when speaking of God in a Christian sense.

I wonder if it was a coincidence that when I joked about her beliefs and said things meant to tease, I would sometimes kick my little toe. Or perhaps it was something else altogether? It may simply have been that I was clumsy. Or maybe, it was a higher power showing me I had better be careful. Or, I may have been doing it to myself on a subconscious level, because I knew she was my mom and it wasn't the right thing to do.

She prayed (often for me), and on occasion, I asked her to pray for someone I knew who needed help. And I must admit that prayer, whilst not scientifically proven, often brought good results. But, that doesn't prove God or a divine power was responsible.

Human beings as a species, are still evolving. We know very little about what our potential is, or where evolution will lead us. No one knows what potential power or skill might one day come, that will then be thought of as normal. Miracles might be God's work, and of course, Christians will jump on these events shouting, "Hallelujah!" Meditation is very similar to prayer, in my opinion, and something indeed happens when these two practices are performed. It is entrenched in human nature to pigeonhole things we simply do not understand.

Is it essential to understand why something works, so long as it does? And if faith brings comfort and strength, or offers someone the chance at eternal life, even if that isn't necessarily true, so long as it provides something for those who need it, then there is no harm done. I don't think it should be about proof or even answers, but it's the questions that drive humans to observe and ponder I believe is more important. To look into the sky at night and wonder is the essence of being human.

How could this universe in which we find ourselves have come about? Things like biology, time, light, gravity and distances we can only begin to fathom. Even reality is beyond our present capabilities to understand, and makes me humble enough to say, I simply don't know what is true...and I, for one, am comfortable with that.