Recently a
young man posed that question. As I pondered
the question it seemed that it deserved more than a dismissive answer. As well, easy answers serve little purpose
and thus are not forthcoming in this posting.
The first
thing to note is the four basic assumption contained in the question. They are as follows. First, the existence of a "how." Then the existence of a time element in the
word "was." Third there is the existence of "God." Then finally the existence of a creator external
to that which was "created."
The following
will deal with the time element for such is integral to the discussion (others
will following in subsequent postings).
Time is basic to the existence of physical reality. It is so ingrained in the fabric of western
culture we give it scant thought. How
old is your little girl? How long have you lived here? All of these questions and others come due to
one's ingrained sense of time. It is as
the Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, "...He has also set eternity in their
heart...."
All questions
having to do with time, (with the possible exception of theoretical questions)
make assumptions that limit. Among them
are assumption having to do with beginnings and endings. Thus, everything within the time-matter-energy-space
continuum is time and matter bracketed. That is to
say, that given enough time, all that is will eventually change states to a lesser more chaotic
form (see below).
Not agreeing
with these thoughts is the skeptic, Astronomer and Astrophysicist Carl Sagan
and his opening words in "Cosmos." He speculated that,
"The cosmos is
all that is or ever was or ever will be."
Elsewhere he
labeled the physical laws as "god" and asked why should he pray to
the law of gravity? What Dr. Sagan is asking of the viewer is to believe that
the physical Cosmos is the exception to the previously mentioned time and matter bracketing. This of course is one of the basic assumptions
necessary not just for Dr. Sagan's but anyone that assumes a "closed
system" model of reality.
What do you
suppose Dr. Sagan's responses would be if asked about the existence of timelessness
and perfection? Suggesting that the
Cosmos is timelessness is only possible absent imperfection which then leads to a terminus point. For there to be a terminus, the "...ever
will be..." is moved into the category of temporal or subject to
time. The opposite of course is a start
point which can again place time into the discussion of existence.
Now consider that perfection is
important to the discussion in that with the least amount, even
micro-imperfection given enough time a terminus point results. Of course the Sagan statement is a little
hard to accept when one's is asked the simple question, "Is there one
example of perfection in the physical world?"
The answer is
"no." Eventually everything that
exists in the physical has an end point.
All things physical left to their own ends will be depleted of energy (entropy), descend into
chaos (of course the evolutionist argues that it is the exception).
Now return to
the original question. If there is a
created being then that means that such a being has a beginning. Since examples of perfection are lacking then such being is subject to such imperfections in time and
matter then he or it too must have a terminus point. Well, then if a temporal god is not possible,
then for there to be an eternal God then He must be beyond or outside of the closed
time-energy-space continuum. Most certainly this is difficult to grasp with one's finite intellect.
Thus if God
is beyond the time-energy-space continuum, then He must exist in a state that
has no beginning or ending. Further, if
one accepts the imperfection of matter, then for God to exist He must be
external to matter.
Scripture
puts it this way, "God is a spirit
and those who worship him must do so in spirit and truth." (John 4:24).
The conclusion of
the matter is this...God cannot be a created being.
