God’s Eternal Purpose – Our Theory of Everything
I recently read the book A Brief History of Time by Dr. Stephen Hawking. This book is a good read from a brilliant scientist’s perspective about the origin and fate of the universe. He introduces the concept of a Unified Theory others have since called this the Theory of Everything (TOE).
This book is written from the historical perspective and progress of the institution of science. Hawking laments toward the end of the book that the philosophers have not kept up with the advancements of science. I would suggest that science (especially academia) has not kept up well with scripture and sometimes with reality.
I find this book fascinating, there is much I’d like to highlight and share my thoughts on, far too much for one post.
Brilliant Questions
What I would like to do instead is draw attention to the several questions that Hawking asks in the final chapter.
And suggest answers to these questions which are out there but have been abandoned by the world of academia for reasons I wont comment on. Answers which I think have been deemed unacceptable to the academics of the world. The philosophers not keeping up with knowledge revealed by science does not justify rejection of things revealed by philosophy and religion.
Hawking writes that miracles and science are incompatible and I agree based on the nature of the scientific method. Science is limited in its ability to reveal knowledge to the human senses. But this does not mean that miracles are incompatible with reality.
No reasonable person can conclude that knowledge cannot be revealed to scientists and non-scientists alike. In fact the vast majority of knowledge is revealed from one human to another, not through the scientific method. We reveal knowledge to one another in the vast majority of cases.
Even in science courses the vast majority of information sharing is one teacher revealing. Professors revealing (we blindly trust) what the scientific method has uncovered rarely questioning it or looking for bad assumptions.
What I like about Hawking is that despite claiming to be an atheist he is intellectually honest enough to ask difficult questions.
Brilliant Answers
Six brilliant questions that Hawking asks and I attempt to answer.
- How much choice did God have in constructing the universe? (Einstein)
“In the beginning God said let there be light”(Gen 1:1), …”then he said let us make man in our image”(Gen ). The creation of light implies a universe in which light can dwell. This implies there was a counseling together, and a decision was made to create. This decision likely arouse from something which wasn’t revealed until Paul came along and recorded in the book of Ephesians. Discussed in question 3 below. So yes I would conclude that God did have a choice in constructing the universe.
- What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe? (I love this)
Proverbs 8 teaches that wisdom and knowledge created first then used as a tool of the Lord himself to create. He presumably had infinite time to do this act of creating. Proverbs chapter 8 describes Lady Wisdom (aka the laws of the universe) enabling and witnessing this creative act.
- Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?
Paul discusses ‘the divine mystery’, the one hidden for ages, from the philosophers and priests of the world. This divine mystery was essentially this exact question, why did God create? What is the point of all this? What is it that God wants out of humanity and creation?
Paul’s answers this and calls it the divine mystery, some have attempted to define this divine mystery. T. Austin Sparks and Watchman Nee cover this wonderfully in many of his teachings available online. Frank Viola covers this as thoroughly as I’ve seen in his great book From Eternity to Here.
- Is the unified theory so compelling that it brings about its own existence?
Based on what we learned in answering question 1, I’d say ‘no ‘and that God brought it about for a specific purpose.
- Or does the unified theory need a creator, and, if so, does He have any effect on the universe other than being responsible for its existence? And who created Him?
Yes the unified theory of the physical universe needs a creator since there is a creation. And he has a tremendous and continuous effect on the universe to the point that the universe is currently held together by him (see Colossians 1). Some would even conclude that the universe can be said to be inside of him.
This question I cannot answer but can only respond with other questions, why assume he was created? if he is outside of time does he need to have a creator?
Jesus Himself is the Complete Explanation of Reality
Jesus Christ and the Eternal Purpose mentioned in Ephesians, is the most complete and consistent theory explaining reality.
The trouble with this is Jesus himself has become surrounded and largely hidden by unattractive religious tradition. Tradition which deflected understanding of him and the mystery of the universe (ironic) for centuries.
The exact theory that explains the origin, nature and future of the universe. It is a profound yet simple theory accessible to the brightest and the most simple minded among us.
Scripture itself is still available and it keeps up with scientific knowledge. It is our stubborn traditions (both religious and academic) which refuse to keep up.
“If we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all be able to take part in the discussion of why the universe exists. If we find the answer to that it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason. For then we would know the mind of God.” pp. 166-167
Yes Dr. Hawking we all shall be able to take part in this discussion. Let us all discuss and come to know Jesus Christ. Both the Theory of Everything and the mind of God.
Addendum: The TOE Must Also Explain Suffering
One addition that I will place on the Theory of Everything is that it must explain and predict the reason for and purpose of human suffering. I add this because of the natural question that acceptance of Jesus Christ always drives toward.
Why is there so much human suffering and injustice in the human experience?
Suffering is answered and predicted by the law of travail introduced to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. It was a response to their casual departure from God. Travail brings about a seriousness in us to value God and to not throw him away.
All of creation is currently experiencing this travail until Christ is reformed on the earth through his people. All suffering is his suffering as he births a new creation out from among the old.
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