God Particle

The announcement of the discovery of proof for the existence of the Higgs boson or ‘God particle’ on July 4th, 2012 at CERN in Geneva Switzerland is on par with discovering that the earth is not the center of the universe, the periodic table, and the discovery of electrons (which is why you can read this on a computer). This particle, theorized years ago, is significant because it confirms that the Standard Model of physics is correct. The ramifications of this discovery are yet to be determined, but one thing is for sure: this is a game changer!

I am not a physicist, nor am I particularly “science savvy.” With disclaimers out of the way, though, I think it is important for people to understand the theological and philosophical implications of the “God Particle” or the Higgs boson Particle.

What is it?

You might think of this as a kindergarten explanation of theoretical physics. The Higgs boson particle is  a sub-atomic unit called “boson” that was theorized in 1964 by Peter Higgs to explain how the subatomic particles that make up atoms are slowed down (why they need slowing is an explanation I will leave to people smarter than I) and why all matter in the universe has mass.

Why is it called the God Particle?

The Higgs boson particle is referred to as “the God Particle” after a book by physicist Leon Lederman. The name stuck in pop-culture as the name for the elusive particle. The particle is elusive because of its size and difficult to detect. It has cost billions and billions of dollars to gamble on the possibility that we might discover it. Some people have latched on to the name because they believe that, if discovered (as it has been), it would explain how the universe could come to be without God as part of the equation by giving further explanation for how a ‘Big Bang’ may have occurred (among other things).

Does this explain away God?

In short, no. The discovery is neither theological nor philosophical in nature and so it cannot speak to the existence of God. So, to say anything of God’s existence would be, for the most part, outside the scope of scientific inquiry (in other words, speaking on theological and philosophical issues is not the goal of science). The discovery confirms the theory used to explain how the universe is structured (which I am not knowledgeable enough to express just how hugely important this is). But, this discovery does not explain why the universe exists. The discovery cannot account for why there is something rather than nothing nor can it explain from where the something that exists (the universe) came.

Science is extremely important and essential to our functioning as human beings. The goal of science is to observe and describe the physical world. However, when a scientist makes claims about whether there is a God or not, they are doing work outside their field of expertise with intellectual tools they may have not learned to properly wield. Many vocal scientists have expressed naturalistic views that assume that the physical world is all there is (so, no God among other things). Naturalism is a philosophical view of reality, not a scientific discovery. Other vocal scientists have expressed an atheistic view that claims that there is no God. This is a theological decision, not a scientific discovery. I should note that there are many professing Christian scientists as well. The problem with a scientist who expresses theological or philosophical views in context of a legitimate scientific discovery is that they are misusing their expertise to speak outside their field of competency. So, they may be good scientists,
but not good philosophers or theologians.

So, should Christians disregard the “God Particle?” 

Quite the opposite. Christians should celebrate and affirm this extremely important discovery. While the discovery is not theological or philosophical in nature, it tells us something of how the universe is ordered. The theological and philosophical implications for an ordered universe are also hugely significant. If the universe is ordered (as this discovery continues to affirm), then we would be justified in believing that something ordered it that way. It seems obvious that no human could order the universe. So, whatever ordered the universe must be greater (by a lot) than humans. Discoveries like this lead us to the foundational idea that there must be a greater being, which we call God. And, while this neither confirms nor denies the existence of God (nor can Christians claim Jesus is that God through this discovery), the Higgs boson, or God particle, affirms an ordered universe. 

Only You Are Only You

Lately, I've been thinking about why we exist on this terrestrial ball in the first place. I know it's a great question that has haunted philosophers and thinkers and kings and paupers alike for hundreds of years, if not centuries.

Now, I'm not approaching this question from an existentialistic angle, e.g., how do I know I exist? (For me, it's rather plain that I exist.) Rather, I'm approaching this question from the perspective of why did God create me and why did He create me the way I am?

Most of us easily accept that there was a period of time where we didn't exist. Simply put, we hadn't been born yet. The Bible beautifully proclaims that God knits us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-14). Interestingly, however, the Bible also says that God planned and KNEW who we were before we were even born! Before we were even conceived! In calling Jeremiah to service, God told Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." (Jeremiah 1:5)

Psalm 139:15-16 also shares this truth telling its readers, "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All of the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Hidden in these verses is the powerful truth that God created you and knew you before you were even born. God created only you the way you are. He placed you in a specific family situation in a specific location in a specific time. No one else had the life that you've lived and no one else will have the life that you will live. Some people may look similar to you, others may talk like you. Some may think like you or share similar experiences, but only you can be only you. You are the only person that's living the life that you're living. You are truly, completely, utterly unique. Not a single person that has ever lived, is living or will live can claim your life nor the cumulative experiences you've had and will have. Reggie McNeal, in his book A Work of Heart, realized this amazing truth, writing "All [people] are living lives never before attempted."

In realizing this staggering truth, it made me realize that I exist precisely because God loved me enough to make me. He knew all of my days before I took a single breath so He created me and sent me down to be shaped by people and experiences and to help shape other people. He knew I would be the perfect person to live my life.

Do you realize how important, unique, special, wanted, incomparable, and essential you are? Because He loved you and knew who you were before Time began, God - the Almighty, the maker of Heaven and Earth, the Creator - made only one of you in the entire history of the world. Talk about a highly valued, highly prized collector's item!