He showed me a newspaper article he had clipped. I read it. It said, basically, that scientists had discovered, using powerful telescopes and examining the microwave background, that the universe may have expanded to its current size in an instant, in less than a second. I'm not sure how they discovered this. I've examined the microwave background myself and all I discovered were the tiny remnant food crumbs from the little bangs that happen when you reheat leftovers.
"Oh," I said. "So, what does that mean to you?" I was certain, since he was a very religious man, that this supported some point of theology for him.
"This affirms the notion of God creating the universe in an instant," he said. "It's very exciting that, the more they look at things, science seems to be falling in line with scripture."
What I said was, "Oh," and I left it at that. What I wanted to say was, "Does it really matter what science says about religion? Ultimately, you should, and do, believe what you believe in spite of science. If they come out tomorrow and change their minds, saying there's no way the universe was created in an instant - and someone undoubtedly will - you won't believe them. You'll assume they're wrong. To grant them credence when they agree with you and deny it when they don't is intellectually dishonest. Why not just admit that, in truth, you don't give a damn what they think."
But, I didn't. I just said, "oh."
Meanwhile, in a dirty living room somewhere in the third world, a young prodigy, pouring through old science books from the local library, has just discovered the grand unified theory physicists are seeking. It has come to him like an epiphany, like a bolt from the blue. He wonders whether it is a message from God or simply the accord of synapses synapsing together. It doesn't matter, because petty thieves will murder him this afternoon on the way to the university. They'll dig less than two dollars from his pocket and throw him, along with his secret, into a ditch. His soul will fly from that dingy town out to its destiny, and he will soon forget whatever regrets he has.
Hello, friends. How are you?
Later. Love.
