The World and the Word

                                                   Nothingness and Reality

Consciousness uses the real idea of nothing to separate basic elements and their systems from each other. The idea of nothing is something because it is useful and therefore real. For example, consciousness can separate the basic color "red" from all other colors as an abstract idea in the mind or as it may apply to any material object. This makes "red" no other color but red. This table cannot be any other table but this one. The "not" in these systems indicate the idea of nothing. The idea of nothing can be used to exclude real ideas from any system one intends to create. For example, if one intends to paint an object red, then no other color belongs in that system.

The idea of nothing can also be used to indicate nonexistence to positive consciousness, which is the same as absolute nothingness. For example, a "horn" and a "horse" are real, but in combination with each other, they do not produce a real unicorn. Unicorns do not exist. They equal nothing. Yet, the real idea of nothing is useful in that it indicates the nonexistence of the unicorn. Every idea in this system is real except the nonexistence of the unicorn. The nonexistence of the unicorn equals an absolute nothingness of which positive consciousness can get no idea whatsoever. The unicorn happens to be the same as the "less than nothing" that God wrote about in Isaiah 40:17.

If one attempts to imagine a consciousless universe by imagining a blank screen, then one cannot escape the fact that one must also be conscious of the consciousness of a blank screen. This means consciousness can be conscious of itself which is self-consciousness. Consciousness can be a something to itself. But since no one can be conscious of something that is nothing except as being equal to the idea of nothing, then this self-consciousness must be real. But then one can only be conscious of self-consciousness by the use of another consciousness which also must be real. But then this system requires another consciousness again and again which tends toward infinity.

Self-consciousness has to be real because it is the basis of intelligence which is useful and creative. If self-consciousness were but a fleeting experience from one moment to the next, then intelligence would be impossible. If self-consciousness were a false combination, like a unicorn, then humans could only be conscious of it as equal to nothing which indicates nonexistence.

The materialist philosopher contends that consciousness happens to be but a very thin substance emitted by the brain. But how can they be conscious of this system except by means of their consciousness. Then again, how can they be conscious of this expanded system without a consciousness that extends toward infinity. This system would tend to make their brain substance thin out to infinity. The materialist may counter with the argument that self-consciousness is merely circular. But how can they be aware of this circle of consciousness except by means of a consciousness outside the circle which would tend to extend to infinity.

If one reads through a dictionary, one will find that every word in it happens to be either a basic, irreducible idea, such as the word "straight," or a true or false system which always comprises real and useful ideas, such as "justice" or "ghost," or systems of which controversy exists over whether or not they are true or false systems, such as the word "heaven." There exist no false ideas except those that derive from false theories such as the word for "ether" in space.

The truth about the system of self-consciousness is that it tends to extend to infinity because it is spiritual in nature. It connects to an Infinite Consciousness who is God. Psalm 147:5; I Thessalonians 5:23; Proverbs 20:27; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Genesis 1:27.