Some of the things that we accept as true and take at face value are notoriously wrong.
Scientists and philosophers have made every effort to change our common perceptions of it. The 10 examples below will show you what I mean.
Big Freeze is the theory of the final state that our universe is heading toward. The universe has a limited supply of energy. According to this theory, when that energy finally runs out, the universe will devolve into a frozen state.
The thermal energy produced by the motion of the particles will gradually wear out, which means that eventually, this particle motion will slow down and, presumably, one day, everything will stop.
Solipsism is a philosophical theory, which asserts that nothing exists but the individual’s consciousness. At first, it seems silly, but if you think about it, it really is impossible to verify anything but your own consciousness.
To check this out, take a moment to recall all the dreams that you have experienced in your life. Is it not possible that everything around you is nothing but an incredibly intricate dream? But, you may say, there are people and things around us that we cannot doubt because we can hear, see, smell, taste, and feel them, right?
Yes, and no. People who take LSD, for example, say that they can touch the most convincing hallucinations, but we do not claim that their visions are a “reality”. Your dreams can simulate sensations as well. After all, what you perceive is just a product of the information processing that takes place in different sections of your brain.
As a result, which parts of existence can we not doubt? Probably none. Each of us can only be sure of their own thoughts.
George Berkeley, the father of Idealism, argued that everything exists as an idea in someone’s mind. Berkley discovered that some of his peers considered his theory to be stupid. The story goes that one of his opponents kicked a stone with his eyes closed and said, “I disprove it thus!”
The idea was that if the stone really only existed in his imagination, he could not have kicked it with his eyes closed. The way Berkeley refuted this is hard to understand, especially in these days. He argued that there was an omnipotent and omnipresent God who was able to see everything simultaneously.
Everybody has heard of Plato. He is one of the world’s most famous philosophers. Like all philosophers, he had a few things to say about the nature of reality. He argued that beyond our perceived reality, there lies a world of “perfect” forms.
Everything that we see is just a shade, an imitation of how things truly are. To learn more about these ideas, read about Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which is a sort of the ‘Matrix‘ in its ancient version.
Plato argued that by studying philosophy, we have a chance of catching a glimpse of how things truly are and discovering the perfect forms of everything we perceive.
In addition to this stunning statement, Plato, being a monist, said that everything is made of a single substance. This means (according to him) that everything – from stars in the sky to the dust under your bed – consists of the same basic material, but in a different form. With the discovery of atoms and molecules, it has been proven true to an extent.
Time is something that we perceive as a reality. Of course, we usually divide it into the past, present and future. Presentism argues that the past and the future are imagined concepts while only the present is real.
In other words, today’s breakfast and every word of this article will cease to exist after you finish reading it until you open it to read it again. The future is just as imaginary because the time cannot exist before and after it happened, as claimed by St. Augustine.
Eternalism is the exact opposite of presentism. This is a philosophical theory that says that time is multi-layered. All layers of the time exist simultaneously, but the measurement is determined by the observer. What they see depends on which point they are looking at.
Thus, dinosaurs, Queen Victoria and Justin Bieber all exist simultaneously but can only be observed from a specific location. If one takes this view of reality, then the future is hopeless and the deterministic free will is illusory.
The “brain in a jar” thought experiment is a question discussed by thinkers and scientists who, like most people, believe that one’s understanding of reality depends solely on their subjective feelings.
So, what is the essence of this thought experiment? Imagine that you are just a brain in a jar that is run by aliens or mad scientists. How would you know? And can you truly deny the possibility that this is your reality?
This is a modern interpretation of Descartes’ evil demon problem. This thought experiment leads to the same conclusion: we cannot confirm the actual existence of anything except our consciousness.
If this seems to sound reminiscent of the movie “The Matrix“, it is only because this idea was part of the very basis of the story. Unfortunately, in reality, we have no red pills…
Anyone who has not spent the last ten years on a desert island has heard of “the multiverse” or parallel universes at least once. As many of us have seen, parallel words, in theory, are worlds very similar to ours, with little (or in some cases, large) changes or differences. The multiverse theory speculates that there could exist an infinite number of these alternate realities.
What’s the point? In a parallel reality, you may be living in the opposite corner of the world or may have already died in a car crash. In another one, you might have never even been born because your parents never met. The probabilities are endless.
This is probably the most fascinating branch of the multiverse theory. Superman is real. Yes, some of you would probably choose a different story, for argument’s sake, Harry Potter might be real too.
This branch of the theory argues that given an infinite number of universes, everything must exist somewhere. So, all of our favorite fiction and fantasy may be descriptive of an alternate universe, one where all the right pieces came into place to make it happen.
Everyone is interested in what happens to things when we aren’t looking at them. Scientists have carefully studied this problem and some of them came to a simple conclusion – they disappear. Well, not quite like this.
Phenomenalist philosophers believe that objects only exist as a phenomenon of consciousness. So, your laptop is only here while you are aware of it and believe in its existence, but when you turn away from it, it ceases to exist until you or someone else interacts with it. There is no existence without perception. This is the root of phenomenalism.
Which of these mind-blowing theories about the nature of reality appeal to you most of all? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
H/T listverse.com
art by Victoria Audouard
View Comments
The Multiverse theory has fascinated me for years and will fascinate me for the rest of my life. The mere idea that there could be a universe almost like ours yet is a little bit different makes you want to question reality. It even makes you wonder if your dreams are reality while your conscious life is a dream.
I do believe that - because of the mere size of the universe - we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the theory. There was a time where we thought there weren't any planets like ours - yet through research we've discovered numerous exoplanets that are very similar to Earth. That's not including the billions of other exoplanets that may still be out there. We've also made fascinating discoveries such a stars orbiting stars, pulsars, neutron stars, and more.
Given how much we already know about our universe - there is so much more that we don't know. The discovery might not be made in our lifetime, but I have confidence we'll find out that there are indeed parallel universes.
Agreed!
Amazingly, we see no reference to a Godhead, as if it should be dismissed. Do we err if we dismiss it? Since the phenomenalist believes existence as a phenomenon of consciousness. Quantum physics tells us that observation has effect on reality. My problem (perceived) is my struggle with religion! Which appear to me now as having nothing to do with spirituality, but everything to do with fear and obedience,for a reward of eternal bliss in heaven. So now if I throw out the religious part, and I remain with the spirituality, accepting a Godhead, not as a bearded angry father, but as energy having intelligence how do I come to terms with creation and my existence ie., my purpose therefore my role in this mystery of "life".
As a person and parent what is it I am searching for? Primarily I would think "Happiness" for self and my offspring. How do I address that essentially. Things have occurred in my life that compel me to believe in something greater than myself that have guided me onto different paths not necessarily planned out by me, yet are a strong reality for me, such that denial of a Godhead seems not possible. So, do I now address my earthly purpose or do I examine why am I here? If I choose to examine my earthly purpose at happiness I have looked at what has been a passion for me such that I can recognize the enjoyment (and pain) of my efforts and acknowledge a form of success and failures as a human being amongst my fellow man, this has virtually nothing to do with a God and mostly with pleasure, not happiness. If I choose to examine why I am here, I find myself standing in awe, of something so powerful that I,we, are not be capable to comprehending. So I look at my presence here as a gift, which if we are really a spiritual phenomena, would not get to understand the amazing beauty of our physical senses. In that form are we here to learn? Since most of our journey consists of learning. Certainly as I walk with my dog in the park or woods or water near by I pray in cheer joy of having been given this gift of life and stand in awe of its beauty, power and perfection, yet also its flaws which make me question its perfection. Yet I am reminded that how do we know joy without having seen anguish. For the time being I take comfort in my passion for my effort at business, providing a source of income for myself , and others, being a dreamer of possibilities, and a fighter to accomplish my dreams. All of which might not be possible except for the blessing of health, given to me by God? Amen! As for religion? Too many borders, man made, and self serving, to its own survival as an organization each having claims to a corner on the salvation market. Yet they may be right in their essential form, "love", not dogma. Yet why fret over what might be if the day is sweet.
I’ve been through a similar stage in life. I’m literally considered a medical miracle. So for me knowing there was something much greater than any person out there I noticed at around three. My purpose seemed to be of great question while my siblings had theirs handed to them by people who obeyed and accepted the gifts of the spirit (their purpose, reason for their very existence). When I finally had that spiritual moment and understood my path and purpose I realized that it had been right in front of me, and I had actually been doing it long before I realized it.
What I can tell you is that you were created for the very purpose and path God has planned for you. I agree a lot with your viewpoint on religion. I feel like religion puts God in a box where as it’s our spirituality that allows God to move freely in our life.
I take quite a bit of crap from people who tell me that I only pick and choose the benefits of Christianity because I believe that science is a gift of knowledge from God. If we are to seek both wisdom and knowledge then disregarding the knowledge is disregarding wisdom. Without knowledge wisdom makes no sense. I find it interesting how those who don’t believe are quick to dismiss the tiniest possibility of Gods existence. This is because they deny proven fact if it doesn’t fit their ideology, and stand firmly on theories that are nowhere closer to becoming a fact or law than Biblical theories, but have lost the very interest they started out with. When it comes to Godly theories science is constantly trying to prove them as fact.
In fact denomination, man made doctrines in religion are what says science is false. Neither science, nor the actual word of God actually denies the existence of each.
The best way I can explain the craziness of religion is that religion loses it’s credibility when people place their own convictions as a doctrine, and then becomes a denomination.
I’ve never been a fan of people using the scare tactic of the wrath of God. God would never want you to come to Him out of fear of His wrath. Scare tactics like that are the work of manipulation, and since He gives us free will to choose for ourselves the person would not actually be seeking Him of their own free will. They would be seeking Him out of manipulation which does inhibit the free will of people.
As for me the belief in God is the only possibility for my existence. Science and bio-medicine has proven fact for every reason why I should’ve never been born much less still be alive today. I’ve done quite a bit of research on deities, and out of all the deities I’ve come across not a single one would have any reason to keep me alive against the laws of nature other than God Himself.
On your journey through this life seek wisdom and knowledge (be prepared to find out a lot of stuff you may not want to know or accept). Ask for God to lead, guide and direct you during confusing times. Pray in the name of Jesus because there’s much power in the name of the son of God. When you’re unsure of circumstances let God give you the discernment you need through the Holy Spirit. Love God with all your heart, mind and soul.
Before I post this novel of a reply I just want to make a statement about my belief in The Holy Trinity. I don’t in any way believe that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are a god. There’s only one God the other two are a part of God. Jesus is the son of God, and the Lord who came to conquer the law that so many judge God by, and to die for our sins. The Holy Spirit is a gift given to believers to help us along the way.
You mention God wouldn't want us to come to Him out of fear, but the ultimatum of obedience and Hell is the definition of fear I don't understand why there is a consequence if you don't believe. Why is that consequence the same that was given to Satan?
Lesley,
God is a Just Judge. And He wouldn't be Just to turn a blind eye to sin. Sin deserves punishment. When we reject His offer of salvation through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross (and then rising from the dead), We choose hell. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." And God doesn't want any one of us to go to Hell.
2 Peter 3:9 says:
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Hell was intended for Satan:
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41)
If men and women on Earth reject a relationship with God through His Son Jesus here, Why would He then force them into eternal life with Him in Heaven? He gives us Choice, and it's a powerful one with eternal ramifications. Real love doesn't force another. If we insist on our own way, He will give it to us:
"So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices." (Psalm 81:12)
God's way is so much bigger and better than what we could ever dream up for ourselves :O) He exchanges our sin for His righteousness, our torment for His peace, eternal damnation and separation from Him for eternal life with Him in Heaven...the list goes on.
John 3:16 says,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
And Romans 10:9-10 says:
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Hope this helps!
I'm sorry - I was not going to reply to your first post, the second post forces me to reply:
The concept that God is a Just God and cannot overlook sin - starts by enormous and unjustified leaps in order to reach the starting position. You assume (or it was assumed by those who taught you this reasoning style) that no one will question those leaps - but those leaps are BASIC.
1. It assumes an absolute definition of justice, which includes punishment - that is not a given in reality (example will follow)
2. It assumes that an infinite being who can create endless universes is really mostly concerned, and has ALWAYS been mostly concerned, about the particular behavior of a tiny subset of his created species on a single planet circling a single star in a single galaxy of just one of those universes. Prima facie ludicrous
3. It assumes, unspoken, that this same deity is, while wanting to micromanage who those beings (humans) in their sexual behavior and many other behaviors, also does not mind inflicting children with horrible diseases (Did you know there are worms that get in children's eyes and gradually blind them? 6 forms of tapeworm that can only exist in human beings? etc.) and even commands mass murder inside the text of his holy book against those who don't want to be slaves to his even tinier in-group, and genocide to certain "tribes" that he "hates" (or at least that the Israelite priests hate). "10 “When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it. "11 And if it responds to you peaceably and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you. 12 But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. 13 And when the Lord your God gives it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword, 14 but the women and the little ones, the livestock, and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as plunder for yourselves. And you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the Lord your God has given you. 15 Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here. 16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction,1 the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God." (Deut. 20:10-20)
Now I could of course point out that the reason that the text refers to "their gods" is because all serious scholars recognize that Judaism was not monotheistic until quite recently, it was henotheistic - this is one of many examples of that in the text - but that is unimportant at the moment. This thing that you think is just commands genocide and clearly supports human slavery... and overall cares about, AT MOST the human race, after Christ, and prior to that only about the tribes of Israel. Think about that.
As to the changing nature of "justice" - I don't know if you have any daughters, but we do. If you do, or if not, if you have a favored niece - step back and think about this: She went to the mall 4 blocks away and is walking home, a man comes out of the shadows and rapes her. He is caught while doing it. Do you think that is fair if he PAY for her and then she has to marry him and stay with him without any possibility of divorce? Is that JUST? I would say no - but Biblegod thinks it is: Deuteronomy 22:28-29 New International Version (NIV)
28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.
I would say to you that a deity who offers such a command is evil. Oh, wait, if I look at the scripture as a mainstream theologian however, it was the priesthood in Israel doing the best they could, which was better than many neighboring peoples, who would have put the girl to DEATH (as still might happen some places in the middle east) for "tempting" the man. So, from a human perspective, they were trying, and women were property afterall - that's why the rapist had to pay the FATHER - because she was property of her father and would become property of her husband. He bought her, for roughly the going bride price...
Just? No. Just compared to others for the time... more just at least.
Morality and justice are constructed. The morality that the NAZIs tried to construct (and that some White Supremicists are trying to construct again, here now) is VERY different from anything I, and I hope you, would ever find acceptable - BUT, if they had won WWII, we wouldn't even be talking about it, and the world would be a very different place, where sending the infirm, or a neighbor suspected of harboring a wisp of Jewish blood, or someone of the wrong faith, to the camps to be "cleansed" would be the moral thing to do - and very few of us would bother to think differently.
I am not an atheist btw - I am in fact a Universalist - and believe, most likely, in far more things than you do. After all, isn't monotheism one step from atheism?
Kind thoughts.
Peace, I was with you until you conveyed that Holy Spirit and Jesus are a 'part of God' rather than also being the other two Members of the Godhead. We fall into erroneous thinking if we stray away from what the Bible actually says.
Regarding Jesus, John 1:1-4 says, "In the beginning was the Word [referencing Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (bracket, mine). Per commentary, in verse 1, "the Word was God," - "The word order in Greek shows that the Word was "God," not "a god." "This is a straightforward declaration of Christ's deity, since John uses Word to refer to Jesus. The Word was of the very quality of God, while still retaining His personal distinction from the Father."
Also:
Matthew 1:23 - “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 43:10,11 - “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior.”
Revelation 1:17-18; Revelation 2:8 - (Jesus is the First and the Last)
Regarding Holy Spirit:
In Acts 5: 1-4, Peter speaks to Ananias who held back part of the proceeds and lied about it; verse 3 says, "But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?" And at the end of verse 4, he told him, "You have not lied to men but to God."
"According to 2 Peter 1:21, the prophets were moved upon by the Holy Spirit when they wrote the Scriptures. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible is actually God-breathed. The Bible was inspired in such a way that the words of Scripture are actually the very words of God." (Footnotes section; God the Holy Spirit by Dr. Mark Bird)
Jesus and Holy Spirit are fully God, just as God the Father is fully God.
Be encouraged!
BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH. PEACE BACK TO YOU
Logic prevails in your comment /opinion. Let logic bless you all the days of your life Logic leads you to lie down in green pastures and may you dwell in the house of logic forever. Amen
Well said, John
I, too, have come to many of your conclusions, albeit, tentatively. A few years ago I had a paradoxical epiphany. To share that epiphany is to violate its basic premise, which is to be silent about my beliefs, perceptions, interpretations, expectations, etc. Thich Nhat Hanh suggested that we banish all concepts and notions and adopt a beginner's mind. It sort of makes sense, but my daily life is a personal reenactment of the Myth of Sisyphus. I am skeptical if there is a single fundamental truth (putting aside death and taxes). I have a suspicion that the longer this "mystery of life" continues the more likely it is that future generations will see us as delusional. In my 69 years of life I have come to the conclusion that if there were an authentic sacred book, there would be 2000 different interpretations of it. Most people would fail to see the inherent logical fallacies and inconsistencies inherent in it. I believe it was Benjamin Franklin wrote that people prefer the security of knowing, than coping with the insecurity of freedom with uncertain outcomes. It is sobering to realize that whatever we think we know is an illusion. Since it is obvious that I lack the discipline to honor my vow of silence, permit me to share the opinion that the "mystery of life" might be simpler than we can imagine and much more likely to be understood by a very young child with limited vocabulary. I worked as a child therapist for almost 30 years and came to the conclusion that (like a few really old cultures) young children naturally possess the beginner's mind and are very spiritual. As an agnostic, I cannot help but be touched by the quote by Jesus, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." I recall He also said, "Except ye become as little children . . ." It has been 50-or-so years since I was in church school. I commend you for keeping your heart and mind open. If there is a hell, then perhaps it is a fitting place for those who created it and believe in it.
"AMEN!!" (lol), I agree with you 100% John! Exactly!
In a Multiverse some Universes may have one or more, with various levels of potence, godlike beings, while some Universes may not have godlike beings at all. Some Universes may have a 'good' godlike being, Some Universes may have a 'bad' godlike being (Satan). If we're living in a Universe with some kind of godlike being, better pray it is a reasonably 'good' godlike being. In a Multiverse, as in quantum reality, everything is possible.
Yes!
I think, if we add them all together into one theory, we might be closer to the truth ;)
2. Solipsism.10. Phenomenalism....I was thinkinkg about these two teories before I readed this.I didnt know that these teories actually existed.So yeah it makes sense to me.....Like everything else ...haahh
Great article!!! You have provided very useful facts through your blog. Keep writing up such articles its a pleasure to read them.