At their core, my beliefs are simple, consistent, and agree with my experiences. I endure very little of the paradoxes and dilemmas that other sets of beliefs seem to be drowning in, especially since the recent surge in information and science. However, that is not to imply that I haven’t thought about these issues a lot. Anyways, here’s a basic summary:
The sheer scales of time and space, billions of years for particles to be in constant flux, forming endless combinations (Avogadro’s number, defined as the number of particles in 12 grams of carbon-12–about a pack of pencils’ worth of graphite–has 23 zeros; if that many particles are in everything around us, constantly reacting to all of the changing forces around them, forming new molecules, I think one can begin to appreciate how little we can ever conceive of the possibilities…), eventually led to a few molecules’ coming together which happened to have one of the most unimaginable properties ever discovered: together, they were alive. Billions of years later, bountiful energy paired with endless competition has brought the strongest, sleekest, most sensitive, seductive, and now, the smartest, to life. It has created a world tightly bound by endless complexity, a woven nest of life we are just beginning to unravel. The sea of particles has given rise to beings that can conceive of their own composition, their own creation, and their own purpose, and use this understanding to try to predict anything and everything around them.
And so, here I am, using this new capacity some of the beings have to share and develop their own understanding of their universe with others. First, I would like to share what I think our purpose is. Life on Earth has succeeded when it continued. That which did not continue has died; species, ecosystems, and ways of life have been sent out of existence because they were not sustainable. Clearly, it is life’s ultimate goal to function in a way that brings about more life. Most beings are only able to do this in a self-centered manner, each one preserving themselves. However, our abilities provide us with a difficult but necessary purpose: to continue life, not on an individual basis, or even a species basis, but to work for the survival of life itself. Because we can. We, as humans, have the ability to think larger than ourselves, even as a species. Because overpopulation—our species’ conquering the world—is not a victory for anyone. But a responsible, sustainable, life-preserving culture would be a victory for everyone.
I will leave you with a quote from Daniel Quinn, whom I will probably quote often throughout this site:
“There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with people. Given a story to enact that puts them in accord with the world, they will live in accord with the world. But given a story to enact that puts them at odds with the world, as yours does, they will live at odds with the world. Given a story to enact in which they are the lords of the world, they will act as the lords of the world. And, given a story to enact in which the world is a foe to be conquered, they will conquer it like a foe, and one day, inevitably, their foe will lie bleeding to death at their feet, as the world is now.”
In the posts to come, I will explore these ideas, along with many others, in much more depth.
I look forward to our journey.
chris mcelroy 
Through search, discovery is inevitable.
Whether it be failure or success, anger or satisfaction, something must be found thorough any search. The internet itself is an example of this, much is there to be found, and all you have to do is search. Through the everlasting brilliance of this connecting web, I have found something amazing. While I don’t know you, you most likely won’t even post more, your philosophy is inspiring, and the idea itself is even more interesting. I will be waiting.
You are a very bright individual!