I was watching a thunderstorm recently in my hometown. It began as a rumble in the night. Low growling. Splashes of light from the lightening as it moved from one end of the sky to the other. Grey clouds turned to darkness - and the evening turned black. The thunder boomed overhead - the windows shook from the sound - lightening bolts zigged and zagged through the night - even at times looking like they were going to bolt right at me.
The trees outside were bending over - threatening to break in two. The dogs were whimpering inside the doors and wanting to huddle up to us. The mountains in the distance - which we could hardly make out - were shaking and dancing through the rain. The drops were like bullets horizontally and twisting every way with the wind. The roof was creaking - and the noise of the wind was deafening. Nature is pretty awesome - very powerful. Mind blowing and so very dangerous when it wants to be.
Yet, who or what controls nature? Does science control nature? Does humanity in any of it advanced states control it? Does it control itself? Science certainly might help to explain it. And science helps us to explain ourselves. But what controls nature? What is its driving force? What causes it to do what it does? Instinct! Natural forces! latent scientific principles. Aliens?
And as an aside - how do people respond or react or feel about the powerful forces of nature? Are people afraid of thunderstorms? OR do they think oh - well that is just a scientific principle acting out - don't worry about it.
Is there a spiritual element to the forces of nature - or is it just basic science? And if the latter, why does it create such emotional responses?