Science, Spiritualty, and Unity

         introduction: the Science of God

   A scientific consideration of the universe reveals one complex interacting whole, the total reality, God.  Although God must be more than the physical universe, yet God must encompass the whole physical universe.  Since all things exist within the totality, let us consider the nature of the totality from our limited point of view.

   Physicists have shown that the entire universe has a common origin in the ‘big bang’ event.  Although one may debate on the exact nature of this event, the cosmic background radiation is considered proof that the original state of the entire universe was pure energy.  We have recently determined that this original energy field, which has since expanded into the current universe, was and is non-isotopic.  This means that it exhibited an extremely complex distribution pattern from the very beginning.  During the initial creation of this physical universe there was a time when all of space was filled with light.  The patterns in the light cooled and expanded: slowing down to create the entire known physical universe.

   From this original vision of God, when the entire universe was pure light, has descended all of creation.  Originally the basic sub-atomic particle-waves and the forces that govern their interaction were determined.  Eventually these particle-waves formed hydrogen atoms and finally the first stars.  In the hearts of those stars and in their supernova deaths the more complex elements were formed.  The star-dust from the original stars collected and gave birth to the more complex stars of the current universe.  We, our Sun and the Earth are recycled star dust.  Here on Earth groups of these sub-atomic particles known as molecules formed into living cells.  Eventually these cells formed more complex organisms within the biosphere.  Finally we have gained the ability to consider these wonders with reason and the scientific method.

   One of the goals of modern physics is defining the unifying theory to explain these most basic sub-atomic particles and the forces that govern their interaction.  These sub-atomic particles are the indivisible building blocks of which the entire universe is created.  The laws that describe these sub-atomic particles and the forces that govern the behavior of their interactions apply universally to the entire universe.  Since these basic constituents of the universe have a common origin, there must exist a set of laws that show how they are related and how they interact. 

   The entire universe is one creation following a unified set of laws.  All separate things are aspects or characteristics of the one totality.  The universe is one complex interacting whole.  The basic components of the universe had the exact form at the beginning of creation that allowed for our evolution against all odds.  The basic building blocks dance together as endless forms that evolve within the order of the all encompassing laws of the totality.  The entire process has been breeding ever more aware beings.  Fifteen billion years passed before here and now, where humanity reaches out in thought to wonder about the total universe.

          3. Divine Mysteries   (20010314)

   Our energy is recycled sunshine.  Photons that bounced around the interior of the sun for a million years, traveled ninety-three million miles to the Earth in eight minutes, to be absorbed and warm us.  Some of these energy packets of sunshine are trapped by plants and provide us with our energy.  From the Earth’s early age of algae blooms to the present, plants have stored the energy of the Sun and also brought us oxygen.  Oxygen feeds all creature’s metabolism, as we burn foods to regain the energy of the Sun that is stored in them.  Every movement we make and every breath we take is powered by the Sun.  Our material being provides a window for our consciousness’ perceptions.  We are a mixture of the Earth and the Sun in an amazingly complex state of interaction.  We see that we cannot separate ourselves from these two great parts of the totality.  Since the galaxy provides the stable environment for the Earth and the Sun, we see that the unity is complete.

    All of time is a very ordered and inter-dependent journey towards the current complexity that gives us the illusion of a separate existence.  When the big bang created sub-atomic particles from the light, they had the right shapes and relationships to create the atoms that formed stars, that created more complex atoms, that fit together to form these material bodies, that shine out with consciousness.  The entire evolution of life could be considered a refinement of consciousness.  At every level the stage is set for the next level.

   One celled life evolved for a long time.  As the algae blooms gave rise to an oxygen filled atmosphere and filtered out deadly ultraviolet radiation, life moved onto the land.  We return carbon dioxide.  We also return nitrogen as fertilizer.  We are inter-dependent parts of the greater order.  Multi-cellular organisms develop increasingly complex sensory organisms to enhance their awareness.  The complexity of the levels of order that each paved the way for the next phase implies a continuous unified process that has always acted to guide material evolution towards increased perception and knowledge.

   The philosopher using the scientific method must admit that human life and each of us individually are created within and are dependent upon a higher order.  The universe is not our creation, but we share the power of the universe as creative beings within our realms.  We are part of the natural world and must always be so.  We exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen as a need imposed upon us by the chemical nature of the Earth’s body.  We do not perform this function as an act of free will, nor as a creation of our beings, but rather as a need imposed upon us by the chemical qualities of the Earth’s body.

   We are shaped by the forces around us.  Pressures from the many forces that surround us on many levels set forth the limited range of paths before us.  We move within the groove set before us.  Humanity learns and refines our consciousness regardless of many of our choices and their limited ups and downs.  Yet since we are creative entities, we also share in the ordering of this human realm of Earth and Sun.  The universal physical laws that apply to the scale of the universe as a whole, shares the ordering power of creation with each of us, as parts of the whole.  One nature exists and every part of the whole shares the one nature.

   We are not separate from the plants and animals that sustain us.  We are one relational piece of the biosphere.  Nature moves slowly forward and then makes leaps.  If we make the correct choices we could create a leap of consciousness that is sustainable.  We are compelled to look out at the stars with wonderment.  If our choices are made with patience, keeping the future continually in our sight, we will gain the awareness required to unravel the material nature and touch other worlds.

   It is the personal challenge of every living human to train their mind as a tool to overcome personal illusions and false awareness.  We must completely fulfill the task of expanding our consciousness to all realms, from the sub-atomic to the heavenly worlds of the universe.  Indeed we must even consider the inner realms, as we have become conscious of our consciousness.  The inner realms appear to be as infinite as the universe that surrounds us.

   We must look again at the concept of a personal God and consider with the scientific method the question, ‘Can an individual have a relationship with the Divine?’.  We have clearly shown that the concept of the individual, as something that has existence without the whole is an illusion.  The body is formed of Earth and Sun, completely dependent as an interacting part of the whole.  The mind is a tool of this material form, while our consciousness within is the awareness soaking in the perceptions that our form allows.  We must truly conclude that each of us are a divine phenomenon in relationship to the whole, which is also a divine phenomenon.  The scientific answer is that we are divine and we are in a person relationship with the divine.

   As divine entities, we make choices that affect our environment: materially, emotionally and mentally.  We have a responsibility for the Earth, since we share in her body’s systems.  The Earth enforces the relationships of the environment, as we are the cells of her body.  We also have a responsibility to our own beings, to seek physical, emotional and mental health and enhance our personal growth.  Ages and ages of ancestors have brought us forth with their blood and tears.  We owe them a brilliant future filled with discovery of the pieces that are yet required.  We are created from recycles star dust and we are powered by the Sun.  We look out at the starry sky and dream of the freedom to roam the universe.

Ron Bracale gave the lecture "Science, Spiritualty, and Unity" at:

• The Laymen's Retreat Project, Inc., aka Shadybrook 2003-11-11
• Ohio Metaphysical Center, 2004-05-07
• Life Matters, 2004-05-15

Below is chapter 24 of Spiritual Love
Introduction and Section 3:
(c) 2001 Ron Bracale All Rights reserved.