Food For Thought is a public theology & Bible advocacy blog for Eternity from Sophia Think Tank’s David Wilson, who gathers top Christian thinkers to take a closer look at how the Christian faith addresses matters in society at large every week.

An article by James Quach on The Conversation talks of the problems of science being misrepresented by media, the attempted popularisation of physics, and the supposed overthrowing of the big bang theory. I related to them all. Not because I’m a scientist – I’m  far from it – but because my two disciplines of theology and social science are often frustratingly misrepresented by the media, simplistically popularised, and offer some opinions on the big bang theory.

Firstly, the article. James Quach is a PhD student at Melbourne University researching in the area of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics.  He was a part of a team using a model of space-time known as quantum graphity which ‘proposes a mechanism to explain how space-time emerged, and ultimately stands as a quantum theory of gravity’.  Quach goes on to conclude that if this model was ‘found to be correct, it would radically change our understanding of the origins of the universe, including its earliest moments, which the current theory of the Big Bang cannot explain’.  He further states that it is early days and that much more work needs to be done but that there have been some interesting results so far.

As a ‘science/physics layperson’ I thank James Quach for his honesty and humility.

Secondly, the Media misrepresentation.  Quach is concerned that the Media got a hold of the story and sensationalised it.  One example is the Sydney Morning Herald’s headline ‘Melbourne researchers rewrite Big Bang theory’.  Not only did this misrepresent the research (the Big Bang theory was not even mentioned in their paper) but it became an embarrassment to Quach and his colleagues within the scientific community as Quach felt he had to explain that he never claimed, in order to hype up the story, that the ‘Big Bang theory was going to be overthrown by quantum graphity’.

I can relate to this.  Religion is often misrepresented in the media and religious practitioners are left trying to explain, deny, and correct.  But, once it’s in the popular media it seems very hard to change popular opinion.  The same could be said of my time spent in local Government in the City of Melbourne, in Educational administration, and much of my work in community services, especially in the area of prison reform. My prayer is that we will all become much wiser in engaging with the media, seeking to understand the frameworks, the assumptions, the biases of whatever we are reading or watching or hearing.  The Bible has much wisdom that speaks into this prayer, wisdom that calls us to be discerning, reflective, and very good listeners.

Lastly, the quest to understand our origins.  Quach finishes his article by stating ‘If it (quantum graphity) proves correct then it will highlight a new and richer understanding of our universe and its origins’.  To understand further the mechanics of our beginnings as a Universe and as human beings is a noble task for Scientists.  Well done.  May they continue to be honest, humble, and openly critical as they carry on such a pursuit.  I’m no scientist and I have nothing to add along those lines.  But I am a Philosopher, a Theologian, and a Social Scientist.  From these perspectives I have plenty to add but there is so little space in these blogs!  However….

Understanding the mechanics (or, more correctly, having theories about the mechanics) of universe origins does nothing to address questions of identity, significance and a sense of belonging.  We are here.  We exist and we are in need of the deepest questions to be addressed.  This is the domain of Philosophy, Theology, and the Social Sciences and they offer us much wisdom on these things that really matter.  Science can offer us much wisdom on some very important matters as well but the Scientist is stepping outside of the role of Science when addressing these questions of meaning.

The Hebrew King David was speaking as a Philosopher/Theologian and as an Artist when he reports on his reflection of the Universe.  As he considers the heavens, the stars, and the moon he is moved to praise God who is behind all he is observing (no matter what mechanics were used to get them there!).  He is then moved to reflect on humanness and our place in the created order.  In doing so he concludes with a magnificent portrayal of the dignity of what it is to be a human being.  (Read the refection in the Bible, Psalm 8.)

Those of us who study all of this from a theological perspective need not be threatened by the Sciences.  But, those of you who study such things from a scientific perspective must avoid the error of thinking that you have the whole story.  You don’t.  There is much room for us to work together.

Food for thought.

Image: sxc.hu/gildrm