Something out of Nothing
"Something out of Nothing "This title was taken from a book " A universe from Nothing" I that read in 2017. It was written by Lawrence Krauss a physicist and atheist. One of the best arguments that God exists and God created the universe is the “intelligent design” argument and its famous illustration is the watchmaker analogy. Lawrence in his book argues against intelligent design, that it is possible for the universe to be created from absolutely nothing using the laws of quantum mechanics and string theory. His argument piqued my interest in the developments in physics. My last serious study of physics was doing my A level exams in 1988.
In this article I will summaries Lawrence argument which I find to be beautifully written and logical except for his conclusion that God was not necessary. Then I added my own thoughts with quotes from the bible. I have put a few you tube videos on quantum mechanics and string theory to bring clarity to these scientific theories.
It is best to start off with a basic understanding of Quantum physics and String theory
"Something out of Nothing "This title was taken from a book " A universe from Nothing" I that read in 2017. It was written by Lawrence Krauss a physicist and atheist. One of the best arguments that God exists and God created the universe is the “intelligent design” argument and its famous illustration is the watchmaker analogy. Lawrence in his book argues against intelligent design, that it is possible for the universe to be created from absolutely nothing using the laws of quantum mechanics and string theory. His argument piqued my interest in the developments in physics. My last serious study of physics was doing my A level exams in 1988.
In this article I will summaries Lawrence argument which I find to be beautifully written and logical except for his conclusion that God was not necessary. Then I added my own thoughts with quotes from the bible. I have put a few you tube videos on quantum mechanics and string theory to bring clarity to these scientific theories.
It is best to start off with a basic understanding of Quantum physics and String theory
| six_things_everyone_should_know_about_quantum_physics.docx |
| the_basic_elements_of_string_theory.pdf |
This is a summary of Krauss argument
1. Quantum mechanics & the sum of the universe is nothing
2.String theory and the power of infinite chances
3.Philosophy of Science
Quantum mechanics & the sum of the universe is nothing
*90% of the mass of galaxies is dark matter. Most of the energy in the universe is also calculated to exist in empty space and scientist have no idea why it is there. Its existence is probably tied to the very nature of space and time and origin of our universe.
*Our universe may be flat – which means it can expand forever. Our universe should be in perfect balance between energy and mass from the process of the big bang till today. The sum mass and energy of the universe is likely zero. Matter, dark matter, and anti matter balance each other ; and then energy, dark energy and negative energy balance each other too. So there is really nothing in total.
*.If the total mass and energy of the universe is zero., then the universe can come from nothing.
*.Yet nothing is not nothing. After removing all particles and energy, according to quantum mechanics, on extremely small scales, nothing is actually particles appearing out of nothing and disappearing for short periods of time. So quantum fluctuations can produce a universe.
*.If we get rid of everything we see, stars and galaxies. The universe is essentially the same. We just constitute a 1% of the universe which is 30 % dark matter, 70 % dark energy. This understanding tells us the we are essentially nothing and completely irrelevant
String theory and the power of infinite chances
* String theory – a theory of infinite possibilities and multiple universe which implies that anything could happen. But scientist really don’t know what that actually means
* If there are many different universe and the energy of empty space can vary in each one, then only those in which it is not much greater than what we measure will galaxies form, and only then will stars and planets form, and only then astronomers will form. So, the universe is the way it is because astronomers are here to measure it
*.In a 100 billion years, the expansion of the universe is will be so fast that it would have expanded beyond the speed of light, that astronomers will have never seen the other galaxies and thought they were alone in their own galaxy. We live in a very special time, the only time when we can observationally verify that we live at a very special time
*This sounds religious because people will say God fine tuned the universe for us But the argument that God fine tuned the universe is ridiculous because the landscape of nothingness is cosmic natural selection. Therefore the there is a slight chance in the laws of physics resulting in humans being around, may also be random.
Philosophy of Science
* Science answers “how” not “why”. How we come about, not why we come about. Eg How the sun came to be this distance from earth not why.
* Quantum theory, string theory and multiverse explains how a universe can begin out of nothing. It’s all by chance. Our universe is so well balanced because we are here to observe it. Because in another probable universe, we won't be around.
Krauss philosophy takes on Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy on nihilism
My argument against Krauss
1. Rules don’t apply in the beginning. God needs to show us how it all began.
2. Heavenly wisdom vs earthly wisdom
The natural laws of nature don’t apply in creation. Creation itself is an unnatural event. So God needs to show us how it all began. It is not unusual that in Genesis creation did not happen in a logical sequence. Light energy was created on the first day before the sun, moon and stars that was created on the 4th day. Birds were created on the 5th day , while land animals and lastly man was created on the 6th day. The universe and life was created over 6 days, fully formed. The chicken came before the egg, Adam was created a fully grown man. There was no big bang and with universe slowly evolving. In just one chapter, Genesis has answered several of these mysteries of our beginning if believed in faith.
The best argument for the existence of God is Intelligent Design. Intelligent Design is a religious argument. It is not a scientific argument because it lacks conventional scientific empirical evidence to prove God. Nevertheless it is a argument that appeals strongly to the rational mind and to faith at the same time. One of the strongest argument of Intelligent Design is that something could not have appeared out of nothing, so the universe must have been created by an eternal God that existed apart from the universe. God like to reason with us, Isaiah 1:18 says “ Come now, and let us reason together” (KJV) God also wants people to believe in faith Eph 3:12 “ In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence “. The bible says in Roman 1:19 -20 “ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” So in God’s opinion, the presence nature itself provides sufficient proof of His existence, without the need of scientific type of proof. The proof in nature is universal to all people and plain so it appeals to the natural way of people think. So Christians don’t have the really argue the existence of God because it is the opposite, that is to deny God that takes effort and a more creative way of reasoning. Scientific proof means testing of hypothesis and theories. Link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_evidence
Therefore God’s way of reasoning can be different from the way scientist reason. Reasoning needs intellect or wisdom. James describes 2 types of wisdom
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness
The bible frequently mocks those with earthly wisdom. Genesis 1 is wisdom from heaven, evolution is earthly wisdom. And God likes to use spiritual wisdom to mock to earthly wise, while the earthly wise will mock at the things spiritual.
1 Cor 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate"
2 Peter 3:3-6
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Isaiah 29:14
Therefore once more I will astound these people
with wonder upon wonder;
the wisdom of the wise will perish,
the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish
In fact in Isaiah 29:14, the words hold so true when many scientist themselves admit they have difficulty appreciating quantum mechanics and string theory – See the videos. Quantum mechanics has been proven via experiments and string theory proven mathematically because it cannot be proven via experiments yet.
The strangest feature of quantum mechanics is entanglement. Two particles can be placed in a state of entanglement when making an observation on one of them immediately affects the state of the other—even if they’re allowed to separated light years apart before measuring one of them.
String theory is also difficult to appreciate because it proves the existence up to the 11th dimension. Time is 1 dimension, 3 dimensions for our physical world and then 7 more dimensions where a 1 dimensional particle called string can move. The movement and resonance of these strings will then turn them into electron or quarks that form the protons and neutrons. We live in a 3 dimension world so it is difficult to appreciate higher dimensions.
In fact in the early 20th century such an idea would be laughed at in the scientific community.
Max Born (1882-1970) was a German physicist and mathematician who was instrumental in the development of quantum mechanics. He himself was baffled by his own theories and quotes
I am now convinced that theoretical physics is actually philosophy.
Intellect distinguishes between the possible and the impossible; reason distinguishes between the sensible and the senseless. Even the possible can be senseless.
In this age the idea that scientific inquiry is essentially incompatible with religious belief — has been gaining traction. In fact, according to a 2009 Pew Research Center survey, American scientists are about half as likely as the general public to believe in God or a higher, universal power. Still, the survey found that the percentage of scientists that believe in some form of a deity or power was high at 51 percent.
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2009 Pew Research on Religion and Science in the US
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The early famous scientist believed in God. Here are some quotes from them
Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)
“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason and intellect has intended us to forego their use and by some other means to give us knowledge which we can attain by them. He would not require us to deny sense and reason in physical matters which are set before our eyes and minds by direct experience or necessary demonstrations.”
Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
“God never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion. For while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no further; but when it beholdeth the chain of them, confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity.”
Isaac Newton 1642-1727
This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being....This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God "pantokrator, or Universal Ruler....
Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done.
Maria Mitchell (1818 - 1889)
“Scientific investigations, pushed on and on, will reveal new ways in which God works, and bring us deeper revelations of the wholly unknown.”
Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)
“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason and intellect has intended us to forego their use and by some other means to give us knowledge which we can attain by them. He would not require us to deny sense and reason in physical matters which are set before our eyes and minds by direct experience or necessary demonstrations.”
Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
“God never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion. For while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no further; but when it beholdeth the chain of them, confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity.”
Isaac Newton 1642-1727
This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being....This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God "pantokrator, or Universal Ruler....
Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done.
Maria Mitchell (1818 - 1889)
“Scientific investigations, pushed on and on, will reveal new ways in which God works, and bring us deeper revelations of the wholly unknown.”
Lawrence Krauss: A Universe from Nothing
Quantum Theory documentary
String theory documentary
This article was first published on 23 Jan 2017
by Benjamin Cheah
by Benjamin Cheah