Talking Apples and Apples

(Originally posted 15 March 2005)

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." - Richard Feynman

If the follower of a faith tries to convince the ardent atheist of divine creation, the argument will probably fall flat on its face. The atheist will probably ask for proof, and the follower will be left with only their faith to support it.

If the ardent atheist tries to convince the same follower about the Big Bang, they'll probably similarly fail.

Now, the atheist might say that they don't have blind faith, and their findings are based on a "system". Here I would quote Feynman again: "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool."

The last line of the Big Bang article states: "Although the Big Bang Theory is widely accepted, it probably will never be proved; consequentially, leaving a number of tough, unanswered questions." Doesn't that pretty much sum up our existence? It does not matter if you are a die hard atheist, Christian, Muslim or Buddhist! We simply can not operate without some amount of faith in something.

The atheist might drive their car to work everyday, but couldn't the wheels fall off? We best have faith that someone built it right! What if another driver on the same road has been drinking? Whether we call it faith or not, that is what it is! How many of us have actually sat down and figured out the big bang for ourselves? Not many probably, so even if you are an atheist who believes the theory, you have taken faith in the person who did the calculations!

In the end, it isn't really about who has faith and who doesn't. The problems arise in our explanations, and how they differ. In the end, we are all left standing on this planet not really knowing where it all began or why.

Let's go with the old saying and "agree to disagree" on such matters then, and move on to something more proactive: the things we agree on!

Can the Christian agree that good social order, coupled with compassion and understanding can be a good thing? I think so.

How about the atheist? I think so, I don't think they want suffering, and want a good environment to live and grow.

The Buddhist? I believe so.

So be it: We agree to disagree about some things, but wish each other well, and care for each other despite that. It's a bit like a large family isn't it?