And there you have it!

_{William Dembski

August 23, 2009

Eyes Rolling, Religion, Science}

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Janna Levin, Columbia astrophysicist, gives us the cutting-edge science on the origin of the universe: there was nothing, really nothing, nothing at all … but the potential to exist. Was it Aristotle who said that nothing admits no predicates? So where did nothing get the potential to exist and then bring the universe into existence? Not to worry. Janna does give us this assurance: “We know that something happened.” Yes, this is science at its best. Let’s not bring God or design into this discussion — we wouldn’t want to be accused of “acting stupidly.” Oh, one more thing, she’s an assistant professor (go here). Want to bet that she doesn’t have problems getting tenure? Compare this to Guillermo Gonzalez at Iowa State.

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Comments

As said before, science has problems with origins. 1. Existence - why does anything exist? 2. A universe that's so exquisitely fine tuned. 3. A planet that is also so fine tuned for carbon based life, 4. Life 5. Origin of species - yes they are nowhere on this except for the trivial. Poor Darwin, did he get anything right? 6. Consciousness None can be explained yet with chance and law. The closest is the origin of the Earth. The formation of planets is well understood, not just one so fine tuned as Earth. All can be explained by an agency with great intelligence except the first. That is why the greatest of all questions is "Why should anything exist?" After viewing this video with its interesting graphics Janna says she knows essentially nothing. Is that good enough for tenure?jerry_{August 23, 2009
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I see Levin and Barrow published on the Copernican principle: The Copernican Principle in Compact Spacetimes Authors: John D. Barrow, Janna Levin http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0304038 To which they try to find a true "center" for the universe. My question is by what methodology are they trying to find a center to the universe in 4D space-time cosmology: Space itself was created in the Big Bang and continues to "expand equally in all places" i.e. The universe is not expanding "into" anything outside of itself. Thus from a 3-dimensional perspective, any particular "material" spot in the universe is to be considered just as "center of the universe" as any other particular material spot in the universe is to be considered "center of the universe". There Is No Three-Dimensional Center To This Universe - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_7Ta5igSEc Where is the centre of the universe?: Excerpt: There is no centre of the universe! According to the standard theories of cosmology, the universe started with a "Big Bang" about 14 thousand million years ago and has been expanding ever since. Yet there is no centre to the expansion; it is the same everywhere. The Big Bang should not be visualized as an ordinary explosion. The universe is not expanding out from a centre into space; rather, the whole universe is expanding and it is doing so equally at all places, as far as we can tell. http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/GR/centre.html This assertion, that it is possible for the earth to now be considered the "center of the universe", is clearly illustrated by the fact the Cosmic Background Radiation, left over from the creation of the universe, is coming at us equally from all points surrounding us in space (In fact it is coming at each individual observer in space-time equally from all points in space). COBE - WMAP Satellites - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huaS_iSITQs Earth As The Center Of The Universe - image http://universe-review.ca/R02-16-universe.htm So in a holistic sense, from what we now know to be true from 4-Dimensional space-time cosmology, and from other facts of a Privileged Planet (Gonzalez, Ross, Brownlee), everything in the entire universe can be found to be "centered" on the "observer platform" of earth, since there is no true 3-D material center to this universe. In fact, depending on how much relative importance can be found in a single person, the whole universe could truthfully be said to be "centered on" a single person. Thus, much contrary to the mediocrity of earth and of humans, brought about by the heliocentric discoveries of Galileo and Copernicus, this finding of a "4-dimensional space-time" for our universe is in fact very comforting to Theistic postulations in general, and even lends very strong support of plausibility to the main tenet of Christianity which holds Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and upon earth." To solidify this assertion that the universe is "centered" on life within it, I would like to point out that quantum mechanics is now completely verified to be "absolutely dependent" on a observer: Quantum Measurements: Common Sense Is Not Enough, Physicists Show http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722142824.htm The Miraculous Foundation of Reality - Dr. Quantum - Double Slit & Entanglement - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzQuU6FpYAk To me it is extremely interesting that quantum mechanics tells us that a wave collapse to a quasi 3-D particle is “centered” on each individual conscious observer in the universe, whereas 4-D space-time cosmology tells us the 3-D universe is “centered” on each individual conscious observer in the universe. Why should the universe, or the sub-atomic world, even care that I exist? This is obviously a very interesting congruence in science between the very large and the very small. A congruence they seem to be having a extremely difficult time making a connection with mathematically (Penrose, Einstein). Yet, a connection which Jesus apparently seems to have joined together with His resurrection as somewhat illustrated by this following video: A Particle Physicist Looks At The Turin Shroud Image - 4:25 minute mark of video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgvEDfkuhGg "Miracles do not happen in contradiction to nature, but only in contradiction to that which is known to us of nature." St. Augustine In fact I was having a very hard time understanding how all 3-Dimensional "material" spots may be considered "central" in 4D space-time cosmology until I realized that the wave collapse to quasi-3D particles, in quantum mechanics, is totally dependent on each individual observer,,, Thus if I was on the other side of the universe the wave collapse to quasi-3D particles would be dependent on my position and the universe would reflect that, since observation is necessary for the wave to collapse to its quasi-3D state, and It would thus always give me a consistent position of centrality in the cosmos... Pretty neat Huh?!? A life centered cosmos! John 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. Psalm 8: 3-4 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?bornagain77_{August 23, 2009
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Mark Frank @ 6 What question did you actually answer in 2? ... I see only a comment. If it regards your stating what Janna Levin said, then it wouldn't be practical to explain why you are wrong, but moreso why she is wrong. And to simply state that she is not making a simple(st) explanation is not a statment with an ommitted explantion, because an explanation is not requiered. However, you can ask for one, just don't call it an 'ommission' as if it is someone hiding something. If it regards the fact that you stated that you think Janna's view is reasonable, then explaining that you are wrong that you think that would be silly. Because, Who can argue about what you actually think? But if you want an explanation as to why your reasoning is wrong, that is another issue....but you have to clarify if thats what you want. Final note: You said that Janna said 'X', and that she said 'X' is the simplest explanation. Yet, it is not the simplest answer. Nothing doing something makes absolutely no sense whatsoever! Like saying nothing is nothing in actuality makes no sense if you don't realize there must still be an outside reality to nothing. And reality is not nothing. So, why not the answer: God Why can't that be the simplest answer? It's even shorter to type out!:) A single three letter word. that's much simpler than saying 'nothing 'made' something'. Example on the paltriness of her supposed 'explanation': Quiestion: Explain the origin of microchips. Explanation: Nothing made microchips. Ultimately, she is saying that.JGuy_{August 23, 2009
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I see Levin and Barrow published on the Copernican principle: The Copernican Principle in Compact Spacetimes Authors: John D. Barrow, Janna Levin http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0304038 To which they try to find a true "center" for the universe. My question is by what methodology are they trying to find a center to the universe in 4D space-time cosmology: Space itself was created in the Big Bang and continues to "expand equally in all places" i.e. The universe is not expanding "into" anything outside of itself. Thus from a 3-dimensional perspective, any particular "material" spot in the universe is to be considered just as "center of the universe" as any other particular material spot in the universe is to be considered "center of the universe". There Is No Three-Dimensional Center To This Universe - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_7Ta5igSEc Where is the centre of the universe?: Excerpt: There is no centre of the universe! According to the standard theories of cosmology, the universe started with a "Big Bang" about 14 thousand million years ago and has been expanding ever since. Yet there is no centre to the expansion; it is the same everywhere. The Big Bang should not be visualized as an ordinary explosion. The universe is not expanding out from a centre into space; rather, the whole universe is expanding and it is doing so equally at all places, as far as we can tell. http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/GR/centre.html This assertion, that it is possible for the earth to now be considered the "center of the universe", is clearly illustrated by the fact the Cosmic Background Radiation, left over from the creation of the universe, is coming at us equally from all points surrounding us in space (In fact it is coming at each individual observer in space-time equally from all points in space). COBE - WMAP Satellites - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huaS_iSITQs Earth As The Center Of The Universe - image http://universe-review.ca/R02-16-universe.htm So in a holistic sense, from what we now know to be true from 4-Dimensional space-time cosmology, and from other facts of a Privileged Planet (Gonzalez, Ross, Brownlee), everything in the entire universe can be found to be "centered" on the "observer platform" of earth, since there is no true 3-D material center to this universe. In fact, depending on how much relative importance can be found in a single person, the whole universe could truthfully be said to be "centered on" a single person. Thus, much contrary to the mediocrity of earth and of humans, brought about by the heliocentric discoveries of Galileo and Copernicus, this finding of a "4-dimensional space-time" for our universe is in fact very comforting to Theistic postulations in general, and even lends very strong support of plausibility to the main tenet of Christianity which holds Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and upon earth." To solidify this assertion that the universe is "centered" on life within it, I would like to point out that quantum mechanics is now completely verified to be "absolutely dependent" on a observer: Quantum Measurements: Common Sense Is Not Enough, Physicists Show http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722142824.htm The Miraculous Foundation of Reality - Dr. Quantum - Double Slit & Entanglement - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzQuU6FpYAk To me it is extremely interesting that quantum mechanics tells us that a wave collapse to a quasi 3-D particle is “centered” on each individual conscious observer in the universe, whereas 4-D space-time cosmology tells us the 3-D universe is “centered” on each individual conscious observer in the universe. Why should the universe, or the sub-atomic world, even care that I exist? This is obviously a very interesting congruence in science between the very large and the very small. A congruence they seem to be having a extremely difficult time making a connection with mathematically (Penrose, Einstein). Yet, a connection which Jesus apparently seems to have joined together with His resurrection as somewhat illustrated by this following video: A Particle Physicist Looks At The Turin Shroud Image - 4:25 minute mark of video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgvEDfkuhGg "Miracles do not happen in contradiction to nature, but only in contradiction to that which is known to us of nature." St. Augustine In fact I was having a very hard time understanding how all 3-Dimensional "material" spots may be considered "central" in 4D space-time cosmology until I realized that the wave collapse to quasi-3D particles, in quantum mechanics, is totally dependent on each individual observer,,, Thus if I was on the other side of the universe the wave collapse to quasi-3D particles would be dependent on my position and the universe would reflect that, since observation is necessary for the wave to collapse to its quasi-3D state, and It would thus always give me a consistent position of centrality in the cosmos... Pretty neat Huh?!? A life centered cosmos! John 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. As well, I find the fact this seemingly insignificant earth is found to revolve around the much more massive sun to be reflective of our true spiritual condition. In regards to God's "kingdom of light", are we not to keep in mind our lives are to be guided by the much higher purpose which is tied to our future in God's "kingdom of light"? Are we not to avoid placing too much emphasis on what this world has to offer, since it is so much more insignificant than what heaven has to offer? Sara Groves - You Are The Sun - Music video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foz25j0r2rM Louie Giglio - How Great Is Our God - Part 2 - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfNiZrt5FjU Psalm 8: 3-4 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?bornagain77_{August 23, 2009
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Hey Mark--what you seem to have omitted from comment #2 is any explanation of how Janna got from nothing to something. That's quite a remarkable philosophical feat. How did she accomplish it?allanius_{August 23, 2009
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Here is a link for the flat universe that works: Strong Evidence For a Flat Universe: http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/boomerang-flat.htmlbornagain77_{August 23, 2009
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Re #3 What you seem to have omitted in your comment is any explanation of why my answer was wrong.Mark Frank_{August 23, 2009
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I know this will sound a bit rude but I have to ask,, does she actually get paid for teaching that tripe at a university?!? No wonder our education system is going down the tubes! Here is a physicist who is a bit more critical of the evidence: Anthropic Principle - God Created The Universe - Michael Strauss - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjn8poWD7tM Evidence against the oscillating universe- Michael Strauss - video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A9G8k02vpI Evidence For Flat Universe Reported By Boomerang Project http://www.lbl.gov/ScienceArticles/Archive/boomerang-flat.html A "flat universe", which is actually another surprisingly finely-tuned "coincidence" of the universe, means this universe, left to its own present course of accelerating expansion due to "Dark Energy", will continue to expand forever, thus fulfilling the thermodynamic equilibrium of the second law to its fullest extent (entropic "Heat Death" of the universe). The Future of the Universe excerpt: After all the black holes have evaporated, (and after all the ordinary matter made of protons has disintegrated, if protons are unstable), the universe will be nearly empty. Photons, neutrinos, electrons and positrons will fly from place to place, hardly ever encountering each other. It will be cold, and dark, and there is no known process which will ever change things. ---- Not a happy ending. http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys240/lectures/future/future.html Psalm 102:25-27 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will have no end. Big Rip Excerpt: The Big Rip is a cosmological hypothesis first published in 2003, about the ultimate fate of the universe, in which the matter of universe, from stars and galaxies to atoms and subatomic particles, are progressively torn apart by the expansion of the universe at a certain time in the future. Theoretically, the scale factor of the universe becomes infinite at a finite time in the future. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Rip Thermodynamic Argument Against Evolution - Thomas Kindell - video Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI1RiTOQ4do Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgzWMccWOe8 Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQBjguaBueE Romans 8:18-21 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. I also like this following piece of evidence which unequivocally shows, if human evolution did it occur it was a miracle. In Barrow and Tippler's book The Anthropic Cosmological Principle, they list ten steps necessary in the course of human evolution, each of which, is so improbable that if left to happen by chance alone, the sun would have ceased to be a main sequence star and would have incinerated the earth. They estimate that the odds of the evolution (by chance) of the human genome is somewhere between 4 to the negative 180th power, to the 110,000th power, and 4 to the negative 360th power, to the 110,000th power. Therefore, if evolution did occur, it literally would have been a miracle and evidence for the existence of God. William Lane Craig William Lane Craig - If Human Evolution Did Occur It Was A Miracle - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUxm8dXLRpAbornagain77_{August 23, 2009
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Cool, a megaverse. I would like on of those. Then again, pigs might fly. This is what I love about physics -- it so quickly turns into philosophy. I wonder when the darwinists will admit that their beloved theory is mostly philosophy too?NZer_{August 23, 2009
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Mark Frank, that is not a simple answer. It is a simpletons answer. Ad hominem, I know. But this really deserves no less of a response. No more either.IRQ Conflict_{August 23, 2009
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She said the simplest explanation is that there was nothing and then something. Later on she added other possibilities. Seems reasonable to me.Mark Frank_{August 23, 2009
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Seems she has it all figured out: "We are not just imposing human-centric notions on a cosmos independent of us. We are progeny of the cosmos and our ability to understand it is an inheritance." http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Janna_Levin Quite thoughtful that nothing left us such a great inheritance. Guess I'll just pack up my faith in God and move on. Lol.IRQ Conflict_{August 22, 2009
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