Of the possible explanations of reality, we can rule out the possibility that reality is an illusion. This leaves only one remaining possibility–something or someone must be eternal.
Four Possible Explanations of Reality
As discussed in a previous blog, there are four possible ways to understand reality.
- Nothing exists now. Reality is nothing more than an illusion.
- Something produced itself out of nothing. (This is a logical impossibility – See this post)
- The material universe has always existed.
- A transcendent being has always existed.
Either nothing exists now (everything is an illusion) or there is something or someone who has always existed. We already eliminated the possibility that if there was ever nothing, something could exist now. That is an irrational possibility. Nothing cannot produce something.
Doubting reality requires thought, and thought requires a thinker
But we haven’t yet eliminated the possibility that everything we perceive is just an illusion. Perhaps we exist only in some sort of dream world. Everything around us is unreal, just as we are. If we could be certain of just one thing, we could prove that at least something exists. And if that is true, we can eliminate the possibility that everything is an illusion. But how can we be certain of anything?
An era of skepticism following the breakdown of authority produced by the Reformation. Scholars were asking how could we be certain about anything. So, the philosopher Renee Descartes (1596-1650 AD) pursued a rigorous investigation to discover what he could know with certainty. He decided to doubt everything he could to see if he could rationally deduce anything with absolute certainty.
He discovered that the one thing he couldn’t doubt was that he was doubting. Even to doubt that you’re doubting proves the point that you’re doubting. Then, he looked for any necessary inferences he could draw from his certainty that he was doubting. He concluded that to doubt requires thinking since doubting is a form, or an effect, of thought. And every effect must have a cause according to a law of logic, namely the law of causality.
Then he went one step further to make the necessary inference that the act of thinking requires a thinker. So, his conclusion was as follows: I doubt, therefore I think; I think therefore I am. He knew this to be true with as much certainty as 2 + 2 = 4.
With this proof of self-consciousness, there is absolute proof that something exists; Therefore, since something exists now, something must have always existed—something is eternal. I haven’t yet shown yet whether matter or some transcendent essence other than matter, namely the one we call God, is that which is eternal. But we have narrowed the possibilities down to two. I’ll discuss these possibilities in my next post.
Discover more about God and our relationship to Him
For a listing of other posts about God’s existence and His nature, go to our Posts Directory web page. These posts are listed by major topic for your convenience.
But, if you’re now ready to know what your relationship is before God, Ask yourself two very important questions. First, are you sure that you’ll go to heaven when you die? Secondly, are you certain why God should let you into heaven? If you don’t know for sure, you can settle that matter today. Visit my post, How to Begin Your Life Over Again and you’ll know where and how you’ll spend eternity.
And for crystal clear YouTube presentations of the gospel message from several trusted sources, click here.