Chapter 1: The Nature of Violence and Moral Reflection

Cormac McCarthy’s 1985 novel "Blood Meridian" narrates the harrowing tale of scalp hunters, inspired by the historical Glanton gang, as they traverse America committing horrific acts. The novel’s graphic violence is unsettling, yet McCarthy’s stark, biblical prose imbues it with an intense, almost haunting quality. While the narrative can be numbing, it also approaches a nihilistic reality reminiscent of Nietzsche's philosophy of the will to power, portraying characters devoid of moral compass.

The compelling aspect of the work is the moral weight carried by its violence. One could argue that the novel transcends mere grotesque violence, prompting readers to confront their reactions to a world reminiscent of Dante’s Inferno, yet rooted in actual history. This historical context significantly contributes to the acclaim the novel has received, revealing truths about human potential for both good and evil.

In contemporary society, many have lived without encountering violence, which stands in stark contrast to the blood-stained narratives of our past. To assert that consciousness harbors the capacity for profound love necessitates acknowledging its duality, as evidenced by human history. Notably, a quote from "Blood Meridian" references the discovery of a skull fossil from three hundred millennia ago, suggesting it had been scalped. McCarthy’s fixation on this theme is encapsulated in the words of one character: “The truth about the world…is that anything is possible.” This statement reflects the awareness of our actions, rendering both moral righteousness and depravity possible through self-consciousness.

The question of animal consciousness remains unresolved. However, it is clear that their awareness differs significantly from ours. While certain animals can pass the mirror test, their lack of language and representation suggests they do not possess self-consciousness as we understand it. Self-consciousness involves being both the observer and the observed, offering articulated self-awareness rather than mere abstract recognition.

Our understanding of history and social interactions hinges on the belief that humans exercise free will and conscious agency. Some modern scientific viewpoints seek to explain human behavior solely through observable actions, denying meaningful agency, yet such a denial undermines arguments rooted in rationality and subjective experience—realities they often overlook. Despite our malleability, true agency resides within our conscious awareness. The potential for anything exists.

A crucial aspect of consciousness is its narrative-constructing nature. When I mentioned we are both subject and object, it’s more accurate to say we are narratives in progress. In a recent debate, atheist Alex O’Connor cited extreme animal suffering, such as a deer caught under a falling branch, as a reason to question God’s existence.

However, this perspective oversimplifies the situation. Beyond the mere physical sensations of pain or fear experienced by the animal, there exists a narrative that evokes pity—a story that prompts empathy through our ability to envision ourselves in that scenario. This act of anthropomorphizing adds layers of meaning, transforming suffering into a narrative.

Thus, emotion and identity are also narratives. Their significance extends beyond mere impulses; they involve a conscious understanding of connections and relationships. Narratives serve as relational constructs and grand metaphors, answering the realization that anything is possible by illustrating what that possibility entails.

With these insights comes the undeniable emergence of a moral framework. Recognizing our existence, the existence of others, and our agency within a landscape of good and evil cannot yield anything less than moral awareness. While some may reduce morality to arbitrary emotional constructs, the intrinsic qualities of goodness and our inherent capacity to desire it appear as fundamental as any universal law.

This dynamic illustrates that every religious and cultural framework—its rituals, beliefs, and doctrines—addresses not just questions now answered by science but also inquiries into how we should live and act. Unlike any other creature on Earth, we are compelled to ponder our actions. Do swallows question why they migrate across the Pyrenees as summer wanes? No, they exist in a seamless harmony with their surroundings.

In contrast, we wrestle with understanding our place in the world and the origins of our moral intuitions. In theistic traditions, particularly Christianity, God embodies the moral framework guiding our behavior and represents the highest ideals of goodness, while also serving as the ultimate judge of our moral failings.

The interplay between divine responsibility and human choice adds complexity to this theological perspective. At its essence lies the image of God as good and just. Christian literature, especially Dante’s portrayal of hell, purgatory, and heaven, exemplifies this concept. In Dante’s vision, God is represented not as a tangible figure but as an ineffable light, symbolizing the moral consciousness underlying all actions.

This tension between abstract moral values and their personification in religious narratives is essential. In the Bible, God is depicted as both a “person” and the embodiment of values such as light, love, and goodness—unchanging and eternal, the foundation of existence itself.

The connection between love and ontology is a profound assertion echoed in various theistic traditions. Philosopher David Bentley Hart encapsulates this understanding through the Hindu term Saccid?nanda, which translates to Being, Consciousness, Bliss—God as the ultimate fulfillment of moral aspiration and the source of conscious experience.

Even beyond religious contexts, modern perceptions resonate with this idea. Peak psychedelic experiences often evoke a profound sense of love, described by many as more authentic than everyday consciousness. Journalist Michael Pollan recounts in "How to Change Your Mind" a conversation where someone, after such an experience, exclaimed, “love is everything…no you don’t understand, it’s everything”:

Is a sentiment so deeply felt merely a platitude? I contend it is not. A platitude becomes a hollow shell of truth once stripped of its emotional depth. To reinfuse it with meaning reveals it as one of the most profound truths, obscured yet present.

In reflecting on Aldous Huxley’s explorations with psychedelics, he later articulated: “One never loves enough. . . for what came through the open door was the realization of Love as the primary and fundamental cosmic fact.”

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Chapter 2: The Question of God's Existence

The video titled "Is there really a God?" delves into philosophical arguments surrounding the existence of God, prompting viewers to examine their beliefs and the implications of divine existence.

Another insightful video, "How Can I Know God Exists? | Dr. Vince Vitale | Remind 2018," presents thoughtful arguments and personal reflections on the evidence and reasoning for believing in God.