When I studied physics in high school, I learned the "truth" that a body can exist in only one point at a time. I also learned the corollary that two bodies cannot co-exist on the same point of space. I am sure that these lessons in physics were very helpful to me in later life, especially while driving down a freeway.  Alice reminds me of that old principle every time I get on my Harley Davidson.

Then I was introduced to the findings of quantum physics or quantum mechanics. Now we know by experiment that, for instance, one electron can simultaneously take different paths - an infinite number of them - at the same time. Sounds absurd? Not to worry, says physicist Richard Feynman: "Quantum mechanics describes nature as absurd from the point of view of common sense. And it fully agrees with experiment. So I hope you can accept nature as She is - absurd."

What a change of tone we are hearing from thinkers. Formally, we were told to believe nothing we could not understand. So we had to jettison belief in miracles, the incarnation, the atonement, the resurrection, the Trinity and the entire body of Christian doctrine. Now theoretical physicists are telling us that we are to believe their conclusions about the fabric of our universe even if and when it defies the logic of common sense. The universe is unpredictable at the smallest level, even absurd. So what looks like patterns and laws and principles may not be. Our cosmos (Greek = order) may have the appearance of chaos after all, at least from the point of view of classical upbringing.

Don't misunderstand. I do not expect quantum physics to prove the doctrine of the Trinity, for instance. But that foundational truth of Christianity, that God is both three and one, appears to be more in harmony with the essence of our universe than we before imagined.

We didn’t wait for theoretical physicists to give us permission to believe the doctrines of the Incarnation and the Trinity.  We believed these on the basis of God’s revelation in Scripture.  And I am sad that many theoretical physicists are unbelievers or agnostics. Yet all truth is God's truth, and even a blind hog will find an acorn now and then.

Pardon me for grinning, but I can't wait for the next time some professor, educated beyond his intelligence, tells me that I am a simpleton for believing in the resurrection of Christ. "That's absurd," he is sure to say. "And how can God be both three and one?"

Well, sir, first would you answer a question for me? How is it that a little electron can travel an infinite number of paths simultaneously? What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?

Pastor Alan Day