The Grandest Paradox

We all know the classical argument from the mind, as a proof of God. Materials (physical substances) cannot produce consciousness, only a God with a mind could have. I find it compelling on scientific grounds, but I've taken it further.

Let us assume that material substances alone could, by some poorly understood neurological process, produce consciousness. It does appear that scientists are moving in this direction. Of late, they are becoming more intimately familiar with the processes related to consciousness, which certainly does have a very strong material basis. "Activity in this lobe is correlated with consciousness, spikes in electric output from this area is simultaneous with this chemical over here... " etc. So let's assume that our minds are mere physical constructions.

I introduce to the grandest paradox you will ever behold. What happens when materialism ("everything is a physical substance"), determinism ("natural laws determine all events, and there is only one possible outcome"), and the mind join hands? The world as we know it shatters. It absolutely shatters.

Physical substances are deterministic. We all know the classical argument against free will by determinism. So how can we expect that deterministic substance to produce true ideas? This isn't mere skepticism, it is scientifically reinforced proof of absurdity.

Example: you have a computer, which is capable of deriving logical conclusions. Input "2 times 7", get "14" as an output. Well, not quite... because this computer starts out not knowing anything. YOU are the programmer.

You program it randomly, with processing structures that exist for no reason, without meaning, without purpose. You plug in an input, the electric signals spurt through the processing system instantaneously, and you get a deterministic outcome. Due to the laws of nature, that output is the only possible thing that could have happened.

You plug in "4 times 12" and get 35. That's what the program led to. The program was random. As long as it comes from random origins, the program will always be random.

If your mind is materialistic and deterministic, it is random. Nothing is produces can be true. Furthermore, if the idea that "some statements are false, and some statements are true" is a mental concept, then it is not warranted. It is just a random, abstract, unwarranted illusion. You say that 3 + 4 = 7. But, that thought is merely a pre-determined event caused by particles and forces interacting. That thought is absurd.

Skepticism says that it is possible that our knowledge is illusory. I say that, given materialism and determinism, it is absolutely certain that nothing is true, nothing is false, and everything is absurd.

That is of course a paradox, because I have used empirical knowledge and logic to arrive at the conclusion which destroys those two justifications. But the paradox is compelling.

But what if the mind is not simply a material? What if our thoughts are not deterministic? What if the programmer of our minds is a creative intellect?

Is it so irrational to believe in God that we must accept such an absurd paradox?

P.S. - Many thanks to the friend with whom I've carried on many a discussion and debate about this and similar topics, Jon Siskey.