The more I understand truths in science and truths in religion, the fewer apparent contradictions I see. Sometimes, by comparing truths in these areas, we see stunning parallels and hints of eternal realities undergirding our existence.
Disclaimer: I’m not trying to prove religion by appealing to science. That would just as absurd as trying to prove science via a public opinion poll. I’m also not “speculating.” In my experience, “spiritual” truths are known by revelation and only by revelation, from God to us, and in no other way. I share this as my way of getting a better handle on patterns and parallels I think I see. By discussing and pondering these things, “studying them out in your mind,” I’ve found that it opens the door to further light and knowledge, if we are willing to ask, especially as it relates to principles of life and salvation.
With that in mind, here is my reply to a recent letter from my daughter.
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Dad,
Can you send me the link to the article on gravity and intelligence that you mentioned the other day? I’m having a blast talking with my roommate’s brother about scientific experiments (string theory, quantum physics, etc) and the gravity thing came up.
Remind me next time I call to tell you about fractal theory as it relates to evolution and about matter acting like a wave at low temperatures.
Laura.
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Laura,
Here it is: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/63190/title/A_New_View_of_Gravity
The real insight that came to me from this relates to the nature of any eternal existence of intelligent beings.
This requires some backround first. I’m sorry, I don’t have time to arrange these better, so they may come across as scattered thoughts. Forgive the incomplete and scattered nature of these ideas. I gather them here so someone can come along later and pursue this line of thought further.
Entropy and Intelligence
This Science News article begins to decribe entropy in terms of information theory (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_theory, there is that word “entropy” again), and that has interesting implications about eternal existence. This new theory of gravity seems to emerge naturally when information theory and entropy are considered re: the amount of information present in the universe itself, as if the universe is a giant quantum computer.
Consider information and intelligence. “Intelligence” cannot be created or made, it is as eternal as matter (D&C 93: 29, D&C 93: 33). “Intelligences” are discrete, they are conscious, and they are, in part, collectors of information (Abr. 3: 18-19, 21-22, D&C 93: 29-30, 36). “Conscious” seems to me to mean that they have agency to act upon that information and therefore gather and create more information. “Agency” is an aspect of intelligence which is fundamental to its existence or continuance (D&C 93: 30). where “intelligence” is defined as the “light of truth,” (D&C 93: 29-30, 36) “light” is identified with “whatsoever doth make manistest” (Eph. 5: 13, see also http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/88/11-13#7), and “truth” which is “knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come” (D&C 93: 24). “Agency” is essentially the capacity of an intelligence to act independently, for itself, and interact with other intelligences and matter/energy. Note that by this definition, “truth” has no existence without something to “know” or discern it. Reality “is,” but truth has to be “known”–it is something that makes no sense except in the context of an “intelligence” to measure and record it.
Truth and information are therefore similar, connected, or synonymous, at least within our 4-dimensional universe. Intelligences and information are therefore connected, and you could think of entropy as it relates to systems of intelligences.
An Ideal, Most-Harmonious Existence
Therefore, this was the realization that came about all these things: A “celestial” existence in LDS theology could be viewed as analogous to the lowest-possible entropy existence for an expanding system of “intelligent” beings. (See Wikipedia “Entropy” article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy.) You have the most information about the state of that “system” or “sociality” (you can predict its state and future with the most precision), it is the most highly ordered, therefore you can rely on its future state and you can accomplish the most “work” with it, as opposed to any other system or mode of interaction of intelligences. In other words, all other modes of interaction (“kingdoms,” see D&C 88: 21, 36, 38) of intelligent beings are less ordered, less harmonious, less “information”-capable, and less capable of doing effective “work” because of the very nature of the types of interactions they engage in (their modes of expressing their “agency”). Therefore they are “weaker.” The less compliant we are with eternal law, the higher the entropy, the less information you have about the system, the less you can rely on it, so the “weaker “it is in comparison to other socialities.
Relationship to Entropy (or Disharmony)
It seems to me that therefore, it might even be possible to prove mathematically (since the second law of thermodynamics is simply mathematics), that in harmony with that law there is a minimum-entropy condition for an expanding (increasing in number) sociality of intelligences (analogous to a system of particles) that are capable of interacting in certain, defined ways. Such a state must inevitably have well-defined laws or rules about what interactions may take place which ones do not (because those interactions would increase the entropy). We could call those “commandments.” To ensure that entropy remains stable and constant, this system must act somewhat like a self-contained, isolated system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolated_system) in at least some ways–other intelligences would not be able to enter it at will without increasing the entropy of the system. Intelligences within it would need to act in harmony with those laws of minimal entropy or they could not remain; otherwise, the existence would be disrupted, entropy would increase, information reduce, and the state “sociality” would become weaker.
Mortality allows us to learn from our own experience, the good from the evil. Note that this experience is collective and not just individual. (I can learn from Hitler’s mistakes without making them myself.) Based on that, we can also see from long human experience that kingdoms divided within are weaker than kingdoms which are not divided (Matt. 12: 25).
The Actual Nature of the Celestial Kingdom
We know some things about how intelligences interact in a Celestial existence. It is absolutely separate and distinct from other kingdoms (D&C 76: 112) based on whether or not the intelligences within it comply with the laws that define it (D&C 88: 21-25, 36, 38, 78). They are of “one heart and one mind” (Moses 7: 18), they interact and exert influence “without compulsory means” (D&C 121: 46), and there is maximum sharing of information among them (2 Ne. 30: 17, D&C 130: 10), and in fact they have access to all possible information, past, present, and future (D&C 130: 7). “Knowledge is power” Joseph Smith said, and “A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world.” All this reinforces the concept that a celestial existence is eternally stable because it is internally sound, strong, and harmonious as possible. “Never-ending happiness” (Mosiah 2: 39, 41) is an essential part of such an existence, probably and precisely because of the incredible harmony that exists there. What causes the unhappiness in this world? Think of something that causes it, then ask yourself if that cause can’t be classified as disorder, disharmony, and/or lack of truth and intelligence. In a word, “entropy.”
Tying It All Together
The plan of salvation therefore, mathematically speaking, could be viewed as the plan which makes it possible for intelligences to collectively group and function in the highest-possible-harmony (lowest-possible-entropy) state. All non-celestial existences (all other possible socialities) are less ordered, higher entropy, and inherently socially weaker.
“Thought Experiment”
There are a lot of conjectures here, nothing here is rigorous, but a physics-like thought experiment is interesting here. Since there are different social states for intelligent beings with various degrees of harmony and “entropy,” there must be one which is most harmonous, lowest entropy, highest work potential, most stable, so it would not be at “risk” or danger from any other sociality because if its strength. Suppose (hypothetically) that such a maximally-strong sociality met another maximally-strong sociality. Is there a risk of clash? No. They would discover that they were the same (founded on the same laws and principles), so they would be perfectly harmonious together–one and the same–so they would effectively be united already, therefore they were not really different in the first place, so there is no threat. Therefore, a minimum entropy celestial existence would be stable and never at risk from another “kingdom” of any kind.
Dad
P.S. Consider also these verses of scripture in light of the laws and principles above: D&C 88: 40 (“intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence”). D&C 130: 18-19 (princples of intelligence we attain unto in this life remain with us), etc.
P.P.S. Interesting note. The concept of a harmonious sociality that is stronger than all other possible societies was discussed by Isaac Asimov (a strong atheist) in his book Foundation and Earth. Though I dislike his portrayal of it, some elements of his utopian society do parallel those of a celestial or terrestrial existence.
Tags: Agency, Entropy, Gravity, Physics, Revelation, Truth
