About God, the World and People

By Toni Bickl

The only relative of Bettina, a rich, Roman Catholic widow are her two nephews, Peter, a mathematician and particle physicist and George, a bookkeeper and taxation consultant. The parents of Peter and George died in an avalanche accident. Bettina neighbors are Dr. Chang Lam, a retired physician and his wife Dora. They have a good- looking granddaughter, Gertrud. Bettina and Dr. Lams houseguests are: Dr. Philchrist, an emeritierter professor of philosophy, and Father Stengel, their local priest.
While the plot evolves, these main characters of the play are involved in various interesting discussions. Peter is asked to explain the latest research results in cosmology and the origin of life on earth, Dr. Lam talks about evolution and genetics, Father Stengel emphasizes Gods creative influence in the world, while Dr. Philchrist, who takes the Bible seriously but not literally because he finds it to mythological, accepts all scientific results and tries to fit his own belief in God into this worldview.
In the play, Nietzsches idea of the eternal recurrence of the same events and whether his concept of an over-man is meant to be an evolutionary improvement of mankind, are debated. Dr. Philchrist and Father Stengel discuss the free will, infinity and the concept of time, as well as their different views of Gods influence in the expanding universe. Peter and Gertrude, who become good friends, contemplate the selfish genes, Jesus and the difference between the human and animal species. It comes as a great surprise when Peter, without explaining his reason, resigns his position as a professor of cosmology, marries Gertrude and serves as an ordained Lutheran pastor. It could be that Peters decision was influenced by what happened to his brother, George; but no one knows.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9781465315915

Toni Bickl

Toni Bickl was born in a small village, fifty km south of Munich, Germany in 1927. He graduated as Building Engineer at the Oskar von Miller Polytechnic in Munich. In 1954 he immigrated to Canada where he was first active in building houses and working as draftsman for the survey branch of the Department of Highway, Ontario. In 1963 he joined the Federal government of Canada, Ottawa as a scientific computer programmer analyst. He also upgraded his education and received the M. Sc. Degree in Mathematics from Carleton University, Ottawa. Toni was always very interested in literature, history, religion and cosmology. As soon as he could retire he wrote the Drama “Wahrheit macht Frei! “ (The truth will make you free!) in German and “About God, the World and People” in English. Toni is married and has three children.

Book preview

SCENE 1

A Spring Morning

(Bettina Hoffman opens the curtains in front of a large glass door; bright sunlight shines into the room through flowering shrubs from the patio. She opens the door and calls for Peter.)

Bettina

Peter, come, see our garden!

In early spring, the rising light

Proclaims a newborn day.

A gift from God, so fresh and bright!

The flowerbeds display new blossoms.

By growing steadily overnight,

They beautified this morning splendor.

Prepared by God for our delight!

(Peter comes; they go on the patio.)

Peter

I like the fragrance of fresh-cut lawns.

There, near the fence, the lilac bushes are blooming now.

And apple trees shine silver white.

Aunt Bettina, you are right, this is a beautiful spring morning.

Bettina

Just listen to the songbirds’ carefree twitter!

Alive and cheerful, every day

They enjoy whatever they are given

As a gift from God, thankful and gay!

Peter

My good aunt, it is all right to take pleasure in the beauty of nature.

But tell me, why is, in your opinion, everything a gift from God?

Please forgive me for saying it, but God has nothing to do with all this.

Bettina

Has nothing to do with all this!

Peter, how can you say such a thing!

Just look, over there, far on the eastern horizon

You can see the sunrise in dazzling colors.

Golden rays shine brightly through our bushes and trees.

Show me a painter who has colors as gorgeous as these.

Only our loving Father in heaven has them.

He and he alone can paint such a beautiful sunrise.

Peter

Aunt Bettina, our continent is rotating toward our shining star.

At daybreak, the rays of the sun pierce our atmosphere in such a way that the light loses the short wavelength component of its spectrum.

Whatever is left, we see as your marvelous display of golden red colors.

Believe me, God has nothing to do with such splendor.

Bettina

Our heavenly Father has a lot to do with this, Peter.

God created this world. You, I, and everything we see exist because of him.

Peter

Aunt Bettina, you are talking to a modern scientist.

These days, observations of natural phenomena have no metaphysical interpretation.

We know how this world came to be, and we understand how it unfolds.

Bettina

And what about God, is there no God?

Peter

Of course, a God, he may exist.

But the unfolding of our universe does not concern him.

Modern men understand the micro—and the macrocosmos.

We are now able to explain all phenomena through laws of nature.

Did I not hear you say once that God is the truth?

If that is so, then our knowledge has metaphysical value.

Knowledge is also truth.

Bettina

God is much more than truth.

Knowledge and truth cannot create things out of nothing.

God is also love and goodness.

Peter, you scientists know very little about good and evil.

Peter

Nature is neither good nor evil, Aunt Bettina.

Plato said, Humans are only evil because they lack knowledge.

You see, knowledge frees even mankind from evil.

(Dr. Chang Lam approaches through the garden.)

Aunt Bettina, somebody is walking though your garden.

Bettina

Ah, this is Dr. Chang Lam, our good neighbor.

So early in the morning!

I hope nothing unpleasant has occurred.

Dr. Lam

Good morning!

Bettina, please excuse my intrusion. I am searching for our Xin-Xin.

Somebody did not lock his pen properly.

The slick fox used the opportunity to take off.

I have been looking for him everywhere.

Bettina

I am sorry to hear that, Chang, but he was not in our garden.

Should he show up, we will try to catch him and call you right away.

Chang, may I introduce my nephew Peter to you.

He will spend a short vacation with us.

Peter, this is Dr. Chang Lam, our good neighbor.

(Dr. Lam shakes Peter’s hand.)

Peter

Peter Wenig, Doctor. It is a pleasure to meet you.

Dr. Lam

Are you the son of Bettina’s sister who had that unfortunate accident a few years ago?

Peter

Yes, my parents died in an avalanche while skiing in Austria, five years ago.

Dr. Lam

I am very sorry. Bettina told me about it.

Bettina

Chang, Peter is a young scientist.

He studies the origin of our universe.

Dr. Lam

Then you are one of these modern astrophysicists.

Peter

I am a mathematician and a particle physicist. We try to determine the condition of the universe a fraction of a second after the big bang.

Dr. Lam

That must be very interesting. I am a retired physician. My wisdom ends when objects are too small for my microscope.

Bettina

George, Peter’s older brother, will be here later today.

He is a bookkeeper and a taxation consultant in Munich.

My two nephews see so little of one another since their parents died.

I invited them to provide an opportunity for them to exchange experiences.

Dr. Lam

I am convinced your two nephews will enjoy seeing one another again.

Peter

You are right. I have been looking forward to this get-together with my brother and our aunt.

Dr. Lam

Dr. Wenig, I wish you both a nice vacation.

Please come over and visit us if you find some spare time.

But now I will not hold you up any longer.

So long, for now!

Bettina

We’ll see you later Chang!

If Xin-Xin turns up, then Peter will bring the fugitive over to you.

Peter

So long, Dr. Lam.

End Scene 1

SCENE 2

Criticus Searches for God

(Peter has the following dream: he sees a light in his study, opens the door, and surprises a man in a gray suit as he searches through Peter’s desk with a lantern)

Peter

What are you looking for?

Criticus

I am searching for God with my lantern of truth.

Peter

Who are you?

Criticus

People call me Criticus.

Peter

Why do you search here in my study?

Criticus

I was told that you are working on a theory to explain everything in the entire universe. If you succeed in determining the truth of the entire universe, then I should be able to find God in it. Is not God part of this world?

Peter

You are correct in assuming that I am a scientist. I am a mathematician and know about modern physics. It is true, by experimenting, observing, measuring, and through physical-mathematical speculating, we try our best to understand the origin and the unfolding of our universe.

But I am convinced that this is not what you are looking for.

Criticus

Why not? You are searching for the truth. And wise men tell me, God is truth.

Peter

I would not be so quick to declare a physical theory as the truth. Even if the results of our experiments and our observations at the moment agree with our mathematical models, it could happen that a single future observation will reveal our theory to be untrue.

Criticus

I have great confidence that you and your colleagues will be able to develop a true theory for the entire universe.

Peter

I thank you for your confidence.

However, the statue of the true theory, which is to explain the entire universe, is not so easily brought into the open. Many scientists are chiseling away at this huge rock. Their progress is very slow; we advance only piece by piece.

Two legs, the general theory of relativity and the quantum mechanics, are now clearly visible. Once we are able to combine them, then they will surely support other scientific discoveries that follow.

I think we have been able to understand how the universe changes as time progresses and can now try to determine what happened during the first second after the big bang.

However, whatever we discover, I am sure, has not the metaphysical value that you are looking for. I recommend you consult theologians.

Criticus

I was hoping you would not say that. You were my last hope.

So far, I have tried everything.

I spoke with men who instructed me on what road I had to follow.

I consulted teachers and many preachers who spoke of the good news.

I am sorry to have to tell you that their conviction did not convince me.

They are trying very hard