Sergey Lukianenko - Spectrum
Sergey Lukianenko may not be as famous among the international readers, but his name is well known in Russia and Eastern Europe. His novel Spectrum, published in 2002, is written in a special style, which may not be everyone’s taste. Nevertheless, in one scene you can read the following:
"We believe in the One God, the Creator of the Universe," said Autumnborn proudly. "But we think God is undefined."
"Unrecognizable?" Asked Martin. "That is the case in every religion..."
"No," said Autumnborn, shaking his head. “Really undefined. We believe that God is the final phase of the development of intelligent life in the universe. In very simple terms that means ...” He paused for a moment. “In the distant future, intelligent beings will no longer be chained to the physical body. All intelligent races will be one and at the same time different in the chosen form of their existence. Without losing their individuality, the mind of each individual flows into a large whole, all together form a meta-consciousness that is neither subjugated by space nor time. That is God, the Creator of everything, Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, the whole and the individual. He takes in all being. He creates the universe."
Martin coughed. "But all religions picture God differently ..." he noted.
"That is why God cannot be defined," repeated the Autumnborn. “Yes, He exists, He created the world, He is eternal and is outside of time. But for us who live within time, God is still undefined. If the faith of humans prevails, then we get the God of humans, we get him as you see him. When the Geddarn's beliefs spread, we will get their God."
"And what if the Aranks’ worldview wins?" Asked Martin. [note: The civilization of Aranks is atheistic.]
"Then there will be no God," confirmed Autumnborn. "You got it!"
What a clear description of the Universe as an agnostic experiment with an open outcome. Just wow!