| The simple, straight answer to this question is an
unqualified ‘no’. The reason is that science deals with
the physical world, the world of matter and energy, of space and time.
Even as we do not refer to the bible for learning how to operate a
computer or to repair a T.V set, we do not refer to science to learn
about God. Here we refer to philosophy, theology or the holy scriptures
of various religions. Still there are many things in science that
point to the existence of God. There are many questions in science
that have no clear answers yet become simple if you bring in the concept
of an omnipotent Creator who very intelligently designed the whole
creation. |
| Referring to several unanswered questions in modern
cosmology and quantum physics one scientist says; “There is
no reason to assume that we humans shall be able to find all answers
to such questions. Yet it is interesting to see how far we can proceed
in search of answers before we knock against the wall.” According
to another one, ‘if we bring in the idea of God to explain the
puzzles in science we are passing from the realm of physics into that
of religion and we cannot except any more funding for our research’.
One of the great cosmologists of today, Allan Guth is more optimistic
and says; “We are approaching a scenario for creation compatible
with the laws of physics. That raises the question, ‘where do
laws of physics come from?’ We are a long way from answering
that.” To me a believer the answer is right here, not far. The
laws of physics are from God. But a scientist cannot say that. |
| Let me add a few words of explanation here in a historical
context regarding the changing attitude of the scientific community
and of rationalists towards the questions of the origins and evolution
of the universe and of life. |
| Darwin’s views on the evolution of species and
the observation that the earth is going round the sun and not the
other way round, that earth is just a speck in the immense universe
raised questions about the existence of God. Till the beginning of
the twentieth century the astronomers believed that the universe,
the galaxies and the solar system remained in their fixed positions,
that they were always like that and always shall be like that. This
scenario could very well do without a creator. It was around this
time that someone said that science has all the answers and that we
do not have to believe anything that science cannot prove. That position
has changed drastically and today the greatest of scientists are still
trying to get answers to simple questions on matter, space and time.
No one thinks any more that science has all the answers. |
| In 1927 it was observed that the universe is not static
but expanding. This meant a definite point of origin for the universe.
The concept of creation became relevant. Now the Big Bang hypothesis
rules cosmology and at the most recent findings the origin of the
universe took place some 13.75 billion years ago. The whole process
of cosmic evolution from a tiny fraction of a second after the Big
Bang to date is accurately worked out by cosmologists and quantum
physicists. But no one has any clue as to how or from where the original
matter-energy complex of the Big bang came to be. According to one
scientist such questions are left to the poets and philosophers. Recently,
however certain scientists have proposed a hypothesis which had no
scientific proof at all. According to them something can pop out of
nothing. This is called vacuum fluctuation. Before the appearance
of our universe there is only a ‘vacuum state’. This is
not quite emptiness but a sort of ‘fullness’. They compare
this to a beer cauldron from which numerous bubbles pop out. Our universe
appeared as one such bubble. It goes on. If we follow the logic carefully
we see that here again we are leaving the realm of physics and entering
that of metaphysics; because the vacuum state mentioned here sounds
very much like the ‘sunyatha’ of Buddhism or an infinite
being. |
| Certain observations about the spin of the galaxies
in the eighties made the scientists acknowledge the fact that the
known forms of matter – matter that make up stars, planets,
asteroids as well as the interstellar gases – is not enough
to account for the total mass responsible for the observed spin of
the galaxies. To explain away this discrepancy they introduced the
idea that ‘the required additional mass is provided by something
called dark matter’. |
| According to the laws of physics and common sense,
the expansion of the universe should be slowing down. In attempts
to record this deceleration, two scientists observed in 1998, and
later confirmed that instead of decelerating the universe is accelerating.
Instead of slowing down the universe is speeding up. To explain this
discrepancy they brought in the concept of dark energy. At the latest
estimate the universe is made of 73% dark energy, 23% dark mater and
4% ordinary matter. What is dark energy or dark matter? Nobody knows.
According to one scientist, “the terms, dark matter and dark
energy are expressions of our ignorance.” If science cannot
satisfactorily explain what our physical world is made of, how can
we expect it to provide answers in the spiritual realm, the realm
of God, souls and the like. |
