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{"id":41299,"date":"2013-11-06T08:01:24","date_gmt":"2013-11-06T15:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/christandpopculture\/?p=41299"},"modified":"2013-11-06T08:01:24","modified_gmt":"2013-11-06T15:01:24","slug":"we-know-less-about-our-universe-than-we-think-and-im-ok-with-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/christandpopculture\/2013\/11\/we-know-less-about-our-universe-than-we-think-and-im-ok-with-that\/","title":{"rendered":"We Know Less About Our Universe Than We Think (and I’m OK With That)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Last year, scientists discovered the Higgs Boson particle, long considered the key to understanding the basic building blocks of matter. However, they now find themselves in an \u201cexistential crisis\u201d of sorts<\/a>, with no idea where to go next.<\/p>\n

Scientists studying the behavior of galaxies have found that the amount of mass observed in those galaxies isn\u2019t enough to explain their gravitational effects. And their studies of the universe\u2019s expansion reveal it\u2019s expanding at an increasing rate, in apparent violation of gravity. In order to explain the effects we see, it\u2019s theorized that some sort of \u201c dark matter<\/a>\u201d and \u201c dark energy<\/a>\u201d are at work. But even though these apparently account for the the vast majority of the universe\u2019s makeup, nobody currently has any idea what they are.<\/p>\n

Physicist\u00a0 Steven Weinberg<\/a> describes the conundrum this way: \u201cPhysical science has historically progressed not only by finding precise explanations of natural phenomena, but also by discovering what sorts of things\u00a0can<\/em>\u00a0be precisely explained. These may be fewer than we had thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Science is a chief way in which humanity increases in magnitude, in terms of what we know, what we can build, etc. However, science is also a chief way in which humanity can increase in humility, as we realize that despite our many wonderful achievements, there will always be deeper and stranger mysteries. We will never see the universe as it truly is.<\/p>\n

For some, this might give rise to despair. One detects a note of that in another quote from Weinberg: \u201cThe more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless.\u201d However, despair need not be our only response.<\/p>\n

In one of the Bible\u2019s most stirring passages, we find a richer response: \u201cWhen I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor\u201d (Psalm 8:3-5).<\/p>\n

Our reason and intelligence, our scientific achievements \u2014 these are part of the \u201cglory and honor\u201d with which we\u2019ve been crowned, and that\u2019s something to revel in. But a glimpse of the heavens, in all of their majesty and mystery drives us to humility. Those two realities \u2014 that we possess glory and honor, and that we\u2019re easily overwhelmed by the creation around us \u2014 define our species, and represent the truth of our existence.<\/p>\n

Photo via\u00a0Thomas Shahan<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"