Forces and planets

Submitted by Claire (United States), Aug 6, 2008 at 04:48

First, we see that evolution is a fact, and we have evidence of a big bang. There are various natural laws: gravity, thermodynamics, etc. We also see that we can program our minds to respond in various ways to stimuli. Whatever these forces are, there is no evidence of gender, sentience, etc. except within life forms we see as manifestations. Natural selection operates not by a conscious shaping or design, but by trial and error--how a particular form with a particular set of genetic mutations responds to its environment. If it can survive, then it may live to reproduce. If not, it becomes extinct.

There is no evidence of a deity or that anything is predetermined, planned, designed, etc. In fact, quite the opposite--the evidence suggests it is simply evolution and survival of the fittest.

We have no idea whether these or other forces exist elsewhere--we are limited in our ability to sense and to travel--although it does improve all the time with science and technology breakthroughs, such as the Hubble telescope and nanotechnology.

Some of these forces do exist on other planets, in other galaxies, etc. Of what we do have the instrumentation to sense, earth seems to have developed through endless chemical and physical reactions the ability to support certain kinds of life, which we see in vegetation, animals, and other "life" that doesn't fit these categories. This specific type of life developed/survived due to the environment of the earth. There is evidence that species and even people of certain groups have gone extinct on earth before when cataclysmic space events have occurred. In fact, we know that our sun will eventually turn into a red giant, based on what we can now see from the past by sensing and processing light waves.

If you want to personify the unnamed "force" behind evolution that's your business, but there is nothing supernatural or magical about it. It's all natural.

The real question is are people intelligent enough, brave enough, and committed enough to let go of the past and not cling to ancient dogma and indoctrination that no longer serves humankind and face reality? Science and technology work for everyone, irrespective of their ancient folklore. But culture is a potent force, and few are able to even allow themselves the freedom to question the very myths they live by.

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