[Avodah] Some thoughts on a recent book "Knocking on Heaven's Door: How Physics and Scientific Thinking Illuminate the Universe and the Modern World"

[Rich, Joel]

I sent the email below to the author after seeing her interviewed on TV (see second review here: http://torahmusings.com/2011/10/audio-roundup-5/comment-page-1/#comment-42399 . Am interested in any discussion, other than about my run on sentences (be nice-it's still not yet hoshana rabbah :-))
GT
Joel Rich
=====================
Dear Dr. Randall:
I finished part one of Knocking on Heaven's Door, which I believe has the material on religion that you referenced.
I wanted to put a few thoughts on paper, perhaps inarticulately, to give you some sense of my reaction. I would enjoy the opportunity to discuss it with you because I think the topic lends itself more to interactive discussion rather than to correspondence but fully understand that you are a very busy person (especially with the neutrino "thing" :-)) and do appreciate the fact that you even took the time to respond to my original e-mail so I don't have an expectation of a response.
On page 56, you discussed external (e.g. God) influences that would have to be transmitted by a mechanism. I am curious whether you are a determinist, which to me means, do you believe that when science fully understands the chemistry and biology of the brain that one would be able to tell for each individual exactly what they will do at every particular time? If that turns out to be the case, then I think we are in agreement that religion and science would be in conflict as religion certainly believes in an individual having free will.
As to your original thoughts on the logical contradiction (bottom page 57), I am sure that there are many religious sects that do believe that science and religion are at odds and "choose" religion. For example, within Orthodoxy (Jewish) [where I inhabit some subsection], there are those that believe it is heresy to believe that the world is anything other than 5,772 years old (tomorrow actually) or that the world was created in 7 literal days (notwithstanding the fact that the sun wasn't created on the first day in the bible).
However, there are those rationalists who believe that science and religion do not conflict (and I use the word rationalist with a sort of grin because I imagine you are thinking to yourself how can you be rational and religious and I agree that even the most rational religious person must take some leap of faith rather than just leave things as an open question [e.g. where did the big bang come from?]). However, as I understand it, our goal is to reduce that leap of faith to the extent possible. Maimonides is famous for saying that he believes in creation ex-nihilo but should science prove that this was not the case, he would reinterpret scripture to be consistent with the scientific evidence (i.e., there is only one truth and reason and revelation will converge to it).
I guess the real question that you raise is who's in charge? I don't see why one would necessarily believe that there must be a contradiction here. Why couldn't the creator of the universe create the universe in such a way that the scientific rules you study are the rules the creator embedded in the universe.
I'd also point out that Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik understood Genesis 1:28 ("and subdue it") as a religious requirement to harness the forces of nature for the betterment of all mankind.
Obviously, there's a lot to say, but I fear my earlier flatlander remarks may apply here.
A closing thought:
Hamlet Act I, Scene 5
And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.


But in our case I'm guessing:
I'll tell ya about the magic
It'll free your soul
but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll.


Keep up the good work!
Regards,
Joel Rich


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