The God Myth and Reality

By Xlibris US

The God Myth and Reality:
Jake McCoy, construction worker and young man grew up in northern Indiana farm country. He was engaged to a beautiful young woman, Jan, who was three months pregnant and they were engaged to be married, live a wonderful life, share their religious beliefs, and enjoy Midwestern life to the fullest that their backgrounds would allow. Madly in love, feeling on top of the world, planning a fantastic life together, they did not realize a catastrophe was headed their way. Jan was assaulted, raped, lost her pregnancy and progressed into a severe depression which ended up with the loss of her life.
Jake, angry, depressed and grieving blamed God for causing this and wondered why a caring God would do such a thing to them. He lost his belief in God, became bitter with religion and questioned whether there was a God or just science and the earth.
He joined the Navy, suppressing his feelings, and yet wondering if there really is a God or Supreme Being. His life would be a long journey of investigation, exploring possibilities and wondering if God was real, science, or imagination. Many questions can be answered, but in the end it is a question of whether you believe or dont believethat is the question.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499050127

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Daniel R. Sullivan, MD.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4990-5013-4

                eBook           978-1-4990-5012-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/16/2014

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Table of Contents

Chapter One Texas, Indiana

Chapter Two Somewhere In The Arctic Ocean

Chapter Three Texas, Indiana

Chapter Four Indiana University

Chapter Five Baltimore, Maryland

Chapter Six Einstein And Physics

Chapter Seven New Apartment

Chapter Eight Memphis

Chapter Nine Subjective And Objective

Chapter Ten After Medical School

Chapter Eleven (The Best Years Of Medical Practice)

Chapter Twelve The God Particle

Chapter Thirteen Evolution

Chapter Fourteen Luca

Chapter Fifteen Native Americans

Chapter Sixteen Religion

Chapter Seventeen The Soul

Chapter Eighteen More Questions Than Answers

Religious belief is based on faith, which is subjective. However, there are many positive observations that are objective and do support religious beliefs of a greater entity.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my wife, Mary, my family, relatives and good friends such as Mark Friedman—who never hesitated to make me aware of where I might consider some modifications in the writing. The availability of material through libraries, the internet, and years of living, reading and searching for answers is only exceeded by ancient and recent history of all cultures. Those individuals have lived a journey through life seeking answers: Who are we? Why are we here? And where are we going from here? This book was written in an attempt to explain or compare science and religion. The laws of thermodynamics suggest that energy cannot be created nor destroyed. It is everywhere and merely changes from one form of energy to another. Is God energy by another name? Neither can be fully explained, yet have similar descriptions. Both are everywhere in everything and everyone, yet unexplainable. Science studies spiral outward and contemplation spirals inward—do they end up at the same conclusion? Conclusions regarding this probability will not be resolved, so it is a continuing study in progress. The more we know, the less we understand.

Preface

This book was written after many years of searching and asking questions about Religion, science and philosophy. It is confusing for me and probably many others, yet quite gratifying in the search for knowledge. I have referenced quotations where I felt they were helpful in traveling this writing and reading journey. Religion is as old as ancient history and just as relevant today as it was then. It seems that at this stage of progress and development in our world that we can hope for more cooperation. The society that our planet is developing should bring cooperation of all religious beliefs and cultures, allowing us to achieve and live in harmony with one another. I originally started out to write a paper for my family, but as the pages grew, it was decided to publish it in a book form. Since it is a narrative and they are sometimes lengthy and boring, I have inserted a fictional character, Jake McCoy. Jake travels his pathway or individual journey through life seeking answers, probing possibilities, thinking about God and the universe. The goal is to stimulate interest in all the questions and ideas that affect us as we make our individual journeys through life. If it creates an interest to read or ask questions, then the writing will be worth the effort. Good luck!

Prologue

As a member of the human race, Jake McCoy wondered about the existence of God and evolution. He had grown up as a good Catholic young man and attended church regularly. Now he was in the Navy and the United States was involved in a conflict in Korea. He had eventually set his religious beliefs aside, and now he wondered about religion in general.

As a Catholic he had been taught that theirs was the only way to worship God. Then why were priests and other reverends of different faiths supporting members of the military from all Christian and other religions. They were called Chaplin’s and had knowledge of all the faiths they would encounter. Jake read a lot of books while at sea. Most were science fiction but others were philosophical and created questions about religion and science.

Little did he know, at this age, that this question would create a journey of questions and research for the rest of his natural life?

God’s Little Gift

A little gift of life just came running through my front door. It had two hands, two feet and ever so much more. The little gift ran across the room, leaped into my arms, grabbed me around the neck, and held on ever so tight. I do not know who was shaking more, but it seemed ever so right. If you have one gift in life that should come true, shouldn’t it be a small Child who especially loves you?

DRS

Chapter One

TEXAS, INDIANA

(July 4, 1948)

Jake McCoy grasped the steering wheel of his 1939 Chevrolet Coupe with his left hand, while controlling the foot clutch with his left foot, and his right hand shifting the gears. After shifting into third gear, he reached around Janice’s shoulder, pulling her tight against his side. Janice laid her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes, and smiling as Jake’s strong muscular arm pulled her even closer than she dreamed was possible.

Jake, isn’t life wonderful? It’s you and me and our whole life is ahead of us.

It sure is, Jan. I’ve got a good job at NIPSCO (Northern Indiana Public Service Company), and you and I will soon be happily married—just you and me.

Janice laughed, opened her eyes like a satisfied kitten and meowed: Our soon to be delivered baby makes three.

Jake continued to hold Jan tight, the muscles in his arm rippling as his hand massaged her side, and then he pulled Jan even snugger than before. I hope it’s a boy, He can grow up to help your dad on the farm.

Janice laughed, pushed herself away and faced him from her side of the car. We’ll, Mr. Macho, I hope it’s a girl to help my mother with all of the chores we women have to do to keep you men happy.

Jake replied, Well, if it’s ‘Little Miss Muffet’, she can sit on her daddy’s lap.

Janice massaged Jake’s right leg with her left hand and felt him responding to her touch.

Jan, honey, I’m driving, and as they traveled down the highway, he swerved on the road, regaining control of the car. When they arrived in Texas, Indiana, he parked the car near her upstairs apartment, turned off the key in the car and reached for her. I’m sure glad you live in back of the National Trust Bank where you work. As I told you earlier, I need to go home and get some rest. We’re pouring concrete tomorrow at the electric utility station in Angola. It’s going to be a long day and I have to drive to the station and be on time.

You’re a strong man, Jake, Are you sure you can’t stay?

I’m going to use a sledge and an air hammer early and mix and pour concrete after that. I’ll be tired and lucky to stay awake on the drive home.

Okay, Jake, replied Janice, so she ran her hand up and down his torso, noting his immediate response and how she could excite him so easily. When you get home tomorrow, you call me, tell me how much you miss me, and we’ll have dinner at my apartment. I’ve got dessert all picked out.

Jake walked up the outside stairway to Janice apartment, kissed her goodnight, and asked her to lock the door once she was inside. Then, he walked down the stairs, approached his car, opened the driver’s door and leaped happily onto the driver seat. After starting the engine, pulling out of the parking space, and driving around the corner of downtown, he headed home.

A man with a straggly beard, a brown uniform, and holding a bottle in his hand slowly walked across the street toward the apartment where Janice lived. Quietly he climbed the stairs leading to her apartment door and knocked.

She thought, He changed his mind, and she rushed to the door, opening it and gasped out loud—Oh! She stopped, and pushed back at the door, screaming. She stomped on the foot that the scraggly man placed in the space between the door and the door frame, but he kept his foot rigid in the space, preventing her from closing the door.

The