ON THE NATURE OF REALITY chapter 18

CONCLUSION

     If unreality never appears to duality except as hidden behind the idea of nothingness, then how can reality possibly appear to nonconsciousness? If unreality distorts the difference between the squareness or roundness of a lighthouse as seen from a distance, would not unreality obliterate all differences in all objects in the complete absence of duality? In fact, distance may be nothing but a recession of objects toward nothingness from a observer’s point of view. In the absence of duality, unreality would swallow all differences, and time and space, rendering evolution impossible.
     Whenever the simple true ideas appear, there is creativity. Whenever absolute nothingness does not appear, there is total disorder.
     Let those who claim that reality does not have to appear in order to be real take this into consideration. An object which does not appear has been separated from space and in time. Where is it in space and time? Such an object exists nowhere and at no time, even if it has potential real existence. Reality must appear in order to be real. Those who claim otherwise have slyly admitted that their kind of reality is really equal to nothingness.
     What allows them to aver that reality does not have to appear in order to be real? Is it not their dualities to which these objects have appeared, therefore isolating them in space and time? In order for them to convince us that reality need not appear, let them describe objects of which they have had no experience. Let them merely tell us when and where they are? In order for them to do so, they must first use their minds to make the objects real in outer or inner duality, and that is precisely the necessary task of duality in any universe.
     Materialists do not prove the reality of unexperienced objects by saying: "If they are there, then they are really there." This is merely to utter the first half of tautology. One can not prove that it is raining outside by saying: "If it is raining, then it is really raining." One must look outside to see if it is raining.
     However, there is a tautological truth in saying: "Either it is raining or it is not." Similarly, the same truth must be said about unexperienced objects. "Either an unexperienced object is there or it is not." However, this simple fact points out the truth that while an unexperienced object may possess potential real existence, as long as it remains unexperienced, its existence is equal to its non-existence, and chaos prevails. Only duality can establish reality.
     Furthermore, when duality establishes reality, only that which is real can appear to duality because unreality never appears. Unreality merely distorts reality within false combinations which, in turn, always comprise simple true ideas.
     To the skeptics, materialists, and atheists who doubt the existence of reality, a believer in Christ can only respond: Relax, all objects, ideas, and feelings are real when reduced to their simplest forms, and no matter how weak they may appear to be.
     Falsity hides behind the idea of nothingness as a kind of vicious cycle. Absolute nothingness affects reality by causing false combinations to arise in the world and in the mind. Sin, decay, disorder, impractical systems, and even optical illusions, to name but a few examples, demonstrate the destructive effects of absolute nothingness on reality. In turn, the ineffectiveness inherent in false combinations cause absolute nothingness to mar reality.
     Even so, absolute nothingness can not diminish the infinite set of simple true ideas by one whit, because even every false combination comprises simple true ideas. Infinite Duality can not be diminished or limited by absolute nothingness because Infinite Duality is also the infinite set of simple true ideas; that is, the Living Word of God. Absolute nothingness exists nowhere and at no time, and therefore, it can not diminish or limit Infinite Duality. The non-existence of a mermaid is nowhere and at no time. The effectiveness of a broken down automobile is nothing. It gets one nowhere and at no time. Yet at all times and places, mermaids and broken automobiles and all other false combinations, comprise simple true ideas.
     Skeptics, evolutionists, and atheists have produced the philosophy of nihilism. Nothing could be more logical to them. They believe that everything came from nothing and will return to nothing. To them, nothingness is all-powerful. No wonder they believe that everything is relative; for example, that there is no real difference between good and evil, or that any differences are only temporary. True to God’s description of them in Proverbs 8:36, they hate God and they love sin and death.
     Suppose our universe and all other universes had been, and forever would be, void of all duality. Would it really matter whether they existed or not? The only way that something can matter is if it matters to duality. The nihilists and evolutionists merely think in terms of existence being equal to non-existence. To them, values have always been equal to nothing, and even sensory perception becomes equal to nothing at death. The strange thing is, if they had no minds, they would be right. However, they do have minds, and those minds should be committed to trying to discover the absolute difference between truth and falsity.
     Today, scientists speculate about the possible existence of other universes. Yet, the most they can say is that these universes may exist, or they may not. Is this not an admission that they think in terms of existence and nonexistence being equal?
     If one despairs, one might well consider throwing oneself into the void of nihilism and evolutionary theory. Existential courage can not save in such a case because it would be swallowed by the void as well. Firepower beats willpower every time. If there is no God, then absolute nothingness holds all the firepower.
To those who despair, believers can say: Believe that God is real, and so are His creations. The recreation of man’s fallen spirit has been made real through the vicarious sacrifice, burial, and resurrection of God’s Son. God himself has provided the way for repentant sinners to escape the destructive effects of absolute nothingness.
     God is love, self-sacrifice, beauty, joy, righteousness, and all of the infinite true simple ideas united in Infinite Duality. The infinite set of true simple ideas are united in the Living Word of God who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The infinity of the Word is the Spirit of God who is in every possible place at every possible time. The Infinite Consciousness of the Word is the Father. The being of God constitutes an Infinite Reality.
Man possesses a limited set of true simple ideas that can be reduced or expanded. Yet, man is incapable of expanding his knowledge to the extent that he can save himself. Through the revelation of His Word, both written and living, God has provided the necessary information for man’s salvation.
     Faith can not be obtained through self-effort. It must be given to man by God. As Hebrews 11:1 teaches, faith consists of those substances and evidences that man can not see but which God has provided. Even the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ death on the cross could not fully see what Jesus was actually doing. For a time, the eyewitnesses of his resurrection did not realize what it really meant.
     However, they could remember what Jesus had told them that it would mean, and they did receive the Holy Spirit to teach them what it all meant, as Jesus had said they would.To repent of one’s sins and to receive this revelation from the Holy Spirit as to what Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection actually means, is to have faith. God made it easier for the eyewitnesses to believe, as Jesus pointed out to Thomas in John 20:29. Nevertheless, they had to receive God’s revelation of the reality of salvation, exactly as one must do today.
     To anyone who desires to escape the eventual destruction caused by absolute nothingness, and to obtain everlasting life, the believer can point to John 14:6 where Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth , and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."