Re: Religion gone crazy!
A few reasons for keeping an open mind on “higher powers”:
1. Antimatter - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles. For example, a positron (the antiparticle of the electron or e+) and an antiproton (p) can form an antihydrogen atom in the same way that an electron and a proton form a normal matter hydrogen atom. Furthermore, mixing matter and antimatter can lead to the annihilation of both in the same way that mixing antiparticles and particles does, thus giving rise to high-energy photons (gamma rays) or other particle–antiparticle pairs.
There is considerable speculation as to why the observable universe is apparently almost entirely matter, whether there exist other places that are almost entirely antimatter instead, and what might be possible if antimatter could be harnessed.
At this time, the apparent asymmetry of matter and antimatter in the visible universe is one of the greatest unsolved problems in physics. The process by which this asymmetry between particles and antiparticles developed is called baryogenesis.
2. Dark Matter - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter
In astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is matter that is inferred to exist from gravitational effects on visible matter and background radiation, but is undetectable by emitted or scattered electromagnetic radiation. Its existence was hypothesized to account for discrepancies between measurements of the mass of galaxies, clusters of galaxies and the entire universe made through dynamical and general relativistic means, and measurements based on the mass of the visible "luminous" matter these objects contain: stars and the gas and dust of the interstellar and intergalactic medium. ...
dark matter constitutes 80% of the matter in the universe, while ordinary matter makes up only 20%.
3. Multiverse - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse
The multiverse (or meta-universe, metaverse) is the hypothetical set of multiple possible universes (including the historical universe we consistently experience) that together comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, and energy as well as the physical laws and constants that describe them. The term was coined in 1895 by the American philosopher and psychologist William James. The various universes within the multiverse are sometimes called parallel universes.
Since ‘intelligent life’ exists in our small matter-universe, and since many people believe there’s a high probability that life also exists elsewhere in our universe, why couldn’t ‘intelligent life’ (perhaps superior to ours) exist in a parallel antimatter- or dark matter-universe? And if that life is made of antimatter, how would it communicate with us since matter and antimatter mutually annihilate? The unknown unknowns are mind boggling and great stuff for science fiction writers! The simple fact is that the 20% of our universe that we’re aware of is far from simple and we know very little about it, and we know absolutely nothing about the other 80% of our universe, and any parallel universes if they exist. By all means be skeptical, but be open minded and don’t dismiss things you don’t understand as absolute rubbish.
As for our religions, and how we behave under them, the term ‘intelligent life’ is frequently very questionable, and I agree that many organized religions are simply a power grab and a tax dodge, but if a salesman is total rubbish, is the product he’s selling automatically total rubbish as well?