Particles and More

I have written a few books, so I have some idea of how much time and work goes into the process of producing one.  I know a few authors who seemingly crank out new books with speed, but most of us must labor and labor some more.  And once the book is out, it is not unusual to have some others read the book and then write a review.  Reviews can be a mixed bag.  Some are too gushy and say little more than the book is good or great or something like that.  On the other hand, some reviewers like to cause pain.  They will blast anything published.  It is as if they have never seen anything but trash!

But I am nevertheless drawn to read reviews.  I want to see what others say about a book.  And so, I eagerly jumped into the review by a Catholic priest and Jesuit, Richard G. Malloy, when he penned his opinion of the new book by theoretical physicist, Brian Greene.  I know only a little bit about Greene.  He teaches at Columbia University, but was at Cornell before that.  I know I am out of my field when I learn that he is a leading expert on string theory (about which I know only the most minimal amount).  I also read he is co-discoverer of mirror symmetry (whatever that is) and spatial topology change.  I can guess at what the later means because I know some Greek!

But Greene is brilliant and what he offers us in terms of scientific knowledge must be taken, I believe, with some real seriousness.  He has a new book out, entitled Until the End of Time.  I don’t know whether I will read it, but I appreciate that Malloy has read it and gives me a sense of what Greene says and what is at stake---particularly for those of us who claim some kind of religious faith.  Greene has nothing to do with religion.

Malloy begins his review with a clever piece of advice from an old Jesuit spiritual director.  The old guy quipped, “There are two kinds of people: 'Nothing but' and 'Something more.’”  Malloy informs us he is in the “Something more” category.  So am I.  Not surprisingly, Greene is in the other camp. 

Malloy rightly criticizes those who live with a medieval worldview.  We know too much scientifically about our universe now to opt for that out-of-touch way of understanding our world.  As the Jesuit claims, “evolution now colors all we know (and those who think they are defending the faith by denying evolution are doing bad biology and terrible theology).  The revolutions of Einstein's theories, and the mysteries of quantum mechanics, are slowly seeping into consciousness and culture.”  I would agree.  That is why I keep trying to read the scientists and not be talking about stuff that simply can’t be accurate.

At this basic level, we are talking about “what is.”  We know our universe is so much bigger than almost anyone can imagine.  The complexity of it all stuns me.  Even the complexity of my own body blows my mind.  I am awed by the miracle that I am and that I apparently can think and do what I want to do.  When we are in this realm, we have moved from “what is” to how we make meaning out of reality.  This is the direction Malloy takes us in his book review.

Quickly, we get a sense of what is at stake with these words from Malloy.  “Greene argues that much of what is generally outside the domain of physics, aspects of reality like thought, language, art, ourselves and the holy grail, consciousness, are nothing but particles set in motion at the Big Bang some 13.7 billion years ago.”  Basically, Greene is saying that it is all “particles and fields.”  And here Malloy jumps in to say that if this is all there is---particles and fields---then that “means there is no free will.”  So, you just thought you did what you wanted to do!

Malloy does not go into great depth, which I appreciate and normally cannot be done in a review anyway.  He is content to stay with the basic assumption that there are two levels of conversation really.  The fundamental level is the level of “particles and fields,” the “what is” level.  This is where scientists are at their best and theologians and believers need to pay careful attention.  But there is the other level.  Malloy gives us a sense of what this level deals with.

He notes, “A belief in the mystery we call God, awareness and trust that there is a reality beyond physical reality, grounds assertions of free will and argues for purpose and ultimate meaning to our existence and the universe.”  I resonate with this language.  He is speaking my language.  Malloy makes his main point when he declares, “But we are more than the particles that physicists can measure.  Reality is more than what our knowledge of physical reality reveals. Our knowledge itself, our consciousness, the laws of physics, math — all transcend physical particles and fields.”  I think this is true and certainly hope it is true.

My consciousness is mystifying.  I am not sure scientists can explain that.  It is part of the brain-mind phenomenon.  The idea of God is also mystifying.  For me God is love and that loving God has evolved a world that includes me, you, and Greene.  We are particles and fields---and so much more.  I doubt that God cares whether we understand it all.  My experience of love in this life assures me I don’t have to understand it all to be loving and loved.  I am good with that.