IV) A Subtle Omnipresent Harmony

Repulsed by falsehoods and unmoved by trivia, we seek only to know the truth about existence. As curiosity propels us toward ever greater depths of knowledge and we attain ever deeper insights, we eventually come to the most profound idea of all – God. So what exactly is "God?" The multitude of different religions and divisions even within the same religion tells us there is no single answer. Yet, even though our view of God is determined by our particular cultural upbringing and unique personal experiences, we should be able to agree on a certain set of traits that only God may possess. For the sake of simplicity, let's consider just two:

1) God, as the Supreme Creator, is the ultimate source of order.

2) God, as our Almighty Lord, operates all around us and within us for all eternity.

Great tomes have been filled in mankind's attempt to communicate God's supreme power and interpret the divine Will upon the assumption that God exists. Here we will challenge that very assumption and ask: does God exist? In other words, does everything have a common origin and, if so, is this singular creative entity truly active in every part of space and at every moment in time? In this sense of God, if chaos plays the dominant role in creation then order is merely a product of chance and therefore God does not exist. If, on the other hand, God exists then chaos can only be a byproduct and not the source of order, in which case we should expect to find evidence of an eternal underlying order from which all things emerge.

Let us first suppose that chaos is the ultimate origin of everything and God is nonexistent. We can imagine there are an infinite number of universes in various states of disorder and, although most of them are devoid of stable matter, we happen to find ourselves in one that not only allows for stable matter but also possesses all the conditions for life as we know it. According to this view, there must be many more universes where order is effectively absent than ones which contain stable material structures capable of observing and communicating the order evident in their surroundings. Now, if you and I exist in such a place, where order is only an illusion and the true state of the world is characterized by pervasive chaos, then it would be practically impossible to find any semblance of order among the fundamental physical parameters. In a universe produced by chance alone, the measurements derived from the indivisible parts of matter must be essentially meaningless, serving no purpose other than to arbitrarily limit the infinite randomness so that experiments yield quantifiable results. Thus, where chaos reigns, the number of universes populated with observers who find that the fundamental physical parameters have no significant proportionality must far exceed the number of universes where these parameters exhibit clear proportionality. 

To elucidate this point let's consider a pair of basic parameters from geometry. First there is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Assuming the circle is perfectly round, then the value of this ratio must be exactly equal to 3.14159…, which contains an infinite number of digits and is a mathematical constant known as pi or π. Similarly, if the ratio of one distance to a larger distance is the same as the ratio of the large distance to the sum of both distances, then the numerical value of this ratio will be equal to 0.61803…, which is another constant known as phi or Φ. Since both parameters can be calculated with arbitrary precision, their numerical values will be the same to all observers independent of their physical environment. Although no physical structure may conform exactly with these specific constants, close approximations of both π and Φ are found throughout our observable universe. So while the orbits of the planets are not precisely circular, nor is there any human face with features that align perfectly with Φ, both structures are consistently proportional with these mathematical constants.

Now, to determine whether orbits and faces are purely the product of chance or whether there is another reason for this correspondence between physical and mathematical order, we have to examine what planets and people are made of. Experiments reveal that all stable matter is composed of 3 basic parts: electron, proton, and neutron. Only two physical parameters, mass and g-factor, are necessary to distinguish each particle. Mass measures a particle's resistance to linear acceleration and thus characterizes its straight line movement through space, while g-factor measures a particle's resistance to angular acceleration and thus characterizes its intrinsic spin. The numerical values of these parameters may be expressed using decimal notation as follows (where the masses are in units of Gev/c²):

     

              

             

Unlike the mathematical constants, π and Φ, these physical parameters are not known with arbitrary precision. The masses are accurately measured to about 9 decimal places and the g-factors vary between 9 and 12 decimal places. Expressed in these terms, there does not seem to be any obvious order among them. From the theory of quantum electrodynamics, the electron g-factor is known to be slightly greater than the number 2, and the neutron mass is evidently a little larger than the proton mass, but aside from that the experimentally determined values of these parameters appear to be quite random. If indeed they were uncorrelated, we could justifiably conclude that the universe is governed by chaos and then we would have no reason to suppose God exists based on the physical evidence, for what God would generate fundamental measurements that were utterly meaningless?

As it turns out, however, these parameters are actually subject to relatively simple proportional constraints. Consider the fine order in just the following proportionality:

^{A = 1.000002335             B = 1.000007440}

While all observers will invariably agree that π added 7 times is almost equal to the integer 22, it is not necessarily true that all observers will find that the atomic masses and g-factors, the 6 most ubiquitous physical parameters, all conform with the simple constraint shown above. If the universe we inhabit is only one of many, then it seems almost miraculous to find the measurements that define the irreducible parts of matter bound by such an elegant proportionality. Of course, the easiest way to prove it is not a miracle but a meaningless mirage would be to demonstrate that the other fundamental parameters, such as the masses of the quarks and leptons, are not subject to the same constraint. However, as we have seen in the preceding sections, this proportionality extends to every relevant physical parameter.

When we look at the complete set of proportional relationships there is abundant evidence that multiples of 22 not only constrain the fundamental physical parameters, but also confer stability to natural structures at progressively larger scales of space-time. Furthermore, this proportionality is thoroughly consistent with a toroidal space-time structure that deforms and spins in proportion with the masses and g-factors of the fundamental particles. Altogether these observations lead us to reject the hypothesis that the universe is ruled by chaos. Instead we are compelled by reason to conclude there is indeed a unique creative entity which is naturally present everywhere and at all times. Though we may dispute the precise nature of the underlying space-time structure, we are assured of the existence of a subtle omnipresent harmony that functions as the ultimate source and guiding force of all that exists. Since these are the defining attributes of the one true God, we now have a rational basis for our intuitive belief that God exists.

Rather than arbitrarily limiting God, this particular harmonic order reveals the presence of divinity all around us. Musical harmony inspires us to sing together, a tradition encouraged by many different religions. So, although it is only a sequence of proportional vibrations, music has the power to unify diverse sounds as well as people. Proportion and harmony are also key to the taste of food, which is especially pleasing when it incorporates the various ingredients in their proper quantities. Physiological harmony implies a healthy body free from defects, while psychological harmony implies a healthy mind free from conflicts. Peace, whether it be within people or among people, refers to a harmonious union of parts that often seem to be at odds even though they share an intimate connection. So when we pray to God for the health and happiness of those we love, we are implicitly desiring that the underlying harmony, which is subtle but ever present, become manifest in mind, body, and soul.

Some people will no doubt remain skeptical that this constitutes definitive proof that God exists. Perhaps such people believe that God is wholly unrelated to the concept of a subtle omnipresent harmony. Or perhaps I have failed to adequately demonstrate how the physical evidence guarantees beyond any reasonable doubt that we are all constructed from a ubiquitous harmonic order. To those people I would urge now to stop reading and simply look within. Close your eyes, feel the air constantly moving into and out of your body, and just listen. Do that for a little while and then go back to work transforming the space we share, graciously receiving and leaving impressions for all eternity.