A THEORY OF EVERYTHING

Third week of Advent (Sunday)

Physicists, today, build multi-billion dollar particle accelerators in search of what they call a “unified theory”, i.e., a simple, mathematically expressible hypothesis, that will explain everything: how the universe came into being, and how it continues to be. It’s a great endeavour and, though I don’t pretend to understand it, I expect it will produce practical technological benefits; these things usually do. But, in reality, it’s simply a continuation of the age old human project of understanding. For some reason human beings have always suspected that there is some “one thing” at the root of everything, that ties reality together and makes sense of it all. And we want to know that “thing”.

But even a theoretical mathematician like Stephen Hawking admits that this project will not provide a final, satisfying answer. “Even if there is only one possible unified theory,” he writes, “it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe?” (A Brief History of Time)

John 1:1-9 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (Emphasis mine.)

John begins his gospel with a poetic prologue in which he sets out the essence of the story he is about to tell. This prologue is his “unified theory”.

All Jews knew that “In the beginning” God brought everything into being by his Word (Genesis 1). So it is, of course, God’s Word that created and sustains the universe. But John insists that this Word also unifies everything, including all human beings. And, furthermore, that this Word is light and life, not just for a few enlightened ones, or those of the Old Testament faith, or even the followers of Jesus. This is “the true light that gives light to everyone”.

This “unified theory” didn’t produce any immediate technological breakthroughs that I’m aware of, but it did produce some startling philosophical and ethical insights. Paul, for example, can say “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) This kind of thinking has huge implication that are still being worked out in our world today. And, in light of this teaching, St Francis of Assisi can even speak of “Brother Sun and Sister Moon”. Imagine the implications of that.

So, as we celebrate the coming of Christ, we celebrate that one mysterious something, or someone, who ties it all together.

But you may ask me, “Can you prove this unified theory?”. Of course I can, the same way the physicists will prove theirs, with the ultimate test question “Does it work?” The application is, admittedly, a bit tricky, but after a lifetime of experience I am personally convinced that, when applied properly, it does.

One Light, One Sun – Raffi

(Raffi is a wonderful children’s entertainer. I’m rediscovering him with my grandchildren. Be sure click on this link, especially if you don’t know his work. You’ll love it.)