Newton and God
Newton and God
October 27, 2024
Somewhere in my education, I was taught that one law of Physics was, “For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. Whether I am remembering it correctly or not, it is an oversimplification and not exactly in its proper context.
So, I checked it out (briefly) and discovered part of its context is that it applies when two bodies of mass are applied one against the other. The weightier mass wins.
Newton’s laws of motion | Definition
Britannica — https://www.britannica.com › Science › Astronomy
“In the first law, an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it. In the second law, the force on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration. In the third law, when two objects interact, they apply forces to each other of equal magnitude and opposite direction.”
I’m a Born Again Bible Believing Christian. I am persuaded of an offshoot opinion in which Science can be applied in that theistic metaphysical environment quite nicely.
You see, I am of the opinion God created everything by His own choosing and with an exceeding super-intelligent mind.
He created Mankind in His image which means we, too, have a mind — although a lesser one — we still have a working mind. Some would say we don’t always use it or use it correctly, but it is still there if we choose to use it.
We do have the potential to figure things out using Scientific methodology. The downside becomes apparent when we do not have the wisdom to use such knowledge in beneficial ways, let’s say, for the benefit of all Mankind.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and some would say that it is rarely the case.
But I digress…
With that shallow foundation, please allow me to start building on it… starting with the sill plate for the framing process to begin. I’ll try not to exceed the weight limits of that foundation — probably just a one story framed house.
Here’s an amusing and interesting kid level video: https://www.google.com/search?q=what+are+newton%27s+3+laws+of+motion&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1132US1132&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgBEEUYOxjCAzIJCAAQRRg7GMIDMgkIARBFGDsYwgMyCQgCEEUYOxjCAzIJCAMQRRg7GMIDMgkIBBBFGDsYwgMyCQgFEEUYOxjCAzIJCAYQRRg7GMIDMgkIBxBFGDsYwgPSAQozMTE2NDNqMGo3qAIIsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:45f0ecdd,vid:mn34mnnDnKU,st:0
While Newton’s laws of motion are Scientific and can be usefully applied in the real world, the laws found in the Bible (which I often refer to instead as “precepts”) are not always seen as useful whatsoever… now are they?
That’s unfortunate.
While we use Science to build our houses, we reject the very Author of Science in building our very lives.
In our everyday lives, we rarely think about Science in a deep, deep way as a PhD would, do we? They are all just assumptions we act under without debate — like the cartoon character riding his bike in the video. Once we learn to balance ourselves, we just hop on and go. Maintaining the bike is a bit more complex, like tire pressure and lubrication. Like when I cook, there are instructions I have to follow in order to make a successful apple pie.
Okay. Now to my point…
The Bible is full of precepts and directions that teach us how to live in God’s world, living in both practical and morally transcendent ways. It gives us directions for successful lives — either on our own or within communities.
It’s not as easy as apple pie, but if we pay close attention and apply its direction into our lives, our lives will become delicious desserts which we can share.
Following that, we can learn, though not without mistakes, how to cook a four course meal.
The other option, of course, is to defy God and cook up something on your own. (That usually doesn’t work so well on TV cooking shows like Hell’s Kitchen.) Or you could defy Newton and what irrefutable rules he figured out. (Like NASA’s mixed feelings to defy gravity and escape to some other big Martian space rock…)
So, there’s that…
However…
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” — John 10:10, Berean Standard Bible.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.” — Revelations 3:20, ibid.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:29, ibid.
