Does modern theoretical physics have room for spirituality and the "supernatural"?

Question

Would you say that modern physics models of the world (quantum mechanics, string theory, the holographic paradigm...) support the possibility of so-called paranormal phenomena (telepathy, psychokinesis etc) or discount them? Also, for the really brave, what about spirituality in general and the possibility of divine?

Obviously I'd like people who actually know about the subject to comment, but if you're going to insist, at least first watch the PBS documentary "The Elegant Universe", hosted by physicist Brian Greene:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/...

Also take a look at at the "double slit experiment", which you can find here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...

You could also watch "What the bleep do we know?" which, while perhaps a bit less objective about the matter, still raises some very interesting points.

PS. I'm not looking for the best answer I agree with. 10 points to the best argument EITHER way. We're debating here, not arguing.

Sorry all about the PBS link. I tried it from here and it also chucks out the error, but if I type the link directly into my browser it works. Here it is again (The one that worked)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/

Otherwise, just go to www.pbs.org, and search for 'elegant universe'. The first result that comes up takes you to the series' homepage.

Answer 1

At this point I think that modern physicists do not have enough evidence of such things to prove or discount them. We know that we broadcast signals from our brain (alpha, beta, and theta waves). but as of yet we do not know for sure what these signals are capable of or if other humans are able to receive and decipher them.

To be totally objective, much of what could have been considered to be supernatural 100 years ago, is now scientifically provable and can be considered very natural. So it is impossible to say that what is supernatural today could not be considered natural as science progresses and we gain a better understanding of the true nature of the existence of our universe.
This does not mean that you can call what is supernatural today a fact based on the possibility of scientific recognition in the future. It simply means that "fact" is relative to the current capacity of understanding nature.
I do believe there is room for such things in physics, even a thirst. And I can't wait until the next big breakthrough. I love the Idea of having more capabilities than we are aware of, being able to manipulate things without physical contact, or communicate through thought, etc.. The possibilities are fascinating.

Great question

Answer 2

Buddhism and quantum physics actually go together quite well. I was studying Buddhism at university, and just starting to meditate, when a lot of the previously unconceivable physics began coming out. It was like they were proving some of the Buddhist ideas I was struggling to understand.

Aryeh Kaplan, one of the pre-eminent Jewish scholars of this era, has been working on integrating modern cosmology into Jewish texts, including interpretations of timing that get the dates to agree. Cool stuff.

It's definitely possible. And makes a lot more sense than seeing them as opposed. Religion was the first science, seeking to explain what hadn't yet been explained otherwise. Supernatural is just operating in another dimension that we can't entirely perceive.

I'm becoming more and more of a materialist (a physical explanation for everything). I used to see that as overly limiting. Now I understand how fascinating, liberating and just plain cool it is. Nothing happens without being rooted or at the very absolute least passing through physicality. Modern physics is uncovering some of the mechanisms.

Answer 3

I have thought of this before. With quantum mechanics it seems as though things that we consider supernatural would both exist and not exist depending on your universe. This is of course if such things are even allowed. But on that note I highly doubt the existence of an omniscient omnipresent intelligence because of the complete unpredictability of every atom, quark, neutrino, and well basically everything.
So in the end, like usual there is no way to know if any of this exists or is even possible.

Answer 4

For some quantum mechanics is unusual sufficient to substantiate religious concerns. some physicist might of direction say that that's because of the fact the believer does not understand quantum mechanics. I studied quantum mechanics sufficient to pass a college direction on the priority. the actuality that an observer ameliorations what it observes shows the interconnectedness of each and every thing interior the universe, it is strictly why quantum entanglement works and it is likewise precisely what collapses a risk wave function into an certainty. No ask your self mystics the international over that have taken the time to learn the priority are all excited approximately it. that's to my techniques that very final piece of info that flies over the heads of maximum yet confirms for many human beings long enjoyed notions of the universe that have been generally happening for hundreds of years on an intuitive point. I agree that Deepak Chopra has been extra of a series lower back for this line of concept than something i'm able to work out no info that he ever understood lots with regards to the priority yet because of the fact some scientist have been inspired to faith by quantum mechanics it grew to alter into for him a sturdy slogan to throw around to make his speeches sound extra advantageous. This sells books and gets you on Oprah. For one element he seems to think of that the observer refers to understanding, yet in certainty the observer may be a photographic plate or a sensor. /.

Answer 5

No room for the supernatural. It's impossible to study. We can never know for certain that a supernatural event has taken place. We can never know if something went against the laws of the universe, or if our perception was off, or if we just misunderstood what happened.

For instance, many people didn't understand how the bee took flight. The math was already there, they just misapplied it. Now we know they fly more like helicopters do, and not like aerodynamic planes.

Answer 6

This is a bit of a gray area.

Spirituality and supernatural are terms I see for things science has yet to explain. Simply put, everything can be explained logically...we just don't have the science to get there yet.

Example...imagine the reaction of someone from the first century were you to show them a flash light. They would see it as some form of magick or supernatural instrument even though its a fairly basic instrument to our minds now.

Until science can completely map the brain and explain the soul, there will always be this area of the unknown.

I use the word "until" loosely, I might add, as I'm not convinced we'll ever get there.

Answer 7

PBS link goes to an error message. The double slit experiment looks like magic, but only because understanding why it does what it does would reorder the way you view reality in ways that most people reject because it would be too disturbing and complex and require advanced math. Learn; its what Google is for. And God still isn't part of the equation.

Answer 8

No.
No science of any kind has any room for the "supernatural." Science is a search for natural answers to questions. Any time you insert "supernatural" into that process, it's no longer science. Anything "supernatural" can't be tested, proven right or wrong, or evaluated rationally -- therefore it has no place in any science.

Now, the *people* who do science can be spiritual, believe in god, whatever -- that's up to them. Most don't believe in god, but some do -- and that's fine. They just need to keep their personal beliefs seperate from their work...because it has no business in science.

And no, the possibility of "the divine" and of paranormal phenomena are not supported by science. There is no testable, repeatable evidence for either of those things (same for astrology, magnetic bracelets, pyramid power, auras, and on and on) -- and there is considerable testable, repeatable evidence that shows they are false. Science goes by evidence, not by wishful thinking.

Answer 9

science never had room for the supernatural or the spiritual. that is a misconception. science, whatever discipline, is bound to describe what happens in formulas and in models. I think the whole discussion just leads to confusion. physics is physics. if some scientist describes something with "spiritual" or "supernatural" than they are off the tracks. the decision to deal with spiritual matters is outside of science and therefore open to anybody regardless of education. trying to proof the "spiritual" or "supernatural" with physics makes not sense at all. gravity for example is never explained in physics it is only described in various models. but gravity in itself is as much a mystery as quantum physics. the only difference is, that gravity is a every day experience. quantum physics isn´t.

Answer 10

Not really, the argument would have to come from the ground up, ie what effect do the particles and forces have on the world and are there things that they do which would fall under your definitions.

Just to hope that something that we do not fully understand yet might just happen to confirm the ignorant musings of humanity is just wishful thinking.