Time and Space

Paradoxically, all solid matter is mostly empty space - electrons orbit the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of the atom at great speed, "filling in" the empty space of their orbit by their very rapid movement, sort of like, for example, an airplane propeller "filling in" an area even though the propeller itself is physically much smaller than the area that it makes "solid."

I recall one of that teacher's favorite theories was that of how, he believed, under supernatural conditions, a solid cannonball could be fired through a solid stone wall, without damaging the wall i.e. no hole. I don't recall all of the intricacies of his explanation, but I do remember that it somehow made sense, and over 30 years later I haven't forgotten him or his ideas (again, testimony to the fact that he was a very impressive teacher, quirky or not). He said that it was just a matter of "timing" (time was another factor in his theory, how things, again paradoxically, relatively slow down as they are energized, or "quickened," to the speed of light - something that Albert Einstein believed).

When someone expressed a skeptical response to his idea, he provided a "real life" example using, again, that "solid" airplane propeller - during the First World War, some fighter planes, using a timing mechanism, safely fired their machine guns right through the rapidly-spinning propeller blades.

I don't profess to fully understand all that the man expressed in his theories, which were often apart from the official course of studies (getting him going on his theories was a sure way to get by with an easy, or at least much more seemingly interesting, class that day, that we'd have to pay the piper for the next day with a double work load), but I do remember what he believed about God. He wasn't an outwardly "religious" man (although someday he may well be, even though he died a few years ago, since he will perhaps have a lot less religious error to unlearn before he can accept the Truth - see Resurrections), but he did believe in God. When asked if God existed, he would respond, "Of course! Any fool can see that!"

Although he had the right idea, he could perhaps have said, "Any fool should be able to see that!" because although fools can see it, since the evidence is overwhelming, fools won't see it. That's what makes them fools.

"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1 RSV)

"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion" (Proverbs 18:2 RSV)

Some of the greatest scientists in human history were not fools:

"Every one who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe - a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955), theoretical physicist, scientific genius

"There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history."
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), English physicist, one of the greatest scientists of all time.

"All human discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more the truths contained in the Sacred Scriptures."
Sir William Herschel (1738-1822), English astronomer, he made numerous discoveries about the laws of the heavens.

"Nature is an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only will tune in."
George Washington Carver (1864-1903) U.S. chemist, educator

"The divine spark leaps from the finger of God to the finger of Adam, whether it takes ultimate shape in a law of physics or a law of the land, a poem or a policy, a sonata or a mechanical computer."
Alfred Whitney Griswold (1906-1963) U.S. educator, historian

"God not only plays dice, He also sometimes throws the dice where they cannot be seen."
Stephen Hawking (1942- ) British physicist

"If we find the answer [the unified theory], it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for we would know the mind of God."
Stephen Hawking (1942- ) British physicist

"Every formula which expresses a law of nature is a hymn of praise to God."
Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) U.S. astronomer, educator

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), astronomer, mathematician, physicist, he constructed the first astronomical telescope

Fact Finder: Who was the first scientist?
See The First Scientist

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