This morning I woke up early to go snorkeling with manta rays. I spent two nights on the island of Nusa Penida, admiring its famous cliffside beaches. I was lucky enough to see three manta rays majestically gliding through the water. The only downside? I got super seasick. The current was crazy strong and rocky.
While floating in the ocean, watching these giant, graceful creatures pass beneath me, I started thinking about the incredible variety of life on this planet. There are so many wildly different forms of existence. And here we are, humans—somehow sitting at the top of it all. I saw manta rays eating microscopic plankton, bugs crawling and flying around the beach, fish darting between coral. The sheer biodiversity is astounding.
This naturally got me thinking about some theological questions. To what extent do I actually believe in the theory of evolution? Most pressingly—are humans simply the evolution of apes, or did the infinite, loving Creator give us an extra umph?
How old is the Earth, really? And the universe? Religious traditions vary, and even scientific answers differ depending on the method and assumptions. Personally, I tend to believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle. No, I don't think the world is only 6,000 years old, but I'm also not 100% sold on the exact figures scientists give us through carbon dating or astrophysical models.
Ultimately, I believe in an infinite, loving Creator, so anything is possible. Maybe Hashem (God) snapped their fingers and created humans from scratch. Maybe the universe evolved over billions of years. Maybe it's both—or neither.
I used to obsess over these questions. But now, I realize they don't really affect how I live my life. Whether the world is 6,000 or 12 billion years old has no bearing on my human experience. I'd rather focus on the deeper dilemmas that do.
Anyway, I'm currently on my way to Lombok, another island east of Bali. As I was leaving my accommodation this morning, the host warned me to be cautious in Lombok and Java, saying, "They're not like the Balinese." I found that interesting.
The past two weeks exploring Bali have been amazing—its culture, shaped by Hinduism, is warm, colorful, and deeply spiritual. The vibe here is safe, welcoming, and cheerful. But outside Bali, most of Indonesia is Muslim, and from what I hear, it can feel very different.
Curious to see for myself. Let's find out.
