Mysteries of the Universe

*Yes, I've been away from hubpages for over a month, my apologies. Needed some time, perhaps a sabbatical, away from writing. Now I'm back (I think).*

I guess in the last month or two of introspective thought, I've managed to talk to a few people on some odd-ball philosophical issues. Of course I think it's pretty widely known I grew up in a rather odd Christian denomination and left that for what I'd consider  years of unknown beliefs, but probably not what I'd classify as agnosticism. I battled my demons and determined whether or not I truly believed there was a God, even more so whether there was a Jesus Christ (aka, is he God or was he just a man?). I won't bother anyone with those details at this moment.

What is running through my mind at this moment is where do the answers in this universe lie? I studied biology in college and of course am more than acquainted with the theories of evolution (there are multiple theories as far as I'm concerned and yes, even as a Christian I find them viable answers to many questions posed by nature), and I also had some coursework in chemistry/physics/geology. All of those classes were great, but many left gaps in reasoning no matter how extensive they were.

I think that overall we pull our beliefs mostly from what we grow up with, or opposing that, what we DIDN'T grow up with. Let's put it this way, there's only black and white. You either continue to practice your inherited beliefs or you drive down a different road.

I find that it's most difficult to decide what we believe when we're clouded by what we're familiar with. I'm not going to lie, my religious beliefs are familiar to me [now] and I am very well situated, in my mind and heart, where I feel the answers "lie" within bounds of faith.

Some say faith is good, some say it's not. I suppose that's a personal issue, not up for debate, because I really don't care. I've been faithful and faithless. I've been lost and found.

When it comes down to it, does it matter if the "answers" you have are concrete, provable, and even tangible? Is it that absolutely important that we need to know, without shadows of doubt, that what we believe is true? Or is it ok to follow in faith, because faith is blind no matter how you look at it.

I've never found faith to deter me from exploring the universe, questioning God, maybe even challenging Him. After all, Moses and a slew of other biblical characters were quite adamanat at times that they weren't quite sure this God dude knew what He was doing.

You tell me, is it something absolutely essential that you NEED absolute proof that whatever it is that answers whatever question you have, or are you content to simply believe? And yes, you can cross the two, they are not mutually exclusive as far as I know.