GENESIS RELOADED

PART TWO: THE LAW OF RELATIVITY

"Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion." – Albert Einstein

When Dr. Schroeder was invited to appear on the Christian television program Zola Levitt Presents, and make his views known to the conservative Christian community, both he and Zola (a Jewish Christian) were quite predictably attacked. The brunt of this assault came from Answers in Genesis, a fundamental Christian website that is dedicated in defending the concept of a fairly young creation (about 6000 years), and that God created everything in six literal 24-hour days [see AiG’s Statement of Faith, Section D, point #2]. It was demonstrated in Dr. Schroeder’s presentation that the six 24-hour periods of time is not the point of contention, it is the concept of time dilation, first brought to the world of science by Albert Einstein in 1905. His theory of relativity is no longer a theory, but is now a proven, scientific fact, and is now the LAW of relativity. So what is it?

It’s been said that how long a minute lasts depends upon which side of the bathroom door we are standing. This is a rather simple way to explain the concept of relativity, which states that “the measurement of time and space is relative to the observer’s frame of reference.” Or in other words, one’s perception of (the passing of) time and space is directly related to his position in the universe. If we have to go badly enough, a minute can sure seem like an awfully long time. But there’s more to it than this.

[This next section will require a bit of abstract thinking.]

In 1987, astronomers discovered a new point of light (a supernova; an exploding star) on an image of the Large Magellanic Cloud, measured to be approximately 170,000 light years away, and was given the name '1987A.' So when did this event actually take place? 1987? No. This event did not really occur in the year 1987, but 170,000 years prior. Since our universe is so vast, it took 170,000 years for this data, traveling at the speed of 186,000 miles per second (the speed of light), to reach our solar system. And this was one of the closer star systems – most are much further away! Mere humans are not capable of comprehending the enormity of such dimensions. 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)

Now suppose for a moment that you were standing on a planet halfway between this star system and earth. In order to observe this phenomenon from this planet, you would had to have been living how long ago? Correct! 85,000 years ago! Why? Because the data from the supernova would have taken 85,000 years (one-half the distance of 170,000 years) to reach a destination halfway between there and earth.

NOTE: Not exactly 85,000 years, because time dilation factors for our ever-expanding universe have not been considered. It would take a trained physics mathematician (which I am not) like Dr. Schroeder to figure this. This is only an example.

Now, if we had the ability to fast-forward ourselves from this distant planet to planet earth in the year 1987, then we could view this same event again – when the data (in the form of light rays) from this galaxy finally reach our own solar system. Seen from two different perspectives, they can take on the appearance of being two separate events, when in reality they are one in the same! And if we had the ability to travel along with this supernova (at the speed of light) when it first occurred (170,000 years ago), time would in fact stand still, and we would see the complete history of this star – the past, present, and the future – with one glance. This is what God revealed to a young Albert Einstein in 1905, that the distinction between the past, the present, and future really IS nothing more than “a stubbornly persistent illusion!”

But it is difficult for us mere mortals to think in these terms. We all quite naturally see events develop with the passage of time. And everything we do in life is linear-time oriented. We have to be at work by 9:00am, we leave work at 6:00pm, we make travel arrangements for our vacation two months in advance, etc. To us, time is one-dimensional and moves forward. The past, present, and future happen in that order. This is the way we see things, relative to our perspective. But God does not see things from our limited perspective. He sees things from His eternal perspective.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 1:8)

And one day in 1905, God chose to give a young Albert Einstein a glimpse into the eternal, to see things from His perspective. From that time on, until his death in 1955, Einstein came to think in terms of a static, non-moving picture of space and time, the space-time continuum. In this static picture, events do not develop (as we see them develop), they just are! Otherwise, how could God declare the following?

“Known [only] unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18)

Because our perspective (relative to our position in the universe) is limited, we do not know (aside from what we can learn from the Scriptures) what tomorrow will bring, only God does. The 100% accuracy in the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies provides confirmation, PROOF-POSITIVE, that God does not have to wait for the future to unfold to see what is going to happen. He did not have to wait to see whether or not Judas Iscariot would betray His only begotten Son into the hands of sinful men, He already KNEW that he would, for He created him to do just that. The ancient prophecies declared it hundreds of years in advance. And likewise, He does not have to wait to see who will accept, and who will reject His Son, for He already knows that ALL will accept His Son (Psalm 86:9; Isaiah 45:23; Philippians 2:9-11)! And how does He know this? Because ALL of his works have been completed (Genesis 2:1-3), and He alone is God!

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:10)

Supernova 1987A exploded 170,000 years ago, well before we became aware of it. Likewise, the events that we will witness on tomorrow’s evening news have already been determined. Is this so hard to believe? How else could our Creator claim that He knows the end from the beginning? How could He have known that Adam and Eve would sin before He created them, if He did not know the end from the beginning? Believe it or not, God already knows the outcome of tonight’s basketball game before it even tips off. He knows the end from the beginning. When Christ returns to judge the nations, when He comes to separate the sheep from the goats, He knows beforehand who are sheep, and who are goats. He knows the end from the beginning!

“They gathered to do everything that you, by your power and will, had already decided would take place.” (Acts 4:28 – Today’s English Version)

Most assume that the doctrine of human free will must be true, because they are only able to see things from their own limited perspective. And the point of view in most cases determines whether or not people accept free will or determinism. Observed from within (relative to our perspective), the will has the illusion of being free. But Albert Einstein strongly disagreed. Through his study of physics (cause and effect), he determined that people do not act freely in the sense of having alternatives to their actions. Their belief in freedom arises only from their ignorance of the causes of the desires that motivate their actions. Einstein was certainly no theologian, but he was not devoid of any religious training. In a 1929 interview he was asked:

Q: “To what extent are you influenced by Christianity?”

A: “As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.”

Q: “You accept the historical existence of Jesus?”

A: “Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.”

Einstein was greatly admired by nearly everyone within the scientific community, but was often ridiculed by those within religious circles for many of his ideas, especially those that challenged traditional Western concepts about God. Like Galileo before him, he was also guilty of thinking “outside the box,” and dared to venture “where no man had gone before.” For example:

“About God, I cannot accept any concept based on the authority of the Church. As long as I can remember, I have resented mass indoctrination. I do not believe in the fear of life, in the fear of death, in blind faith. I cannot prove to you that there is no personal God, but if I were to speak to him, I would be a liar. I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws.”

God Himself established the immutable law of life, sin and death. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23); the wages of sin is not “eternal torment in hell.” Ironically, Albert Einstein the physicist had a better understanding of these things than do most theologians, which is nicely exemplified in his famous statement:

“I am convinced that He [God] does not play dice [with the universe].”

Einstein was greatly influenced by the 17^th century Jewish philosopher Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677), who rejected the traditional theistic concept of God, and denied the existence of a cosmic purpose on the grounds that all events in nature occur according to immutable laws of cause and effect. [Of course, I strongly believe that there IS a great cosmic purpose behind the immutable laws of cause and effect. – GC]

“Spinoza was the first to apply with strict consistency the idea of an all-pervasive determinism to human thought, feeling, and action. In my opinion, his point of view has not gained general acceptance by all those striving for clarity and logical rigor only because it requires not only consistency of thought but also unusual integrity, magnanimity and – modesty.”

It takes a great deal of modesty, or humility, to be able to concede the fact that none of us are in control of our own destiny – God is. Those who are caught up in any type of a “good works” oriented religious system will find this especially hard to admit, because we want to believe that our good deeds are somehow earning us God’s favor. And Dr. Schroeder, an orthodox Jew, is no exception. In his book The Science of God, he devotes an entire chapter trying to disprove the notion of absolute causality, via the uncertainty principle of quantum physics, which is briefly defined as:

“In quantum physics and wave mechanics, a statement of the impossibility of exactly determining at any given instant or by a single operation more than one magnitude or quantity, as the velocity, position, etc., of an electron.” – Funk & Wagnalls New Practical Standard Dictionary, Volume II

But the effects of the uncertainty principle, according to The Penguin Dictionary of Physics, are not apparent with large systems. This principle is only apparent in the behavior of systems on the atomic scale. So it would be foolish to try to apply this principle, with our limited degree of understanding, to God’s universal system. Only God knows what the future holds. And only God can predict with any certainty how electrons will behave at any given moment on the subatomic level. We cannot. So it really all boils down to this: Do we believe God, or do we believe men? God will continue to mislead those who reject His Word (II Thessalonians 2:11), and will continue to choose the foolish things of this world to confound those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.

For those who have spent any amount of time reading my articles on this site, it must seem like I am beating a dead horse to death. But I cannot emphasize this point enough. The Biblical doctrine of predetermination is admittedly difficult for most people to accept, for we all want to believe that we have control over our lives. But we do not. If we really did, then how many people would choose to grow old and die? The simple fact that we all one day have an appointment with death is proof that none of us are in control of our own destiny, God is. But once we come to an understanding that God (a.k.a. Love) is in control, then this is the most liberating experience we can have, for now there is no longer any reason to worry about tomorrow. Our Father in Heaven has ordered our very steps. And we can rest in the assurance that whatever happens in life has already been declared from the very beginning!

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)

Only the writer, who has spent the past year writing a novel, knows how the plot will unfold and the book will end; that is, until it hits the bookstores and people have a chance to read it. And only those who have been involved in the production of a Hollywood film know how the movie will end; that is, until it hits the theaters. Likewise, none of us can know what tomorrow will bring; that is, until history (His Story) unfolds. God alone is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. And His book is finished. He is at rest. His academy award winning film has been produced, and we are merely players, as Shakespeare put it, upon His great stage. From our perspective, the drama is still unfolding, and we are still being given over to corruption and death. But we also can rest in the promises of Him who has created us thus:

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave [SHEOL]; I will redeem them from death. O Death, where is your punishment? O Grave [SHEOL], where is your sting?” (Hosea 13:14 – LXX)

“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave [SHEOL], for He shall receive me.” (Psalm 49:15)

COMMENT: Is it any wonder why the translators chose not to render the Hebrew word SHEOL as HELL in these two verses?

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:53,54)

“Because the creature itself [that’s us] shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21)

In PART THREE of this series , we will

reveal how the fundamentalist’s model of creation is based upon

assumptions, and not upon God’s Word.