Photography and words by Sam Eason

Back in my school days, I felt overwhelming scepticism to the answers of such questions as how did the universe come to be? Or ‘why’ are we here? ‘God’ was the answer to every question I had on these topics I didn’t understand, and I was not satisfied with the answer.

I grew a bit older and started the long journey to seek out the answers to these questions and properly understand the subjects I craved to know.

The path I was undeniably led down was the scientific road to understanding. To gain knowledge of the physical world around us, through continually repeated experimentation and observation.

Here are a few of the main points, I feel that religion will endeavour to explain:

A person’s religion is usually based on where they are from, and which religion their families are. In the United States, you are likely to be Christian. In India, Hindu. In Israel, Judaist. In Thailand, Buddhist. In Saudi Arabia, Muslim. With so many religions, how can anyone possibly know which one is the true religion?

Staggering amounts of evidence has concluded the undeniable ‘fact’ of evolution. Carbon dating records determine primitive fossils in the oldest rocks and the slow, gradual transition from one form of life to another. The discovery of DNA and genetics we share with apes and other animals prove we shared a common ancestor.

If God were true, then why did he create evil in the world? If God is omnipotent then he could just as easily have created a world free of natural disasters, famine, disease and pain. Why would he inflict such suffering on his creation?

All supernatural phenomenon has failed rigorous testing for evidence. ‘Prove God doesn’t exist’. The burden for proof lies with the one who makes the claim. A Bertrand Russell analogy states that it would be nonsensical for him to expect people to believe the claim that there is a china teapot orbiting the Sun between Earth and Mars, on the grounds that nobody could prove him wrong.

We must approach the world with an open mind. To adapt our beliefs to evidence, not find evidence to suit our beliefs. If we embrace science, one day we may find our place in the universe.

“I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it.” Albert Einstein

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