Observers of Forces
The four fundamental forces discussed in our last post were described by scientists only in the last several hundred years. These forces (strong nuclear, electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and gravitation) govern everything that occurs in our everyday experience. The importance of the fundamental forces of nature had not been recognized by scientists in the days before the “scientific age” which commenced approximately 1600 AD.
As we look for evidence of the existence of God as the Creator of our cosmos we cannot fail to encounter the four fundamental forces in science literature and experience them with our senses. Our lives are totally immersed in them. The human sensory system ordinarily includes the familiar five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Some scientists include less familiar bodily senses such as balance, muscle awareness, temperature, hunger, thirst, and pain. Not only do these forces exist, but we are able to sense them.
Knowledge of science supplies multiple opportunities for humanity to observe the power of our Creator. Our experience in the scientific age affords us insights unheard of in the centuries prior to the scientific age. God created the forces which objectively act on matter to produce an organized, coherent environment. God also endows humanity with sensory abilities to make subjective judgments concerning the orderliness of the universe, its intelligently designed features, and the characteristics of the Intelligent Designer/Creator.
Forces are most simply defined as pushes or pulls when matter interacts with other matter. We are not ordinarily aware of the push or pull forces holding protons together with other protons or neutrons in the nuclei of uncounted trillions of atoms composing matter surrounding us each moment of our lives. Those interested in a more esoteric treatment of forces could research contact forces such as friction and non-contact forces such as gravity and magnetism.
Humanity is awash in electromagnetic forces upon which our society depends for ordinary work, entertainment, and communication. What would we do without cell phones, computers, electric vacuums, toasters and a multitude of other electric appliances in our home? The spectrum of electromagnetic radiation energizes modern society. Discoveries related to electromagnetism began in the 19th century. My grandparents lived during a significant segment of that century before the invention of radios and telephones. Nevertheless, they were intrinsically aware of the four fundamental forces and their ability to perceive them with their bodily senses.
“As we observe the wonder of our surroundings, we focus on its beauty at different levels. Perhaps we ponder the aesthetic beauty of the great outdoors. The wonders of the beach, mountains, and sky grip our senses. At deeper levels we observe the interactions of matter, forces, and energy and how their interactions impinge upon us. Life scientists help us focus on the wonders of living inhabitants within our physical creation. They describe living things according to their physical and behavioral characteristics. The behavior of matter and living things lends itself to empirical studies–careful observation, description, and analysis, the starting points of our worship experience.” (Reprinted from our blog of 7/15/2013: Worship Stimulants)
