physics + theology = a beautiful collision

Physics is amazing. In 1964, John Bell posited that "a change in the spin of one particle in a two-particle system will affect its twin simultaneously, even if the two have been widely separated." In 1972, Bell's theory was proved correct. Thus, two particles that have been paired can be sent to complete opposite ends of the universe at the speed of light, if the spin of one is changed, then the other particle's spin simultaneously changes (Walter Wink, "The New Worldview"). This experiment and theory, on the surface, seems to suggest that somehow the particles interact with one another through a means of communication that travels faster than the speed of light. However, physicists have determined that this cannot be the case because this conclusion would prove Einstein's theories of relativity wrong (Ibid).

What they concluded and discovered blows me away: there is no distance between the particles. Wink writes, "There is no separation but rather mutual interaction through a field. Everything is already related. This means that the universe is a single, multiform energy-event characterized by nonlocality [,the name for the theory discovered above]....Each individual particle of the system exists simultaneously in every part of the system; hence, no particle can be explained except in reference to the entire cosmos. Everything is related" (Ibid).

Perhaps I Heart Huckabees got it right, maybe everything is the blanket. How crazy is it that all the particles in the universe are related in this way? This gives all new implications for our creation in the image of God and the kingdom of God on earth. These are things that are built into the very fabric of our being. The Gospel of Luke even records Jesus saying that "the kingdom of God is within you all" (Luke 17:21). Absolutely crazy.

This is also an example of a holistic way of looking at our faith. Instead of seeing the discoveries of science as hindrances to the Christian faith, we can see them as further revelations from God. This is probably heresy, but it got me really excited. So, if I am going to hell now, I hope to see you there. Ha! peace

Comments

Mrs. Carn-Dog said…
Good Lord...I guess freakin' Fuller is really into the liberal arts approach.

Miss havin' you around.

Keep kickin ass.
harris said…
miss you too carndawg. there are too many people around here who believe in the future. haha. who are they trying to fool, right? things are good...really good. matt, no i haven't read atonement. what is it about?
greenISgood said…
Gosh! If you're going to hell, H-B, then I'll be getting me a first class ticket there. I would add, perhaps discoveries of science as further "revelations" of God are rather "part of" GodSelf merely revealed in nature which may break the impasse we tend to get to in the argument about religion vis-a-vis science....Just a thought....
harris said…
great thought, dugan. i think you are right on with that statement. it is nice a cold in pasdena this evening...awesome. peace
JenniferKent said…
Listen, dude. You are one of those people that I was looking forward to meeting when I got to seminary...this blog proves it. Check out Geoffrey West, he's a cool guy.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187290,00.html

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