From: egw@utkvx1.utk.edu (Wolpert, Edward Greenwal)
Subject: Re: How do Jews reconcile science and philosophy with their faith?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords: HitchHiker's Guide
Organization: University of Tennessee Computing Center
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 13:57:00 GMT

In article <106765@netnews.upenn.edu>, hlevene@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Howard Levene) writes...
>In article <44049@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> ph600fcy@sdcc14.ucsd.edu (Matthew Harrington) writes:
>>There seem to be many Jews (perhaps non-practising) in the sciences
>>and mathematics.  Perhaps some of them even read this newsgroup.  It
>>seems to me that it is difficult to reconcile various scientific
>>accomplishments with religion in general.  For example, evolution
>>and the big-bang theory run contrary to the account given in the
>>Bible.  In the philosophical realm, I haven't heard any defenses of
>>free will vs. determinism or other dilemmas given by people of a
>>Jewish background.  So, how do you people do it?  "It" refers to
>>reconciling your fundamental religious beliefs with the scientific
>>and philosophic theories (&c.) of the day.
>>
>>					Perplexed,
>>					Matt Harrington
> 
>Evolution and the Big Bang do not run contrary to the account given in the
>Torah... 
>1)  Torah described creation is allegorical and needn't be reconciled with 
>	science.
>                                
>2)  G-d decided that when He revealed the Torah, He'd leave out the part about
>	Schroedinger's Time Independent Wave Equations for fear that the
>	ancient Hebrews wouldn't quite understand it.
You forgot the Time dependent Wave equations as well. :-)
[Good stuff deleted]
>All these situations allow us technical types (I'm a Mechanical Engineering
>Senior) to avoid trying to reconcile Science and G-d.  We just invoke Occam's
>[sp?] Razor and go on our merry way practicing science and practicing religion.
> 
>--
> Howard B. Levene 
	I completely agree.  Unlike my parents, I find Torah and Science do not
disagree.  The Book of the Prophet Quatum does not appear in the Bible due to
the fact that it is hard to understand for most people.  (Those who do
understand it find few people understand them. :) )  The first six days can
be considered a attempt to point out that what we would see as would take 
millions of years, be considered only a day to G-D.  This is useful in modern
times more than when it was writen since it shows the power of G-D.  (Another
proof of the timelessness of Torah!)  
	Also, I remember reading somewhere (Reff availble on request) that if
we can consider G-D outside of the universe, we can see that the process of 
making the universe would seem to be millions (bilions?) of years as viewed
in the Universe, but due to time distortions, only about six days at the edge
of the universe.  (Instead of waiting for someone to ask for a reff, I'll post
it tomorrow[book is at home]  I realize now that most people may not believe
such an article exists.)
	Virtually,
	Edward Wolpert
wolpert@neon.chem.utk.edu     "G-D gave Torah to the Jews,
wolpert@lead.chem.utk.edu      not the Jews to Torah."
egw@utkvx.utk.edu                      -Rabbi Simon


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