In the past, we have seen the tendency of religions to claim that they are the One True Faith, or have access to the One True God. And in the present, it seems that science has taken over this attempt at presenting a comprehensive description of reality, with a quest for the Theory of Everything. But perhaps, the picture is both simpler and more complex than either approach is willing to admit.
Might it not be the case that the many faiths exist to provide for the spiritual needs of many different types of people, offering multiple paths toward the Divine? And might it not also be the case that each of the myriad theories, both scientific and philosophical, that seeks to describe the Real, is incomplete without the others?
~Dominic Dibble
www.worldgoodwill.org
Of Note: In the October issue of Scientific American, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow postulate that the physicists who have long sought the Theory of Everything might be barking up the wrong tree. These two eminent scientists created a concept called model realism under which "it is pointless to ask whether a model is real, only whether it agrees with observations." In other words, they suggest that many different universal realities may exist; it is all in the eyes of the beholder. Under this paradigm shifting thought, many underlying theories of the universe could co-exist: "We might have to accept different theories in different situations. Each theory might have its own version of reality. . . and each is acceptable, and none of the versions can be said to be more real than the others." Could it be that the universe is so dynamic and alive that each theory describes just a part of it as Mr. Dibble suggests? Hawking and Mlodinow may be leading the scientific community toward that idea. Wonder who will lead the religious community to the same place?
Today's Weather Report: Rain is forecast but the sky is blue with a few scattered clouds and the temps hover in the upper 60's Fahrenheit. Doesn't seem like rain is imminent or even around the corner. This has been the longest stretch without rain in months. Yesterday I caulked the hunting cabin where water was pouring in during the last gully-washer in anticipation of rain. Oh well. Looks like I will have to wait. The leaves have started falling from the trees in bucketfuls as have the white pine needles. Interestingly, white pine loses its needles annually, just not all of them. What is underneath gets covered, however, in a blanket of golden needles. Grass is particularly adverse to pine needles as are many perennials. I like to use the needles for mulch as weeds aren't fond of them either.
Today's Weather Report: Rain is forecast but the sky is blue with a few scattered clouds and the temps hover in the upper 60's Fahrenheit. Doesn't seem like rain is imminent or even around the corner. This has been the longest stretch without rain in months. Yesterday I caulked the hunting cabin where water was pouring in during the last gully-washer in anticipation of rain. Oh well. Looks like I will have to wait. The leaves have started falling from the trees in bucketfuls as have the white pine needles. Interestingly, white pine loses its needles annually, just not all of them. What is underneath gets covered, however, in a blanket of golden needles. Grass is particularly adverse to pine needles as are many perennials. I like to use the needles for mulch as weeds aren't fond of them either.
