God and the New Physics

by Paul C.W. Davies

In God and the New Physics, Paul Davies explains how science has come of age, and can now offer a surer path to divinity than religion. Science is now on the verge of answering our most profound questions about the nature of existence. Here Paul Davies explains how the far-reaching discoveries of recent physics are revolutionizing our world and, in particular, throwing light on many of the questions formerly posed by religion, such Examining subjects from the creation to the soul, free will to time, black holes to miracles, he travels through science and religion to show us that there is more to the world than meets the eye. 'Excellent ... explains with fluent simplicity some of the profoundest questions of cosmology'
  Daily Telegraph 'One of the finest science writers of this generation'
  Independent 'Paul Davies is our best guide to this strange new world'
  Observer 'A list of topics to which he refers would constitute an outline for a dictionary of contemporary scientific excitement. His style is clear, interesting, chatty'
  The Times Higher Education Supplement Paul Davies is Director of the BEYOND Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, and co-Director of the Cosmology Initiative, both at Arizona State University. An internationally-acclaimed physicist, writer and broadcaster, Davies is the author of some twenty award-winning books, including The Eerie Searching for Ourselves in the Universe, The Goldilocks Why is the Universe Just Right for Life? and The Mind of Science and the Search for Ultimate Meaning.

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Physics, Nonfiction, Religion, Theology, Spirituality

265 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Paul Charles William Davies AM is a British-born physicist, writer and broadcaster, currently a professor at Arizona State University as well as the Director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science. He has held previous academic appointments at the University of Cambridge, University of London, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, University of Adelaide and Macquarie University. His research interests are in the fields of cosmology, quantum field theory, and astrobiology. He has proposed that a one-way trip to Mars could be a viable option.

In 2005, he took up the chair of the SETI: Post-Detection Science and Technology Taskgroup of the International Academy of Astronautics.

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Celebrity Death Match Special: God and the New Physics versus The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Scene 1

[MIT, 2012. Graduation day. BRAD and JANET]

JANET: Oh Brad, wasn't it wonderful! Didn't Betty look radiantly beautiful! Just an hour ago she was plain old Betty Monroe. Now she's Betty Monroe... PhD!

BRAD: Er... yeah.

JANET: I wonder if I'll ever complete my doctoral dissertation on the relationship between faith and cosmology? Sometimes it seems impossible.

[She wipes a tear from her eye. Music starts up]

BRAD: That's no way to talk! Just can it.

CHORUS: Janet.

BRAD: You're the smartest girl on this planet.

CHORUS: Janet.

BRAD: You see an equation, you scan it.

CHORUS: Janet.

BRAD: Even if it's harder than granite.

CHORUS: Janet.

BRAD: You -

JANET: Oh Brad, you're always so nice to me! You know what I'd really like to do now?

BRAD: You just tell me, girl.

JANET: I'd like to visit Professor Helge Kragh, the greatest living expert on the history of science.

BRAD: Uh.. well, hop in the car! We're off to Denmark.

JANET: Oh Brad!

[She throws her arms around him and kisses him passionately]

Scene 2

[Another part of the forest. BRAD and JANET, soaking wet, are outside a dubious-looking gothic mansion. A sign on the gate says PAUL DAVIES PRODUCTIONS LTD - ENTER AT OWN RISK]

JANET: Do you... do you think it's safe?

BRAD: We're just going ask if we can borrow their wifi signal for a minute.

[They hesitantly enter and find themselves in a room full of weird people. The doors close behind them. JANET clutches BRAD's arm]

FRANK N. FURTER: [in white lab coat] Now what do you two want?

JANET: We - we wonder if we could use your wifi. If it wouldn't be too much trouble.

FRANK N. FURTER: But that's not what you really want, is it?

JANET: [as if hypnotised] N-no. I really want to understand the relationship between God and modern physics.

FRANK N. FURTER: Then welcome to the early 80s!

[Music]

CHORUS: Let's do the time warp again!

FRANK N. FURTER: You may think I'm mad as a hatter
But I'll explain consciousness with quotes from Hofstadter.
It's an emergent propertee
Just like an anthill, don't you see.

CHORUS: Let's do the time warp again!

FRANK N. FURTER: You ask about the mystery of creation
There's this cool new idea called inflation.
It may fill you with indignation
But we all started as a vacuum fluctuation.

CHORUS: Let's do the time warp again!

[MAGENTA and COLUMBIA, dressed in outrageous black corsets, have crept up behind the terrified JANET and started to remove her clothes. BRAD has unaccountably disappeared]

FRANK N. FURTER: I know this looks like a den of depravity
But the key to everything is supergravity--

JANET: Superwhat?

FRANK N. FURTER: Supergravity. It's this amazing theory that will unlock the secrets of the universe. Cutting edge.

JANET: You're - you're not a scientist at all, are you? You're--

FRANK N. FURTER: Okay, okay. I'm an infotainer. So what?

[He opens his lab coat to reveal full BDSM gear. MAGENTA and COLUMBIA pull off most of JANET's remaining clothes, leaving her in just her underwear]

FRANK N. FURTER: Admit you like it. [He seductively puts an arm around JANET] Hmmm?

[Pause for a beat. Everyone looks at her]

JANET: [eyes modestly downcast] You promise you won't tell Brad?

Match point: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

[Menglong Youk · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing reading this book, I had to read it again immediately, not because I love it, which I arguably kind of do, but because I remembered nothing; therefore, I would not be able to give the book a fair review.

Despite being written in 1984, "God and the New Physics" by Paul Davies is not out of date as the questions which it posed have not been answered yet. This book tries to relate the concept on God in theology to the new physics consisted of the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics.

The author argues that science is a better tool that can be used to approach the understanding of God than religions are - by God here, we mean the architect of the Universe, not the commonly known God in Christianity.

In the instant after the Big Bang, the Universe was a mess of fundamental particles, but they followed, what we call, the laws of nature. As time went by, the particles evolved into different shapes forming matters and energy in planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial bodies. When humans look up the sky, we question whether what we can see are also designed by intelligent beings like we design watches. So, is there a Creator?

The answer of that question cannot be found in the book, but the author offered a great deal of ideas for readers to think critically. One thing that I reluctantly agree with him is that, atheism requires faith just like religious dogmas do since there is no evidence in the absence of God; however that does not make the probability of God's existence any higher either.

From the book, readers will learn more why is there a Universe, what is life, what are mind and soul, what is self, does free will exist, and a whole lots of "quite advanced" quantum mechanics.

Admittedly, some parts of the book that are beyond my understanding completely baffle me, but I am grateful to pick up some new ideas from for my bucket of scientific knowledge. I recommend this book to those who would like to know how science could play a role in discovering God, if such a thing exists

[Amirsaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

کتاب در تلاش است تا پاسخ‌های علوم (فیزیک، زیست‌شناسی، عصب‌شناسی) را --تا دهه‌ی هشتاد میلادی-- به برخی مسائل اساسی بدهد. منتها نویسنده سوال‌ها را در چارچوب فلسفه‌ی دین محدود می‌کند. نیز در پایان هر فصل ما را با انبوهی از سوالات معلق می‌گذارد و جواب قطعی نمی‌دهد؛ که بنظرم بخاطر این است که نویسنده تکلیف خودش را با فلسفه و فلسفه‌ی علم مشخص نکرده است. (من در کورس‌های فلسفه‌ام این اپروچ علمی به فلسفه را مبسوط‌‌‌تر پیش گرفته‌ام.)
مترجم از هفده فصل کتاب، فقط شش فصل اول را ترجمه کرده است. شاید چون مخالفشان بوده (مترجم پانویس‌های متعددی در رد حرف‌های نویسنده دارد). اما به هر علت، این کاری غیرحرفه‌ای است در چاپ کتاب. ممکن است یک فصل از کتابی در مجله‌ای ترجمه شود بدلیل ارتباط با موضوع مجله یا جهت آشنایی مخاطبان با کتاب، اما ترجمه‌ی بخشی از کتاب در یک انتشاراتی عجیب است. البته این کتاب هم مثل کتاب دیگری که از پل دیویس به فارسی ترجمه شده است، بعنوان یک کتاب علمی نسبتا قدیمی است و این از وجوب مطالعه‌ی آن می‌کاهد.
نویسنده در چند فصل اول، به منشا جهان، تئوری انفجار اولیه، و وجود خدا می‌پردازد. بعد به منشا حیات و زندگی و نهایتا به مباحث فلسفه‌ی تحلیلی مثل اراده و روح و خود می‌رسد. موضوعات فصول ترجمه‌نشده هم شامل زمان، جبرگرایی، ماده، سیاه‌چاله‌ها، و پایان جهان است.

2.5/5

[Zahra Beheshti · Rating 4 out of 5]

هر پدیده و حادثه ای در دنیای مادی کائنات برای اینکه شناخته شود و به وصف در آید ، باید به چیزی غیر از خود و خارج از خود متکی باشد.وقتی پدیده ای توضیح داده می شود، این توضیح در ارتباط این پدیده با پدیده ی دیگری است و البته، وقتی چنین پدیده ای خود کائنات باشد_جهان مادی فیزیکی _دیگر چیزی غیر از کائنات و خارج از آن وجود ندارد که بتوان کائنات را به کمک آن شرح داد. پس هر توضیحی درباره ی کائنات باید به اتکای چیزی غیر مادی و غیر فیزیکی و غیر طبیعی صورت گیرد و همین 《چیز》خداست.

#خدا_و_فیزیک_مدرن
#پل_دیویس
صفحه ۱۲۳
مترجم علی اندیشه
انتشارات سروش
کتاب رو به پایان رساندم.متاسفانه مترجم تمام فصول رو ترجمه نکرده بود که از نظر من بدلیل تناقضاتی که بین مسیحیت و اسلام و علوم طبیعی وجود داره امکان ترجمه برای نویسنده فراهم نشده.کتاب با درست کردن سوالات اساسی در ذهن خواننده و بی جواب گذاشتن اونا سردرگمی عجیبی بجا میذاره که هم میتونه از معایب اون به شمار بیاد هم از محسناتش.
امید دارم روزی نسخه ی زبان اصلی به صورت کامل رو مطالعه کنم.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really great book for someone who is has ever asked questions like why are we here and how might science be able to explain or pose further questions about religion and its "truth". I really like how Paul Davies breaks things down and tries to answers questions about the universe and physics in regard to God and religion. He never attacks but uses logic and clear arguments to give the reader as a well-rounded an answer as possible. I really enjoyed the parts where he had a skeptic and a physicist or a skeptic and a believer debating. It really brings to light how even our understanding or lack of understanding of the unknown is a never ending debate between faith and science.

This is a great summary he writes at the end of the book:

"Physics, in my opinion, makes its chief contribution through reductionism. The holistic aspects fall more appropriately into the cognitive politics. That is not to claim that physics has nothing to say about holism, for clearly it does. Thermodynamics, the quantum theory and the physics of self-organizing systems all involve holistic concepts. Nevertheless I don't believe that physics can tackle questions about, for example, purpose or morality."

The chapters are not long so if you are worried about it bogging you down with scientific jargon, don't worry. It is a relatively easy book to read and will give you great food for thought!

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite excited about this book. There's so much stuff in here that I've always wanted to know about, mainly regarding quantum physics and relativity. And Hawking somehow never did it for me. I now know for example that time doesn't really exist... or well it does actually, but there's no such thing as "the past" or "the future". Particularly enlightening also is the chapter that describes life as a holistic system that does not make sense when merely studied at particle level. And then there is the part about the quantum factor and hybrid realities, which is so mystical (I mean, the act of observation determines reality ... vindication for postmodernism at last!) that it completely rebukes any religious critique of science as stark and bleak. Indeed, the running theme of this book is Davies' attempt to prove that we don't need the God theory anymore, since progressively better explanations of the world are abound in the realm of physics.

Apparently, in the subatomic world events can occur without causes, and particles can pop out of nothingness for no good reason at all. Well, I'll buy it, if only because it sounds so ludicrous that I rather want it to be true. Now excuse me while I go and re-read this book, because I feel like I've only just skimmed the surface of something truly awesome.

[Nouru-éddine · Rating 4 out of 5]

::انطباع عام::
=========
كتاب فوق الرائع وأسلوبه سلس ويتنقل بين الأفكار بخفة، وما يميز الكاتب قدرته على عرض جميع الآراء في حياد تام وترك الأمر لك لتزمع أمرك ولأي جانب تميل، حتى وإن أعرب بشكل ما عن توجهه أو وجهة نظره فيما يعرضه من أفكار. أمتلك من الكتاب نسخة منشورة عن عام 2019 عن دار صفحات وهي طبعة جديدة، لم أجد في الترجمة ما يزعجني للغاية وإن كانت هناك العديد من الهفوات لكنها لم تربك��ي في القراءة أو شوهت المعنى بشدة. لا أعلم هل تم مراجعة هذه الطبعة الجديدة أم لا. لكن الكتاب فعلاً هام جدًا ويصلح كمدخل لفهم تطورات الفيزياء الحديثة في الثمانينيات وعلاقة هذه التطورات بالتوجهات الجديدة التي تم بناؤها في علاقة العلم مع الدين وتكوين صورة أشمل عن الكون ونشأته.
***
::في سطور::
========
يقدم الكتاب عرضًا مبسطًا لعلم الكونيات بشكل أساسي، على الرغم من ذكر العديد من حقائق العلوم في النص، مثل: الفيزياء الحديثة والرياضيات وعلم الأعصاب والفلسفة والبيولوجيا. إنه يتعامل مع مجموعة واسعة من المشاكل الفلسفية، مثل طبيعة الله، والمعجزات، والإرادة الحرة، والزمان، والوعي. يسعى ديفيز إلى شرح الأدوار المتغيرة للدين والعلم، والطريقة التي تقدم بها الفيزياء نظرة ثاقبة لما كان يعتبر في السابق أسئلة دينية أو فلسفية فقط.
***
::الكتاب::
======
"الرجل الحكيم ينظم سلوكه بنظريتيْ الدين والعلم." - جي بي إس. هالدين

1_ هذا ليس كتابًا عن الله: إنه كتاب عما كانت عليه الفيزياء الحديثة في عام 1983، من تأليف بول ديفيز وهو عالم متميز سيواصل بعد ست سنوات تحرير عمل علمي ضخم يسمى الفيزياء الجديدة، والذي سيبدأ بعد ذلك في الاهتمام بالحياة على الأرض، والحياة خارج كوكب الأرض، وفي الوقت الحالي فيزياء أو ميكانيكا السرطان. بمعنى آخر، يهتم ديفيز بجميع الأسئلة التي طرحتها أسفار موسى الخمسة قبل 3000 عام؛ وحول القضايا المستعصية بشكل متزايد حول كيف بدأ الكون، وكيف بدأت الحياة وكيف وصلنا إلى الوجود.
2_ إن الإلحاد، مثل الدين يتطلب فعل الإيمان به. لا يوجد أي دليل على الإطلاق على عدم وجود الله، والأدلة على وجوده أكثر. ومع ذلك، فإن هذه الأدلة غير مؤكدة تمامًا، وذاتية للغاية، وغالبًا ما تكون متضاربة ولا تخضع للدقة العلمية. لذلك تناول فيزيائي جديد سؤالًا قديمًا صاغه لأول مرة ربما قبل 1600 عام المفكر العظيم القديس أغسطينوس، وقبل 800 عام على يد القديس توما الأكويني: هل يمكن رؤية توقيع الله في الكون الذي خلقه؟ وهذا ما يسمى باللاهوت الطبيعي: وهو ما له مكانة مشرفة في تاريخ العلم.
3_ لقد تطورت الفيزياء منذ أن كتب ديفيز هذا الكتاب، ولكن يبدو أنه ظل يُطبع، ويباع بشكل مطرد، لأسباب تصبح واضحة تمامًا عندما يقرأها المرء: إن السؤال الكبير عن الحياة، والكون وكل شيء ليس كيف، أو متى، أو ماذا، أو حتى من، ولكن السؤال المفتوح والممتع للغاية هو لماذا؟ يلتقط ديفيز طريقه بصبر عبر جميع مجالات الجدل - تعريف تعقيد الحياة؛ التجريدات غير الجوهرية للعقل والروح؛ فكرة الذات؛ والحجة الدائمة حول ما إذا كان هناك بالفعل شيء مثل الإرادة الحرة؛ مشكلة تعريف الكلمات مثل المعجزة، وسر الزمن؛ مسألة ما إذا كان هذا الكون مجرد حادث أم جزء من خطة كبرى؛ واللغز هو لماذا تبدو كل قيم وثوابت القوى الفيزيائية مضبوطة بشكل رائع لإنتاج الحياة والحفاظ عليها (ولكن مرة واحدة فقط، على حد علمنا).
4_ يقتبس ديفيز بغزارة من مصادر متعددة. يمكن لديفيز أن يبدأ في طرح أسئلة مثيرة للاهتمام. على سبيل المثال، هل الله كائن ضروري يحتوي على تفسير لوجوده؟ لقد أصبح هذا سؤالاً لا معنى له لأنه تبين الآن أن الكون يحتوي في داخله على سبب وجوده. لذلك فهو أيضًا ضروري بالمعنى اللاهوتي. إذا كان الله نتيجة لا تحتاج إلى سبب، فلماذا لا يمكن للكون أن يوجد بدون سبب؟ وفي مقابل ذلك هناك الأسئلة الغامضة التي تثيرها الصدفة: إذا كان الكون مجرد حادث كمي، حدث عشوائي، فإن الاحتمالات ضد احتوائه على أي نظام ملموس، كما يقول ديفيز، "صغيرة بشكل مثير للسخرية". على سبيل المثال، لو أن الانفجار الذي أدى إلى ولادة الكون قد تغير بمقدار جزء واحد في واحد يتبعه 60 صفرًا - فإن ما نراه حولنا لن يكون موجودًا ولن نكون هنا لنراه. لنفترض، كما يقول ديفيز، أنك تريد إطلاق رصاصة على هدف قطره بوصة واحدة على الجانب الآخر من الكون المرئي، على بعد عشرين مليار سنة ضوئية. يجب أن يكون هدفك دقيقًا لنفس الجزء في واحد يتبعه 60 صفرًا. وهو يطرح بعض النقاط المعتادة: أنه لا توجد حاجة لاستدعاء إله الفجوات لشرح ما لا يستطيع العلم تفسيره، لأن التاريخ يظهر أن العلم عاجلاً أو آجلاً غالباً ما يتمكن من تفسير ما كان يبدو في السابق غير قابل للتفسير. 
5_ يتم التعامل مع فكرة الخالق القدير والخير على أنها تناقض: إذا كان الله لا يستطيع منع الشر، فهو ليس كلي القدرة؛ وإذا كان كلي القدرة، فالشر من صنعه أيضًا. إن فكرة الإرادة الحرة التي قدمها الخالق كلي المعرفة تحتوي أيضًا على مفارقات خاصة بها. هل الكون حقاً لا معنى له ولا هدف؟ وإذا كان الأمر كذلك، فلماذا يحتوي على نوع واحد يمكنه فجأة النظر إلى الأدلة وطرح مثل هذا السؤال؟ هذا ليس كتابًا من شأنه أن يريح المؤمنين المطمئنين. لماذا ينبغي ذلك؟ بالنسبة لهم، الإيمان الأعمى هو الراحة الخاصة بهم. بالنسبة لبقيتنا، يعرض ديفيز ثروة من التبصرات المتأنية وفرصة أخرى للتعجب من الكون الذي يبدو أننا محظوظون فيه للغاية للحفاظ على حقوق إيجاره لفترة محدودة وعابرة.
6_ كيف بدأ الكون وكيف سينتهي؟ ما المادة وما هو العقل وهل يمكنه النجاة من الموت؟ ما هو الزمان والمكان، وما علاقتهما بالأفكار عن الله؟ هل ترتيب الكون نتيجة صدفة مادية أم تصميم إلهي؟ إن أعمق وأقدم أسئلة الوجود - التي كانت محور اهتمام الدين والفلسفة لعدة قرون - قد يتم الرد عليها قريبًا من خلال التقدم الاستثنائي في مجال الفيزياء الحديثة. في هذا الكتاب يكتب بول ديفيز، أن اكتشافات فيزياء القرن العشرين - النسبية ونظرية الكم - تشير الآن إلى الطريق إلى تقدير جديد للإنسان ومكانه في الكون . في الواقع، يمكن للفيزياء الحديثة أن تقدم في متناول أيدينا وصفًا موحدًا لكل الخليقة. يقول ديفيز إن الفيزياء الحديثة التي تطالب بإعادة صياغة جذرية للجوانب الأساسية للواقع وطريقة تفكير تتوافق بشكل أوثق مع التصوف بدلاً عن المادية، فهي تقدم طريقًا أكثر ضمانًا إلى الله من الدين. كتاب الله والفيزياء الحديث هو نظرة رائعة على تأثير العلم على ما كان في السابق يُعتبر قضايا دينية. كما أنه مكتوب بأناقة، وهو مقدم بلغة تناسب كل من العلماء والقراء العاديين.
7_ يمثل العلم والدين نظامين عظيمين للفكر الإنساني. بالنسبة لغالبية الناس على كوكبنا، يعتبر الدين هو التأثير السائد على تنظيم شؤونهم. وعندما يمس العلم حياتهم، فإنه لا يفعل ذلك على المستوى الفكري، بل عمليًا، من خلال التكنولوجيا الحديثة. على الرغم من قوة الفكر الديني في الحياة اليومية لعامة الناس، فإن معظم مؤسساتنا منظمة بشكل براجماتي، حيث يتم إنزال الدين إلى دور منمق، بقدر ما يتم تضمينه على الإطلاق. هذا هو الموقف الدستوري لكنيسة إنجلترا على سبيل المثال. هناك استثناءات: إذ تظل أيرلندا وإسرائيل دولتين دينيتين بالمعنى القانوني، في حين أن إحياء الإسلام المتشدد يؤدي إلى زيادة نفوذ الدين في عملية صنع القرار السياسي والاجتماعي.
*.*.*.*.*.*

[White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davies makes a convincing attempt to bring God into the nature of physics in this book, rather than the religious approach of bringing the nature of physics into God. (Or is it the other way around?)

This is a great book that describes the details of our universe as something that wraps around us and in us and as us, rather than something we are observing. A hydrogen atom is the same in a droplet of water as it is and always was across lightyears of the universe and 10 billion years ago, 10 billion years into the future, and so on. This "oneness" is very blatant in this work. He discusses time and its relativity, order vs. chaos, and the slit experiment with professional relevance. The conversation between the physicist and the skeptic and the believer and the skeptic is memorable and a worthy part of this piece.

Enjoy.

[Fernando del Alamo · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Dios y la nueva física" es el título de este libro en castellano. Se trata de intentar casar los conceptos de la nueva física (incluidas cuántica, relatividad, cosmología, leyes físicas,...) y la lógica con la existencia de Dios. El libro trata de muchas de las discusiones que se tienen entre estudiantes mientras se estudia la carrera de Ciencias Físicas. Para quien las ha tenido, son algo conocido, aunque siempre aporta agunas cosas nuevas. Para quien no las conoce, es todo un descubrimiento.

[Muhamed Sewidan · Rating 3 out of 5]

الترجمة سيئة جداااا, يعنى بور بقا بوهر وارفين شرودنجر بقا ادوين, كويس انهم مترجموش اسم louis de brouglie كان هيبقا دى بروجلي بدل هى ترجمة حرفية بالشكل دا, وسوء الترجمة كان اكتر من مجرد ترجمة حرفية بعض الجمل مش متوافقة مع بعض.
المفروض المترجم يكون له خلفية عن الكتاب او العلم اللى هيترجمه.
الكتاب ممكن يكون اتظلم بسبب الترجمة دى, ويمكن الكتاب ممتاز

[Muna Abboush · Rating 3 out of 5]

" يبدو كما لو أن الطبيعة تريد أن تقول لنا شيئاً "

. الفصول الأخيرة هي الأجمل والأكثر جاذبية ، وعموماً فإن الترجمة غير الجيدة أفسدت الكتاب

[Aastha Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this thought-provoking book, Paul Davies attempts to answer some questions which lie at the heart of theology and philosophy. Does God exist and if so, can you prove this existence through laws of nature?
With a clear insight into the fundamental functionings of the Universe, the book embarks upon a journey from describing how the universe came into being, whether our universe as we know it was always like this and where are we heading to.

Even though the book was written in 1984, the questions raised in the book seem even more pertinent today. With science and religion, seen as conflicting ideologies, competing with each other for validation of humanity, the book does not make an attempt to deny the existence of God. What it surely attempt to do is, give us a backdrop of recent developments in quantum physics and astrophysics, to give the reader a sense of perspective while pondering on questions about our origin and involvement of an almighty creator.

It's a book which seeks to give you the "physics" side of the larger debate, on the existence of God and workings of Universe. With our limited understanding of the world around us, which man is in constant attempt to broaden further, anything inexplicable has always been attributed to a supernatural entity, known as God. However, Paul Davies makes a bold attempt to demonstrate that with advancement in physics, not everything inexplicable and beyond human understanding be necessarily attributed to a super-natural being. It can all be results of sciences, which though abstract and difficult to grasp, is nothing but a hard fact.

It is a book which challenges the traditional notions of time, space and mind. The writing would compel you to look more closely to what is being conveyed. It demands your complete attention. Conceding to the fact that it is littered with some hardcore physics, which may not be a very attractive quality for readers who do not like technical readings, but if one can overcome the initial reluctance and plunge head-on, it is one of the most insightful and meaningful reads I have read.

[Kerem Cankocak · Rating 5 out of 5]

20. yüzyılda fizik biliminde iki önemli gelişme oldu: Görelilik ve kuantum bilimi doğdu. Bilim camiası uzayzaman, Büyük Patlama Çoklu Evrenler, akıl ve madde gibi konularda tuhaf ve dudak uçuklatan yepyeni fikirlerin istilasına uğradı. Bu fikirler ancak yeni yeni kamuoyunun gündemine gelmeye başlıyor. Fizikçileri iki kuşak boyunca meşgul edip onlara ilham vermiş olan görüşler, sonunda insan düşüncesinde büyük bir devrim olabileceğini hiç tahmin etmemiş sıradan insanların dikkatini çekiyor. Yeni fizik olgunluk dönemini yaşıyor. Tüm bu yeni kavramlar içinde Tanrı’nın yeri nedir? Felsefeciler ve teologlar bu devrimin meyvelerini henüz yeni yeni toplamaya başladılar. Yaşamlarında daha derin bir anlam arayışında olan çok sayıda sıradan insan da dünya hakkındaki inançlarının yeni fizikle uyumlu olduğunu düşünüyor. Paul Davies bu kitabında işte bu inançların yeni fizikle uyumlu olup olmadıklarını sorguluyor. Bu sorgulama günümüzde de devam ediyor ve kesin sonuçlara ulaşmış değil. Fizikte her gün yeni olgularla karşılaşıyoruz. Yine de tartışmanın temelleri aynı kalıyor ve Davies’in kitabı güncelliğini koruyor.

“Günümüzün en usta yazarlarından biri olan Paul Davies, fiziğin gizemlerini açıklıyor; tıpkı bir tesisatçının tıkanmış boruları açması gibi, bilgi ırmağını serbest bırakıyor..”
–Timothy Ferris, The New York Times Book Review

“Bu kitaptaki kavramlar nefes kesici... modern fiziğin ne olduğu harika anlatılmış...”
–The New York Times Book Review

[Fadi Shaaban · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب رائع ولكن يجب ان تبقى متيقظا جدا وأنت تقرأه. محوره بشكل مباشر او ربما غير مباشر المقاربة المختلفة للباحث واللاهوتي للوجود . يبحث ادلة العلماء على حدوث الكون وهو مالقى ترحيبا من اللاهوتيين. لكن الكاتب يرى صعوبة في اثبات وجود الله من خلال الظواهر الفيزيائية فما كان عجيبا ذات يوم ويتطلب تفسيرا إلهيا اصبح له تفسير علمي اليوم وماليس له اليوم من تفسير سيصبح بأيدينا غدا !. وبالحديث عن السببية والمحرك الاول عرض مقاربة ميكانيكا الكم والريبة وأن بعض الحوادث على المستوى الكمي لا مسبب لها ! وهنا نرى عجز العلم بلجوؤه الى احتمالات لا يمكن اثباتها والعجيب التخلص من الفشل في تفسير السلوك الكمي بإلغاء السببية. الكتاب يعرض للعقل والروح والالة من منطلق علمي ثم يخوض في جدل المصادفة والتصميم بدون نتيجة ويطرح القانون الاعلى الذي يحكم الكون كأكبر دليل على وجود الخالق .
الكتاب مثير وثقيل ويجب قراءته اكثر من مره لكن مقاربته لجدلية التصميم ام المصادفة علميةفقط مت وجهة نظر فيزيائية ويحتاج القاريء للمنظور الفلسفي بجانبها .

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!!

See God as the incredible-shrinking man!!

As science grows and matures, religion and gods play smaller roles in people's lives.

God and the New Physics shows how the "God in the Gaps" argument can be utilised to prove God's possible existence.

The depiction of the recent finding in physics is breathtaking!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes mysticism and gives it a scientific foundation that even the most skeptical can consider and still remain within the confines of pure scientific thought. Paul Davies addresses age old issues of the supernatural and religion and brings them together under one roof; physics. Provocative.

[Fernando Leite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a twice reading, and a lot of stuff in there it's physics, in a way which can transport us to a paradigm shift. What are the Implications of relative physics and quantum physics, why the word God have a participation in that field, and why the physics can be integrated in the esoteric/religions. A great book to rethink the way we actually see the world

[Stephen Bedard · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some interesting discussions in this book about fairly recent scientific discoveries and theories. Where things go bad is when he attempts to use this to dismiss the concept of God. His thesis is that the new physics have eliminated the need to consider God. This is a stretch. While science may not have proven God's existence, neither has it disproved it.

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating look at how Physics is influencing our view of the origins of our existence, and our universe. It doesn't give any definitive answers to the "big questions" though - science isn't quite there, yet...

[Burak]

Din-bilim ilişkisini olgun bir dille işleyen, okumaya değer bir eser. Yalnız duru anlatımına rağmen fizik, biyoloji gibi bilimlerle ilgisi fazla temel düzeyde kalanlar için sıkıcı bölümlerinin de olduğunu söylemeliyim.

[Christian Blunden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a long time ago during university. Great mind opening stuff on the edges of scientific understanding and religion.

[Achilleas · Rating 5 out of 5]

read it when I was 14 years old. it changes my whole view on physics. amazing book.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

It certainly gave me some food for thought.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

DOES PHYSICS SUGGEST A "DIRECTING, CONTROLLING, UNIVERSAL MIND”?

Paul Charles William Davies (born 1946) is an English physicist, writer and broadcaster, who is currently a professor at Arizona State University as well as the Director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science. He has written many other books, such as 'The Mind of God: The Scientific Basis for a Rational World,' 'Are We Alone?: Philosophical Implications Of The Discovery Of Extraterrestrial Life,' 'The Fifth Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life,' etc.

He wrote in the Preface to this 1983 book, "I have discerned a growing feeling that fundamental physics is pointing the way to a new appreciation of man and his place in the universe. Deep questions of existence... are not new. What is new is that we may at last be on the verge of answering them. This astonishing prospect stems from... not only the new physics, but... the new cosmology. For the first time, a unified description of all creation could be within our grasp...

"This is not a book about religion. Rather, it is about the impact of the new physics on what were formerly religious issues... Nor is it a science book. It is a book ABOUT science and its wider implications... The central theme of the book concerns what I call the Big Four questions of existence: Why are the laws of nature what they are? Why does the universe consist of the things it does? How did those things arise? How did the universe achieve its organization?... tentative answers to these questions begin to emerge... I believe that physics is uniquely placed to provide them... in my opinion science offers a surer path to God than religion."

He suggests, "The concept of a causal God... can then be illustrated by making God... the first member of this series of causes... By contrast, if God is outside time, then he cannot belong to this causal chain at all. Instead, he is above the chain, sustaining it at every link... and this picture could apply equally well whether the chain of causes has a first member (i.e. a beginning in time) or not (as in an infinitely old universe). With this picture in mind, we may say that God is not so much a cause of the universe as an EXPLANATION." (Pg. 45)

He states, "Our conclusion must be that there is no positive scientific evidence for a designer and a creator of cosmic order (in the negative entropy sense). Indeed, there is strong evidence that current physical theories will provide a perfectly satisfactory explanation of these features. There is, however, more to nature than its mathematical laws and its complex order. A third integration requires explanation too: the so-called 'fundamental constants' of nature. It is in that province that we find the most surprising evidence for a grand design." (Pg. 186-187) [NOTE: Davies came to a belief in a designer/creator later, however.]

He concludes, "It is hard to resist the impression that the present structure of the universe... has been rather carefully thought out. Such a conclusion can, of course, be only subjective. In the end it boils down to a question of belief. Is it easier to believe in a cosmic designer then the multiplicity of universes necessary for the weak anthropic principle to work?... if we cannot visit the other universes or experience them directly, their possible existence must remain just as much a matter of faith as belief God... the seemingly miraculous concurrence of numerical values that nature has assigned to her fundamental constants must remain the most compelling evidence for an element of cosmic design." (Pg. 189)

He speculates, "it is possible to imagine a supermind existing since the creation... This would not be a God who created everything by supernatural means, but a directing, controlling, universal mind pervading the cosmos and operating the laws of nature to achieve some specific purpose... the universe IS a mind: a self-observing as well as self-organizing, system. Our own minds could then be viewed as localized 'islands' of consciousness in a sea of mind, an idea that it reminiscent of the Oriental conception of mysticism, where God is then regarded as the unifying consciousness of all things into which the human mind will be absorbed, losing its individual identity, when it achieves an appropriate level of spiritual advancement." (Pg. 210)

Some of Davies' language is similar to more "New-Agey" books of the 1980s [e.g., 'The Tao of Physics,' 'Mysticism and the New Physics,' etc.], and thus seems "dated" today. But other insights (which he has refined, in his more recent books) remain as compelling as they were more than forty years ago.

[Robert Stout · Rating 4 out of 5]

God and the New Physics explores many topics were religious faith and science intersect. In chapter 1, Davies explains that religion has caused most of the violence around the world. This argument can be turned upon its heads. World War I and II were fought under secular ideologies and more than 60 million people were killed. In both of these conflicts' religion played little to no role. The French revolution, Russian revolution and Vietnam also had little to nothing to do with religion either. In chapter 2, Davies gets down to business and explores the big bang. He mentions alternative ideas beside the big bang such as the steady state and the repeating universe idea, but these alternate models have problems with them. Did God create the universe? Davies brings up the Cosmological argument where there is an un-moved deity that starts the universe going. Basically every 'effect' must have a cause. Many object that the un-moved god must also have a beginning, going back as an infinite regression. In Christian theology God has no beginning or end therefore sidestepping the issue.

What is life? Biology consists of complexity and organization. Science uses reductionism to examine life. Holism argues that there is more to a system than the sum total of its parts. Many scientists complain that attempts to explain away living organisms as nothing but meaningless mounds of atoms, formed pointlessly as a result of random accidents, seriously devalues are existence.

Davies then examines the ideas of free will and determinism. Some scholars have argued that the universe is determined, and we have no free will. The universe works like a clock according to Newtonian physics. The most important argument against determinism is the quantum factor. According to quantum theory, nature is unpredictable. For example, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle states that if the position of an atom is known than its velocity is unknown. The opposite is also true, if the velocity is known than the position of the subatomic particles is unknown. In the microworld, events occur that have no defined cause in other words there is free will.

The last half of the book deals with whether or not the universe was designed. Davies argues that the universe began in a chaotic state, but order emerged through the process of inflation. Davies argues that life appears to be a miracle, but Darwin explained that life evolved from simple cells to advanced organisms. The author seems to rescue God by arguing that the universe must be the way it is for life to have evolved.

Davides concludes that science provides a more meaningful path to God that organized religion. I am somewhat skeptical of this claim. Science tells me how the world works while Christian doctrine tells you how to live a life. Science has nothing to say about how to live a life. Although I don't agree with everything the author says the book is well written.

[Justin Karp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book. This book may be slightly threatening to a Christian theologian; but for a for a religious Jewish mind, it’s quite intriguing. This book focuses on the new and upcoming physics which includes holistic ideas such as quantum theory and the quest to search for the ultimate all encompassing theory to explain all of physics. What’s new from the reductionist trend of physics besides what I just mentioned is the idea the universe we know may not be what we originally thought. Holistic ideas that the universe is a mind of its own or that this universe is a hologram of some sort are some of the ideas seriously being discussed by physicists today. I enjoyed this book intellectually.

[David Radavich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world of physics has advanced enormously and excitingly in recently decades. Paul Davies has written a masterful book that lays out this dizzying universe of quarks, leptons, black holes, spacetime curvature, gravitational waves, and much else. As the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW says, "the concepts are breathtaking. . . ." Davies' discussion of God is less convincing, but I admire his courage in taking theological issues on. I also basically agree with the position he appears to come to in the end, regarding God as a universal mind. This is challenging reading but almost entirely worthwhile.

[Alistair Conwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Davies is a brilliant physicist with the ability to explain complicated scientific concepts clearly. He weaves science and ancient wisdom beautifully in this book.

Alistair Conwell
The Audible Life Stream: Ancient Secret of Dying While Living

[Miles Trujillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a systematic overview of the relation between science and theology. It explains how science is being used to corroborate and improve on classical christian doctrine. If you look at the date, it is obviously dated, but I would still recommend it as an introductory text to the topic at hand. Davies is fairly evenhanded, and offers an accessible source of the prevailing ways that faith is being syncretized with science.

[Adrian K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Religious adherents have learned to their cost how perilous it is to point to a phenomenon and say 'That is evidence of God's work' only to find that scientific advances subsequently provide a perfectly adequate explanation. To invoke God as a blanket explanation of the unexplained is to invite eventual falsification, and to make God the friend of ignorance. If God is to be found, it must surely be through what we discover about the world, not what we fail to discover." (p. 209)