The religious feeling engendered by experiencing the logical comprehensibility of profound interrelations is of a somewhat different sort from the feeling that one usually calls religious. It is more a feeling of awe at the scheme that is manifest in the material universe. It does not lead us to take the step of fashioning a god-like being in our own image - a personage who makes demands of us and who takes an interest in us as individuals. There is in this neither a will nor a goal, nor a must, but only sheer being.
The author, Rebecca Goldstein, distinguishes between conventional religious feelings and a deeper sense of awe inspired by understanding the interconnectedness of the universe. This perspective emphasizes the appreciation of the cosmos and its inherent logic, rather than creating a deity that mirrors human attributes or demands worship. It suggests that the experience of profound interconnections elicits a reverent appreciation for existence itself.
This awareness does not encompass the traditional notions of will or purpose attributed to deities. Instead, it highlights a pure appreciation for being, devoid of any personal involvement or expectations from a higher power. Goldstein's interpretation invites readers to consider a spirituality rooted in the natural world and its complexities, rather than relying on anthropomorphic constructs of divinity.
