Re: [asa] Loop quantum gravity

I didn't say (a) that a math model would contain God or (b) that it would describe the universe fully. If a theory like loop quantum gravity could provide a satisfactory non-singular big bang model then it would show how the God revealed in the cross-resurrection event could have hidden his activity in the origination of the world just as his activity is generally hidden in what goes on in the world today. But then read my concluding paragraph below. Such a theory would indeed not explain why the basic entities & laws assumed by the theory exist.

Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Alexanian, Moorad
  To: George Murphy ; David Opderbeck ; asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 9:25 AM
  Subject: RE: [asa] Loop quantum gravity

  George, I do not really see how a mathematical model of the universe can contain God nor make implications about Him. The model, no matter how good its predictions, does not really describe the universe fully nor how it came into neither existence nor what sustains it. These latter metaphysical questions are the ones that deal with a Creator God.

  Moorad

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  From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of George Murphy
  Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 8:45 AM
  To: David Opderbeck; asa@calvin.edu
  Subject: Re: [asa] Loop quantum gravity

  Loop theory, as well as other approaches to quantum grabity, are discussed in Lee Smolin, Three Roads to Quantum Gravity (Basic, 2001). My review of it is in the March 2003 issue of PSCF.

  One major problem of classical general relativity is that its big bang cosmological models are incomplete. (This is often described by saying that the theory breaks down "at t = 0" but that is inaccurate. The problem is that there is no "t = 0" - space-time is incomplete.) There is a possibility that a correct quantum theory of gravitation will eliminate this problem and make it possible to understand the big bang as having a beginning that can be described by scientific laws. The extent to which this is the case will help to indicate how deeply God is hidden in the process.

  That of course assumes that the God we're talking about is the God revealed in Christ whose actions are characterized by kenosis. If one is just interested in a general theism then it can be pointed out that even a correct theory of quantum gravity will leave unexplained why the entities which the theory assumes (loops or whatever) exist & have the properties they do. Any scientific attenpt to explain why something rather than nothing exists is futile, for science has to assume something. But this does not mean, OTOH, that we have a proof of the existence of some deity.

  Shalom
  George
  http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/

    ----- Original Message -----

    From: David Opderbeck

    To: asa@calvin.edu

    Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 9:56 PM

    Subject: [asa] Loop quantum gravity

    Is anyone familiar with this theory? What implications does it have for theism?

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Received on Thu Nov 9 11:02:05 2006