The end of theism.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

143. The Big Picture

I doubt if theism will ever die because of our limits of human knowledge that will probably outlive us on planet earth. I believe it was Freud that suggested (in the crude form that I can recall) that ever since our species became self-aware, we began inventing external powers to explain the unknown and to help dispel our fears, including that of death. That made sense to me, although we have no way to prove it (unless we figure out a way to resurrect Lucy and her kin, LOL).

Therefore, since there will always be things beyond human understanding due to our being largely restrained to planet earth and other scientific limitations, people will always be inventing theology - or "morphine for the masses". Religion is nothing more than window dressing a tribe of people attach to a belief in an external power, or god. And, we tend to pile it on thick.

Despite my love and respect for science, there are many things science will most likely never comprehend. For example, even at this "advanced" stage of technology, we still do not know what a magnetic field is, nor do we know what the elementary particles are that we are all made of. Nor do we know what lies beyond our universe, or even the exact size, content and restraints of our own universe. A true scientist will acknowledge these limitations.

So, while during my time of divorcing the religion I was raised on, I found myself experiencing the typical scientist's dilemma: because I cannot say with total certainty that there is no external power or powers existent within or external to our universe, can I really say I'm atheist? My personal answer is no, and I call myself agnostic.