Beyond the Cosmos: The Transdimensionality of God

by Hugh Ross

How can it be? How can my choices be totally “free” if God is in control of all things at all times and knows the end from the beginning? How can God hear my prayers while listening to billions of others around the world at the exact same moment? How can God be all-powerful and all-loving yet allow so much suffering and evil? These complex paradoxes hold far-reaching implications that have troubled people for centuries. Drawing on biblical teaching and scientific evidence that supports it, Hugh Ross invites us to envision and experience God in a way we may never have considered before. As a result, our love and appreciation for God can be dramatically deepened, and the way we relate to him and to others—both believers and nonbelievers—can be changed forever, for good.

Genres: Science, Theology, Christian, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity

233 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2017

About the author

Astrophysicist Hugh Ross is founder, senior scholar, and former president of Reasons to Believe (RTB).

He earned a degree in physics from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in astronomy from the University of Toronto. He continued his research on quasars and galaxies as a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech. In 1986, Ross launched RTB to research, develop, and communicate the harmonious relationship between science and Christianity.

Ross has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Rescuing Inerrancy, Designed to the Core, and The Creator and the Cosmos. He has also presented his testable creation model in countless interviews, peer-reviewed articles, videos, and podcasts, as well as at hundreds of speaking engagements at venues around the world.

Reviews

[Axel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly written. Scientific concepts explained in a way that's easy to grasp. First several chapters are more technical but terms written in context so that the reader can still connect the technical to the main message of the book.

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dazzling explanation of how science is not only consistent with Scripture, but actually helps illuminate it. The scientific illustrations may not be comprehensible for everyone, but spoke to me.

[Julianne S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just trying to make my mama proud of me by reading her favorite theological author.

Seriously, though, this is one of the most comforting and faith-affirming books I’ve ever read. It addresses a lot of issues I’ve been struggling with over the past few years, not necessarily perfectly but in a way that offers solutions and leaves room for further thought. Some bits are a little on the overly dry and scientific side, but others are warmly descriptive and accessible for his more emotional readers. More than anything else, it just left me feeling appalled by how terribly small we all try to make God. All the dumb arguments Christians have amongst themselves would fade to nothing if we could just begin to grasp how much more of Him there is than we realize.

“A complete resolution may be had if we accept that God had an important purpose in dying for everyone regardless of anyone’s decision to receive or reject his offer of forgiveness. Christ may have died and paid the penalty for all so that no one could ever, at any future point, rightly conclude that God did not express his love toward that person.”

“We long for Eden because we long for the best our dimensional experience can suggest to our imagination. But God is not limited. His scope of operation exceeds by far our imaginative capacity. His plans for blessing humanity match his capacity to give - not our current, limited capacity to receive.”

“What other God but the God revealed in the Bible would provide for us, as Boaz provided for Ruth, not just the gleanings from the harvest of scientific and biblical truth, but ‘six measures of barley’ - continually multiplying evidences of his intention to provide for all our faith needs in this increasingly irreverent, arrogant, self-destructing world?”

[Michael Santini · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book centers around the theme that God cannot be restricted to our four-dimensional world of space (x, y, z) and time (t). People have to think "outside of the box" when it comes to angels, demons, and spiritual being such as the Almighty.

The domain of eternity is in a higher space and time dimension. Using the science of string theory to prove his case, the author believes there are 6 additional dimensions. God works trans-dimensionally from the eternal realm of 10-D, in order to deal with us in our 4-D world.

God can listen to and process 1000+ prayers at once because time in eternity is at least 2-D. Further, time can be 3-D in eternity because God can control futures events and outcomes. The higher spatial dimensions allow angels and demons to be hidden from view.

Not wanting to spoil it for the reader, I will refrain from giving further examples. Some of the chapters are a little laborious at times, but the examples of extra dimension usage by the spiritual world will make the book interesting for those who are curious.

[Randall O. Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful work by Dr. Hugh Ross! We have been blessed to live in an age of great scientific findings of how the universe works and its marvelous design and composition. This includes the the multiple space/time dimensions beyond our four. Dr. Ross discusses the implications of these extra dimensions of space and time to the reality of who God is and how He is creator of and transcendent outside of it all with brilliant, yet humble insight. As a result, I will carry fresh perspectives, within Biblical orthodoxy, of sin, hell, free will, election, and God's work to bring His children to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ so that we can enjoy relationship with Him and all other believers for all eternity.

[Randall A Koch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent though-provoking book. Written by a Christian astrophysicist who speculates on how God does what he does based on contemporary scientific thinking. Good reading for those who think all Christians believe in a "young earth" and that dinosaurs and man co-existed. The author of this book and the organization he has helped create (Reasons To Believe) integrate known scientific facts and principles with the sacred writings of the Bible. No conflict needs to exist between science and the Bible.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant.

[Robert Stout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Cosmos is an apologetics book by Dr Hugh Ross. Ross explains a number of paradoxes concerning God's existence. For starters God is considered to be monotheistic and yet we speak of a trinity, the father, son and holy spirit. God is both three and one at the same time. There is no good explanation for this dichotomy and it remains a mystery. Then there is the issue of free will: how can my choices be totally free if God is in control of all things and knows the end from the beginning. I believe that God allows us to have free will and that we can choose an action. This puts limits on what God can truly know. This leads up to the next paradox which is how can God be all-powerful and all-loving yet allow evil to exist in the world. Again God allows for free will but he will judge the living and the dead during the end times. The reason why I give this book a score of four stars is that there is not much science and astronomy in the book. Overall, its a good read

[Dallas Powell, jr. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Epic waste of time

This one starts promisingly but fails miserably to deliver. This work is a thinly veiled attempt to make scientific theory prove Christianity. It is full of speculation and short on any proof whatsoever. For instance, one chapter delves into theoretical reasons why the Bible isn't self a contradictory, yet the author doesn't bring up even one example to test against this theory. Furthermore, he describes string theory but completely ignores complexity and chaos, which invalidate his entire argument. It is a rhetorical disaster.

[Brittany Guillory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deepened my faith and quite literally broke my brain at some points. It was fantastic! To think about God in a less ethereal and more practical, albeit extra-dimensional, way. This book helps relatively new science meet our ever existing God. New understanding and new hope are explained here. Will be a reread to glean more deep knowledge from these concepts!

[Russell Peele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

Paradox or contradiction?
We must understand the difference for effective edification and evangelism. Is God entirely sovereign? Does he respect our free will?
Yes and yes.

[Blake Western · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author believes that extradimensions help explain many things in the Bible such as the omnipresence of God, miracles, and the Trinity. He refers especially to the theories of dimensions in physics. It seemed to me that some chapters had little to do with extradimensions.

[Craig Bodkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great teaching

Another great teaching from High Ross that views what the bible teaches us about God and his creation from a scientific viewpoint. Add this to a list of books to read for your non believing or seeking friends and family members.

[Kristine Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how Dr Ross connects the physical with the spiritual through other dimensions. It's a neat idea. Not testable or certain, to be sure. But possible.

[Jayde Schwerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this read. Food for thought...

[Backslash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Written in 1996 and some of its physics predictions came true between now and then. The theology was mostly reformed, which is to my liking.