Design ex nihilo

If we are to believe those who claim to be divinely inspired, everything that we know as some part of Creation has been the result of some purposeful design that is being carved out of perpetual chaos--or out of nothingness. The fundamental desire underneath this perception of design is anchored in human ego that fears the unknown and seeks to find exception to the obvious impersonal "laws" that have governed creation for multi-billions of years.

"Design," of course, implies intellect capable of abstract thought and which also possesses emotional concern for that which it seeks to create. The manner in which Creation seems to have unfolded and evolved seems to indicate that there are actions that we think of as "laws" that prevail over the creation process. Unfortunately for those who champion the "design" theory, the "laws" through which creation activity occurs have always functioned in a totally impersonal manner. To set aside any natural "law" for some specific-effect purpose, as the notion of "miracles" suggest, would instantly thrust all Creation into oblivion.

The circumstances that are interpreted as due to "design" and credited to a being addressed as God or Allah or some other title implies a being that is itself a defined entity that stands responsible for all that makes up existence. The problem with that assertion is that anything that is even vaguely definable is rendered identifiable by a condition of limitations! The extended problems that then arise with the theory of an identifiable creator are the tendencies to theologically assess all that is accepted as reality in negative probabilities or outright absurdities.

Among the many questions in regard to an intelligent designer is the problem of an obvious lack of benevolence toward any dimension of conscious life. Much of life dies in agony, too much life perishes after only a brief chance, droughts and floods destroy capriciously, the constant violence induged in by man indicates that mental deragement is widespread, diseases run rampant, enslavement, ethnic murder--the list could go on too long to suggest that there is an omniscient, benevolent "designer" of all that has manifested as energy-matter and life. Even the bulk of the so-called "good book" pivots upon wars and violence and greed and treacheries that do not exactly support a notion that a benevolent being or personal creator regards all of creation's catastrophes as a beautiful design.

If there is any benevolence or moral potential in creation it has to issue out of the evolving qualities of life, not directly out of the impersonal energy-forces that provide only the substance for intelligent life to evolve. Everyone will gain in moral quality and personal contentment only when they learn that the labyrinth known as religion is made to gratify man's ego, and man himself is not made for religion.