Monday, September 23, 2019

The Christian Stance On String Theory

Some Christians might find themselves intimidated by references to very precise scientific concepts, as many non-Christians might, and there is certainly no shortage of scientific phrases and ideas that the general public is unfamiliar with, one of them being string theory.  Much of quantum physics is perceived as inaccessible to the average layperson, but, in actuality, the difficulty and importance of quantum physics is often dramatically overemphasized.  Regardless, it is important for people to be familiar with the terminology of quantum physics, even if only to navigate conversations with those who misunderstand it to be more philosophically grand than it is.

In light of this, Christians who are interested in the most modern or precise scientific developments might wonder about the relationship between quantum physics, philosophy, and Christianity.  What would the Christian response be if string theory was somehow verified at a future time?  To clarify an important point, I do not mean "Christian response" as in the actual reactions within the church, but I am referring to the sound response to string theory according to Christian theology.  There is and has often been an enormous difference between the claims of Christians, both genuine or alleged, and the claims of Christianity, although the two would likely be fairly close in this case.

A brief summary of string theory is called for before many people would be able to deduce the Christian stance.  According to string theory, the subatomic particles that contribute to atoms can be further broken down, with some of them reducing to quarks.  Quarks themselves then reduce down to vibrating strings of immaterial energy.  There is the associated notion that there are 10 dimensions, but there is nothing about strings of energy sustaining matter that logically requires 10 dimensions, regardless of what non-rationalistic physicists claim.  Ultimately, it is the tenet that energy is at the foundation of matter that is most relevant to the issue at hand.

As logic, not science, reveals, the uncaused cause (God) created the universe--or, at the very least, it started the causal chain that eventually led to the creation of the universe [1]--which means that there would be no subatomic particles without the existence of the uncaused cause.  Since string theory posits that strings of energy are the foundation of quarks and therefore of material objects, whatever created matter would have created the strings of energy that matter reduces down to.  God would therefore be responsible for the existence of the energy strings and the minute particles they form.  There is nothing about string theory that even slightly challenges mere theism, and the existence of an uncaused cause is a logical fact even without regard for whether Christianity is true.

Of course, string theory is far from verified or verifiable, and there is thus no need for any Christian to feel threatened by it even if there was a discrepancy between string theory and some aspect of Biblical theology.  Christianity agrees with basic theism that a preexisting entity created matter, and basic theism is affirmed by the logical facts that establish the existence of an uncaused cause.  If string theory is ultimately true, it is entirely consistent with theism, and the metaphysical ramifications for the nature of matter would be quite paradoxical [2].  While the notion of strings of energy forming material particles at a subatomic level might seem very foreign to some, it is absolutely irrelevant to the veracity of theism in itself and has only minimal implications within Christian theology at most.


[1].  https://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-uncaused-cause.html

[2].  https://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-pseudoscience-of-string-theory-part_3.html

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