Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Einstein's brain and evolution.

The super folded neo-cortex which led to massive dendrite growth and to the extreme linking of the parietal lobe to the temporal lobe found in Einstein's brain suggests that mutation and variance can be detected in the brain, that brain evolution does happen. And, as we all know, those slight variations in Einstein's brain allowed him to access areas of his mind unknown to most other humans. We saw the power of his thought in the discovery of E=MC2; the prediction of black holes decades before they were confirmed; and in the nuclear explosion that ended WWII. Much power in the slightest of genetic variation in a small amount of time, in one species, in one generation; now, consider the power of genetic variation and brain development over 3 billion years, millions of species, and millions of generations.

Brain Evolution and Theistic synthesis

Brain evolution is a perfect road map of brain development through epochs of time. At our base stem our brains are most like reptilian, and then emotional centers like dogs and cats, then into the neo-cortical regions found in other apes. Ours are the most developed. Does this mean that we are directly descended from these species? Perhaps, but not necessarily, but there is strong correlation to show similar genetic patterns that have emerged through time, and through the development of species. We could share common ancestors all along the way. We were never Chimps; however, we diverge from a similar genetic lineage, and the clues are in the genes. There have been some eyebrow raising finds in the fossil record more recently (in the past 9 months) to suggest that we share lineage, and that is the new idea in evolutionary science, and not that we are or were ever chimps. Looking for direct evidence in the fossil record is like searching for a needle in a haystack; inasmuch, where we will find the direct evidence of the process of evolution will come from our modern technical advances in being able to read the genetic code. The evidence is to be discovered right here in each of us, in our genes and by looking at the development of our brains. It does leave room to suggest that there are more general or common genetics shared by many species, and that through time and development we could share common ancestral genetics. Or one could even muse (from a theistic evolutionary point of view) that these genetics are common for the above reasons, and that they also act as a map or blue print of brain development through species as intended by a divine source of creation. The arguments between "Aquinas Creationism" and "Atheistic Evolutionists" are inexhaustible, full of holes, and rather boring. They are not supporting arguments for or against evolution as much as they are clinging desperately to narrow world views that are grasping at straws. Sad to me is that one would ever be caught in such desperation of belief that they couldn't even entertain possibilities, ever find commonality, or see beyond the intellectual smog and fallacy of reductionism. Both extremes are mistaken, there is a bigger picture, and it is called "Theistic Evolution". I contend that the contradictions raised in such arguments are perceptual contradictions, and not real contradictions. Because we can or can not perceive of something doesn't mean it doesn't happen or exist. This is the key to faith, because I can believe in the product without seeing the equation, or I can believe in the hand of creation without being able to put a glove on it. As far as I'm concerned there is no contradiction between theism and the observations of biology known as evolution. There is room for both theism and evolution to coexist.So really, evolution theory (variance, isolation, natural selection) can coexist with the concept of divine creation. Simply that, all of our observations in the sciences (cosmology in the times of Galileo, and biology now) are as accurate as our system of measurements and statistics; together these powerful tools of our minds are able to find "probability" in nature, A nature which was created and is perpetually being created by a divine omnipresent consciousness, God. So, I can believe in God, and that God created me with a mind to use and make sense of this amazing creation he placed me in... perhaps so that I can advance my civilization; enjoy the beauty; be amazed; and glorify him in all of it. Perhaps...

Friday, July 9, 2010

The mountian and I

think about how we are much more than we perceive on a day to day basis, in our worries, strides and struggles. It leads me to think not that I am simply just this body, and not even simply just a body that has a soul, but that I am a soul that is more currently entertaining this body. And that it is this same soul that transcends my body; moves beyond the subjective experience of "I myself" and into the objective experience of "I in of itself" or "I am" in that my soul is not only entertaining this body, but it is also entertain that which I usually perceive as my direct environment, and ultimatley a relationship with God. We can stand in the beauty of a mountian side and think, "wow, what a beautiful mountian, I am here and it is there; or, we can think "wow, what a beautiful existence, I am of the same quality which defines the mountain side of which I am able to directly perceive". The mountian and I are of different phenomenon, but we are of the same noumenon. Is this mountian really something separate from a deeper part of what defines me; or, is the real me something that converges with the existence of the mountain, of us both being an expression of the same creation by the same God? The more noumenal self awakening to observe and experience itself in greater depth through our more subjective central nervous systems.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Good enough for God.

Often times we think: "I believe in God, but I'm not sure if I am ready, if I am good enough, to have a personal relationship with God". Or we just don't pray because we think that we do not know how to pray. What we are doing then with this attitude is creating the self-fulfilled prophesy of our lives without God or prayer because we believe in the self imposed obstacle more than we believe in God. We actually do this with many other things and many other areas in our lives as well. If we ever want to get out of our rut; really begin to believe with our whole hearts in God, in prayer, we have to let go of that obstacle we place before ourselves. No one is greater than the next, we all mess up. Even after we forge into our relationship with God we still mess up, it is human nature, and it is forgiven if our hearts are true. Instead of thinking, "God isn't ready for me because I'm not perfect, or I don't know how to pray so I'll just skip it"; we could think something like, I am not perfect but God wants me anyway so that he can begin to perfect me, or maybe I'll just close my eyes and start talking to God right now, just a hello will do, or a thank you, or for help and guidance, or peace. We just have to get over that fence to get out of these trenches of lifelessness.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

cool Watts video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXmz605GAnc

Poem by Alan Watts

You're breathing
The wind is blowing
The trees are waving
Your nerves are tingling

...The individual and the universe
Are inseparable
But the curious thing is
Very few people are aware of it

Everything in nature
Depends on everything else
So it's interconnected

We confuse ourselves as living organisms which are one with this whole universe
With something we call our personality
And what is our personality?

And our fundamental self is not something just inside the skin
It's everything around us with which we connect

When you look out of your eyes
At nature happening out there
You're looking at you
That's the real you-
The you that goes on of itself

Now listen

It's absolutely necessary
That we let go of ourselves- and it can't be done,
Not by anything that we call doing it, acting, willing,
Or even just accepting things

It seems that the human being
Really has a very simple kind of mind... ~ Alan Watts (Mid 20th century philosopher).

Further Musing:
In this poem it seems as though Dr. Watts is speaking of the Noumenon central to existence. This is the same Noumenon expressed by Immanuel Kant and Schopenhauer as that central point of reality that exists behind the scenes as an abstract potential causing existence to occur by a "willing of will itself"; the same centrality expressed as "The Way of Things" or Te Tao by the ancient Chinese philosophers, including, more contemporary, Bruce Lee and Alan Watts; the same omnipresent spirit of God who created everything and expressed himself as the great "I am".