In the nineteenth century, many scientists had no use for G‑d. Instead, they worshipped a tight chain of cause and effect that left no room for miracles, providence or prophecy.
But then the scientist looked into the atom, and the wonder of the universe opened before him. The iron chain of cause and effect was loosened, and Determinism deposed from its throne.
Today, once again there is room for G‑d in the minds of human beings.
well. i am informed about an old subject...the esau-jacov truth. HaShem gives me to understand the developement undergone by both parties thru our past...Israel and the other dominant advance loosely termed 'the west'...
the truth comes down to full responsibility and full respect, each to be earned and each to be delivered, not to the penny, but to a growth in love and G-dness (which means everything).
you are right about the changes in communicative powers at the present time....but He is and always has been Actually there,....thanks be to Him.
Reply
Gd created time And Gd created the laws of physics. Reply
So why did the Rebbe say we have to teach Judaism to the masses and stir up the desire for Moshiach? We could just wait until Hashem decides to bring Moshiach and do nothing. It would have been a lot simpler. Reply
All and all, I am not a very smart physicist, but I cannot help wondering, Who created all these mathematical calculations that allow the brilliant minds to discuss? What lies beyond all those beautiful principles? Reply
Chain of cause and effect
Science did no loosen the chain of cause and effect, it was strengthened even more. The atom, as you mention, works on a very strict set of predetermined events otherwise it would fall apart.
Maimonides wrote that what happens today is based on the chain of events preceding it.Maimonides also argued that if science proved a point, then the finding should be accepted and scripture should be interpreted accordingly.
Lastly, as to Helio's comment, yes science/physics is already figuring out what happened before the big bang as we call it.
Lastly...the "nothing" that the universe popped out of wasn't really nothing. It had to know about quantum mechanics, and we've always been taught to think that the physics is a property of the universe. It's interesting to think that the physics existed before the universe did, or, for that matter, before time did. The conclusion is that there really was no creation of something from nothing.
Reply
Let's Lay To Rest This Old Argument People get in debates all the time over freewill and predetermined ways, as if because one exists, the other can't. I hope to lay to rest that argument. I realize what is predetermined can't be given freewill, and the converse. However, the world could be 50% freewill and the the other 50% could be predetermined, a consequence of freewill. Sometimes freewill actions could be a part of reaction to predetermined events. Ultimately, I believe ratios have to exist that describe what percentage of freewill or how much predetermined an event is. For example, we could have 70% freewill, 30% predetermined, or 30% freewill and the remainder 70% predetermined, and so on. Reply
Science and G-d
While at Boise State University as an Anthropology major, I was having a real problem with the idea that we are part of the Primate family. When I voiced my challenge that we are created in the image of G-d, one of my professors, told me that if you really want to find G-d, look into the DNA, RNA, and the Atom. G-d is there. Scientists of the past just did not have the information that we have now. And the probability that all of the species on this planet started out as a fish crawling out of the sea is impossible. When you look at DNA, RNA, and the Atom, then look at all of the species of every living thing and the Universe as a whole then that should prove to you that this was all created. He was a wise man.
Something else, My Grandmother always used to tell me that G-d is in the small things. And since everyone knows that Grandmothers do not lie, I have to conclude that G-d and science in fact are intertwined and one.
Reply
Science and G-d and Determinism
So you mean Rabbi Tzvi Freeman that Probability and Statistics
are in their essence some kind of part of G-d labor?
Because the opposite of Deterministic thinking is Probabilistic or statistic thinking. For example you have deterministic mathematics and non deterministic mathematics (that includes probabilistic mathematics and the concept of aleatory issue ).
Don't want to extend so much in this by the moment. (I am studying about this)
Can you extend some of this about what you have written in the brief article Science and G-d. Thank you Rabbi Freeman. Shalom from South America.
Reply
Science is an expression of worship of G-d
True. True. What is science but a method of inquiry and validation to know more?
Just like poetry, science opens a universe that leads us to G-d.
Science attempts to ask. Religion attempts to answer. Lately the two have begun to honeymoon in our heads and become one conceiving more questions and deeper answers.
Reply
Helio
What used to be said was that if we had all the information, we could predict everything. But could we? It would seem from Chaos theory that we can never have enough information. We would need infinitely many decimal points. The smallest roundoff error produces huge deviations in the final result. Hence, the butterfly effect.
Sorry, I don't see a way to include the accent aigue of your name.
But I do see that you have said it all.
But did you mean previsions or provisions? And if previsions, what does that mean?
Thanks.
Reply
Science and G-d
With all due respect for the Rebe's position, I think one couldn't use the statistical nature of Quantum Mechanics for inferring that, since its advent, Science has left space for G-d. Physical Science works on logical grounds, whether deterministic or not, and previsions can made from this theories, and although its principle is in its nature, statistical, that doesn’t impede their predictions to be highly accurate. G-d doesn’t play dice with atoms, but elementary particles indeed obey remarkably well the Laws of Quantum Mechanics – that were made by G-d, in last instance.
The objection that should made, in fact, against the idolatry of Science that permeates our occidental culture is that one shouldn’t expect it to explain all that there is in life and in the Universe. For instance, will Science one day figure out what happened before the Big Bang? Will science explain us who we are? Where we are going to?
Reply
The Science Of G_d G_d's Law is the Love Law. "Love Your Friend as Yourself".
This implies the Law Of Connection between us.
This law is one that balances the two forces
- G_d's positive force of Love in the correct connection with our negative force of separation
All matter in nature complies with this bond of negative and positive forces.
Only when we desire to "make room in the minds of humans beings" for G_d's positive energy of Love then we balance the negative force that separates us.
That is the Science of G_d!