Doubting the Divine: Reevaluating Biblical Narratives Through the Lens of Reason and Science

The timeless pursuit of an enlightened understanding regarding the mysterious aspects of God, the universe, and existence has long troubled humanity. In this pursuit, notable political philosophers of medieval times, including St. Thomas Aquinas, endeavored to reconcile faith and reason in their explanations.

However, a thorough examination of Aquinas's work, "Summa Theologica," uncovers numerous lingering uncertainties regarding life's mysteries. This essay aims to elucidate and challenge St. Thomas Aquinas's theological and philosophical assumptions, particularly concerning certain biblical narratives that have unfolded throughout history.

Science often identifies numerous inconsistencies within religious scriptures, such as the Bible. Certain narratives, including the Creation of the Universe, Adam and Eve, and The Great Flood, are regarded as particularly illogical. According to creationists, the universe's origin is attributed to God, as outlined in the book of Genesis.

This account details a seven-day creation process, wherein God sequentially brings forth light and the atmosphere on the first day, dry land and vegetation on the second and third days, celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day, followed by birds and sea creatures on the fifth day, land animals and humans on the sixth day, culminating in a day of rest on the seventh, known as the Sabbath.

The Christian conception of God portrays Him as omnipotent and omniscient, possessing limitless power and wisdom. However, one might question this portrayal based on the account of creation in the Bible. The narrative suggests that God took seven days to create everything, whereas an all-powerful deity could conceivably accomplish this feat instantaneously.

Additionally, the notion that God rested on the seventh day raises further doubts about His omnipotence; it seems incongruous for an omnipotent being to experience physical exhaustion. Consequently, these discrepancies have led some to doubt the existence of a truly omnipotent God, contributing to the emergence of atheism.

Over time, skepticism has led people to question the authenticity of the Great Flood story in the Bible, making it one of the most contentious narratives. According to the Bible, God, observing the rampant wickedness among humanity, decided to eradicate all life on Earth.

However, Noah, a righteous man, earned God's favor. To ensure survival, God instructed Noah to construct an ark for himself, his family, and pairs of every living creature, as well as extra pairs of clean animals. Noah diligently followed God's instructions, preparing for the tragic flood that would annihilate all life on Earth.

Following Noah and his family's entry into the ark, rain poured continuously for forty days and nights. The resulting floodwaters engulfed the earth for one hundred and fifty days, annihilating all living beings. As the waters gradually receded, the ark came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat. Noah and his family remained aboard for nearly eight additional months until the Earth's surface dried.

After an entire year had passed, God summoned Noah to disembark from the ark. Grateful for their deliverance, Noah promptly constructed an altar and offered burnt sacrifices using some of the clean animals. God, pleased by this gesture, vowed never again to unleash such destruction upon all living creatures. Establishing a covenant with Noah, God promised, "Never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth," sealing this pledge with the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds as an enduring symbol of the covenant.

Later after the Great Flood, various inquiries emerged aiming to illuminate or cast doubt upon the narrative's veracity. Drawing upon faith and reason, St. Thomas Aquinas defended the narrative in his work "Summa Theologica" through a series of propositions. Initially, Aquinas elucidated the proof of Motion, positing that all things are in a state of motion and necessitate a primary mover, which he identified as God.

Subsequently, he delved into the proof of Efficient Causes, arguing that nothing can exist before itself and thus necessitating a first efficient cause, referred to as God. Thirdly, Aquinas explored the proof of Contingency, observing the existence of things that are subject to change and positing the necessity of a being that exists of its necessity and causes others to exist, commonly understood as God.

Next, he presented the proof from Gradation of Being, highlighting the hierarchical nature of existence and asserting the existence of a being that is the cause of all beings' existence and perfection, known as God. Finally, Aquinas proposed the proof of Design, noting the purposeful nature of natural phenomena and positing the existence of an intelligent being, designed by a supreme being referred to as God.

In contrast to St. Thomas's assertions, subsequent arguments challenge the validity of his reasoning regarding the existence of God. While the omnipotent God purportedly permitted the Great Flood to cleanse evil, the implausibility of this narrative warrants further scrutiny of its accuracy.

According to the established definition, a God possessing unlimited power could have eradicated evil instantaneously, raising doubts about the discrepancies within the scripture. Regardless of the severity of the rainfall, it is improbable for it to swamp and submerge the entire landmass, as water would naturally flow into the seas.

To completely cover both the earth's surface and oceans with rainwater, including Mt. Everest at approximately 28,000 feet high, an estimated 4,525,000,000,000 cubic kilometers of rainwater would be required, which far exceeds the volume of water present in the oceans. Additionally, historical records indicate that even the lengthiest recorded rainfall event, lasting 247 days in Hawaii, did not result in global flooding.

Approximately 1,200,000 animal species have been documented, with many more yet to be discovered. If we were to allocate the available space of 42,981 cubic meters among 2.4 million animals, each would have a living area equivalent to a cube measuring 26x26x26 cm, excluding human quarters. Consequently, within a three-story Ark, there would be insufficient room for both animals and provisions.

Furthermore, carnivorous animals aboard lack a sustainable food source and have endured a year without refrigeration. Even if preserved meat provisions were available, the presence of 2,000,000 insect species aboard would render survival for carnivores untenable. Even if all carnivores managed to survive the journey, there would be insufficient meat for sustenance thereafter.

Numerous criticisms highlight the inconsistencies found within the Bible, contributing to a growing inclination towards agnosticism and atheism among certain dedicated scientists and evolutionists. They scrutinize the precision of biblical writings and assert that the history of religion reveals some of humanity's darkest realities.

The Bible, written by multiple authors and subject to revision by truth manipulators, is often seen as a tool for expanding influence and territory. Despite the proliferation of various deities, it is imperative to remain vigilant in the pursuit of enlightenment. We should resist the temptation to blindly accept indoctrination and instead adopt a skeptical and unconventional approach to fortify our beliefs.

In our world, there exist only two types of gods: the one responsible for creating everything, and the deities that we have created. The fusion of faith and reason was a hallmark of scholasticism, elevating reason to the same level as faith. This facilitated a transition for subsequent thinkers to prioritize reason over faith, leading toward the establishment of a secular and egalitarian society.

As we stand at the height of the 21st century, the convergence of information technology and artificial intelligence marks a pivotal moment in human history. This juncture represents not only the culmination of centuries of intellectual progress but also the dawn of a new era in which the boundaries of human potential seem limitless.

With the exponential growth of information technology, facilitated by breakthroughs in computing power and data analytics, we find ourselves endowed with unprecedented access to knowledge and connectivity. Simultaneously, the emergence of artificial intelligence has revolutionized our ability to process, analyze, and interpret this vast sea of information with unparalleled speed and accuracy.

Yet, amidst these extraordinary advancements, we must pause to reflect on the deeper implications of our technological prowess. The rapid pace of innovation has not only bestowed upon us the tools to navigate an increasingly complex world but has also underscored the imperative to wield these tools responsibly and ethically.

It is in this context that we must view the pursuit of enlightenment and truth as not merely aspirational ideals but as essential imperatives for our collective advancement. By harnessing the transformative power of information technology and artificial intelligence, we possess the means to transcend the limitations of our understanding, to unravel the mysteries of the universe, and to confront the pressing challenges that confront humanity.

Therefore, let us not waste this precious gift of intellect but instead, let us embrace the opportunity it affords us to strive for greater understanding, empathy, and wisdom. Let us embark on a journey toward enlightenment, guided by the principles of curiosity, critical inquiry, and compassion.

In the words of Albert Einstein, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."

As we venture forth into this new world, let us keep our eyes open to the wonders that surround us, and let us never cease in our quest for truth, for it is through enlightenment that we may free ourselves from the shadows of ignorance and usher in a brighter, more enlightened future for all.