SYMPOSIUM ON GOD, MATTER, AND INFORMATION
One of the most significant symposia held under the auspices of the Humble Approach Initiative during the past two years was “God, Matter, and Information: What is Ultimate?” held at the University of Copenhagen, August 17-19, 2006. It was co-chaired by Dr. Paul Davies, college professor and founding director of Beyond: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science at Arizona State University and winner of the Templeton Prize in 1995 and by Dr. Niels Henrik Gregersen, professor of systematic theology at the University of Copenhagen.
The symposium set out to explore the current understanding of the concept of matter from scientific, philosophical, and theological perspectives. What conclusions did it reach? “Well, first of all,” says Gregersen, “it showed how the concept of information gradually, since the mid-20th century, has gained importance within standard physical and biological sciences. Secondly, the causal roles of information were shown to be different in the context of quantum computation, thermodynamics, and genetics.”
Gregersen also believes the discussion showed the extent to which scientific concepts of information were open to philosophical and theological reflection. “I guess that the symposium, in these respects, was the first of its kind,” he observes. Does he believe, as the symposium prospectus suggested, that information has supplanted matter as the primary currency of physical reality in many contexts?
“I would be cautious here,” he says, “since I still see mass-and-energy as fundamental. But as we climb up the ladder of historical specificity, I think that the causal role of information (in terms of topologies and connectivity) will increase, and can no longer be seen as only of secondary importance. If the quantum information proposal developed by Seth Lloyd at MIT (a member of the group) works out, it will be even more fundamental.”
But important as these scientific investigations are, they are less dramatic than the striking congruency between the concepts of mass, energy, and matter, on the one hand, and traditional theological doctrines, on the other, that Gregersen is tentatively exploring. This speculation is at the sharp end of the science/religion interface and Gregersen is at pains to emphasize that, so far, it amounts to no more than an analogy. Nevertheless, the boldness of the concept contributes a truly cutting-edge excitement to the issues the symposium addressed.
“At present,” explains Gregersen, “I believe it is only possible to point to analogies to religious concepts, e.g., to the mutual interplay between the Father, the Source of mass, the Spirit or Energizer of creativity, and the divine Logos, the informational Matrix of orderliness. If one thinks of the cosmological functions of the Trinitarian persons, as traditionally described, the parallels are indeed striking. This should not, however, be seen as an argument for the “existence” of God from the triad of mass, energy, and matter, but rather as an example of the inescapability of cross-fertilizing bridging concepts in science as well as in theology.”
What does he think is the biggest question that needs to be asked in relation to the issues addressed by the symposium? “What about this: How can divine creativity be thought of as internal to the world of matter rather than as an external influence, without God being flatly identified with the evolutionary history of the material world?”
Gregersen regards the symposium as having been a success, but believes a truly significant outcome depends upon the equivalent success of the book it generated. Provisionally titled, Does Information Matter? Perspectives from Science, Philosophy and Theology, it has been accepted for publication by the Cambridge University Press. A favorable reception would give fresh impetus to research into the issues discussed at this symposium, although at present there are no specific plans for further collaboration among the participants to carry forward its work.
But if the book generates sufficient interest and excitement, there could be further advances. As Gregersen says, “It would be interesting to see how the world views of various religions would be able to accommodate the new roles attached to the scientific concepts of information.”