Our views of physical reality cannot reconcile, because neither of us are “wrong” – it is a matter of worldviews. We are different observers.
By all appearances, we are stuck on the Aristotle v Plato paradigm. In the Aristotle paradigm, mathematical structures – forms – universals – geometries do not exist, they are language terms only. The mathematician invents the geometry. In the Plato paradigm they do exist, geometry exists and the mathematician comes along and discovers it.
A mathematical structure is an abstract, immutable entity existing outside of space and time. If history were a movie, the structure would correspond not to a single frame of it but to the entire videotape. Consider, for example, a world made up of pointlike particles moving around in three-dimensional space. In four-dimensional spacetime — the bird perspective — these particle trajectories resemble a tangle of spaghetti. If the frog sees a particle moving with constant velocity, the bird sees a straight strand of uncooked spaghetti. If the frog sees a pair of orbiting particles, the bird sees two spaghetti strands intertwined like a double helix. To the frog, the world is described by Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation. To the bird, it is described by the geometry of the pasta — a mathematical structure. The frog itself is merely a thick bundle of pasta, whose highly complex intertwining corresponds to a cluster of particles that store and process information. Our universe is far more complicated than this example, and scientists do not yet know to what, if any, mathematical structure it corresponds.
Despite that, it is quite refreshing for me to be corresponding with you on matters of reconciling spiritual and physical realities from Genesis to Revelation. Differences are to be expected there too because we are different observers delving into an area where, at least in my case, the Spirit does not lead me strongly for or against some interpretations. For me, it is a license to “muse.” LOLOL!
My musings on Genesis (and Revelation) is that there is more “real” than “metaphor” being revealed to us – though I hasten to add that I do have a leaning in the Spirit that Genesis 1 and 2 are not speaking merely of the creation of the physical realm but the spiritual as well – and more specifically that the Garden of Eden (aka paradise) exists in the spiritual realm. Also, that Adam and Eve are real beings, made for eternity but banished to mortality, the physical realm.
The days for instance are also real to me, but not from our space/time coordinates. God is the author of Genesis 1 and observer of His own Creation – and when we consider inflationary theory and relativity, 6 equivalent days at the inception space/time coordinates is equal to approximately 15 billion years from our present space/time coordinates. Age of the Universe
At the same time, I am not offended at all by your interpretation of Genesis – or Revelation for that matter. These are musings on both of our parts, and, in the end (as you say) we’ll know. But for now we see through a glass, darkly.
But I am tickled pink that you are interested in reconciling the spiritual and physical realms! (I just wish you were a mathematical Platonist… LOLOL!)
I see you doing it(preaching) making a "Z" while snapping you're fingers, with one hand on a hip.. after each paragraph.. That WAS GOOD...
Go Girl.... Amen
LOL! I can't help it, my techer was Jewish.
The real beauty of this is that you and spunkets can reason together in good faith, and since both of you are "searchers," can "compare notes" in good grace.
May God ever bless you both!
Charitably Biblical and practical, imho.