Does Nature Let Humans Know that God Exists?

A Dialogue in a Dream by Raymond Fontaine - October 2004

  Last evening, I watched the presidential debate between George W. Bush and John
Kerry. Each presented his policy and plans for a better America. A moderator asked the questions and the debaters directed their answers to millions watching television.

    Earlier in the day, I had received related e-mails: one from Robert L. Johnson and another from Ford Vox. The first founded the World Union of Deists and the second organized the United Universists. Both groups have a common foe: those who believe that God revealed his existence to a select ancient few who spread that revelation worldwide. Neither the Deists nor the Universists accept that notion; they rely on reason to know whether or not God exists.
The Universists hold that human reason cannot be sure about God's existence. Vox writes, "Universism enshrines uncertainty. No one knows for certain."

    Deists on the other hand believe that the marvelous structures and laws of nature presuppose and required at their origin a supremely intelligent Creator. A Deist is certain about that.

    Before answering today's e-mails, I revisited the website of Universism and that of Deism. Hours later, I retired and eventually fell asleep. Soon my subconscious conjured up a dream. It featured a kind of debate between Mr. Vox and Mr. Johnson. The moderator was Albert Einstein, highly esteemed by both debaters. All three valued the truth.
    "Good evening, gentlemen," said Einstein. "Thank you for accepting to share your views on the question before us: Does nature let humans know that God exists?"

    "I understand," said Johnson, "that the parameters of this discussion exclude all reputed revelations made by God to select individuals, such as Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad." 

    "That's correct," said Einstein. "All quotations from the Bible, the Gospels and the Koran are barred from this debate. Also excluded are quotes from authors who base their arguments on the Scriptures."

    "That means," said Vox, "that the only acceptable answer to the question about God's
existence must come from human reason reflecting on nature." 

    "Deists believe," said Johnson "that the laws of nature presuppose an intelligent Creator. How or where or when or why it happened, nature does not reveal.. only that it took place and that an intelligent Being made it happen."

    "From the laws in nature," said Vox, "to an intelligent and powerful supernatural Creator is a gigantic leap of trust in the capability of human reason. How can we be certain of its logic at this highest level?" 

    "I vouch," interrupted Einstein, "that human reason can reach far and wide into the
unknown. After much reflection, my mind concluded that "units-of-energy" equals °units-of-mass" times "the speed-of-light multiplied by itself'. That is certain."

    "But," said Vox, "the principle of relativity, as you expressed it, is not scientific fact. It's just a theory, isn't it?" .

"Yes," replied Einstein, "so is Copernicus' notion that Earth orbits around the sun. So is the Atomic theory about the existence, structure and dynamics of atoms. So is electricity a theoretical construct, involving electrons which are tiny units of charged mass that no one has ever seen. Each of these theories is an explanation that knowledgeable experts accept as fact. It is an explanatory statement that fits the evidence."

    "If I may, sir," interrupted Johnson, "what's your conclusion about God's existence?"

    "As I said before," replied Einstein, "it's the only rational explanation of the existence of laws and structures in nature. Like the electron, God has not been seen by anyone but both exist." . .

    "Could you describe," said Johnson, "how you react to the laws of nature as created by God?"

    "As I said sometime ago," replied Einstein "I see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws. My religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous amazement at the harmony of natural law which reveals an intelligence of great superiority."

    "If I may," Vox asked, "are you as certain about God's existence as you are about your theory of relativity?'" .

    "More so," answered Einstein. "Someone may refine or even replace my theory of relativity but not my explanation of the origin of the laws of nature - an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection."

    At that moment I awoke, feeling relieved and confident that God's existence is not just a theory or a hope but a fact and the truth. Like Einstein I will believe in the existence of Nature's God as long as I Jive and I will share my peace of mind with others. Praise to Nature's God!

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