Re: quantum physics and Buddhism

St. Thomas Aquinas would disagree with Sproul: "It would be contrary to the nature of providence and to the perfection of the world if nothing happened by chance" (Summa contra Gentiles III.74).

Bob Schneider
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  Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 4:35 PM
  Subject: Re: quantum physics and Buddhism

  Randy reported how determinism is an essential part of Buddhism (at least according to the Dalai Lama) and the resulting tension with quantum physics.

  Lest we think our own house is in order, we should remember that there are also Christians who present absolute determinism of cause and effect as essential. A fringe-ish example of that (they also dislike relativity and much other modern science) is found in a group called Common Sense Science (see www.commonsensescience.org, if you have a strong stomach).

  But such a view is also found in more respectable circles, such as R.C. Sproul in his book "Not a Chance!" that came out a few years ago. I have not read this book, but apparently he makes strong statements like "If chance is, God is not." I don't know whether Sproul is driven to this by a desire to retain the cosmological argument in apologetics, or by his strong Calvinism (which some would call Hypercalvinism), or what. But the role of chance in quantum physics seems to present a problem for some expressions of Christian theology as well.

  Allan
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  Dr. Allan H. Harvey, Boulder, Colorado | SteamDoc@aol.com
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Received on Sun Jun 19 21:01:01 2005