1 Introduction

The notion that the past exists as a concrete, objective reality is a cornerstone of human experience. We rely on memories, historical records, and cultural narratives to construct a sense of continuity. But what if the past is an illusion, a construct of the present moment, akin to a digital projection or ”screen memory” encoded in our minds?

This paper argues that only the present exists, that the past is a fabricated narrative, and that the future remains unformed. By examining the nature of memory, the metaphysics of time, and the implications of the law of attraction, we challenge the conventional understanding of temporality and propose a radical reorientation of human consciousness.

2 The Past as a Construct

Consider the past as a collection of data points, akin to bits and bytes in a computational system or qubits in a quantum framework. What we perceive as historical events—whether the life of a revered religious figure or the founding of a nation—may be nothing more than encoded impressions, implanted in the collective consciousness. These ”screen memories,” as some speculative thinkers describe them, serve to provide context for the present but lack independent existence.

Philosophically, this aligns with presentism, the doctrine that only the present is real. As John McTaggart argued, ”The past is no more; the future is not yet.” Memories, often considered evidence of the past, are unreliable. Psychological studies demonstrate that memories are reconstructed in the present, subject to distortion and confabulation. For instance, experiments conducted by Elizabeth Loftus showed that individuals can vividly recall events that never occurred, suggesting that memory is a creative act, not a retrieval of objective truth.

If memories are constructs, what of historical records? Artifacts, texts, and digital
archives are interpreted in the present, their meaning shaped by current biases. The
existence of a physical object, such as a scroll or a statue, does not prove the reality
of the events it depicts. These objects exist now, and their significance is a projection
of present consciousness. Thus, the past, as we conceive it, is a narrative woven from
present data, not a realm with ontological status.

3 The Nonexistence of the Future

If the past is an illusion, what of the future? The future, too, lacks existence until it
becomes the present. This view is intuitive: the future is a set of possibilities, not a
fixed reality. Quantum mechanics supports this, suggesting that reality collapses into a definite state only upon observation. Until that moment, the future is a superposition of potentialities, as described by Niels Bohr’s interpretation of wave function collapse.

However, the law of attraction complicates this picture. Popularized by Rhonda Byrne, this principle posits that thoughts and intentions shape future outcomes, implying a causal link between the present and the future. Does this suggest the future pre-exists in some form? Not necessarily. The law of attraction can be reframed as a present focused phenomenon: our current state of consciousness influences the unfolding of the next moment. Rather than creating a future that already exists, we shape the present’s evolution. Thus, the law of attraction reinforces the primacy of the now, not the reality of the future.

4 The Primacy of the Present

If neither past nor future exists, the present is the sole locus of reality. This has profound implications. Every experience, thought, and action occurs now, rendering the human obsession with history and prophecy misguided. The stories we tell about Jesus Christ or the French Revolution are not accounts of a real past but myths constructed to make sense of the present. Similarly, anxieties about the future are projections of present fears, not glimpses of a predetermined destiny.

This perspective liberates us from the burdens of history. Guilt, regret, and nostalgia—emotions tied to a supposed past—lose their grip when we recognize that only the present matters. Likewise, the law of attraction empowers us to focus on the now, cultivating a mindset that shapes the unfolding moment. By embracing presentism, we align with the flow of existence, unencumbered by illusions of time.

5 Objections and Responses

Critics may argue that the continuity of physical laws and causality implies a real past.
For example, the decay of radioactive isotopes follows a predictable pattern, suggesting a temporal history. However, this assumes that physical laws operate outside the present. In a presentist framework, the state of an isotope now, including its decay rate, is a feature of the current moment, not evidence of a past.

Another objection concerns the law of attraction’s apparent reliance on future outcomes.
If positive thinking yields results, does this not prove the future’s reality? As noted, the
law operates within the present, shaping the next moment’s emergence. The outcomes we attribute to the future are merely the present’s continuous unfolding.

6 Conclusion

The past is a fiction, a tapestry of screen memories woven in the present. The future
is a mirage, existing only as potential. Only the now is real, a singular moment of
infinite possibility. By recognizing this, we free ourselves from the shackles of history
and the anxieties of tomorrow. The law of attraction, far from contradicting this view,
underscores the power of the present to shape reality. Let us abandon the illusion of time and embrace the eternal now, where all existence resides.