God's Debris: A Thought Experiment

I've been reading a lot of books on reality, perception and the universe lately, and I've read a lot of books on different religious beliefs in the past. This is the most creative take on the whole creation/purpose of life/God thing I've ever read. I don't want to say what the old man teaching the narrator believes because it would ruin the impact of reading it for yourself when you get there. (I think it's in the 12th chapter)Scott Adams includes a warning in the introduction as to who should read this book. Summarily, no one who is: under 14, uncomfortable with new ideas or strongly commited to their view of god. For these people, this book will be confusing and/or infuriating. For everyone else though, especially those who like pondering new ideas and having their beliefs questioned, this will be a very satisfying and enjoyable read. If nothing else, it's entertaing, written with the same wit and humor (although it is not a humor book) that makes Dilbert stand out.

If you think that Scott Adams can only write comic strips (you know, Dilbert), you'll be as surprised as I was. Adams has tackled what many are tackling these days - basically a spiritual philosophy - but that few are succeeding at quite this well. I am telling you, this funny cartoonist is about as deep, thoughtful, and intriguing a writer as I've come across. Not complex, mind you, but deep.As I entered into his new book, God's Debris (just wait till you find out what the title means!), I was delighted to learn that he uses the language very well - especially for a philosophical piece like this, which, at its best, really only pretends at fiction. (It is primarily a philosophical dialogue between two men.) When the narrator steps into a room and sees a little old man sitting, I actually laughed to picture it as Adams described: "Something moved and I noticed, on the far side of the fireplace, in a wooden rocker, a smallish form in a red plaid blanket, looking like a hastily rolled cigar." The narrator later tosses an extra log onto a dying fire, and we read that "the retiring embers celebrated its arrival." Now, these points are not by any stretch the meat of the book - but it's important to know, this is not just some comic stab at writing.Nor is it a comic stab at philosophy. Adams examines really the core of who we are, and who God is, as well as numerous details of life, always conforming to certain central themes. His approach? Really a Socratic exercise, not necessarily answering the questions of the world, but certainly asking them. As for answers, these abound as well ... but Adams does not take himself so seriously as to insist on their accuracy. Rather, he wisely notes how intriguing many of the answers are, and challenges the reader to consider them too.I can tell you how I consider them: they are among the most convincing answers I have yet come across (for me, very much like What is Man? by Mark Twain - another comic with tremendous depth to his philosophy).Along the way, Adams certainly pokes and prods his readers, forcing questions that must make them squirm. "If people believed in God," he points out, "they would live every minute of their lives in support of that belief. Rich people would give their wealth to the needy. Everyone would be frantic to determine which religion was the true one. No one could be comfortable in the thought that they might have picked the wrong religion and blundered into eternal damnation, or bad reincarnation, or some other unthinkable consequence. People would dedicate their lives to converting others to their religions." He adds: "If you believe a truck is coming toward you, you will jump out of the way. That is belief in the reality of the truck. If you tell people you fear the truck but do nothing to get out of the way, that is not belief in the truck." Now, do you believe in God?That example is a mere detail, though, and there is a much more important thread and theme running through this, deali

In the Introduction, Adams states that some of the "facts" presented in the forthcoming view of the universe are consistent with prevailing scientific thought and others are "creative baloney designed to sound true". He also states that this book is a "thought experiment" - i.e. the purpose is to get you thinking - it's not meant as a serious attempt to explain the universe and God.That said, - those folks out here who have panned this book because its assertions are not scientifically sound are [people] who missed the point and need to go back and read the introduction again. And those folks who dismissed the book out of hand as rehashed metaphysical stuff that they already know - well, they failed the thought experiment because they didn't use the book as a springboard to thought. Both of the types of people above actually prove one of the points in the book - that they are totally wrapped up in either arrogance or delusion. In fact, they probably didn't even realize that Adams was poking fun at them - oh, well.Anyway, in this book Adams' character presents, in somewhat herky jerky fashion, an odd view of the universe. Although the theory itself could probably be torn to shreds by an undergraduate philosphy class, the purpose is to get the reader to recognize the folly of thinking that we know the answers and to open themselves to the possibility that everything we think we know (religion and science) is a wrong, albeit useful construct - and in fact that we humans are intellectually incapable of fathoming reality.If you ponder metaphysics/spirituality a lot then you might not find that this book breaks any new ground for you - given that you are already open to thinking strange thoughts.If you're an unflinching religious zealot you'll find the book somewhat sacreligeous and, unwittingly proving his point, you'll either pray for him or send him an email informing him that he's going to hell.If you're a sober, stuffy scientific sort you'll pick the specifics of the theory apart with righteous and snooty "I'm smarter than you" arrogance and in doing so, miss the whole point of the book.But, if you enjoy mental exercises and realize that sacred cows make the best steaks, then you'll enjoy mulling over the ideas discussed in this book.It's short and a bit rough, but I gave it five stars simply becuase it earnestly attempts to give the reader's brain a good kick in the arse (if a brain can have an arse), and because it tries to slap some sense into prevailing scientific and religious cultures which have raised "believing one's own hype" to an artform.

If you're familiar with Dilbert, you will know how Scott Adams will often make his characters say little things that will make you sit back and think. In God's Debris, Adams lays out hundreds of thoughts on religion, god, probability, willpower, human fate, and other questions we as humans hold. The book approaches the idea of god in a way that has never been approached before, at least no way that I've heard. The book is absolutely incredible, and you cannot take it all in in only one reading. So many thoughts are displayed that it's almost overwhelming at times. It's like your discovering new secrets of life. This book also gives a wonderful view on religion, especially at a time we need it most. I am not a very religious person, but as this book points out: No one is right or wrong about religion. We're all just like curious bees looking through a stained glass window. My two favorite chapters, Curious Bees and Holy Lands, analyze our actions we take on with religion and war in a way that, once again, only Scott Adams could pull off. I give this book a 5 out of 5. It is incredible.

For those who love Dilbert, please realize that this book has nothing to do with that enjoyable character. There's also no humor here. Instead, you will find a fable that presents a unified theory of cosmology, religion, and knowledge. Before you get excited about all that you can learn, realize that this unified theory is deliberately flawed by Mr. Adams to provide you with a thought experiment to locate what is wrong with the argument. So the book is actually a brain teaser in its primary intent. It is a brain teaser that most people will find exceeds their knowledge of probability, physics, religion, philosophy, evolution, psychology and logic. So, to pick it apart you will probably need to assemble a team of people with deep knowledge in those areas. As a result, God's Debris is perfect for a serious book club. After understanding what's wrong with the arguments in the book, many will probably begin to see more unity in everything that happens based on a better platform of knowledge. That's well worthwhile.I found this book fascinating as a puzzle, and enjoyed picking the arguments and misstatements apart. It reminded me of a question on the bar exam from many years ago where I had to write about what the law was in regard to a will written by an illiterate person. Great fun!Mr. Adams warns that this book is for "people who enjoy having their brains spun around inside their skulls." He also says that it is "a view about God that you've probably never heard before." I certainly agree with both of those points. He also warns that what's in the book "isn't true . . . but it's oddly compelling." He also notes that people under the age of 14 should not read it. Although he doesn't say why, anyone who reads this book without a foundation in the subjects described may actually believe what's proposed by the Avatar. The world has enough false beliefs in it. I applaud Mr. Adams for helping to avoid creating any more. After this book has honed your knowledge and critical thinking skills, I suggest that you take arguments that you read in other books and practice seeing what is wrong with them. All nonfiction books provide thought experiments of that sort!I do hope Mr. Adams will write another of these thought experiments. Overcome the appeal of simplicity to see through to the dynamic reality!