On 12.30.2024 at 05:12 Luke wrote:
Dear Dr. Benz,
My name is Luke Smith and I am a junior in high school from Texas. I have a theological question for you. I recently have gained great interest in astrophysics, but it has come with some challenges to my faith.
One of the major reasons I am a Christian is because of the admittance that the universe is much greater than I am and that there are many things I cannot understand (ex: how did something sprout from nothing, consciousness, reality). I used this logic as the primary grounds to justify the existence of an intelligent creator. This, however, was recently challenged when I watched an interview of famous astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I attached a 1.5 minute clip of it to this email. I highly recommend you watch it before proceeding with this email (so that everything makes sense). He uses the “god of the gaps” fallacy to try to expose this logic, calling the idea of God “an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance.” This is quite compelling to me, and it makes me question not only the aforementioned logic but the concept of human logic altogether. For example, if humans are so imperfect, how can their logic be infallible when it comes to determining the origin of the universe (how can we answer this question with 100% certainty)? Humans seem so futile in the grand scale of the universe, and sometimes it seems strange for them to trust in their logic so deeply.
If you were to run a trillion simulations/situations of the creation of this universe, it seems like one of them must have a result different than God (or at least the exact God we believe in).
How can we absolutely know that reality is not much more complex and that this universe is not just a speck among many or a game for the amusement of much larger beings? It just seems difficult sometimes to not be an agnostic. In fact, it feels somewhat arrogant to (as a futile, ever-changing, ever-enlightening human race) know the origin of the universe with absolute certainty.
I really want to believe with absolute certainty that our God (and our God only) is exactly who we portray Him to be. This bias probably clouds my judgment, which is an entirely different problem as well. I suppose all I need is faith small as a mustard seed, but I never really understood that either. Surely we cannot half-believe or 99% believe and still be on good terms with God.
My apologies for the abundance of information. I would love any kind of honest response you could generate. Make sure to address all issues I presented. Have an excellent day!
Luke Smith
1 Timothy 4:7- Discipline yourselves for the purpose for the purpose of Godliness.