In the following short essay, Michael Levy argues the sciences -- which in recent times have paid little attention to spiritual matters -- may find their research into the universe has a spiritual dimension.
-- Tim Machesney
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The Bonding of Science and Spirituality
by Michael Levy
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, religious dogma and tribal superstitions kept scientific thinkers in a locked box. Many outspoken scholars were executed because their scientific findings were looked upon as heresy. It is only in the past two hundred years that free academic study of science was allowed to flourish unhindered by ancient religious doctrines.
Once modern-style academic scientific studies were established, they rejected and ridiculed anything spiritual or metaphysical if it could not be proven by a mathematical formula. Even today, a few professors and scientists are closed-minded to anything that resembles spirituality. But things are changing at a very rapid pace. For just as religion had to succumb to scientific knowledge, science is beginning to unravel the mysteries of the universe with quantum physics; and scientists' latest findings are stretching the field into the realms of metaphysical spirituality.
After all is said and done, there can only be one truth that explains the creation/ evolving of the universe, but there may be many pathways, within one truth, that will explain humanity's curiosity about cosmic puzzles.
Quantum science is going beyond looking into atoms, photons, neutrons, and quarks. Those within the field are exploring a newer string theory (dancing, unobservable, vibrational waves of energy) and membrane theory (multiple universes, carved up into slices, living side by side, all conjoined by ...?). Together they give room to explore theories which seek to prove the unity of gravity, electromagnetism, and the weak and strong nuclear forces. The deeper quantum physicists explore, the closer they encircle metaphysical philosophy. They are realizing there are higher realities, within infinite dimensions of intelligent vibrational energy.
Ever since humans could look up at the stars at night they have pondered the mystical magic of the cosmos. Many great ancient civilizations -- the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese -- debated the awe and wonder of the heavens. Brilliant philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Confucius and many more, have talked about humankind's connection to the invisible, eternal flows of energy that govern the Cosmos. And within the next hundred years, mathematical proof will uncover the connection between science , philosophy and spirituality.
It seems string theorists have uncovered eleven dimensions to our universe. Some quantum physicists even go so far as to state the dimensions of the universe may be infinite. At the same time, they are theorizing about parallel universes that live side by side with our own. Perhaps there are an infinite number of them.
If this is proven true, it will explain why our world was not formed by chance, for if there is an infinite number of universes, then it stands to common sense at least one would contain intelligent life as found here on Earth. It could be no fluke, because of the infinite variety of universes; and the formula to create our universe must differ from each and every other universe -- in the same manner as no two humans are identical, and each has their own free will to act within an inescapable framework.
Such studies take place on more basic levels as well. In medicine, there are many ongoing studies of spirituality within the fields of neurology, psychology and other disciplines. There is also a greater openness to new ideas: mental illnesses that may be caused by stress and erroneous thoughts are being treated with many alternative, spiritually-related treatments, which were rejected a few years ago. At every level, open-minded professors, scientists and physicians are welcoming metaphysical philosophers and spiritual masters to help in the quest to eradicate disease, pollution and many other human ills.
Provided we keep communicating and balance the teaching of science and spirituality, humanity can eventually realize they are one harmonious unit within a unified symphonic universe. Maybe that unity on earth will make Albert Einstein a very happy camper as he looks at Earth from his eternal cosmic home?
Mr. Levy writes from Florida.
I think it would only make sense for science to rediscover spirituality. Indeed in England the Church, for a long while, supported the advancements of the sciences, then called alchemy and metallurgy. They believe exploring how the natural world worked could only deepen their understanding of God. They reasoned that since God is responsible for all creation His mark must obviously be on it. The sciences could then uncover it.
In many ways I see some scientists' absolute aversion to spirituality because of "lack of evidence," while they in turn embrace scientific theorems that have even less evidence and require more faith, laughable.
Note also that none of the versions of string theory have yet made any prediction that is refutable (i.e. testable) by experiment. So far they are merely spinning dross.
Creationism, by any other name, is still - creationism. While I certainly don't claim to be any kind of expert, this essay essentialls can be summarized as - "The more intricate the design, the less likely it is the result of a random chance, and therefore it must have been created by GOD."
Whatever.
String theorists have NOT uncovered 11 dimensions. What they have done is to say that there must be 11 dimensions, or else nothing they say makes much sense, and they wouldn't be able to get grant money.
Kinda like how there must be a bonding going on of science and spirituality, or Mr Levy's faith in God looks kooky, and he wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning.
Nothing I see in the article lends itself to the interpretation he presents. Rather, it appears the interpretation lends itself to the author's irrational wish that science was finding evidence of God. If that much observation is being undertaken and nothing is being found, it might serve to undermine one's faith.
Seeing is not believing. Believing is seeing. We are unable to see what we are unable to believe in.
Oops -wrong nic. I only use Warmonger at the CP.
maor's hit the nail on the head on this one. just because a scientist says something (especially a theorist) doesn't make it true unless it can be backed up by experiment. and even then, any good scientist will tell you that all that means is that the theory works so far. that it's the best we've come up with. not the gospel truth (pardon the pun). and the author of this article is clearly not well versed in probability theory. if there are an infinite number of universes, then it stands to reason that the only reason this one supports intelligent life /is/ by pure chance. if you do anything an infinite number of times, the probability of observing every possible outcome becomes 1.
Setting aside one's personal faith and simply examining the wonders of our universe and the rather exacting circumstances that led to the beginnings of life, how can one still believe that random chance was reponsible for our creation?
Is it possible that postulating a Creator, God, implies that we must then be held accountable in some way for our actions and we would prefer not to be?
i'm just saying that if there are infinite universes (i'm not saying that that's true, mind you), then it would stand to reason that, apart from any guiding hand, the probability that one of those universes would contain life is 1. that's just simple mathematics. now, whether there is or was a guiding hand in the cosmos is something that i don't think science is equipped or supposed to answer. i don't discount the possibility that life on earth was started by divine intervention. i just don't think the author's interpretation of string theory is the proof of god's existence. it's bad science, and it's also bad religion. but please excuse me if you took my above post as some kind of slam on religion, it wasn't intended to be.
One must wonder - if there is indeed a Creator, who created him? And who created the Creator of the Creator for that matter? And it goes on and on. Ouch, my head hurts...
Heather: Easily. Why should I not be able to believe that humans exist by what amounts to random chance? (Though emergent properties and self-ordering systems, which are more like what life is, are not quite the same as the "dice roll" image one gets from "random chance"...)
Zach: One can easily also imagine infinite universes, none of which contain life. Infinite in number is not the same as infinite in variety of content; if an infinite number of universes all had evenly distributions within themselves of all energy (ie, were already at background radiation heat-death), they would never have "life"... yet the count would be infinite.
Re. Mr Levy's actual essay, I dont' see how it follows that even if we grant infinite variety that means that a given result (human life) is therefore not the result of chance. Infinite variety, in fact, suggests that chance would be plenty likely to end up making any possible outcome.
As to harmonious humanity and a unified symphonic universe? Give me some of what you're smoking, Hippy. Heh.
(None of this, of course, matters at all when we remember that "infinite universes" is merely one extrapolation of quantum theory, and not one that has physical evidence (last I checked), or even compelling theoretical backing. It's literally just an interpretation of quantum uncertainty, as I understand it (from reading QM people argue about it; the math involved is orders of magnitude past my abilities).)
The last thing God needs is Proof, anyway.
John Dibble:
The solution to your conundrum is simple: God is like the "G" (and the universe is like like the "U") in the recursive acronym GNU ("GNU's Not UNIX").
Hey, ask a facetious question, and you'll get a facetious answer.
Hope your head's feeling better soon... :-)
(and the universe is like like the "U")
Oops, sorry, deja vu... must be a glitch in the Matrix... ;-)
Good one Paul, lol.
"Provided we keep communicating and balance the teaching of science and spirituality, humanity can eventually realize they are one harmonious unit within a unified symphonic universe. "
Okay, I'll bite. Two questions:
If we only need to realize that humanity is one harmonious unit with an already unified symphonic universe what would be the point of a separate (humanity) realization of a unity that does already exist ?
And if the spiritual is non-corporeal with what particular yard stick does science measure it ?
If science cannot find the measuring stick then is science faulty ?
Heh, good one C-22.
I think the first comment in this thread is perhaps the best. Catholic theology (not that I'm a Catholic!) long ago caught up to the notion that life evolved, they deal with it by saying that God created the initial conditions such that life would evolve as it has. They seem to be a bit more flexible since that whole Earth around the Sun thing got nailed down!