Posted on 12/05/2008 9:02:48 AM PST by GodGunsGuts
Aided by a supercomputer, an international team of theoretical physicists has recently performed a massive computation that confirmed Einstein’s famous formula E=mc2, which states that matter and energy interconvert. Their research appears in the November 21, 2008, edition of the journal Science.
The study set out to provide a stronger theoretical basis for the Standard Model of particle physics. Part of this model holds that the protons and neutrons inside atomic nuclei are made of quarks and gluons, which are theoretical particles of energy. The researchers’ quantitative calculations agreed very closely with the experimental observations that “more than 99 percent of the mass of ordinary matter comes from protons and neutrons, and in turn about 95 percent of their mass comes from this confined energy.”1
Perhaps it is yet unknown what “confines” the energy, which thus produces mass, but this phenomenon seems consistent with ICR founder Dr. Henry M. Morris’ commentary on Genesis 1:2:
"The 'Spirit' (Hebrew ruach) of 'God' (Elohim) proceeded to 'move upon the face of the waters' (literally, 'vibrate in the presence of the waters'). Waves of gravitational energy and waves of electro-magnetic energy began to pulse forth from the great 'Breath' (another meaning of ruach) of God, the Prime Mover of the universe. The unformed 'earth' material (Hebrew eretz), as well as the 'waters' permeating it (Hebrew shamayim) quickly coalesced into spherical form under the new force of gravity, and the first material body (Planet Earth) had been formed at a point in space."2
Several points can be drawn from the biblical account of creation. Matter exists apart from God, as Genesis directly implies. Matter is not currently being created (just as the First Law of Thermodynamics states), since God ceased creative work on the seventh day.3 And with this new study, scientists seem to have strong evidence that matter is made of energy, even as God energized His creation as recorded in Genesis 1:2. If indeed the Spirit of the Creator was emanating vibrating energy into the primeval universe, then perhaps the material of the universe still consists of that energy.
The investigation of the structure of matter is a valid pursuit within the creationist worldview, and so far no information gleaned from this pursuit has shown anything but concurrence with the Word of the Maker.
References
(1) Dürr, S. et al. 2008. Ab Initio Determination of Light Hadron Masses. Science. 322 (5905): 1224-1227.
(2) Morris, H. 2006. The New Defender’s Study Bible. Nashville, TN: World Publishing, 8.
(3) Genesis 2:1-2.
I’m not saying that physics and religion should be compared... but many Physicists I know are very spiritual people.
and that says something, because physics is the purest science.
Especially when you can interpret the vague statements in Genesis any which way you like. Amazing!
I’m confused. Is godless science good or bad?
bump for later read
self-ping
I need to get that book out and dust it off. I bought it some time ago before I got seriously interested in creation cosmology. You are the second person to remind me that I have this book. Thank you!
Elohim is plural and means "gods", not "God"
It is also used in the singular.
Only in the case of the Bible because it conflicts with the One God Hypothesis. In Hebrew it is plural. Christians normally explain it away as the Trinity. Mormons think it refers to the head god, Jews just kind of skim over it and say that the suffix is plural everywhere else but the Torah.
Much of scientific discovery today leads to at least the possibility of a God. When scientists see only the opposite it is the result of their prejudice.
And because we are discussing the contents of the Bible, where is the problem? Or don't you believe that Elohim in this reference is the One True God?
It is an idiom technically referred to a plural of exaltation! I personally see the trinitarian implication.
Also, even when assuming the speed of light as a constant, Einstein's relativity principle puts the passage of time as relative to the observer....and the faster an observer is, the slower time will pass for him.
So, without violating any known laws of physics, it actually is possible for 14 Billion years (the guesstimated age of the Universe) to pass, and for an observer traveling at near the speed of light--6 literal 24-hour days to pass...
God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)
Father, Son, Holy Spirit = God in much the same way as the exutive, legislative, judicial = the federal government.
Elohim ceased creative work by the end of the sixth day. Gen 2:2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Not to put too fine a point on it.
Gen 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
"The Tao of Physics" was a great book that I read while I was searching - since then I have become a Christian and can easily recognise the truth of physics in Genesis thanks to that book.
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