B"H
All of us have heard about the scientific experiment whose final goal is to cause another Big Bang. Countless physicians from all over the world had gathered in Geneva last Wednesday, in order to watch this experiment.
The test of sending protons into a 27 km long tunnel succeeded and the whole experiment didn't end as an apocalyptic disaster, as some critics had predicted. Our planet and the universe didn't disappear in a huge Black Hole. And why should that happen at all ?
Those of us believing in a G - d know that such a catastrophe just wouldn't happen. Did the Prophets mention it ? Furthermore, Meshiach hasn't come yet and also G - d never told the Jews about such an end of the world and mankind.
I know that there are different opinions in Kabbalah but let's just assume the normal case.
Last Wednesday night, I spoke to a young Rabbi in the Old City of Jerusalem and told him about the experiment in Geneva. The Rabbi admitted that he had no clue about CERN and he didn't care too much at all.
"You know, he said, those scientists only try to prove that there is no G - d".
"Why, I responded, couldn't it rather be that after all the experiments even scientists finally come to the conclusion that there is a G - d ?"
"Yes, replied the Rabbi, but by sending protons into a tunnel, science already showed its failure, as G - d created the universe from nothing".
The Rabbi is wrong as already the Ramban (Nachmanides) commented the following on Parashat Bereshit (Genesis):
"G - d created all things from absolute non - existence … Everything that exists under the sun or above was not made from non - existence at the outset. Instead He brought forth from total and absolute nothing a very thin substance devoid of corporeality but having a power of potency, fit to assume form and to proceed matter created by G - d".
Although G - d created the universe from absolute nothing, he didn't just snap His "fingers" and everything came into existence. Instead there was a tiny substance (the size of a grain) causing the whole creation process. A kind of chemical substance causing the Big Bang.
Judaism and science don't contradict each other but go hand in hand. The Rambam (Maimonides) already stated that humans should learn about scientific connections and the more they study, the more they learn about G - d perfect creation and start to appreciate it.
Leading Israeli rabbis have been extremely quiet so far. No comment was heard about the experiment in Geneva. This obviously also happened because today, most rabbis have no clue about scientific matters anymore, and are thus unable to make a proper statement. Unfortunately, the absolute majority of rabbis doesn't study any more science as the Rambam (Maimonides), the Ramban (Nachmanides), the Talmudic rabbis or the Vilna Gaon and many others had done. In our times it is only Torah, Torah, Torah, and not too many rabbis seems to understand that Torah is also science.
As I said before, in Judaism science doesn't exclude the Torah. On the contrary, due to science we learn to appreciate G - d's whole creation. However, should we really go that far and start colonies on the Moon and Mars ? Didn't G - d give us humans the planet Earth, as, according to science, there is no other planet in our galaxy which could provide us with our human needs. Humankind wouldn't be able to exist on any other planet in our galaxy.
The distance from the Earth to the Moon is 384.399 km and the Mars is a little closer. But both planets don't have too much oxygen and the Mars has a temperature of - 140 degrees Celsius. This temperature alone would make a normal life for us impossible. Furthermore, gravity is much lower than on Earth.
The Earth was perfectly created by G - d and it fits all human needs. Surrounded by different shields, hardly any meteorite can hit us but have a look at the Moon. The Moon and no further planet have such a special natural shield.
The first sentences in our Torah teach us about the creation of the world. Our task is to study the text in depths, as the Ramban and the Rambam did. And even the Chatam Sofer already commented that all science is included in the first sentences of the Torah.
Personally, I don't see anything negative in the events in Geneva. Why shouldn't we humans find out more about our creation and all causes ? Didn't G - d Himself provide us with wisdom and understanding ?
I only see a danger in case that scientists get too carried away and start growing their own little universe inside the tunnel. The main goal of the experiment is to cause another Big Bang. But what happens if humans suddenly become too arrogant and see themselves on the same level as G - d ? At that very moment, the experiment is doomed to fail. Moreover, creating a Black Hole inside the tunnel is not without any danger, as Black Holes are still pretty much unknown to us.
Links:
Back to the Source - The Age of the Universe, Part 1
Back to the Source - The Age of the Universe, Part 2
"Parallel Universe" in Judaism
The more that is learned about the Big Bang, quantum physics, evolution, the more I marvel at the order of the universe created by HaShem.
ReplyDeleteThere was a show a month or so ago on the Discovery Channel. It was about how the earth was formed. It seemed to follow along with Bereshet.
And even in the theory of evolution, one can see the order created. At what point in evolution did man eat from the Tree of Knowledge and learn to create as well? Was it when we learned speech? Some small genetic mutation caused us to have the ability to speak to one another. Another mutation gave us opposable thumbs. Still another let us walk upright. And another led us to use fire.
I don't think it was just chance that these mutations occurred.
Just like that vital split second during the Big Bang, there is something that creates order out of the void.
I haven't really thought about what it would mean if man lived on the moon. Seeing as how Hashem's Presence would be with us, I don't see any reason why we can't live on the Moon or Mars.
B"H
ReplyDeleteI recommend Gerald Schroeder's book "The Big Bang" to you. He is a physician and has been teaching at AISH HATORAH in Jerusalem for the past years.
He describes how G - d created the universe and gives proof that this is still possible despite all teh claims from scientists. Such as: everything happened by accident.
As a religious Jew, I don't believe in evolution but in the story with "Adam and Eve (Chava)".
Sounds stupid or primitive ?
Well, maybe but if you go deeper into the matter and study our Sages and Kabbalah, then you get a better understanding. There are different opinions on if Gan Eden (Paradies) was real and a material location or if it just meant a higher spiritual level; hence only metaphorical language.
The same with the Tree of Knowledge.
Did they eat ?
What did they eat ?
And what happened ?
I haven't translated it so far, but I will; in my German blog I am running a whole explanation on Adam HaRishon, as he was created on Rosh HaShana which is coming up soon.
I think when you read it (I will translate it within the next few days), you might get a better understanding of the metaphorical language in Bereshit.
Stephen Hawking very much supports the idea of living on other planets. Especially on the Mars.
Moving to Moon or Mars would be difficult because, as I said, life conditions are very different from ours; and how are you going to survive in the freezing cold and without enough oxygen ?
And look at the craters on the Moon's surface !
The Moon doesn't have our protection shield causing most meteorites to melt as soon as they enter our atmosphere.
A haredi woman once told me that it says in the Torah:
"G - d gave Heaven and Earth to humankind".
She said that G - d gave us this particular planet and He definitely must have had a reason for that.
And I do agree with this opinion.
Who says we have to spread through the universe ?