He invented the laser and, in 1964, received the Nobel Prize in Physics. (Wikimedia Commons)
“I strongly believe in the existence of God, based on intuition, observations, logic, and also scientific knowledge.
“Science, with its experiments and logic, tries to understand the order or structure of the universe. Religion, with its theological inspiration and reflection, tries to understand the purpose or meaning of the universe. These two are cross-related. Purpose implies structure, and structure ought to be interpretable in terms of purpose. At least this is the way I see it. I am a physicist. I also consider myself a Christian. As I try to understand the nature of our universe in these two modes of thinking, I see many commonalities and crossovers between science and religion. It seems logical that in the long run the two will even converge.
“Science wants to know the mechanism of the universe, religion–the meaning. The two cannot be separated.
“We scientists work on the basis of a fundamental assumption regarding reason in nature and reason in the human mind, an assumption that is held as a cardinal principle of faith. Yet this faith is so automatically and generally accepted that we hardly recognize it as an essential basis of science.
“As a religious person, I strongly sense the presence and actions of a creative Being far beyond myself and yet always personal and close by.
“In fact, it seems to me, a revelation can be viewed as a sudden discovery of understanding of man and man’s relation to his universe, to God, and his relation to other men.”
Charles Townes, 1915-2015
Posted from Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii
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