Implications of an Eternal Transcendent God (Part I)
Before proceeding to the discussion of our topic, we must first have some baseline definitions of the concepts. I will argue that an eternal transcendent god implies a block universe. And a block universe implies the impossibility of free will. Definition of terms * * * * * God – a supernatural being who may either refer to a deistic or theistic god who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and immortal creator of the universe. Universe – refers to the sum total of all physical existence, which includes laws of nature, matter, energy, time and space. Eternal – indicates timeless existence, without beginning or ending. It is slightly different from the concept of infinity, which may include a beginning and series of progressions. Transcendent – refers to being above or beyond the limitations of the physical universe. It also implies timelessness. Block universe – a concept based on Minkowski space and Einstein’s special theory of relativity. It is a universe that has static time similar to a frozen river with the past, present and future all existing simultaneously instead of flowing. * * * * * Free will implication An eternal transcendent god implies a block universe in which the past, present and future simultaneously exist. Instead of a series of flowing causality, there is only one instance of completed whole. There’s no potentiality or probability. Only certainty exists. Just like a solid sculpted crystal figure that can be viewed from different angles a block universe is unchanging. Everything in this universe is predestined. Hence, freewill is impossible. Minkowski-Einstein space An eternal transcendent god can observe this universe from the outside and from different angles, but the entire block remains the same. Any point in space and time can be plotted in the block universe. This is precisely how Minkowski and Einstein viewed space and time, treating time as a mere geometrical dimension in space that can be plotted. Hence, the term spacetime is more appropriate, merging the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time. Of course, there are several objections to the concept of a block universe such as the seemingly irreversible forward direction of time due to entropy and the randomness of quantum mechanics. We will clarify and try to debunk these objections later. For now, let’s examine an argument that supports a block universe based on Einstein’s special theory of relativity. Block universe argument Premise 1: The speed of light is constant in a vacuum for all inertial frames of reference. Premise 2: Consequently, spacetime is not absolute but rather relative to the observer’s inertial frame of reference. Premise 3: If spacetime is not absolute, then it is relativistically malleable. Premise 4: Consequently, spacetime dilation occurs as an object approaches the speed of light. Premise 5: At the speed of light, spacetime is zero. Premise 6: At a speed faster than the speed of light (superluminal speed), spacetime causality reverses. In other words, this means travelling back in time. Premise 7: If travelling back in time is possible, then it means that the past exists simultaneously with the present and future (spacetime origin of the time traveler). Premise 8: If this is the case, then all points in spacetime can be geometrically plotted and represented as a whole block. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the universe is a block universe. [to be continued…]