As I’m sitting here simultaneously wondering what I need to write about for my blog post and brainstorming what I need to write next on my research paper, it occurred to me that maybe I should just write something about what I’m writing about so I don’t have to spend time writing one thing when I should be writing the next, in actuality I’ll be writing on the same thing albeit not in the same place.
Confused? Well, I am a little. You see, my research paper is on the Multiverse Theory and God. And if you think that sounds simple enough, I also have to discuss within the topic such things as Big Bang Cosmology, Chaos Theory, String Theory, and Anthropic Fine Tuning. I won’t bore you with that stuff. Relieved, right?
But I thought I could share sort of a “for dummies” version of what Multiverse Theory is all about. It’s the stuff movies and good fiction is made of, but some physicists are calling it science. You’ve seen it at work in Doctor Who, Sliders, The Chronicles of Narnia, and even versions of it found its way into Back to the Future, V is for Vendetta, and The Butterfly Effect. There are countless others, I’m sure. Stick around till the end for something really cool on this point.
What are we talking about? There are only a handful of ways to describe Multiverses, each with its own wild possibilities. First, imagine a basketball covered in bubble wrap. Each “bubble” contains everything it needs for a self-contained universe. The “ball” is ever expanding, so we’ll never be able to reach any nearby universe. There are an infinite number of them with infinite possible combinations on how the “stuff” might arrange itself. So much so that all possible combinations exists somewhere…even a universe identical to ours. That’s a Level 1 Multiverse. Just remember…they are FAR away distance wise. Remember the end of Men in Black?
A Level 2 is basically the same as Level 1, except where Level 1 takes every possible combination for arranging its matter, a Level 2 is not bound by any physical laws. So a Level 2 takes every conceivable and inconceivable way of creating their own physics. Weird, huh? They might have as many as 0 to 11 dimensions of existence. BTW…we only have 4, in case you didn’t know. This is so weird, I don’t think anyone has tried to put it in fiction.
Level 3 is the fun one. It’s the “what if” scenario, where universes are created by the branching and splitting of the current universe by each possible decision we make. What would the world look like if we’d decided one thing instead of another? Well, guess what. That world exists. There is a universe in which you made that other choice. And it was created by you at the moment you made your choice. Phineas and Ferb did an episode along these lines. In fact, this is the most popular form for use in fiction.
There’s also a Cyclic Theory, that is one universe is engaging in an infinite loop of Big Bangs and Big Crunches, continually recreating itself into something different. But that’s just not as much fun for a fiction writer.
Of course, none of this truly gets at the existence of God like they hope. Multiverse Theory is supposed to do away with the improbability of our universe to be able to sustain life by accident without the need for a designer. With infinite possibilities, nothing is improbable anymore. But in reality, it just creates more creation for God to create. It doesn’t explain why it’s all there instead of nothing being there. And if something came from nothing, then there is a necessity for God.
But the most fun part of all of this is the implications for fictional characters. According to Multiverse Theory, if something could possibly exist then there is a world in which it actually exists. So, if a fictional character could possibly exists…then there is an actual universe out there where that character truly lives and breathes. That means Winter is out there somewhere. Indiana Jones and Gandalf and the good Doctor. Dragons exist, and so do mermaids. Of course the villains also exist. Sauron and Voldemort and Jaws. Every possible combination and possibility has its own world out there as an actual universe. Because Multiverse Theory is infinite and every possibility has a chance.
It also means Star Wars really happened. In a UNIVERSE far far away. Luke Skywalker is real. Yoda is real. Darth Vader is real.
The Daleks are real. And Reevers. *shudder*
-k
Have you heard of the book “Interworld” by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves? It deals with multiversal conflicts, but it doesn’t seem to be any of the three levels, but there are Level 2 places between universes.
I don’t use any of them in my multiverse either.
No, I haven’t heard of that book. But there’s enough books written out there with multiverse in it to fill a library.
Yeah, this was the one I remember, because now that I remember more of it, it was sort of a combination of all three types.
The Doctor is real! Yes! But you can keep the Reavers, thank you very much. And so are the Weeping Angels…I don’t like this. Have you reached the Angels in Doctor Who yet? If so, you’ll know what I mean.
No, not yet. I’m nearing the end of season 2.
Season 3. Don’t blink.
“But in reality, it just creates more creation for God to create. It doesn’t explain why it’s all there instead of nothing being there. And if something came from nothing, then there is a necessity for God.”
This is so profound for Christians–God takes far less faith when we look at the big picture behind the night sky.
It’s such a basic argument, I don’t know why more people don’t think of it.
Whew! Very neat stuff, Keven.
Thanks! Did you learn something?
Thanks for the guide, Keven. Seems to me modern physicists should moonlight as spec-fic writers. They certainly come up with some outlandish plots in an effort to dodge God.
I should let you read my paper. I use their own theories about the multiverse, theories of everything, and chaos theory to actually PROVE the existence of God. They can run from it and make everything bigger, but they never really solve the real problem. What started it all?
Yes, please let me have a read sometime.
My Dearest Keven,
You said a mouth full, I just wish my feeble brain could comprehend it a little better. LOL
Keven,
What a great post. Would you mind if I shared this?
Thank you. Yes, feel free to share. I’ve written a very complicated and detailed paper on the subject that may wind up at my website soon. I haven’t decided though. http://www.kevennewsome.com
I’ve wrestled with this for a couple years now, ever since I had a discussion with a non-theist, who claimed Multiverse Theory to be the absolute truth, essentially telling me that even if my God existed, He would only be a “local” deity of one universe. It was a long, agonizing, crazy discussion — we went back and forth on the whole Chaos thing, too.
I’m convinced that part of the problem is that atheists don’t know what we really mean when we refer to “God”. The very nature of term “God” cannot be “local”, or “God” is just a “god”, and atheists clearly don’t see the difference. And no mere god can explain all things or anything, only God can.
Multiverse really says nothing about the existence of God. In fact, in my full paper I use some of the principles of Multiverse theory to actually argue for the existence of God. It all boils down to causality. It doesn’t matter how complicated something gets, your first cause has to get bigger. If there’s an infinite number of universes, then there must be a cause behind why an infinite number of universes can exist instead of one or instead of nothing.
Reblogged this on Tafacory Ideas and commented:
Great intro to the subject.
I’m not sure if all those fictional characters could exist. Take Star Wars, for example. Each universe needs to still rely on constant physical laws. The Force wouldn’t really work. Every natural universe that could exist, might exist, but the supernatural still doesn’t.
Ah…but in a Level 2 Inflation bubble multiverse it could. Level 2 is characterized by having different sets of physical laws.