Inspired of course by the thread about how the possibility of life beyond earth and how it relates to religion.
If in the future, somehow humanity figured out that we are not existing in the only universe, and in fact there is at least one other universe in existence, perhaps many more. We also know that this universe also contains another earth full of humanity.
How do you think Christianity would react if the multiverse was discovered?
Personally speaking, how would you react in your faith if it is discovered that there is more then just one universe out there?
Technically, the dynamic of another universe outside of this one would not be that hard to fathom - and would no more problematic than understanding the ways that black holes truly exist in our universe. There were other threads on the issue which went more in-depth on the matter (including discussing the issue of alien life or planets with humans on it....similar to how shows like Star Gate have done) such as
Examining the film "Contact" & wondering what you feel Science/Faith plays in life?. There are others who'
ve spoken on the issue, such as Dr. Michael Heiser:
Others have spoken as well which may be of interest:
Shows like Star Trek have done a good job in illustrating differing realities that can be possible with multiple realities - as I'm reminded of examples like
the Nexus from "Star Trek Generations" which allowed someone to go to any place at any time...
Star Trek: Generations (5/8) Movie CLIP - The Nexus (1994) HD - YouTube
Star Trek Generations Picard In The Nexus - YouTube
Their ideas
for parallel universes and multiverse never seemed opposite of what scripture seemed to note .....e
specially if holding to a theological system that allows for aspects of the present or the future to be open and
some things not set in stone.. But in the practical, Scientists have proposed this view in something known as String Theory...
String Theory....the theory which says that at the basic structure of matter and space, all matter is ultimately composed of "string-like" structures that vibrate at different frequencies and energy levels. String Theory also predicts that there exists multiple external universes to our own that sometimes bounce into each other and collide. For the historical basis of this, one can research when scientists began to accept inflation, a theory developed by American physicist Alan Guth and his Soviet counterpart, Andrei Linde, in the early 1980s. For inflation holds that shortly after the Big Bang, a small shard of space-time underwent extremely rapid expansion, ultimately to become what we see around us: a universe of galaxies receding from one another. That theory opened up the possibility that other chunks of space-time went through their own inflation, creating a tremendous number of “pocket universes.”
The idea gradually grew into what is now known as the multi*verse theory, the notion that our observable universe is just one of perhaps an infinite number of cosmic domains, each with its own version of the laws of physics. In this view there is no need to explain why our universe has a particular set of physical laws, since somewhere out there exists a pocket universe for each possible set.....and of course, string theory inevitably got interwoven within that.
For more info:
For more information, the November 2008 issue of Scientific American magazine devotes an article to "Colliding Universes" which have different dimensions and structures to our own....and there is the suggestion that perhaps just such a collision was the cause of the event that we call "The Big Bang". Some would argue that there be a common thread between the "alternate universes" of physics and the places described in the Bible.....and for those who don't believe in Hell (or Heaven), there is a very real possibility that future discoveries in science will confirm such a place can exist, possibly as one of those external universes to our own.
Some of the examples of such would be seen in how the Bible makes reference to a "bottomless pit" ( Luke 8:30-32 , Revelation 9:1-3, Revelation 20:2-4 , etc). To many, it could not be a better description of certain objects in space which have been proven to exist, that we call "Black Holes". For they have gravity so great that they trap matter and even light, inside, forever, in a concentrated geometric point in which the density is infinite and the temperature is infinitely high. Many scientists have specualated that these may be the doorways, or "Wormholes" to these external universes since the very nature of Black Holes is to be much like a vaccume that sucks down matter and disperses it on the other side/"mouth" fo the Hole in its inverse. There is also a luminous belt, called an "accretion disk", that surrounds these dark objects, which is flat and gives off radiation, much like a "lake of fire".
On String Theory, another example of how it can be used is in reference (biblically speaking) to the other realm or dimension in which angels and/or God may exist....as even Paul spoke about a ‘third heaven’ (2 Corinthians 12:2) and these may be compartments or areas of a spiritual realm or dimension. Even as it concerns concepts we know today that others may use in arguing against String Theory, it is established in the scientific community that all theories/ facts are ultimately provisional even when we may have good reason to be very confident about some of them.
Others may disagree....but I think that the science does give many credible things that lend to what scripture already describes.
Christians, like the Old-Earth/Progressive Creationist, Dr Hugh Ross, have actively supported the string theory camp and hold to the view that the other dimensions invoked by string theory could be the ‘other’ spiritual dimensions mentioned in Scripture. And as it concerns how other believers hold to the thought of string/theory & differing dimensions being in line with the scriptures, as Hugh Ross said best:
“Did you know that our universe likely began with 10 space-time dimensions? Yet we can only access four—length, width, height, and time. The Creator of all these dimensions must exist in the equivalent of 11 or more. So, what’s impossible in 4 dimensions—like listening to billions of prayers at once—is no problem for God.”
Whether one believes in the "Big Bang" theory where all matter/existence in all things beginning in a manner such as as goes the traditional view of Creationism when saying the Universe/all forms of existence began----or whether one holds to the "String Theory" view that many scientists hold to where matter has always existed/taken differing forms, I can go both ways....for its all beautiful--
