Look for the Evidence

Topic:  Your protagonist is a writer who discovers a new favorite author. How does their writing, or even their own personality change as the protagonist falls under the writer’s influence?

Look For the Evidence

Growing up I was a wizard in math and science. I excelled far beyond my classmates in high school, but I was not considered to be Mensa material. My IQ was only about 125. Needless to say, that did not deter my endeavor to follow a rigorous program in college studying astronomy and physics. I felt my destiny was to be an astrophysicist conveying my wisdom through prolific journal writing and speaking opportunities.   I authored several papers on the mathematical constructs of the formation of the universe by the Big Bang.  I wrote several theses on black holes, solar flares, and supernova. I really enjoyed writing theoretical papers and immersing myself into Einsteinian logic. My time was enveloped with the physical cosmos. I cared little about anything else.

I graduated with honors and soon was snatched up by a private enterprise interested in commercial space travel. Like any other firm it had its politics. I had to work my way up the proverbial gantry ladder (pun intended). Although my background was stellar (pun intended again), I had to spend much of my free time catching up on the latest engineering and biotechnical literature for my field work which I lacked. For now, I would miss my high-powered theoretical mathematics overlain with gobs of quantum theory.  I was preparing to write technical reports on the integration of those disciplines relating to the origin of life. Although it was outside the customary mathematical models I was accustomed to writing, I told myself I could handle this.  What I did not expect, however, was that soon after that work assignment both of my parents were killed in an auto accident. This event completely sent my head spinning and threw me for a massive loop.

My parents were wonderful, kind, giving people. I knew how much they loved me as their only child. They were exceptionally hardworking people. Both were dedicated scientists and excelled in their research fields. I was grateful for a loving home, education, and support they provided. One thing I did not learn from them was any kind of religion. We never discussed God or any religious writings. My parents were card-toting organ donors and atheists. Their bodies were immediately sent to a hospital for extraction of any viable organs for transplantation. At my parent’s request, their bodies would be turned over to the medical university for cadaver research.

So when it came to planning a memorial service, I was at a loss. Since there were no bodies or remains to be interred, I had some time to think about the service. At first, I felt I would just keep it simple, but I felt I needed to give them a lasting tribute. I thought a viable starting point would be at a funeral home. Surprisingly, the funeral director took the time to listen and discuss my potential needs even though it would not involve much effort on his end. 

We sat in his office for well over an hour. He asked many personal questions about my parents. One question that resonated with me was why did they choose not to believe in God? I responded by saying “I did not believe it was a choice. They saw the world as a manifestation of “science.” All things were derived from causal effect.  It made no sense to believe in a supreme being that was capable of good and/or evil. Images of societal gods were fashioned after the dreams, nightmares, and desires of men to satisfy their needs. It was insurance for the soul and a way to explain things they did not understand which science can now provide with logical answers.” I wanted to explain my answer with insights from quantum theory, but I felt it was beyond his understanding. We agreed to meet after a week to iron out specifics of a remembrance for my parents.  Before I left his office, he added that during his early years of being a mortician he was skeptical about God and was actually a borderline agnostic. I was surprised by his revelation. He would wonder why God would let so much suffering into the world. He then asked me if I had ever heard of a man named Antony Flew.  I said I only heard it in passing. My parents would bring his name up in discussions with neighbors, but I knew little about him except he was a staunch and infamous atheist. The director smiled wryly as he proceeded to hand me a book.  It was entitled There is NO A God by Antony Flew. Right away I noticed the strikeout of the word ‘no.’ He asked me to read it before we visited again. Thinking it would not require much of my time I agreed. He finally told me to “look for the evidence.” 

Later that evening I began my entry into a supernatural teleological understanding of the cosmos which I had never thought possible. The sunrise was glimmering through my window shade. I did not realize I had spent the whole night reading and pondering his book.  Here was a man who for fifty years vehemently denied the existence of God. His thoughts later in life moved him to become a believer in a Higher Power.  His turnabout in his belief was amazing, but I was incredulous to learn he used “science” to come to his conclusion.  He cited the universality of the DNA code and the complexity of life that could not result from mere randomness, happenstance, or mutations.  He implored his readers to “look for the evidence and to follow the evidence to where it leads.” I so much wanted to meet Mr. Flew to understand his deepest thoughts, but he had died in 2010.  

Antony’s statement to “look for the evidence” now was my mantra to reinvestigate my theses. I began reviewing again my conclusions on the Big Bang, particle theory, laws of nature, even the beginning of life itself. Could quantum theory actually be a construct of God to make the universe happen?  Why would a Big Bang occur in the first place? If no time and no actual space existed how could there have been an explosion of energy? My calculations just did not make sense. There had to have been a causal factor. There was only a singularity of time and space. A stimulus, shove, or supernatural push was needed to be make it happen. That push was light. Then, I recalled Einstein’s incredible equation E=mc² . Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. The matter to create the cosmos consisted of light itself. Atoms are held together by light. The proof of this is seen in the spectral/thermal patterns of the elements. Each one has its own unique pattern. We, as humans are made up of individual atoms and molecules. All held together by the cosmic glue called light. Light gives the consistency to further allow for the formation of amino acids, protein, DNA, RNA, and others.

Furthermore, my investigations reconfirmed that light energy is imperative to foster life. This was more than photosynthesis in plants, but light was essential as infrared radiation to foster the thermal energy to sustain all life. Using Richard Fenyman’s work (a renown American quantum physicist), light is everywhere in the universe because all atoms are held together by light.

Then with the wave/particle duality of matter (duo nature of matter), I began to understand the mystery of this phenomenon in quantum theory as light again being the necessary agent to allow for this transition to occur. My investigations were channeling me to deduce that God or Supreme Being was actually light itself. So would this be the evidence to draw me into making the conclusion that God is Light? 

My head was dizzy. A week had passed and it was time to keep my appointment with the funeral director. I really had no plan for the service. All I had were more questions on the existence of a god or God. I was on my way when I passed a marquis for one of the churches.  I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the sign. I slammed on my brakes. Fortunately, no one was behind me.

I stared incredulously at the sign. It read: 

 “…God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him.” (1 john 1:5, The Message).

Those words resonated deeply with in me. I had my answer for the service. I had answers now for my life. 

The service for my parents would be a celebration of life. Although they were more than mere skeptics to the existence of God, I would use this memorial to jumpstart my life for my discovery into the omnipresent, omniscient, eternal God of the universe. I want others to see the evidence before them.  This evidence abounds in nature and in humankind. Science and quantum physics point to the God of the universe whether we choose to accept it or not. It is taking humankind a bit longer to put the pieces together.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1: 3, NIV)

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17, NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

To my readers, I urge you to search for these books that are authored by atheists who have been transformed into believers: Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis) and The Case for Christ (Lee Strobel)

Acknowledgement: Reedsy.com

(NIV=New International Version; The Message)