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Quantum Physics and Theology Seem to Use Similar Methodologies, Because

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Quantum Physics and Theology Seem to Use Similar Methodologies, Because Fr. Dr. G. Lemaître and Rev. Dr. J. Polkinghorne: Their lives at the intersection between physics and theology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C79ewVSykOE Outline Life and scientific contributions of Fr Dr Georges Lemaître: Catholic priest who were a prominent cosmologist in the golden era of physics (beginning of 20th century) and fathered the Big Bang Theory Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Theoretical physicist who played pivotal rule in discovery of quarks and who then became an Anglican priest and a physics and theology scholar Fr Dr Georges Lemaître http://www.ibtimes. co.uk/big-bang- theory-challenged- bulk-universe-four- 507096 Fr Dr George Lemaitre: His Life 17 July 1894 (Charleroi, Belgium) 20 June 1966 (Leuven, Belgium) Fr Dr George Lemaître: Who was he? Cosmologist Catholic Priest Algebraist Computer Programmer Pioneer Visionary Thinker of Conviction Fr Dr George Lemaître: What did he do? Lemaître developed the first mathematical ideas behind the so- called “Big Bang Theory”. He predated the work of Hubble and others to develop the foundational ideas in modern cosmology. Early work was rediscovered as it was first published in Belgium. Fr Dr George Lemaître: Why is he famous? Lemaître was a contemporary of Einstein during the first “Golden Age” of Relativity. His work on the idea of an expanding universe in 1927 and derived Hubbles laws – 2 years ahead of Hubbles experimental verification: 푣 = 퐻0 푑 Fr Dr George Lemaître: Why is he famous? In 1931, in an article in the journal Nature, Lemaître proposed a theory where the world began from a “single quantum”. This idea of a primordial atom or cosmic egg was radical at the time The consensus “steady state” theory was eventually overturned Fr Dr George Lemaître: Why is he famous? The first experimental verification of cosmologists ideas came with Hubble in 1929 Later in 1965, the first measurement of the CMB provided another hail in the coffin for the steady state theory Lemaître learned of these shortly before his passing in 1966 Fr Dr George Lemaître: How did he marry physics and faith Lemaître was a conviction scientist – he stuck to belief in his theory, even in the face of Einstein’s opposition to this ideas “Your calculations are correct, but your physics is atrocious” Fr Dr George Lemaître: How did he marry physics and faith Lemaître was of the opinion that science and faith are NOT in conflict, they bring different aspects to the human experience His work certainly appeals to the idea of the “first mover” – exactly what banged? Fr Dr George Lemaître: How did he marry physics and faith The “singularity” at the start of the universe is essential to its later evolution But it is also a statement that it is beyond the comprehension of the theories that follow it – the laws of physics breakdown at this point Lemaître knew this also! Fr Dr George Lemaître: Additional Material BBC Stories in Sound – Father of the Big Bang Discussion time Rev Dr John Polkinghorne https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fil e:Quark_structure_proton.svg Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Who is he? 16 October 1930 (Weston- Super-Mare, UK) 1952 BSc Mathematics 1955 MSc Mathematics 1956 PhD Physics 1974 Fellow of the Royal Society 1982 Ordained priest Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Physics 1956 - 1979 Theories about elementary particles Role in discovery of the quark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMgi2j9Ks9k Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Physics 1956 - 1979 Theories about elementary particles Role in discovery of the quark Analytic and high-energy properties of Feynman integrals S-Matrix theory https://en.w ikipedia.org/ wiki/S- matrix_theo ry#/media/F ile:Calabi_ya u_formatted .svg Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: From physics to theology 1979 End of the physics era and begin of the theology era His best mathematical work was probably behind him Ordination offered an attractive second career Theology studies at Westcott House, Cambridge Ordained as an Anglican priest in 1982 Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Anglican priest 1982: Assigned to a parish in South Bristol 1984: Vicar of a parish in Blean 1986: Fellow, dean, and chaplain of Trinity Hall, Cambridge 1989 – 1996: President of Queens’ College, Cambridge 1994 – 2005: Canon theologian of Liverpool Cathedral Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Science and Theology 1983 - He has written about 30 books on the relationship between physics and mathematics and theology Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Science and Theology 1986 - : One of the founders of the Society of Ordained Scientists: Preaching order of the Anglican Communion 1997: Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for distinguished service to science, religion, learning, and medical ethics 2002: Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries About Spiritual Realities 2002 – 04: Founding president of the International Society for Science and Religion Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Binocular vision Moving from pure science to the marriage between science and theology gave him a BINOCULAR VISION Critical realism: science and religion address aspects of the same reality Continuously seeking Truth Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: 5 common points in seeking Truth Science and theology pursue Truth by 1) moments of enforced radical revision 2) period of unresolved confusion 3) new understanding 4) continuous struggle with unresolved problems 5) deeper implications Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Can a physicist pray? To some scientists there are intellectual obstacles to faith Can a scientist pray? Yes, he can because we have powers of choice It is perfectly consistent, logically coherent that God can act within the openness of that physical world as well. And I think that in such a world, a scientist can pray (extract from JP’s interview for Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, May 1998) Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Dual aspect of monism Mind, Soul, and Body Different aspects of the same reality World made of only ONE substance Material phase 2 states Mental phase Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Existence of God The question of the existence of God is the single most important question we face about the nature of reality (extract from “The faith of a physicist”) God is the ultimate answer to Leibniz's question why is there something rather than nothing? Theism makes more sense of the world, and of human experience, than does atheism (extract from “Science and Theology”) Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Existence of God and reason JP’s religious and scientific believes are based on REASON Acceptance of the existence of God can enable the scientist to fully and truly understand reality Theology as a great integrating discipline It takes science’s insights and understandings, it takes the insights of morality, takes the insights of aesthetics, the study of beauty (extract from JP’s interview for Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, May 1998) Rev Dr John Polkinghorne: Man and the Universe The more I examine the universe and the details of its architecture, the more evidence I find that the universe in some sense must have known we were coming (Freeman Dyson quotation extract from “Science and Theology”) Wide consensus amongst physicists that There is just one universe which is the way it is in its anthropic fruitfulness because it is the expression of the purposive design of a Creator, who has endowed it with the finely tuned potentiality for life (extract from “Science and Theology”) Quantum Physics – Theology: Christianity Quantum physics and theology seem to use similar methodologies, because: 1) There is an underlying level of reality that can only be referenced indirectly 2) Free will: What if God acts through the indeterminacy of quantum physics? 3) Quantum physics and theology try to understand a level of reality not directly accessible to our senses Quantum Physics – Theology: The way forward “Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship”, John Polkinghorne Physics Christian theology Experimental data Jesus’ life (data) explained by explained by theory theology (theory) Why did first disciples think How to prove that protons and that through the Risen Christ neutrons are made of quarks? they had been given a power to transform radically their lives? Quantum Physics – Theology: The way forward “Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship”, John Polkinghorne Physics Christian theology Superconductivity was first Miracles are also inexplicable seen as inexplicable Discovery of quarks changed Resurrection of Christ physics changes western faith Discussion time .
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