40+ Years in Elementary Particle Physcis and Astrophysics
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BS EE, Newark College
MS Physics, UCLA
PhD Physics, UCLA
Prof of Physics and
Astronomy, U of Hawaii
Adjunct Prof of
Philosophy, U of Colorado
Fellow, CSICOP
Research Fellow, CFI
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Visiting Prof/Researcher
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U of Heidelberg, Ger
Oxford, England
National Nuclear Physics
Lab, Frascati, Italy
U of Florence, Italy
Research Career
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Elementary Particle
Physics
High-Energy gamma-ray
and neutrino astronomy
Neutrino Mass
The supernatural hypothesis of God is testable,
verifiable, and falsifiable by the established
methods of science.
 The existence of God will be taken as a scientific
hypothesis and the consequences of that
hypothesis searched for in objective observations
of the world around us
 Models will be assumed in which God has specific
attributes that can be tested empirically
 If we have no evidence or other reason for
believing in God, then we can be pretty sure that
God does not exist
Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence
Study Protocols include evaluation of error
sources
 Hypothesis clearly established before data taking
 Control for bias (blinding)
 Hypothesis must be falsifiable
 Results must be independently replicated
Asymmetry: While failure to pass a required
test is sufficient to falsify a model, the passing
of the test is not sufficient to verify the model
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The validity of the scientific method is
justified by its immense success
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The elements of scientific models need not
correspond precisely to the elements of "true reality"
The elements of scientific models are not limited to
those supported by direct observation
Scientific models are human inventions and represent
the best we can do in describing objective reality
When a model successfully describes a wide range of
observations, we can be confident that the elements
of those models have something to do with whatever
reality is out there, but less confident that they
constitute reality itself
How can we mere mortals know about the true
nature of a god who lies beyond our sensibilities?
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The answer: We do not need to know
Whether any of the objects of scientific models are real or
not does not change the fact that those models have
immense utility
By dealing in terms of models of God that are based on
human conceptions, we avoid the objection that the "true"
God may lie beyond our limited cognitive capabilities
When it is demonstrated that a particular God is rejected
by the data, it is not proof that all conceivable gods do not
exist; it simply shows beyond a reasonable doubt that a
God with the specific, hypothesized attributes does not
exist
"Essentially, all
models are wrong,
but some are useful."
George E. P. Box, FRS
(1919-2013)
Judeo-Christian-Islamic God
God is the creator and preserver of the universe
2. God is the architect of the structure of the
universe and the author of the laws of nature
3. God steps in whenever he wishes to change the
course of events, which may include violating his
own laws as, for example, in response to human
entreaties
4. God is the creator and preserver of life and
humanity, where human beings are special in
relation to other life-forms
1.
Judeo-Christian-Islamic God
5.
6.
7.
8.
God has endowed humans with immaterial, eternal
souls that exist independent of their bodies and carry
the essence of a person's character and selfhood
God is the source of morality and other human values
such as freedom, justice, and democracy
God has revealed truths in scriptures and by
communicating directly to select individuals
throughout history
God does not deliberately hide from any human
being who is open to finding evidence for his
presence
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The Illusion of Design
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The Failures of
Revelation
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Searching for a World
Beyond Matter
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Do Our Values Come
From God?
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The Argument from Evil
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Possible and Impossible
Gods
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Cosmic Evidence
The Uncongenial
Universe
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Mind and Soul (duality)
Brain Science Today
ESP
Miracles
Does Prayer Work?
Immortality
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Bruce L. Flamm, "Faith Healing Confronts Modern
Medicine," Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine 8,
no. 1 (2004): 9-14
Randolph C. Byrd, "Positive Therapeutic Effects of
Intercessory Prayer in a Coronary Care Unit
Population," Southern Medical journal 81, no. 7
(1988): 826-29
W. S. Harris et al., "A Randomized, Controlled Trial of
the Effects of Remote, Intercessory Prayer on
Outcomes in Patients Admitted to the Coronary Care
Unit," Archives of Internal Medicine 159 (1999): 227378
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K. Y. Cha, D. P. Wirth, and R. A. Lobo, "Does Prayer Influence the
Success of In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer? Report of a Masked,
Randomized Trial," Journal of Reproductive Medicine 46, no. 9
(September 2001): 781-87
Leonard Leibovici, "Effects of Remote, Retroactive Intercessory Prayer
on Outcomes in Patients with Bloodstream Infections: A Controlled
Trial," British Medical Journal 323 (2001): 1450-51
Brian Olshansky and Larry Dossey, "Retroactive Prayer: A Preposterous
Hypothesis?" British Medical Journal 327 (2003): 1460-63
M. W. Krucoff et al., "Music, Imagery, Touch, and Prayer as Adjuncts to
Interventional Cardiac Care: The Monitoring and Actualization of
Noetic Trainings (MANTRA) II Randomized Study," Lancet 366 (July 16,
2005): 211-17
H. Benson et al., "Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory
Prayer (STEP) in Cardiac Bypass Patients: A Multicenter Randomized
Trial of Uncertainty and Certainty of Receiving Intercessory Prayer,"
American Heart Journal 151, no. 4 (2006): 934-42
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The Pipline to God
Common Standards
Noble Ideals
The Good Society
Holy Horrors
Natural Morality
However common may be the view that religion is the
source of moral behavior, what do the data say?
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Not everyone agrees on every moral issue
Christians may look to the Bible, but how they interpret
what they read must depend on ideals that they have
already developed from some other source
The fact is that these principles were developed in earlier
cultures and history, indicating that they were adopted by rather than learned from - religion
While it is fine that religions preach moral precepts, they
have no basis to claim that these precepts were authored
by their particular deity or, indeed, any deity at all
"Love your enemies."
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"Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right
cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39); "But I say to you, Love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:43-44)
I treat those who are good with goodness. And I also treat those who
are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. I am honest
with those who are honest. And I am also honest with those who are
dishonest. Thus honesty is attained (Taoism. Tao Te Ching 49)
Conquer anger by love. Conquer evil by good. Conquer the stingy by
giving. Conquer the liar by truth (Buddhism. Dhammapada 223)
A superior being does not render evil for evil; this is a maxim one
should observe; the ornament of virtuous persons is their conduct.
One should never harm the wicked or the good or even criminals
meriting death. A noble soul will ever exercise compassion even
towards those who enjoy injuring others or those of cruel deeds when
they are actually committing them-for who is without fault?
(Hinduism. Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda 115)
"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you."
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Jesus: "So, whatever you wish that men would do to you,
do so to them; for this is the law of the prophets" (Matt.
7:12)
The Hindu Mahabharata: "This is the sum of all true
righteousness: deal with others as thou wouldst thyself be
dealt by." (c. 150 BCE)
Isocrates: "Do not do to others what would anger you if
done to you by others." (c. 375 BCE)
Confucius: "What you do not want others to do to you, do
not do to others." (The Doctrine of the Mean 13, c. 500
BCE)
No original moral concept of any significance
can be found in the New Testament
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Disagreeing with the Data
What If?
What Gods Remain?
The Hiddenness Problem
1.
2.
3.
A God who is responsible for the complex structure of the world,
especially living things, fails to agree with empirical fact that this
structure can be understood to arise from simple natural processes
and shows none of the expected signs of design. Indeed, the universe
looks as it should look in the absence of design.
A God who has given humans immortal souls fails to agree with the
empirical facts that human memories and personalities are
determined by physical processes, that no nonphysical or
extraphysical powers of the mind can be found, and that no evidence
exists for an afterlife.
A God whose interactions with humans, including miraculous
interventions, have been reported in scriptures is contradicted by the
lack of independent evidence that these miraculous events took place
and the fact that physical evidence now convincingly demonstrates
that some of the most important biblical narratives, such as the
Exodus, never took place.
4.
5.
6.
A God who miraculously and supernaturally created the universe fails
to agree with the empirical fact that no violations of physical law
were required to produce the universe, its laws, or its existence rather
than nonexistence. It also fails to agree with established theories,
based on empirical facts, which indicate that the universe began with
maximum entropy and so bears no imprint of a creator.
A God who fine-tuned the laws and constants of physics for life, in
particular human life, fails to agree with the fact that the universe is
not congenial to human life, being tremendously wasteful of time,
space, and matter from the human perspective. It also fails to agree
with the fact that the universe is mostly composed of particles in
random motion, with complex structures such as galaxies forming less
than 4 percent of the mass and less than one particle out of a billion.
A God who communicates directly with humans by means of
revelation fails to agree with the fact that no claimed revelation has
ever been confirmed empirically, while many have been falsified. No
claimed revelation contains information that could not have been
already in the head of the person making the claim.
7.
8.
A God who is the source of morality and human values does not exist
since the evidence shows that humans define morals and values for
themselves. This is not "relative morality." Believers and nonbelievers
alike agree on a common set of morals and values. Even the most
devout decide for themselves what is good and what is bad.
Nonbelievers behave no less morally than believers.
The existence of evil, in particular, gratuitous suffering, is logically
inconsistent with an omniscient, omnibenevolent, omnipotent God
(standard problem of evil).
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Is Religion Useful?
The Negative Impact of Religion on Society
Meaning
Comfort and Inspiration
"A man who says, 'If God is dead,
nothing matters', is a spoilt child
who has never looked at his fellow
man with compassion."
Ethics Without God (1990)
Kai Neilsen (born 1926)
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Well Written
Methodical and Scientifically Rigorous Approach
Good Research
Excellent References
Physics Cosmology Philosophy Religion Pseudoscience
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Not By Design: The Origin of the Universe (1988)
Physics and Psychics: The Search for a World beyond
the Senses (1990)
The Unconscious Quantum: Metaphysics in Modern
Physics and Cosmology (1995)
Timeless Reality: Symmetry, Simplicity, and Multiple
Universes (2000)
Has Science Found God? The Latest Results in the
Search for Purpose in the Universe (2003)
The Comprehensible Cosmos: Where Do the Laws of
Physics Come From? (2006)
http:// www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/