HAS SCIENCE FOUND GOD IN NON-LOCAL REALITY?

Dr . Lee E. Warren, B.A., D.D.
(c) September/October 1996 "PLIM REPORT"

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Introduction

Some may argue that science has not proven the actual existence of God. However, quantum mechanics (a discipline that explains the interaction of the various forces and energies that exist in an atom) has discovered another realm that is not physical or in the realm of space and time. Quantum mechanics emerged about 1925 led by the research of Albert Einstein (1879-1955) and Neil Bohr (1885-1962) who we will discuss later in this paper.

Houston Smith in his book The World’s Religions states that science has been very doubtful of the unseen realm, “but with Eddington’s [Sir Arthur Stanley Edding-ton was an English astrophysicist 1882-1944] observation that the world is more like a mind than a machine, and astrophysicists’ reports that 90 percent of the ‘matter’ in the universe is invisible in the sense that it impacts none of their instruments, scientific skepticism has begun to subside (p. 319).” Modern science may have found God whether they want to admit it or not.

Eastern mysticism does not divide spirit from matter as we do in the West. Swami Brahmanda said: “Show where matter ends and spirit begins. Only our own private delusion creates separate habitations for God And man (Vedanta, from the Introductory Chapter, ©1971 Harper & Row, Pub.)."

Quantum mechanics is the most precise area of science that man ever created to describe physical phenomenon. Its disadvantage is that it only operates for a large number of occurrences within subatomic particles; it cannot predict a single occurrence of an individual particle. Quantum mechanics provides an explanation for why the sun shines; why molecules bond themselves together; why the three states of matter—gas, liquid, solid—exist; why an iron bar magnetizes when it is placed near a magnet.

On the practical side, quantum mechanics is the particular area of science that gives us our modern comforts, such as electricity, the compute chip, microwaves, lasers, and television. Quantum mechanics also provides the technology for our recent weapons of terror and destruction, such as the A-bomb and the H-bomb. Keep in mind that the science of quantum mechanics is the theory that explains the power inside atoms.

What is the intent of this article?

This article will compare the invisible, non-local order of our reality identified by quantum mechanics (specifically proven by the Bell Theorem) and Spirit that is invisible, omnipresent, and all in all. We are most familiar with a reality consisting of local events within space and time and one that exists and operates in a chronological framework. Quantum mechanics proves that there is a non-local part of our existence just as real as thoughts, feelings, and ideas that cannot be measured on an instrument. The invisible DNA instructions that directs our cells prove the unseen presence of the Creator in which we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:22-28).

What has science done to religious views?

Theologians know that science has severely undermined the established concept of God taught in churches for the last 1500 years. As science has explained much natural phenomenon once thought divine, the image of God has transformed.

Most people no longer think of God as an old man with white hair and a long beard that jumps down from a cloud to answer prayers. This has no more relevancy to us than our ancient ancestors’ views of the cosmos and the world dominated by primitive magic, superstitions, and myths.

Most traditional religions emerged before the scientific era. (See the article in this issue on the time world religions emerged on p. 9 of the “Did U Know ...?” section) Even Israel was superstitious. When you study their views on the Ark of the Covenant, for example, Israel thought power was literally in that box (Acts 17:24).

Initially, science was a tool for man’s quest to understand God. Science was supposed to supply evidence of God’s existence that would eradicate man’s ignorance of his creator. Scientific knowledge in the late 19th and 20th century has radically altered man’s views of the universe and his place in it.

Did man’s view of the world change?

As the birth of the Messiah changed time from B.C. to A.D., the advent of quantum mechanics changed science’s old, materialistic way of viewing the world to a new, revolutionary perception (see illustration p. 16). During the scientific revolution, the philosophy of materialism was the dominate view. It is defined as follows: “a) the philosophic doctrine that matter is the only reality and that everything in the world, including thought, will, and feeling, can be explained only in terms of matter (opposed to idealism), according to Webster’s New World Dictionary.”

Materialism was hostile to any religious beliefs. According to a paper entitled Quantum Mechanics and Reality, Thomas J. McFarlane (© 1995) states: “With the advent of quantum physics… this materialist philosophy has become scientifically untenable. That is the evidence that science itself contradicts a purely materialistic account of the universe (p. 1).” This discovery caused science to alter its view of reality.

Did science’s view of quantum physics change?

Astrophysicist Sir Arthur Eddington refined the world view some more when he made a distinction between old and new physics. “The great difference between old and new physics is …: both the old and new physics were dealing with shadow-symbols, but the new physics was forced to be aware of that fact—forced to be aware that it was dealing with shadows and illusions, not reality (Quantum Questions, Ken Wilber, (New Science Library ©1985, p. 9).” This is reflected in the Old Covenant (symbols) that Moses established and testified to the Messiah (Jn. 5:39), but was not the spiritual reality (Heb. 9:10-17).

The Messiah caused Israel’s view of Yahweh to change from worshipping Him with physical sacrifices, rituals and feast days (under the Old Covenant) to worshipping Him in Spirit and Truth (under the New Covenant, Jn. 4:24; Col. 2:14-22; Heb. 10:1-12). The change in physics from the old to the new is the same as the worship of Yahweh changing from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.

What four forces define the universe?

Man from his very beginning realized that there are four fundamental elements in the universe. They are fire, water, air, and earth, which mankind thought defined all things in the physical, just as the four points of the compass (North, South, East, West) defined position and direction in the earth plane.

Modern science has discovered that there are also four forces in operation within the universe; gravity, electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces. According to Nick Herbert’s book Quantum Reality, scientists believed that these four forces cause and explain all things within the universe (p. 32). All of these forces have force fields that influence matter and whose strength decreases as distance increases. For example, magnets are able to attract iron screws by their magnetic fields if the iron is sufficiently close to the magnet.

Now the last three forces—electromagnetic, strong and weak forces—originate within the atom. Electromagnetic forces cause the following energies to exist. They are: “the complete range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves from the lowest to the highest, including, in order, radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma ray waves” (Webster New World Dictionary ©1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. ©1994, 1991, 1988 Simon & Schuster, Inc.). Strong forces hold the nucleus together. Protons within an atom are positively charged and they would repel one another if the strong forces did not hold them together. The weak force breaks the nucleus apart in certain kinds of radioactive decay. These forces have great spiritual significance and will be discussed in future issues of the “PLIM” magazine.

Before we explain the non-physical reality that science most recently discovered, there are some terms that we must define so that we can fully appreciate the results. We must understand two words: ‘locality’ and ‘non-locality.’

What is the definition of ‘local’ and ‘non-local’?

Our reality consists of local and non-local phenomenon. All things in space and time tend to be local. Nick Herbert in his book Quantum Reality (© 1985 Anchor Books) explains what he means by the word ‘local.’ “Body A affects body B locally when it either touches B or touches something else that touches B (p. 212).” This is the materialist philosophy. Not only science assumes this, but our everyday reality tends to support locality.

Yet there are things that we know exist and are real that are not local, for example a thought, love, insight, etc. Many of these things are on a psychological and spiritual level.

Mr. Herbert explains that: “… non-local is an unmediated action-at-a-distance.” A non-local interaction jumps from body A to body B without touching anything between A and B. Most people deny its existence because it does not seem to make sense.

What examples demonstrate non-local occurrences?

Examples of non-local interactions are intuition, synchronicity (simultaneous occurrences), and spontaneous healing. The first two examples of non-locality are Biblical, the last two are current.

• When the Messiah spoke some words, He healed a Gentile’s servant who was ill and not physically present before Him (Mt. 8:8-11). The Messiah’s disciples were awed because they could not physically observe the source of the miracles. He told them that it was the Father Yahweh in Him working and He was one with the Father (Jn. 14:8-12).

• Simultaneously, Yahweh told Moses’ brother Aaron to meet Moses while He was commanding Moses to be His spokesman and tell Pharaoh to release Israel from Egypt. When Moses protested that he was a stutterer, Yahweh told him that his brother Aaron could speak well and was on his way to meet him (Exo. 4:10-16).

• Another example of a non-local interaction would be praying to Elohim to heal someone. Although most people do not consider non-local communication to be a part of the everyday physical or local reality, it is.

• Finally, no one can say that consciousness is confined to just the brain, or is local. It has to have a non-local origin, for it is not bound to space and time, nor is it physical (See an explanation of intuition and reincarnation in the article entitled “Resurrection vs Reincarnation, Past Lives, P. 2” in the March/April 1994 issue of the “PLIM REPORT.”)

With these local and non-local terms defined, this article can proceed to discuss a scientific discovery called Bell’s Theorem, which proves the existence of non-locality.

What was Bell’s explanation of non-local reality?

In 1964, an Irishman named John Stewart Bell developed a mathematical proof that supported a nonphysical part of the universe. This theoretical physicist stated that any model explaining the universe entirely as local or as physical reality is incomplete for it does not include the non-local part. He also stated that there is an interconnectedness to everything in the universe. This proof was called the Bell Theorem and it was verified by many scientific experiments. Larry Dossey, M.D., points this out in his book Recovering the Soul (© 1989 Bantam Books). “Whatever model of reality we wind up with in physics … it must be nonlocal… No local model of reality can explain the type of world we live in …( p. 182).”

Simply put, the Bell theorem proves that there is another reality (non-local), which can be referred to as Spirit, beyond our current, physical (local) reality. Non-local reality interacts with our reality and is the source and cause of the physical existence or reality. The nonphysical part of the universe is the definitive proof that all science was seeking. Bell’s Theorem proves another realm exists that theology has talked about, but was unable to prove in a theoretical or empirical (experimental) sense.

What comments have been made about nonlocal reality?

Larry Dossey M.D., in his book Recovering the Soul states the following on non-local reality. “Until recently it would have been scientific heresy to propose that the world is inherently non-local, that an invisible connectivity unites all things no matter how disparate (p. 179 ).” Clearly, Dr. Dossey believes that everything in the physical universe is interconnected forming ‘one’ whole that cannot be understood fully by understanding its parts.

Victor Mansfield in his book Synchronicity, Science, and Soul-Making (Chicago; Open Court © 1995; p. 122) states the following about non-locality. “Nonlocality or nonseparability is asking us to revise completely our ideas about objects, to remove a pervasive projection we have upon nature. We can no longer consider objects as independently existing entities that can be localized in well-defined regions of spacetime. They are interconnected in ways not even conceivable using the ideas from classical physics, ….” Both Menas Kafatos and Thalia Kafatou in their book Looking In Seeing out: Consciousness and Cosmos (Wheaton: Quest © 1991) stated: “Nature has shown us that our concept of reality, consisting of units that can be considered as separated from each other, is fundamentally wrong. For this reason, Bell’s Theorem may be the most profound discovery of science (p. 64-64).”

Does the unity of the creation reflect the creator?

Quantum theory explains the forces in the atoms and the holistic view of the universe. The holistic view shows that something nonphysical and non-local interconnects this universe (as a united whole) on all levels--from subatomic particles to the outer most galaxies.

Now this scientific knowledge verifies the characteristics and nature of Spirit. The natural universe is a reflection of the nonmaterial parent source —“as is above so is below’ (Rom. 1:19-20). It proves that Yahweh Elohim (Lord God) is ‘One,’ meaning a unity, not three divided personalities as in the Trinity. (See the article on the Unity of the Spirit, p. 16, in the “The Philosophical Measuring Rod” section of the Complimentary Issue of the “PLIM REPORT”.) Moses wrote: “Hear, O Israel: Yahweh (The LORD) our Elohim (God) is one Yahweh (Deu. 6:4):” The universe has to be a unity or whole, for the creator is.

The Master verifies the wholeness and interconnectedness of the creator and His creatures in His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; …(Jn 17:21-23).” Bell’s Theorem simply verifies the Bible and its divine authenticity to a limited extent, although a complete understanding of it is still unfolding. In short, the occurrences in the scriptures concerning Yahweh are non-local or not bound to space and time.

Is the Messiah’s spiritual body one?

Paul states that the body of the Messiah is unified and whole. Paul explains that man cannot understand Yahweh’s full spiritual powers latent in him except he understands them in terms of the spiritual body of the Messiah. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim (God), unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Messiah (Christ, Eph. 4:13).” In short, Paul says that the powers of Spirit are so vast that no one person can act out all the aspects of Spirit. As in the physical body, no one system encompasses the totality of the whole. All the truthseekers form a body or congregation or assembly through which these powers are manifested (Heb. 12:22-23). Israel (i.e., having power with Elohim) under the Law was an example.

It should be noted that some physicists have used eastern mysticism found in Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, and monism, as a paradigm to explain this holistic view of the universe. The book Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra examines this topic in detail. In future articles we will examine some of the problems that arise in using eastern mysticism without following a divine pattern.

Do all scientists believe that science has proven God’s existence?

Now there are a group of scientists who think quantum mechanics and the nonlocal assumption reveal absolutely nothing about the creator and the universe as a whole. Menas Kafatos and Robert Nadeau in their book The Conscious Universe state: “Although the modern physics definitely implies that the universe is holistic, this physics can say nothing about the actual character on the whole itself (p. 124). Their reason or rationale is that “…orthodox quantum theory ... disallows any ontology (p. 124).” According to Quantum Questions by Ken Wilber, p. 39, quantum mechanics does not claim to be able to explain the ultimate reality (Spirit), substance, or Yahweh’s characteristics and nature.

In the science community it was widely held that there was an unreconcilable conflict between knowledge and belief. In short, science believes that scientific truths cannot be reconciled with religious interpretations of the world.

How does the Bell Theorem prove non-local reality?

Now John S. Bell’s intention was to reconcile two schools of thought about quantum mechanics headed by two of the founders of atomic physics—Albert Einstein and Neils Bohr—whose views opposed one another. Each had their interpretation to explain the bizarre, weird behavior of atomic particles.

Neils Bohr, a Danish physicist, founded the Copenhagen interpretation of the quantum theory. He believed that the quantum theory could only describe the interactions of the various subatomic particles by probability or statistical predictions and that this method was complete for it explained all things concerning the phenomena.

The book Dancing Wu Li Masters (© 1979 Quill William Morrow) by Gary Zukav states the purpose of quantum mechanics. “The advantage of following the procedure of quantum mechanics is that it allows us to predict the probabilities of certain results provided our experiment is performed a certain way. The purpose of quantum mechanics is not to predict what actually happens but only to predict the probabilities of various possible results (p. 91).” For example, insurance companies use probability statistics to determine the price of a policy. Probability statistics can predict approximately how many people will die within a certain age group in a certain year, but not who individually will die.

Mr. Bohr pointed out that the indefiniteness of the quantum theory was due to the inherit nature of atoms at the atomic level.

Albert Einstein, who also contributed to quantum theory, criticized the statistical or probabilities’ predictions of quantum mechanics and considered them incomplete. Predictions could only be made when large numbers of subatomic occurrences were studied. Quantum mechanics could not measure one single event just like the insurance companies cannot tell you when one individual will die, but only the number of people likely to die within their age group. Nick Herbert’s book Quantum Reality states that Einstein believed: “Because the quantum theory makes only statistical predictions, it cannot help but leave out certain “elements of reality” which a more adequate theory of the world must include (p. 201).”

Einstein and two of his colleagues, Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen, created a problem around 1950 called the EPR paradox named for the first letter in each of their last names, to show the inconstancy in the quantum theory. The Ghost in the Atom edited P. C.W. Davies & J. R. Brown (© 1986 Cambridge University Press) confirmed this experiment. “The purpose of this thought experiment was to expose the profound peculiarities of the quantum description of a physical system extended over a large space (p. 13).”

What is the EPR paradox?

There is neither space in this article nor our intention to fully explain EPR and all the laws of quantum mechanics involved. This article wants to keep its terms simple, for all the readers that do not have a scientific background to understand EPR.

The EPR experiment was based on two equal or twin particles. These tiny particles, called A and B, composed a system traveling in opposite directions from each other (See dia. p. 19). Einstein and his colleagues knew they could measure some aspects of the first particle A, such as its position and momentum. From this measurement, they could predict the outcomes of the second particle B traveling in the opposite direction, while not going near the second particle.

What happened here is now very strange. Instead of disproving Neil Bohr’s school of thought that said that any measurement on A also effects B or vice versa, the EPR experiment proved it. Whatever particle was not measured reacted to the changes on the other particle. If the measured particle A began to spin in the opposite direction, instantaneously particle B also began to spin in the direction of particle A.

Since there was no force or energy transferred between the two particles, there seemed to be some form of information transferred from one particle to another. Einstein did not know how to explain this phenomenon and objected to the ‘ghostly action at a distance (The Ghost in the Atom edited P. C.W. Davies & J. R. Brown, p. 15).’ He wanted objective measurement and facts.

Simply put, imagine a light bulb that emits two particles of light that move in opposite directions away from each other . Note that even if these particles were at different ends of the universe, if particle A changed certain aspects of its momentum, speed, or course, then particle B would instantaneously change to match the movement, speed, and course of particle A.

To resolve this problem the Bell theorem proves that there was instant communication between these two particles. This means a message would have to travel faster than the speed of light that is 186,000 miles /sec. between them. According to the Einstein special theory of relativity this was impossible. Bell showed there is non-local communication between these two particles. This communication is nonphysical and currently science has no explanation for it.

Do non-local properties equate to Spirit?

Although science will not equate non-locality with the spiritual realm, the properties of this non-local reality tend to mimic the properties often associated with Spirit or used in defining Yahweh. Science’s mistake, or shall we say man’s mistake, is trying to define God (Elohim) in physical terms. The Messiah said: “Elohim (God) is SPIRIT… (Jn. 4:24).” Clearly, the Messiah is referring to another reality. This means that space, time, and matter cannot be used to define or explain God except in analogies.

The universe is a reflection of the source. The Master said: “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things (Jn. 3:12)?”

Now according to Nick Hilbert’s book Quantum Reality, non-locality consists of the following properties:

• Non-local influences are not mediated by magnetic or gravity fields or any other field. Nothing can shield this interaction.

• Non-local influences occur instantaneously. They are not limited by the speed of light, which is the fastest known speed in the physical.

• Non-local communication does not diminish with distance between objection.

Mr. Hilbert says: “A non-local interaction links up one location with another without crossing space, without decay, without delay. A non-local interaction is, in short unmediated, unmitigated and immediate (Quantum Reality, p. 214).”

Now Yahweh Elohim or Pure Spirit is defined as being omnipresence (ever present) and extremely powerful. There is no place where Spirit does not reside since everything was created from this substance.

Houston Smith writes that science has proven that “the energy inherent in one cubic centimeter of empty space is greater than the energy of all the matter in the known universe (The World’s Religion, p. 320).” It must not be forgotten that physical matter is Spirit materialized. Paul said we all live, move and have our being within Spirit (Acts 17:24). There is no mediator between our Heavenly Father and our consciousness (1 Tim. 2:5). Spirit is instantaneous, for Paul said it was quick (Heb. 4:12). Whether science wants to admit that the non-local phenomenon is in reality spirit operating does not matter. For those that have eyes to see, it is further evidence to show the existence of Spirit.

Conclusion

Skeptics, agnostics, scoffers, and unbelievers have for thousand of years said that they did not believe in the existence of God (Elohim) nor a nonmaterial realm. This is especially true since the birth of the scientific revolution. They continue to cry that concrete proof or evidence does not exist that proves the actuality of a Creator or nonmaterial realm founded by modern science. Yahweh Elohim, being a Just Creator, has removed all human excuses.

So the God of modern man ‘science’ has produced not only definitive theoretical proof of the existence of a nonmaterial realm, but has confirmed it through scientific experimentation. Now the “nay sayers” are devastated at this proof because it requires them to make a change in their thinking or as the great Master said “repent of their errors.” Their old views can no longer explain the universe, for they leave out the most important, nonmaterial realm. In short, one cannot have a Creation without a Creator or the material creation without a nonmaterial part that is holistic and interconnected.

Likewise, in our personal, psychological lives, we must realize that we cannot leave out Elohim. We must become aware that we are interconnected with the Holy Spirit. In short, Elohim is always omnipresent or ever present in creatures. He is never absent or separate from His creation. The Apostle Paul said one of the great mysteries among the Gentile nations is the Messiah (Christ) within us our only hope of glory (Col. 1:26).