The apocalyptic vision in the...
Illustration
The apocalyptic vision in the Bible of the last day is awesome -- the sun darkened and stars falling from heaven. Jesus has a way of getting our attention!
Arthur C. Clarke, famed science-fiction author, has written a short story, titled "The Nine Billion Names of God," that gives the reader a deep, quiet awe about that day. A Tibetan lama purchases a computer to help finish a vital project that was begun 300 years before and was projected to take 15,000 years to complete. The goal of the project was to print out all the possible names of God. The computer would compress the work into 100 days. Everything is set up and runs smoothly. The computer scientists, George and Chuck, who were assigned to help monitor the program and keep the computers functioning, think the project is pointless. But, they do their job.
When they find out the reason for the project, they'd figure they better leave early so as to avoid the disappointment of the monks, who might take out their frustration upon the two hapless foreigners. The point of listing the nine billion names of God is to fulfill the purpose of the human race. According to the monks, we were created to express all the names of God. When that has been done, we will have accomplished that for which we were created and there will be no need to continue on. God will step in and simply end the world.
The scientists leave the lamasery just before the last names will be typed out on the endless rolls of paper. It is night as they approach the airplane that will carry them home to reality. They know that just about that time, the computer will have completed its task. They are glad to be away from that site, until just before boarding, they look up at the sky to an unspeakable, silent sight. "Overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out."
Arthur C. Clarke, famed science-fiction author, has written a short story, titled "The Nine Billion Names of God," that gives the reader a deep, quiet awe about that day. A Tibetan lama purchases a computer to help finish a vital project that was begun 300 years before and was projected to take 15,000 years to complete. The goal of the project was to print out all the possible names of God. The computer would compress the work into 100 days. Everything is set up and runs smoothly. The computer scientists, George and Chuck, who were assigned to help monitor the program and keep the computers functioning, think the project is pointless. But, they do their job.
When they find out the reason for the project, they'd figure they better leave early so as to avoid the disappointment of the monks, who might take out their frustration upon the two hapless foreigners. The point of listing the nine billion names of God is to fulfill the purpose of the human race. According to the monks, we were created to express all the names of God. When that has been done, we will have accomplished that for which we were created and there will be no need to continue on. God will step in and simply end the world.
The scientists leave the lamasery just before the last names will be typed out on the endless rolls of paper. It is night as they approach the airplane that will carry them home to reality. They know that just about that time, the computer will have completed its task. They are glad to be away from that site, until just before boarding, they look up at the sky to an unspeakable, silent sight. "Overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out."
