The two sides of the evolution vs. creationism debate argue their narrow minded views as if they are some exhaustive explanation for the origin of life. Both arguments would get C+ at best in middle school debate class. Yet people's passions run so high they are blind and indifferent to reality and logic. How did these arguments ever come to represent the two choices of truth? Why are they presented as mutually exclusive? The greater likelihood in my humble opinion is that the truth has elements of both.
I ask, "How could consciousness grow out of nothing by chance and natural selection only?" How could so much beauty exist as a result of natural selection driven by survival of the fittest? It's obvious by just studying known history that evolution is a dynamic process that is very much present. The most insight into evolution that I have come across are expressed by Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian seer. His theories and experiences go far beyond anything that I have experienced but they all make sense to me. But what I believe is based on what I can experience, otherwise for me it is a hypothesis that I may or may not use to influence my decisions until a I find a more convincing hypothesis.
Steiner does present symptomaticly observable evidence for the evolution of consciousness based on cultural expressions and observations from ancient Egypt, through ancient Greece into the present era. What is obvious is that mankind's experience of his environment has changed and perhaps more significantly his perception of himself relative to the cosmos has changed. These changes appear to be part of a process of growth and growing awareness and self-centeredness. This can easily be construed as an evolution in consciousness. Many quantum physicists are apparently coming to similar conclusions in regards to an evolution in the laws of physics and mans ability to be conscious of this.
What is the point of this my latest ramble? It is that science and spirituality are two elements of a holistic search for meaning and truth. They can be of service to each other. For whatever reason there are forces at work that want these realms to be at war with each other. I would call them evil forces if the word evil itself wasn't so infected with more narrow minded prejudice.
I know that a creative force much bigger than my imagination and comprehension is at work in my life and in all life. I know that there is some reasoning motivating the unfolding of my life. I know that my knowledge is only a tool for me to use in the creative process called living, but it is not "Truth". Truth is something that I am moving towards and is gradually revealed through inspiration and insight opening up in my experience through no power of my own. I once asked a psychology professor, who claimed to be an agnostic, "Where does an idea come from?". A true idea is something absolutely unique and original that implicitly can not be deduced. It has to come from some point of creation. An idea has yet to be created in a laboratory.
I will leave you with this quote from one of our most revered scientists:
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest---a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and foundation for inner security.
--Albert Einstein
Peace, Alan
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