New controversial theory: Past, present, future exist simultaneously

bigthink.com ^ | 23 September, 2018 | Paul Ratner

[User900]

The block universe theory says that our universe may be looked at as a giant four-dimensional block of spacetime, containing all the things that ever happen, explained Dr. Kristie Miller, the joint director for the Centre for Time at the University of Sydney.

In the block universe, there is no "now" or present. All moments that exist are just relative to each other within the three spacial dimensions and one time dimension. Your sense of the present is just reflecting where in the block universe you are at that instance. The "past" is just a slice of the universe at an earlier location while the "future" is at a later location.

[User900]

Interesting. This reminded me of a sermon I once heard by Dr. Charles F Stanley describing the omniscient being of God in which he said that God can see the past, the present and future as if they are one. He even knows everything that coulda happened, or woulda happened if this or that had happened. Everything. I think this ties into the fact that He is literally the Spirit of Truth. Which means that He knows all truth.

I believe the theorist is touching on truth as a whole, but the detailed explanations for the theory are faulty and not true. Atheist stumble on the truth of God sometimes without realizing it. As in "big bang theory". In a flash, where once nothing existed, suddenly everything existed.

[Fai Mao]

This theory is not new.

It is just the journalist is an idiot

[Telepathic Intruder]

Similar to something I’ve already heard. Try to explain why we only remember the past, and not the future.

[dadfly]

nothing new for Christians. this is just a wordy restatement what God already created.

[MarMema]

This works well with the Eastern Orthodox church. And with a beloved author of mine - Robert Lanza.

[Nifster]

Not new nor controversial....Eisenstein postulated the eternal now which implies the existence of past, present, and future simultaneously. He also postulated infinite nows....that in this instant while the might be in a traffic accident with a particular outcome in another universe or expression of now I did not get in the accident at all

Provides for interesting thought experiments

[dfwgator]

I think that’s what Horshack said in that Welcome Back, Kotter episode...

“What is? is. What was? will be. What will be *was*, but will be again.”

[Nifster]

True words

[KrisKrinkle]

“The block universe theory says that our universe may be looked at as a giant four-dimensional block of spacetime, containing all the things that ever happen...”

Almost. I’d say it’s not just “all the things that ever happen”, it’s all the things that ever could happen.

[Ken H]

That means that our whole solar system could be, like one tiny atom in the fingernail of some other giant being.

[norcal joe]

C.S. Lewis wrote about this 75 years ago in “Mere Christianity.”

[Ken H]

So in some alternate universe they’re saying Madame President?

[coon2000]

Lol! Animal House!

[nvskibum]

Can I buy some pot from you?

[mad_as_he$$]

Thank you! I first heard this theory in 1977 in a college physics class. It was “new” then.

[x]

Sure, but philosophy is one thing and real life is another.

Philosophers and theologians have long had trouble with the idea of free will, but ordinary mortals have to believe that they can change their fate through their actions.

[867V309]

nothing new for Christians. this is just a wordy restatement what God already created.

"Dr. Kristie Miller, the joint director for the Centre for Time at the University of Sydney" just another useless egghead trying to be relevant, soaking-up taxpayer dollars, no doubt.

God has no use for time, space, energy or matter, except for the way he wants to manifest himself to us.

[BTerclinger]

https://youtu.be/hKoLlKmQSHU?t=31s

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#13: "Lol! Animal House!"

[Kartographer]

"Philosophers and theologians have long had trouble with the idea of free will, but ordinary mortals have to believe that they can change their fate through their actions."

What would be the purpose if there is no free will? And as long as there is free will nothing is set and all is open to change.