Physics and faith

One of the things people say about Christianity is that Christians
believe odd, impossible things. And well, they’re right. We do.

Virgin birth.

A being who is both God and human.

The existence of miracles.

The resurrection.

That’s just off the top of my head.

If we thought more about it, I’m sure we could add to this list. We Christians believe some odd, impossible things.

And that’s why I find quantum mechanics
so comforting. Yes, comforting. Because it is odd and full of
impossible things. Now, quantum mechanics  doesn’t prove any of what
Christians believe. What quantum physics does is show us the oddness of
the world. It is proof that rational, logical thought doesn’t completely
explain the universe.

Now some of you are thinking, “Wait a minute, quantum mechanics is
based on math which is rational and logical.” And you are right (At
least I think you are. The math required to understand quantum mechanics
is well beyond my abilities. I believe have to believe physicists when
they tell me that quantum mechanics is based and supported by math.)

What I am talking about is the sort of rational, logical processes
that allow us to think our way into a subject and understand it. You
can’t think your way into quantum mechanics. It is simply too much at
odds with the way the world that we know works.

I’m no physicist. but I find quantum physics fascinating.

Light can be both a wave and a particle.

A particle doesn’t exist in a particular location in space and time until it is observed.

We cannot know precisely both the location of a particle and its direction of motion at the same time.

The physical properties of a “thing” don’t exist until they are measured.

In the quantum world, milk can unspill and eggs unbreak.

And of course Schrodinger’s Cat.

That is just odd. Impossible. Not logical. Not rational. And yet it’s true.

To quote British scientist J.B.S.Haldane, “Now my own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.” #

None of this proves Christianity, but it does undercut the argument that science is rational and Christianity isn’t.

We don’t “think” our way into quantum mechanics and we don’t “think”
our way into faith. To be sure, we have to think and think hard about
both. But thinking alone won’t do the job. At some point we have to do
the work required to experience and understand both faith and physics.
To truly understand, either quantum mechanics or Christianity, we have
to enter into the practices, learn the disciplines of both.

The oddness of the universe makes the oddness of Christianity more
believable. Physics doesn’t prove Christianity. But what quantum
mechanics and Christianity both want to tell us is that the world isn’t
exactly as it seems. It’s much, much more peculiar and much, much more
wonderful than it seems.

# When Haldane lived the word “queer” meant odd or peculiar and was not a reference to one’s sexual orientation. Sometimes this quote is attributed to Arthur Eddington.

Here is a link to a video
of a conversation between Stephen Colbert (out of character) and Neil
DeGrasse Tyson. It’s a bit long, 84 minutes, but well worth your time.
It’s funny, smart and informative.

Originally posted at Conversation in Faith.