Two streams from the same source?

I have already written about the mysterious origin of the several Chinese characters. Today I want to think back to beginnings of recorded history and ancient legends. The Hebrew Torah records some the earliest events near the origin of man. Is there any record outside of this book that would provide additional corroboration? Amazing yes and from a very unlikely source - ancient Chinese writers. The Chinese scholar Yuan Zhimin has made a major contribution by connecting these two ancient sources. For more on Yuan Zhimin's work, go to the China Soul website.

Here are some amazing parallel accounts.

1. In the book of Genesis we read about the first man and women, Adam and Eve. In Chinese legends they are known as An Deng and Nu Wa.

2. The creation story in Chinese writings does not appear but the Chinese poet Qu Yuan raised the questions "Who made An Deng the ruler? How was Nu Wa's body made?"

3. God finished his creation and rested on the seventh day. The Chinese classic Zhou Yi states "the way of the heavens comes around in seven days".

4. In Genesis, a river flowed from Eden that water the garden and it separated in four headwaters. In the Chinese classic Huai Nan Zi, there were four headwaters under the heavens - divine springs for the sustenance of herbs and nourishment of all things.

5. Genesis records two tree in the garden: the Tree of Life that gave immortality and the Tree of Good and Evil made one wise as God. The Chinese text "The Book of Mountains and Seas" tells us that in the beginning was a tree of immortality and tree of sacredness - also known as the Tree of Wisdom. Whoever ate of it's fruit would be as wise as God.

6. When Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, the were banished from the garden with a flaming sword to guard the entrance. Two Chinese classics, Shang Shu and Guo Yu, tell us because of sin, God instructed an angel to block the way to heaven thereby cutting of interaction with between God and man.

7. The Bible says God flooded the Earth to cleanse it from evil. Several Chinese classics refer to a person name Gong Gong who led a revolt that provoked divine judgement. The columns supporting heaven collapsed and the cables holding the earth broke and water covered the earth.

8. After Noah, the Bible describes the world as having one language which was later confused by God due to man's pride. Beijing Television station excerpt tells of ancient Chinese legends that speak of a world wide language call Yashi. The Loulan inscriptions shed light on this mysterious age.

John Calvin writes in the introduction to his commentary on Genesis "It is indeed probable that shortly after the building of Babel, the memory of [mans origins] ... was obliterated." and "... no nation, the posterity of Abraham excepted, knew for more than two thousand succesive years, either from what fountain itself had sprung, or when the universal race of man began to exist." But had Calvin been informed by this research highlighted above, he may ask as Yuan Zhimin asks "Could the two ancient cultures of Israel and China be mysteriously linked? Could the wondrous tales of God and man told along the banks of the Jordan and Yellow River flow from the same source?"

Falling Up?

Today I am taking the role of a motivation writer but this writer is actually writing to himself and not to others. In physics there is a quantity call entropy. The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy always increases with a system. To put it more commonly, amount of disorder in a system increases unless there is energy put into the system. That is, the natural path is toward disorder. We can all see this everyday life by just looking around our room; the natural path is towards disorder. Applied to life, I notice that my natural path is not toward knowledge and improvement. Even at my advanced age I feel there is room for improvement. Therefore I need to be more intentional about these matters. I am involved in my work at Rockwell, Chinese language, Bible study. Not satisfied with mediocrity, I need to be more intentional about rising above the ordinary. The natural path will not get me there. I need to look for the time-wasters in life and use that valuable time wisely. I need to carefully read one technical article each day to expand my knowledge at work. I need to be disciplined to read 30 minutes a day from my Chinese elementary reader. I need to be more purposeful in Bible study. All these sound like New Year's resolutions which no one can keep therefore I put it in writing to remind myself. I know this, I won't drift into excellence.

Whatever our desires, maybe we should all reflect on being more intentional and avoid drifting into mediocrity. I know if I drop a stone, the natural path is to fall down. I have decided to fall up.

The Razor's Edge

The normal person goes here and there not aware of the physical laws around us that make everything possible. This is how it should be. But the abnormal person, i.e. physicists, think about such things. One reality of the universe that is known by all Astrophysicists is the "fine-tuning" of the universe. By "fine-tuning" scientists mean this: the fundamental laws of nature and the parameters are physics are exactly as they must be for life to exist. The exactness and the number of parameters that are as the must be is shocking. One physist said "there are more than 30 septate physical or cosmological parameters that require precise calibration in order to product a life-sustaining universe". Here are some examples.

Fine Tuning of the Physical Constants of the Universe
PARAMETER	Max. Deviation
Ratio of Electrons:Protons	1:1037
Ratio of Electromagnetic Force:Gravity	1:1040
Expansion Rate of Universe	1:1055
Mass of Universe	1:1059
Cosmological Constant	1:10120

These numbers represent the maximum deviation from the accepted values, that would either prevent the universe from existing now, not having matter, or be unsuitable for any form of life. Without these parameters set to where they are, life - any life - would be impossible. There are many more examples that are listed in the addendum to this blog posting. All these are known by all astrophysicists regardless whether they are theists for not.

Former professor of theoretical physics Paul Davis, "Through my scientific work I have come to believe more and more strongly that the physical universe is put together with an ingenuity so astonishing that I cannot accept it has a brute fact. I cannot believe the our existence to this universe is a mere quirk of fate, and accident of history, an incidental blip in the great cosmic drama."

Cosmologist Edward Harrison, "The fine tuning of the universe provides prima facie evidence of deistic design."

Astrophysicist Fred Hoyle, "I do not believe that any scientists who examined the evidence would fail to draw the inference that the laws of nuclear physics have been deliberately designed with regard to the consequences they product inside stars"

Discover Magazine, "The universe is unlikely. Very unlikely. Deeply, shockingly unlikely."

1. Strong nuclear force constant
   if larger : no hydrogen would form; atomic nuclei for most life-essential elements would be unstable; thus, no life chemistry
   if smaller : no elements heavier than hydrogen would form: again, no life chemistry
2. Weak nuclear force constant
   if larger : too much hydrogen would convert to helium in big bang; hence, stars would convert too much matter into heavy elements making life chemistry impossible
   if smaller : too little helium would be produced from big bang; hence, stars would convert too little matter into heavy elements making life chemistry impossible
3. Gravitational force constant
   if larger : stars would be too hot and would burn too rapidly and too unevenly for life chemistry
   if smaller : stars would be too cool to ignite nuclear fusion; thus, many of the elements needed for life chemistry would never form
4. Electromagnetic force constant
   if greater : chemical bonding would be disrupted; elements more massive than boron would be unstable to fission
   if lesser : chemical bonding would be insufficient for life chemistry
5. Ratio of electromagnetic force constant to gravitational force constant
   if larger : all stars would be at least 40% more massive than the sun; hence, stellar burning would be too brief and too uneven for life support
   if smaller : all stars would be at least 20% less massive than the sun, thus incapable of producing heavy elements
6. Ratio of electron to proton mass
   if larger : chemical bonding would be insufficient for life chemistry
   if smaller : same as above
7. Ratio of number of protons to number of electrons
   if larger : electromagnetism would dominate gravity, preventing galaxy, star, and planet formation
   if smaller : same as above
8. Expansion rate of the universe
   if larger : no galaxies would form
   if smaller : universe would collapse, even before stars formed
9. Entropy level of the universe
   if larger : stars would not form within proto-galaxies
   if smaller : no proto-galaxies would form
10. Mass density of the universe
    if larger : overabundance of deuterium from big bang would cause stars to burn rapidly, too rapidly for life to form
    if smaller : insufficient helium from big bang would result in a shortage of heavy elements
11. velocity of light
    if faster : stars would be too luminous for life support if slower : stars would be insufficiently luminous for life support
12. Age of the universe
    if older : no solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would exist in the right (for life) part of the galaxy
    if younger : solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would not yet have formed
13. Initial uniformity of radiation
    if more uniform : stars, star clusters, and galaxies would not have formed
    if less uniform : universe by now would be mostly black holes and empty space
14. Average distance between galaxies
    if larger : star formation late enough in the history of the universe would be hampered by lack of material
    if smaller : gravitational tug-of-wars would destabilize the sun's orbit
15. Density of galaxy cluster
    if denser : galaxy collisions and mergers would disrupt the sun's orbit
    if less dense : star formation late enough in the history of the universe would be hampered by lack of material
16. Average distance between stars
    if larger : heavy element density would be too sparse for rocky planets to form
    if smaller : planetary orbits would be too unstable for life
17. Fine structure constant (describing the fine-structure splitting of spectral lines) if larger : all stars would be at least 30% less massive than the sun
    if larger than 0.06: matter would be unstable in large magnetic fields
    if smaller : all stars would be at least 80% more massive than the sun
18. Decay rate of protons
    if greater : life would be exterminated by the release of radiation
    if smaller : universe would contain insufficient matter for life
19. 12 C to 16 O nuclear energy level ratio
    if larger : universe would contain insufficient oxygen for life
    if smaller : universe would contain insufficient carbon for life
20. Ground state energy level for 4 He
    if larger : universe would contain insufficient carbon and oxygen for life
    if smaller : same as above
21. Decay rate of 8 Be
    if slower : heavy element fusion would generate catastrophic explosions in all the stars
    if faster : no element heavier than beryllium would form; thus, no life chemistry
22. Ratio of neutron mass to proton mass
    if higher : neutron decay would yield too few neutrons for the formation of many life-essential elements
    if lower : neutron decay would produce so many neutrons as to collapse all stars into neutron stars or black holes
23. Initial excess of nucleons over anti-nucleons
    if greater : radiation would prohibit planet formation
    if lesser : matter would be insufficient for galaxy or star formation
24. Polarity of the water molecule
    if greater : heat of fusion and vaporization would be too high for life
    if smaller : heat of fusion and vaporization would be too low for life; liquid water would not work as a solvent for life chemistry; ice would not float, and a runaway freeze-up would result
25. Supernovae eruptions
    if too close, too frequent, or too late : radiation would exterminate life on the planet
    if too distant, too infrequent, or too soon : heavy elements would be too sparse for rocky planets to form
26. White dwarf binaries
    if too few : insufficient fluorine would exist for life chemistry
    if too many : planetary orbits would be too unstable for life
    if formed too soon : insufficient fluorine production
    if formed too late : fluorine would arrive too late for life chemistry
27. Ratio of exotic matter mass to ordinary matter mass
    if larger : universe would collapse before solar-type stars could form
    if smaller : no galaxies would form
28. Number of effective dimensions in the early universe
    if larger : quantum mechanics, gravity, and relativity could not coexist; thus, life would be impossible
    if smaller : same result
29. Number of effective dimensions in the present universe
    if smaller : electron, planet, and star orbits would become unstable
    if larger : same result
30. Mass of the neutrino
    if smaller : galaxy clusters, galaxies, and stars would not form
    if larger : galaxy clusters and galaxies would be too dense
31. Big bang ripples
    if smaller : galaxies would not form; universe would expand too rapidly
    if larger : galaxies/galaxy clusters would be too dense for life; black holes would dominate; universe would collapse before life-site could form
32. Size of the relativistic dilation factor
    if smaller : certain life-essential chemical reactions will not function properly
    if larger : same result
33. Uncertainty magnitude in the Heisenberg uncertainty principle
    if smaller : oxygen transport to body cells would be too small and certain life-essential elements would be unstable
    if larger : oxygen transport to body cells would be too great and certain life-essential elements would be unstable
34. Cosmological constant

if larger : universe would expand too quickly to form solar-type stars

Source: http://www.designanduniverse.com/articles/fine_tunning_parameters_for_universe.php

Older and Wiser?

As are getting older, we are getting wiser. We have observed many things; youth and age, success and failure, health and sickness, high position and low position. We have seen cycles of fashion and ideas come and go. There is no need to rant and rave about every event; no need to complain about this person or that person. Things are not so black and white but rather shades of gray. Situations and people are always more complicated than surface appearances. If we condemn too quickly we make ourselves look foolish. Therefore we become slow to condemn and quick to forgive. As Steven Covey once remarked "seek to understand before you seek to be understood."

Think of an individual or organization that has upset you. Write an email to them saying that you understand the situation. For example, has the oil leak made you upset at BP? Don't swim with the crowd; be counter-cultural. Instead write BP an email thanking them for their efforts and encourage them in the difficult work it is to extract oil from the ocean floor. Has a public servant annoyed you? Tell them you understand how difficult their job is and encourage them in their work. Have you experienced poor service in a restaurant? Tell them you understand the pressures they are under and thank them for their efforts.

If you do this, notice how this makes you feel.

Who is pulling the strings?

Who is pulling the strings?

The March Discover Magazine has an interview with Columbia physicist Brian Greene regarding the very esoteric theory of the universe called "String Theory". For those PBS watchers, we can remember Dr. Greene had a special program on string theory with very good graphic illustrations. Both for the physicist as well as others the theory is plenty esoteric. In fact, one has to wonder where science ends and where speculation begins. String theory is an attempt to bring together quantum theory and general relativity. This theory attempts to unify all theories and some people say it the theory of everything. For those wishing to read more here is the link to the string theory wiki. One of the strange results of this theory is that there is (at least) 11 dimensions along with multiple universes. One of the peculiar things to me is the lack of scientific verification. In the past science has been influenced by the philosophy of logical positivism which requires all science to be either verifiable or falsifiable. Most of the confirmation of this theory is purely mathematical. See this quote from Jim Holt concerning string theory.

"For more than a generation, physicists have been chasing a will-o’-the-wisp called string theory. The beginning of this chase marked the end of what had been three-quarters of a century of progress. Dozens of string-theory conferences have been held, hundreds of new Ph.D.s have been minted, and thousands of papers have been written. Yet, for all this activity, not a single new testable prediction has been made, not a single theoretical puzzle has been solved. In fact, there is no theory so far—just a set of hunches and calculations suggesting that a theory might exist. And, even if it does, this theory will come in such a bewildering number of versions that it will be of no practical use: a Theory of Nothing." -- Jim Holt.

Here is how Brian Greene responds in the Discovery magazine interview.

"Critics of string theory have called it unscientific because it is not falsifiable. How can we evaluate string theory?
Falsifiability for a theory is great, but a theory can still be respectable even if it is not falsifiable, as long as it is verifiable. There are aspects of a theory that you can go out and look for and confirm, and that’s another way to gain confidence in it. For instance, it’s really hard to falsify the statement that there is life on another planet, but you can verify it by finding one example. We’re hoping that certain features of string theory are confirmable."

Yet despite the lack of evidence string theory it is a hot topic in theoretical physics. It is ironic that 50 years ago scientists criticized theists for believing in a transcendent world (universe) that is not detectable by instrumentation. Today scientists believe in an undetectable transcendent universe because the math points to it. Could it be that naturalists and theists are coming closer together?