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Galaxy of unknowns

There was an article in the OBSERVER by Seth Borenstein some time ago. He reported that the scientific community has released a new study saying they now believe there may be 300 sextillion stars in the universe. That’s three times what they had previously believed. Isn’t it comforting to see that they are making progress?

Science is a study of the material world. When contemplating the universe, they can only deal with things they can see or measure. Consequently, every few years, as they develop their telescopes to see farther and farther, they keep upping the number of stars they feel confident of assuming.

Scientists of any time have always believed that their explanations of what is, is as much of reality that we can discern. In every age their theories of reality have been accepted, only to be laughed at by later generations as newer discoveries are made. Actually we haven’t scratched the surface of things, and perhaps never will.

While we have the word infinity, we cannot accept that there is such a thing, because we are unable to prove it, except perhaps theoretically. Do they think that some day when they have developed better space telescopes, they will find a huge fence and sign out in space somewhere that will read, “No planets, stars, black holes, miscellaneous floating orbs of any kind, or even gaseous formations are allowed beyond this point.”

There’s much I don’t know, but I know this: They will never develop the ability to see out to the edge of the universe, because there is no such place. Space is an unending continuum. No matter how far you go, it’s that much farther. There is no sign out there. I suggest a rule saying, “It takes an infinite number of everything there is, to fill infinity.” You read it here first.

We laugh at the perceived universe of ancient days. They thought they were at the center of the universe, with the sun orbiting the earth. I think they were right in one way. We are at the center of the universe. Everything is! If the universe has no limit, anywhere is its center. How could it be anything else?

We still have a controversy between the theory of evolution versus creationism, and the Big Bang, as to how the universe and life were created. People who believe only in what can be defined or detected by material means have accepted these theories as indisputable. People who believe there is a spiritual force, a God, tend to credit creation of everything to that Spirit force. We don’t actually know which is true, except perhaps in our hearts.

Theories of evolution, or big bangs, are not established facts. They represent the best concepts that material scientists have been able to imagine. Science teaches that you cannot make something from nothing. They must therefore assume the pre-existence of the matter that caused the Big Bang, with no consideration of where it came from. If there ever was nothing, a creative force was needed to create something amid that nothing. While I agree with a creator, I don’t believe there was ever a beginning. God was never born, He ever was, and is.

The understanding of those who believe in God, may evolve over time. If human life is nothing else, it is a growing, evolving process. It is not unscientific to presume that there is more to existence than we are capable of imagining. It has always been that way. I find it difficult to believe the world, the universe, or life, is just a weird accident. Everything, while not in our control, is very strictly controlled by strict laws. We humans are also, although we do not always accept laws that rule our behavior. That’s one of our problems.

The strangest thing of all, is that scientists who study the laws that control everything in the universe, laws they base their theories on, never question where these laws come from. (They don’t know where to look). They believe in cause and effect, but what caused the laws and their inviolate effects? Isn’t “Just the way things are” an overlooked blind spot? How very strange. I wonder what kind of a rock, or slime bed, the so-called laws of nature that control everything crawled out from under? May God bless America.

Richard Westlund is a Collins resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com

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