Philosophy is a beneficial exercise for the brain, and it can be a basis for how we approach all the facets of our lives — physical, intellectual, vocational, avocational, social, and moral. These facets surround a person’s core — that central, living being that exists from our conception…at least form our birth. (I have heard, whether true or no, that some 95% of our personalities is determined by DNA rather than upbringing and environment.)
Nevertheless, there are only two foundations upon which a person can build their philosophy of life: the Big Bang theory of Scientific Evolution or the Big Bang theory of Biblical Creation. Two Big Bangs!?! “There can only be one!!!”
Five decades ago, Science derided The Big Bang, because it was too much like the Bible story…Apparently there was a very personal offensiveness in the Scientific community when there was any hint of support for the Faith community. Even now, shivers go up their spines at the thought…”then there was light.”
Well, there can be only one. There can be the same facts but different conclusions. Arguing which is the correct version seems futile to my purpose here. For what needs to be discussed is a comparative on the answers to this question: “How should we then live?” There are both personal and social consequences to how we answer that question based on either of the two, There is no real middle ground. “One must choose wisely” from which cup they drink, the ancient knight warned.
I generally hold to some form of an existentialist view. That is, we can assess our lives in total, but it is how we are in the end, at the finality of our existence on this Earth, that a valid assessment can be made.
Anyway, it is my conclusion that if you believe Science, you need not adhere to any morality except when it serves this mantra: “Survival of the fittest.” It would be futile for any social interaction or certainly any courtesy to be shown, except for purely tribal self-preservation. It would be futile to hold to any morality for any reason whatsoever. It would be futile to approach any facet of existence without striving for complete domination over everyone else. Today, there are many examples of people living by that mantra, observable all over the world. Many people try to transcend such baseness. However, many people live dominated by others. Whether existing in Third World countries or being bullied in school, they are living that mantra.
When a person is born, they are purely themselves. They are existing a purely spiritual facet of being. This spiritual self becomes encrusted within all the other facets, and in a way, we become corrupted from that pure existence. And we become dead in a way, buried under all we have become. We are dead to ourselves, having totally forgotten who we are. Being encumbered by the cares of this life, we become entombed. We feel lost.
On the other hand, if we hold to the Biblical Big Bang, we have a morality provided for us in the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the entire text of the Bible. We can be free to be nice and to be kind, and we have someone to look up to and to order our lives, and to free us to be our true selves, and a responsibility to other folks. We have a protector,a guide, answers to our questions…if we are faithful to put this mantra into practice we have the promised hope of continuing life. That pure inner self we had at birth will become free , unencumbered and eternal (existing forever in the now). Even without the latter, wouldn’t it be such nicer world to live in today?
Screw that “survival of the fittest” crap!
