Peter Bussey and AbdurRahman Abou Almajd Modern Physics Point the Way to Belief

Peter Bussey and AbdurRahman Abou Almajd Modern Physics Point the Way to Belief.

Signposts to God: How Modern Physics and Astronomy Point the Way to Belief.

(We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.41:53) Sahih International:

We have a fresh opportunity to reflect on Modern Physics Point the Way to Belief!

    At this point Peter Bussey, who a particle physicist, isn’t going to speak about his views on How Modern Physics and Astronomy Point the Way to Belief only, but he also speaks about challenges face physicalism.

too.

Peter Bussey

Dr Peter Bussey is a particle physicist and a research fellow in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Glasgow University. He is a fellow of the Institute of Physics and previously served at Cambridge University, CERN, and Sheffield University. 

Bussey is involved in research with several international particle physics collaborations, including the ZEUS Experiment at DESY in Hamburg, Germany, the CDF Experiment at Fermilab in Chicago, and the ATLAS Experiment at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland. He is widely published in journals such as Science and Christian Belief.

Dr. Bussey is a contributor to 'God and the Big Bang' series of videos.

Q: First of all what made you take up Modern Physics and Astronomy?

PB:   I have been active in experimental elementary particle physics for many years.  I chose this career because I was interested in understanding basic things.

Q: I want to know what Modern Physics and Physics are.

PB:  There are many areas of physics and astronomy where research is active and exciting.  In elementary particle physics, the search is for new particles and a more general theory of particles and the structure of matter.  The most important recent discovery has been that of the so-called  Higgs particle, which is necessary to complete a pattern of particles and to provide a theoretical mechanism by which they can be massive, and not massless like the photon which is the “particle of light”. The search is now for “supersymmetric” particles which some theorists predict.  In astronomy, the most important recent discovery has been of gravitational waves, which are emitted when really heavy star-like object collide.  These even may be “black holes”, as predicted by Einstein’s theory.  In general there is a desire to understand the Big Bang that is believed to have occurred at the beginning of the universe.  There are many other important areas of physics – these are just a few.

Q: Could you elaborate on Modern Physics Point the Way to Belief?

PB:   I think the most important factor is that the universe is structured in an intelligent way, with mathematical patterns that are apparently essential in order to make the universe work at all.  That the universe apparently needs to have a First Cause is also significant.  Also, that the physical parameters that are part of the universe appear to be selected within narrow ranges that are appropriate in order for advanced intelligent life to emerge within the universe.  That this life is conscious is also very significant, something that one would never be able to predict from first physical principles.  All this makes sense if there is a Designer and Creator behind the scenes.  Without this, everything is irrational, but we do not seem to live in an irrational universe.

Q:  As you said: I think the most important factor is that the universe is structured in an intelligent way it's agreed perfectly to the Qur'an, (the artistry of Allah, who disposes of all things in perfect order. 27:88),Yusuf Ali, You criticize physicalism as Physicalism appears to be similar to materialism, a view that excludes the spiritual by saying that matter is all that there is.

PB:  Indeed.  “Physicalism” is the preferred term now because of our uncertainty about the material interpretation of quantum physics.  But the idea is the same – nothing but physical things.  However physics can say nothing about our conscious existence because physics is not set up to talk about this kind of thing.  So to insist that physics is all that there is is arbitrary and goes against our most basic experience.  Physicalism is simply a way of trying to avoid the really important questions.

Q: I don’t know how quantum physics may pose a challenge to physicalism.

PB:  Quantum physics is a branch of physics, and you could say that this is now the physics that defines physicalism.  But our interpretation of quantum physics is very unclear – there is no universally accepted philosophy here.  So any reliance on “physicalism” now rests on very uncertain foundations and amounts to a statement of faith without any well-defined basis.

Q: What about Modern Astronomy and the vastness of the universe?

PB:  The universe is vast.  It has to be, in order for the processes to occur that will generate stars and planets, and for everything to last long enough for life to evolve.  No problem should be seen here, but from the believer’s point of view you do have to believe that God is big enough to be interested in everything, even human beings on a small planet.

Q: Great, you reminding me "And the heaven we constructed with strength and indeed we are its expanders the Qur'an " [51:47] Sahih International. and Psalm 19:2 ·

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ‎

How do Modern Physics point to a designer, could you elaborate on some  modern proves?

PB:  I have already answered this above.  The one thing to add is that if the universe is structured so as to generate life that ends up as conscious, namely ourselves, then it looks as if the Designer is interested in conscious beings, and must in some sense possess consciousness Himself.

This is very important for traditional religious belief.

Abdalrahman: Thank you very much, Dr. Peter Bussey.