On the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of the telescope, Pope Benedict XVI points out that observing the cosmos is only part of what we are to do; we must also explore the meaning of the created world must. According to the pope:
Philosophy, “given the phenomena and beauty of creation, seeks with its reasoning to understand nature and the ultimate end of the cosmos,” he explained. Theology, on the other hand, “founded on the revealed Word, scrutinizes the beauty and wisdom of the love of God, who has left his imprint in created nature.”
In this movement, he affirmed, both reason and faith are involved; “both offer their light.”
I read two great books over the summer, The Elegant Universe and The Physics of Consciousness. The former tries to reconcile what we see at the macro level, with what we observe at the quantum level. The theories that work to describe the universe that we see with the naked eye (e.g. general relativity) don’t do very well to describe the seemingly random and odd behaviors at the Quantum level. The latter book looks at the importance of consciousness in quantum physics. Why do I bring these books up? Well, because as I read the books, I did not lose faith in God, but instead, as I read of phenomena that even the most brilliant scientists cannot grasp, I concluded that God not only exists, his creation is even more marvelous than once thought.
What follows are just some initial thoughts about God, science, and meaning. I haven’t fleshed them out too much, so they may be a little raw. Unfortunately, with empiricism still in vogue and good, old-fashioned, theology out-of-style, many people ask questions about how the universe works, but are not encouraged to ask what meaning the universe has, or what meaning we have within the universe. Humans, like animals, can observe and respond to phenomena, but we can also analyze the their meaning. A flickering candle on an Advent wreath, with its glow radiating upon the faces of a family, is more than just an emanation of photons and heat. Our brains are wired to perceive meaning, even spirituality, in this experience. Perhaps our brains are deceiving us, but I find it interesting that the most highly evolved creatures on the planet are able to appreciate things like spirituality and music, which we would classify as having meaning. Animals, from what I observe, cannot appreciate these things. In other words, our instrument for perceiving reality (the brain) seeks meaning, yet, we often encourage people not to attempt this, or even worse, tell them there is no meaning to even be found. I agree with the pope that while science offers us a lot, we still have to perceive the beauty of the universe, which leads us to God himself.
Image taken by me. Even on an average November day, the beauty of creation is still evident to me
David Bennett
Jennifer
asimplesinner
Fr. J.
Chad T.
Jorge Flores
Jonathan B
carmelbennett
nicenehobbit
Jason S
jaybird68
papaz
Dave Hartline
faceman
Science can only see the material world and so it can never see God as He is. The problem is that many in the science community have created a religion out of materialism and are every bit as dogmatic as any of us Catholics are in setting out their falsehoods. Science is from God, scientism is from the devil.
Mr. Bennett,
If you are interested in what light physics (specifically, quantum mechanics) might might shed on some of the “miracles” in the Bible,* I would highly recommend an interesting book written by a Professor of Mathematical Physics at Tulane University (he teaches both advanced mathematics and physics there). It is The Physics of Christianity by Professor Frank J. Tipler. It is, I believe, reasonably accessible to the average reader.
The author makes it clear in the book that he is a Christian, although I was able to detect no indication of his ecclesial association. One of the more interesting things he discusses is what the correct use of the word “miracle” is with regard to the laws of nature and the question of whether or not all that we consider miracles actually require suspension of those physical laws. According to Tipler, the “miracles” in Holy Scripture do not require God to suspend his laws. Mechanisms which are consistent with the laws of nature as we humans understand them are known by which God, although not humans, can accomplish them.
Pax et bonum,
Keith Töpfer
If miracles did not require the suspension of physical laws, then they are not miracles, but unlikely (but normal) events!
Our local vicar informed my daughter in her school assembly recently that suffering in the world is a result of all the sin!
in 2009 i am alarmed that anybody could voice such a backward view,
Thank you
Gavin
A religious non believer
Gavin,
Not to be argumentative, but whose physical laws do you want to suspend and whose do you not. Restated, who is correct, Newton or Feynman?
Or, analogically, if Jesus “materialized” in an upper room to the disciples without the door or window being opened, do you assert that such and event would, in order to be true, require the suspension of the known physical laws?
In point of fact, according to Newtonian physics, it would. However, in the so-called standard model for quantum mechanics first defined by Richard Feynman, it would not. It is readily explained by a phenomenon referred to as quantum tunnelling. The physics predict the latter, and if an entity, a being, had the ability to control events of quantum tunnelling, then that being could pass through walls. Note that you do not need to believe in God to understand this. All you have to understand is that a being who could manipulate the quanta of which atoms are comprised, then that being would be able to perform what you believe is a “miracle” because it is outside of human ability to accomplish.
You needn’t take my word for it. Simply read Tipler. His writing outside of academic works is quite readily accessible.
Pax et bonum,
Keith Töpfer
MA,
Thanks for the recommendation. Actually, I have that book and his other one, “The Physics of Immortality” already on my Amazon.Com wish list, but I haven’t yet bought it, but I think I need to move on it thanks to your recommendation. The quantum world is quite amazing. This summer a lot of my reading was devoted to physics, particularly at the Quantum level.
Quantum Fluctuations: a universe from nothing at all; or there is no such thing as God and I can prove it
http://howgoodisthat.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/quantum-fluctuations-a-universe-from-nothing-at-all-or-there-is-no-such-thing-as-god-and-i-can-prove-it/