Space is a description of the pattern formed by two or more objects in relation to each other.

Time is a measure of the process by which these objects come to form this pattern and how this pattern changes.

Where no objects exist (or even only one) there can be no space and no time.

Further, for both space and time to exist, there must be an entity that ‘reads’ these patterns and the way they change and interprets them in a ‘meaningful’ way. We call this entity, ‘the observer’ or consciousness.

This interpretation of pattern and change, however, is observer dependent. Your reality is different from mine, yet similar enough as to allow our mutual co-existence.

Space and time are therefore, illusions, creations of the observer. They are important conventions, though, because it is on them that we ‘hang’ matter/energy (the objects) and thus create the Universe (pattern) we see. Without space and time, our current reality, as we interpret it, would be largely meaningless.

But they are illusions, nevertheless.

It is said that one of the greatest geniuses of Einstein was the intuitive realization that space and time are one and the same thing while matter and energy are also one and the same thing.

I don't think this postulate has come close to being disproven, or ever will. What science has hesitated to do is make the next intuitive leap, that the four conventions are one and the same.

M-theory might yet make that case.

@tycho - there is the supernatural. however it exists in our collective consciousness. I remember some certain deep statement you made on prayer sometime back. (I cannot be able to sift through wazua to find and quote it as-is so you will need to bear with my parapharsing of the same). You said,
It struck a nerve. People used to pray for everything and thus the realm of the supernatural was big. You would pray that a person who sneezes does not have his heart stopped by the sneezing. people would pray for rain basically anywhere there was no information or uncertainty we invoked the divine. this realm of things to pray for is slowly growing smaller.... there is still much to be prayed about but rarely as much as we used to pray for before. Mtoto akipata fever.... you execute a certain repeatable set of steps and he/she gets well.... he/she gets ill again - rinse and repeat! Tough prayer is now restricted to things science cannot treat well - sio fever!

If it were the question of introspection then you can be assured that I'm doing it. My questions however are directed at the results of your own introspection.

mind boggling indeed. The sad part is if we never get to know about what we know that we don't know. Maybe we will in the next life (if it exists). Will the fleas on planet doGG ever know about planet earth ever?

The 'supernatural', to put it mildly, has a doubtful existence. Or rather, it's neither true or reasonable to speak of it.

It's interesting to note how your own 'heart'- whatever it means, could be deceiving you.

of all creation, human heart is full of deceit...is the actual phrase I was looking for. Look everywhere. That's why a restoration is necessary.

Our difference of opinion is getting clearer and I'm learning to appreciate your view. It's hard work but I love it.

Tycho: allow me to give my take on these questions, base on the earlier point about observer dependent reality:

If we accept that everyone interprets reality in their own unique way, then it would follow that any interaction between us is an effort to seek areas of observation overlap, a consensus estimate of more than one observation, reducing them to something we can agree on. Without this, communication, or even existence in a common space/time frame would be impossible. It is likely that if there was nothing we could agree on, you and I would be practically invisible to each other.

But, ultimately your truth remains yours and mine remains mine, even after the overlap. It is therefore possible for us to disagree and still be both correct. In fact it is likely that this is what happens most of the time.

As for why all this is important, I can only answer this with the same question posed about mountains: why do people climb mountains? Ans. because they are there.

Owning a body, a brain, the senses, intuition...the magnificent tools we have, and not using them to the ultimate is like buying a Ferrari and then driving it at 5Km per hour. Nothing wrong with it, but that is not what Ferrari's are meant for.