Menachem Ben David

Cosmology-Bible vs Science

“Upon occasion, (atheist scientist Stephen) Hawking has stated that time actually began with the Big Bang, and that questions about what happened before the Big Bang are meaningless. This less-nuanced, but commonly repeated formulation has received criticisms from philosophers such as Aristotelian philosopher Mortimer J. Adler.” [Time and the Big Bang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time#Time and the Big Bang)

Although the Bible is intended as an ethical guidebook for man, and not as a science textbook, the basic sequence of events in the Creation process were explained in the book of Genesis using simple language so that all could understand.

The Biblical sequence of Creation events would seem to be quite consistent with the basic principles of advanced modern science:

The Universe did not exist forever and had a beginning in the finite past. In addition, according to Maimonides (12th century CE) we cannot know exactly when the Universe was created because time itself was created.
The initial Universe described as unformed matter in Genesis 1:2 was an extremely tiny point of formless matter. (Nachmanides 13th century CE)
All the matter in the Universe was initially created (Genesis 1:1) and the components of the Universe were gradually separated (Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed II:30).
The first animals were various types of swarming marine invertebrate. (Genesis 1:20).
There was a gradual metaphysical upward increase in biological complexity over time, that was NOT due to Darwinism.
Man (as we know him) is the most complex creature and was created last and very recently (Genesis 1:26). Thus recorded human history is much shorter than the age of the Universe.

The Universe Does Exist

” there exists nothing except God, may He be exalted, and this existent world…it necessarily behooves one to consider this existent as it is…” (Maimonides, Guide to the Perplexed 1:71)

“the foundation of the whole Law is the view that God has brought the world into being out of nothing…” (Guide to the Perplexed 2:30)

It is clear that Maimonides is teaching that the Universe exists and that we may not associate it with God.

In some radical Kabbalistice circles, there seems to be a belief that “In reality we don’t exist”. However, this blatantly contradicts the first verse in the Bible that states that God did create the Universe.

If one truly believes “In reality we don’t exist”, then how can one believe in the first verse of the Bible?

Biblical Wisdom vs. Greek Wisdom

The three sons of the Biblical prophet Noah were Shem, Ham, and Yefet. Biblical tradition teaches that mankind has descended from those three sons and their wives.

The Torah teaches that Yefet, who was the ancestor of the Greeks, will dwell in the tent of Shem, who was the ancestor of the Jews. Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch understands the meaning of the name Yefet in psychological terms – Yefet is the ancestor of the Greeks whose minds were expanded in philosophy and science.

We see that the ancient rabbinic sages accepted some ideas from the Greek philosophers, or perhaps the Greeks learned those ideas from the rabbis. There was some overlap between rabbinic thought and Greek thought, and also some definite conflicts – Maimonides in the book Guide to the Perplexed repeatedly attacks the claims of the Greek philosophers that the Universe is eternal.

Nachmanides in his commentary on Genesis referred to the initial point of matter that the Universe began with as hiyuli, IE formless matter known to the Greeks as hyle.

Rabbi Bachya in the medieval book “Duties of the Heart” mentions Aristotle’s ideas in a number of places.

Some ideas from Greek or medieval metaphysics that the rabbis accepted are still useful ideas in the modern age. The concept of matter and form seemed to have been widely accepted by the rabbis, and this concept has been revived in a mathematical form in 20th century Quantum Mechanics.

“I quoted also the pious and wise of other nations whose words have come down to us, hoping that my readers’ hearts would incline to them and give heed to their wisdom, as for example, the words of philosophers, the ethical teachings of the ascetics, and their praiseworthy customs. Our Rabbis have already said regarding this (Sanhedrin 39b): One verse says: ‘after the ways of the surrounding nations you have done’ (Ezekiel 5:7). How can this be reconciled? As follows – their good ways you have not copied; their evil ones you have followed.” (Introduction to Duties of the Heart)

Revival of Metaphysics

In the modern age, certain concepts previously studied in the field of “Metaphysics” have been largely abandoned and replaced with a mathematical, mechanistic view of the natural order. “Scientism” is a type of modern materialist, atheist belief that our scientific knowledge alone provides us a complete knowledge of reality.

In prior ages, the study of “Metaphysics” was valued as a knowledge system that involved a rational investigation of the general attributes of reality. This study included the attributes of physical and non-physical reality, and the study of the attributes of God and the ultimate causes of what constitutes reality.

Medieval (Aristotelian) Metaphysics can provide a strong impetus to an ethical, monotheistic view of the Universe. This is why certain great rabbis, such as Maimonides and Rabbeinu Bachya, utilized this Metaphysics to prove the existence and oneness of God. A revival of Metaphysics as a legitimate branch of human knowledge would serve an important role in reviving monotheistic beliefs and ending the monopoly of “scientism” on defining reality.

In the Modern Age, Metaphysics (regrettably) has been largely abandoned. The “scientism” that replaced Metaphysics at the start of the Modern Age has provided a huge tailwind to atheist, materialist belief systems.

Modern “scientism” has created a system of “mathematical materialism” and abandoned any of the useful concepts of “Metaphysics” that were included in the scientific thought of the past. In modern “scientism”, the only reality recognized are material phenomenon that are describable with mathematical equations.

By abandoning Metaphysics concepts, and focusing science solely on developing mathematical, material explanations of Nature, modern science has actually created gaping holes in the ability of man to recognize a Creator of the Universe and also to comprehend the Universe. This approach has resulted in the current “scientism” where science is relied on to explain EVERYTHING about reality and the Universe, even though science has no ability to do so.

Instead of atheist scientism, a revival of some aspects of metaphysics needs to occur if we seek to both maintain ethical monotheism and also to maximize our understanding of the Universe.

Bible vs. Scientism

The claims of the atheist science establishment that somehow the Universe created itself, are fundamentally in conflict with honest science. There is a necessary demarcation between Biblical theology and science that Biblical monotheists must recognize.

Aristotle’s erroneous speculations about an eternal Universe might be classified “scientism”, a type of faith based non-scientific religion. Ancient rabbis rejected the erroneous “scientific” speculations of Aristotle that had no real basis in any observations, such as the very erroneous claim that our Universe is a static Universe that existed eternally. We now know from many reliable scientific observations that this Universe could not have existed eternally.

Hundreds of years ago some of the greatest rabbis wrote descriptions of the creation process that seem to be generally quite consistent with some of the details described by the modern Bing Bang Theory.

The important point to remember is the Bible is not intended as a scientific treatise, it was intended as an ethical guide for man. However, the basic facts the Bible describes are quite consistent with advanced modern science.

For example –

Universe had a beginning (was created according to the rabbis) in the finite past.
All matter was created ex-nihilo at the beginning of the Universe, and was formed into the components of the Universe.
The days mentioned in Genesis do not correspond to our days as earth’s sun was not created until the fourth day. The Bible states explicitly that the “days” were the separation of light and darkness by God, (not the revolution of the Earth).
There have been multiple creations and destruction of life on Earth during multiple eras of time. The Bible is only describing in detail the present era.
Scientific laws, as we now understand them, did not exist during the initial Creation process, but only after the Creation process was completed.
The Creation process cannot be explained in scientific terms that are intelligible to man. Scientific laws we now know did not exist during that process.
There occurred a metaphysical increase in complexity in life on Earth, starting with the earliest animals (marine invertebrate) until the creation of man, the most complex living creature.

The Creation process is non-repeatable and non-observable by man. There must be a necessary demarcation between science and Biblical theology which do not conflict with each other.

Science must recognize its limits and recognize that Biblical theology is not in conflict with authentic science. Rather Biblical theology picks up where science must end.

Intelligent Design is Consistent with Judaism

The modern concept of Intelligent Design seems to be quite consistent with classical Biblical and rabbinic concepts. In contrast, Darwinist evolution theories not only require great leaps of faith to explain the evident complexity in the Universe, but Darwinist evolution also removes any meaning or purpose to the Universe.

The concept of reflecting on the wisdom evident in the design of the Universe has strong roots in ancient rabbinic thought. Within various rabbinic writings are some concepts that seem quite consistent with the modern Intelligent Design movement. In the famous medieval (11th Century C.E.) Jewish ethics book Chovos HaLevavos, a whole shaar (gate) is devoted to explaining how we should examine the created Universe and thus deduce proofs of the existence and wisdom of the Creator.

“One is obligated to reflect on the created things, and deduce from them proofs of the Creator’s wisdom, by the dictates of reason, Scripture, and rabbinic tradition.”

(Chovos HaLevavos, Shaar HaBechina, Chapter Two)

Chovos HaLevavos also explains that the wisdom evident in the design of the Universe offers proof that the Universe was created with the intention of an Intelligent Agent. Thus Chovos HaLevavos is in direct conflict with Darwinist evolution which can only posit an “appearance” of intelligence in the biological order that lacks any actual purpose.

“It is evident to us that for things which come about without the intent of an intender (i.e. an intelligence who designed it with a purpose) — none of them will display any trace of wisdom or ability. Behold and see, that if a man suddenly pours ink on clean paper, it would be impossible for there to be drawn on it orderly writing and legible lines like it would be with a quill, and if a man brought before us orderly writing from what cannot be written without use of a quill, and he would say that ink was spilled on paper, and the form of the writing happened on its own, we would be quick to call him a liar to his face and tell him that it must have been written without an intelligent person’s intent. And since, in our eyes, this is something impossible for mere symbols (the alphabet) that we have agreed on — how could we entertain the notion for something whose engineering is far more fine, and whose assembly is infinitely more deep and beyond our comprehension, to say that it is without intent of an Intender, and without the wisdom of a wise and powerful Being.”

(Chovos HaLevavos, Shaar HaYichud, Chapter Six)

What is Intelligent Design

A basic definition of “Intelligent Design” might be the concept that we observe various physical and biological features of the Universe whose existence is best explained as due to the actions of an Intelligent Agent rather than due to the effects of undirected natural processes such as natural selection.

In contrast to Neo-Darwinist (evolution) theory, intelligent design philosophers and scientists argue that the best explanation for the origins of life, and the origins of the many biological forms, is an Intelligent Agent.

Intelligent Design (ID) theory postulates that design is empirically detectable in various physical and biological aspects of the Universe. For example-

the overwhelming scientific evidence that the Universe had a definite beginning, observed since the 1920s in the red-shift and the expansion of the Universe,
the substantial evidence that the physical constants of the Universe have been enormously fine-tuned to allow for the existence of life, and
the large amounts of functional information present in the DNA of biological organisms.

The three factors mentioned above, among others, all provide convincing evidence that a Superintelligence created the Universe (and continues to maintain its existence), and this Superintelligence must have also created the life forms present on Earth. Materialist scientific theories, citing undirected natural causes, simply cannot provide convincing explanations for the origins of the Universe and the origins and development of life on Earth.

ID theorists may or may not specify that the Intelligent Agent responsible for design in the Universe is God, and ID in general does not attempt to define the exact nature of the Intelligent Agent. ID theorists recognize that our Universe could not have simply popped into existence by itself. ID theory would only be inconsistent with Judaism if it implied a Creator with characteristics contrary to Torah theology. I am not aware that ID does imply any such characteristics. However, its astounding how some Jews can believe that acceptance of atheist Darwinist evolution can be preferable to acceptance of ID.

Multiverse-An Atheist Religion

Starting almost one hundred years ago, the atheist pseudo scientists were extremely dismayed by the overwhelming scientific evidence that this Universe is both extremely fine-tuned to allow life and that it also had a beginning in space and time.

The powerful scientific evidence that the Universe had a beginning, with its implications of a supernatural Creator, has caused great anguish to many atheists. The atheists are desperately inventing fanciful and non-scientific eternal “Multiverse” theories in a vain attempt to resurrect Aristotle’s eternal Universe/Multiverse theories.

Multiverse theories are really more akin to a non-scientific, non-rational faith based atheist religion, as there is simply no scientific possibility of detecting and proving the existence of the postulated additional Universes. To suppress any belief in the possibility of an intelligent Creator, these atheists invented a fanciful multiverse religion claiming the existence of zillions of completely undetectable and unreachable alternate Universes. By postulating the existence of these undetectable Universes, the atheists can then explain the existence of our Universe as being resulting from chance, undirected, natural causes.

None of these alternate Universes have ever been detected to my knowledge, nor do I believe they ever will be detected, as that would likely violate the laws of physics.

The so-called “scientific method” involves careful observation of natural phenomenon, then formulating hypotheses, by a process of induction, that are a proposed explanation of the phenomenon. Can speculation about Multiverses really be consistent with the scientific method? When has any “Multiverse” ever been observed? Is observation of a “Multiverse” even possible?

Eternal Multiverse Removes God and Prophecy

An eternal universe (or multiverse) imposes a scientific determinism on the Universe and removes the possibility of God’s involvement in the Universe. Maimonides in the book Guide to the Perplexed II:25 explains that belief in Aristotle’s eternal universe, (IE a universe that exists of necessity, and where nature never changes), refutes the Law in its principle and denies every miracle. Maimonides is saying that Aristotle’s eternal universe is a universe governed by “scientific determinism”, and no Torah, miracles, or hashgacha pratis (Divine providence) is possible in such a Universe.

Clearly the goal of the Evolutionists and their fellow travelers (IE the atheist believers in an eternal Multiverse), is to define universe(s) resembling Aristo’s universe, IE universe(s) governed solely by scientific determinism with no Torah, revelation or miracles possible.

What is “Negative Theology” (NT)?

The concept of “Negative Theology” seems to be rarely discussed in the current world of theology but it is an essential component of Biblical theology that was well known to the medieval rabbis.

Negative Theology is a method of describing God’s essence (as opposed to His relationship with the world) using language employing only negative attributes such as “God does not have a body”, “God is not a man”, “God does not occupy space”, etc.

These types of descriptions are necessary because God’s “essence” does not resemble anything in the Universe He created so we have no positive language to describe Him. Our understanding of God is limited to God’s relationship with the world, not to God’s essence.

Religion of Darwinism

Darwinist evolution theories have morphed into a type of faith based atheist religion, a substitute for belief in a Creator and belief in Biblical creation. Regrettably many “progressive” Jewish intellectual types have become militant missionaries for the Darwinist religion. There is no real evidence in the fossil record for Darwinism, which in fact violates many scientific principles (such as the laws of entropy). For example, the fossil record clearly shows that species appear suddenly and then later disappear without any significant change. Also, Darwinist evolution is at a complete loss to explain the origin of life. Despite numerous experiments no scientist has ever produced life from non-life in a laboratory.

In the Talmud it mentions that one of man’s unique qualities not possessed by animals is the ability to speak. I believe that to prove that any ancient species of primate can be considered any type of man (as opposed to an animal), there must exist some evidence the ancient primate could speak. It would seem that the only clear evidence a creature could speak is IF we discovered any evidence the creature could write. In this case, we would have conclusive evidience the ancient creature was NOT an animal.

A few years ago I actually challenged one of the senior research scientists at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History regarding a display of “Australopithecus”, an ape-like creature that is presented as some type of ancient species that had evolved from apes to become more like man. I asked that scientist to prove that the Australopithecus had any actual human characteristics and was not simply a type of ape.

Intellectual apprehension is one of the primary characteristics that separates man from animals. I asked that scientist: Where is there the slightest evidence that the Australopithecus creature could speak, write, or that it possessed any intellectual apprehension? Without such evidence, how can the creature be considered human in any way? Perhaps that creature was only an ape?

The scientist took me into the museum’s extensive research laboratory in the basement, which contained many collections of fossils of various species. The scientist took out an Australopithecus skull, an ape skull, and a human skull. As I recall the Australopithecus skull was pretty much identical to an ape skull. The scientist attempted to provide some circumstantial evidence that “Australopithecus” walked upright, but I was not shown the slightest evidence that the creature could speak, write, or had any intellectual apprehension.