Human Alchemy

I recently happened to catch a show in the wee hours (occasional insomnia sometimes has its upside) that got me thinking. It was an anime show, Full Metal Alchemist. (I don't get it either). The show apparently centers around two young brothers who are versed in alchemy- alchemy is the pseudo-science of transmuting baser metals into gold. There are actual alchemical books in existence, most notably the Corpus Hermeticum and the Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius. I read through both of them a long while ago- they have no formulae or recipes for changing matter, however they deal with something much more abstract. The real goal of alchemy is to change the self- man can move from a baser state to a higher one through learning about himself. Not that this has a great deal to do with the anime show, but it was kind of cool. Anyway, the point being that this really hit home for me- kind of like old St. Paul said- "We will all be transformed." I've often (probably rightly) been accused of a lack of faith, requiring some degree of proof, or at least logic. I don't think this is incompatible with spirituality. If there is an order to creation, (and there seems to be- the odds of the universe we have arising out of pure chaos is astronomically small, no pun intended) this then implies purpose and/or design. From this comes an order either inherent in the world or imposed from without on otherwise chaotic matter. I tend to think that the order was somehow made inherent in the created world, as stable systems tend to develop out of chaos in real world scenarios, like an ecosystem, or all the crud I cleaned out of the pool. Probably an ecosystem in itself... But the point being, if there is this inherent order, there must be a God, or something like it/him/her/whatever. And perhaps, with the science and reason we higher life forms were given, we can come to a knowledge of that. The problem of concrete proof lies in proving a negative- you cannot prove God does not exist, as you cannot prove I do not have three heads and eat puppies three meals a day. If such an allegation is made, the burden of proof lies in proving that these things are true, not false. But there are multiple explanations for God's existence, due solely to the absence of proof. (Which is not proof of absence, as the saying goes.) So I suppose ultimately it will come down to your own experience, and what you believe based on your own experience. And so the crisis of faith continues-wish me luck!
On the Miskatonic Medical School Campus

The buildings look inspiring,
pushed together, and
even awesome-what
goes on inside?
Chest crackings, organs
transplanted- powder gloved hands
Imbued with skill-
Outside the gentle old man
walks across the grass, muttering
to himself