(Written July 4, 2012)
This week at the CERN particle-physics center in Geneva, it was announced
that evidence of the Higgs boson sub-atomic particle, sometimes also called the
“God” particle, had been discovered. Physicists say this may be the final
piece needed to complete the puzzle of the Standard Model of physics. The
discovery of this particle is believed to be the key to unlocking the mysteries
of how an ordered universe could come to exist after the Big Bang and solve
physics dilemmas surrounding dark matter, dark energy, black holes and
wormholes.
I am endlessly fascinated by these fuzzy areas of quantum and theoretical
physics and have become a fan of the Science Channel programming regarding these
topics. Watching shows such as these feed my mind and nurture my soul in the
same way hearing a great D’rosh at synagogue or reading a book on ethics that
opens my heart to a new way of thinking does.
For me, science is a perfect model for spirituality. There is always
something, we have faith, smaller or greater than we can currently prove
-something we know to exist just beyond our grasp. We continue to reach for it
and, as we succeed in discovering more and more, we learn about our selves and
our universe. In succeeding to release that which is mystery one spark at a
time, we deepen our connection to it. Every discovery leads to further
questions, greater mysteries, more things within our reach but as of yet beyond
proof.
For me, this too is Hashem. This too is G-d.
The Great Mystery is always close enough to be felt and sought but always
just the next step beyond our comprehension. When we discover that which was
previously unknown, we discover something else, a Great Mystery, just beyond our
new understanding. If G-d/Total Scientific Understanding/the Great Mystery
were to be attained, what purpose would humanity have to exist? We would become
the apotheosis of complacency, both apathetic and directionless -a Yetzer Tov
without a Yetzer HaRa to keep us balanced.
We are creatures of contemplation, creative and wisdom seeking. Without
Mystery to goad us toward improvement of our understanding, our selves, our
community and the world, we would have no release for our natural curiosity. I
rather think that this would lead us towards self destruction because an artist
with nothing left to create, a scientist with nothing left to study, a
theologian with no G-d to contemplate has no purpose and no direction. What
purpose would devoting ones life in pursuit of what has already been attained
serve. Rather with nothing left to pursue we would turn inward, become obsessed
with our shortcomings, become self loathing and turn towards hatred of self and
others. A G-d just beyond our current reach gives us purpose. A G-d who can be
fully grasped, identified, labels, catalogued and put on a shelf is no G-d at
all. It is what scientific evidence points towards that energizes the
researcher, not the micro-fiche of cataloged data.
Religious groups who believe in a world here-after or world to come, a
heaven, and those who believe we will finally solve all of he mysteries of
science will disagree with me here I suppose but I can embrace that.
It proves there is still Mystery to seek and sparks to uncover.
