Life after Death and the Mysteries of the Universe

There have been many books written about life after death, including several about the experiences of people who have had “near death experiences” or NDEs.   I just read the most recent of these, Proof of Heaven, written by Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon who had been an atheist prior to his own NDE.  What makes this book different from others written about NDEs is that the author has a very thorough understanding of the brain and how it functions.  When he returned from a seven day coma, caused by bacterial meningitis, he carefully studied his medical records from the event, and concluded that there was no possible way his brain could have produced the amazing experience he had during the coma.  Although he details all this in the book and the end notes, what’s even more interesting is the experience itself, and his conclusion that human consciousness, the thing that makes us human, exists completely independent of the physical brain.  He now believes that “consciousness is not only very real – it’s actually more real than the rest of physical existence, and most likely the basis of it all.”  He points out that many in the scientific community deny the existence of consciousness, or regard it as merely a byproduct of brain function.

With his scientific background, Dr. Alexander also has a deep interest in physics and cosmology, and uses this knowledge to make some startling observations about the nature of the universe.   Reading the book got me thinking about my own interpretation of matter and energy, in light of many recent discoveries in physics, including the so-called “God particle” that has been in the news lately.   Of course I’m no physicist, and what I’m about to say here is my own conjecture, but to me, this seems to be a plausible, if simplistic, explanation about the nature of reality.  So here goes:

For more than one hundred years now, since Einstein’s famous equation, E = mc², it has been understood that matter and energy are interchangeable, hence the atomic bomb.  Later developments demonstrated that matter itself is really just an expression of energy, and the “God particle” (a Higgs boson) is the subatomic particle that makes all matter possible.  The physical universe is nothing more than energy transformed into a state in which we can perceive it.  Over the last couple decades, cosmologists have proven that 70% the physical universe is made up of a mysterious force they call “dark energy” and another 26% is “dark matter,” which they describe as excess gravity which appears to be responsible for the rotation of galaxies and even larger galactic clusters.  This leaves only 4% of the universe for what we think of as physical matter: the stars, the planets, our atmosphere, even our bodies.  But what if there is much, much more to existence than the physical universe?  What if God, who exists outside and beyond our physical realm, created the universe with just a tiny fraction of His life force, or energy.  Perhaps there is literal truth to what St. John said when he proclaimed that “God is Love.”  If so, then the universe has been created out of the Love of God, and His Love is the energy or life force that makes everything we can see, touch, or feel, a reality.  

As a result of his NDE, Dr. Alexander agrees with this notion.  He states that, “Love is without a doubt, the basis of everything.  It is not only the single most important emotional truth in the universe, but also the single most important scientific truth as well.”  Think about it.  Love is a driving life-force.  It provides us with the energy and emotion to go beyond ourselves. It is the most fulfilling, rewarding, and important aspect of our lives, and it gives meaning to our existence.  St. Paul made it clear that Love is the greatest of all virtues, but it is even more than that, it is the uncaused cause of the universe, the reason for our existence, and the destination that awaits us when we are freed from the limitations of our physical bodies and limited minds.   As the last line of Les Miserables says, “To love another person is to see the face of God.”   This is not just a nice sentiment, it describes the very nature of our existence.

Science seems to be converging on the truths already revealed in scripture, and with the long-held spiritual beliefs of Christianity.  There is far more to life than the physical universe.  According to Dr. Alexander, the physical universe is but a speck of dust in comparison to the infinitely larger spiritual realm of which we are all a part, and this is the greater reality.   As we gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord, and the promise of life after death, it is interesting to note that there is increasing evidence for the spiritual realities of life.  Faith in God requires no proof, but it is comforting to know that science and religion need not be at odds with one another.  Our faith has nothing to fear from the truth of science.  Science is by nature supposed to be the search for truth, and the latest advances in science seem to be pointing more and more toward the truths we’ve long held to be true based on God’s revelation.

Will the new Pope reform the Church?

Coverage of the election of our new pope has been extensive, and it must be driving atheists and other detractors of the Catholic Church crazy because it’s getting so much air time.   There is great hope that Pope Francis will be a “reformer” as expressed by many of the people interviewed about his election, whether they be nominal Catholics, church scholars, or media pundits.  The real question is, what kind of reform is the new pope likely to pursue?   Much of the recent press coverage refers to declining church participation, clergy-abuse, and Vatican scandals, stating that the new pope will need strong leadership skills and the courage, to make sweeping changes in the bureaucracy of the church.  There is also a widely held assumption that the church has fallen far behind the times, and is losing members because it has failed to modernize its thinking.  This is especially the case with respect to the new ethics of sex, which separates sexual activity from the responsibility of marriage and family.  The modern worldview is that no one is expected to practice sexual continence, and in fact this is unhealthy.  One New York professor brazenly accused pope emeritus, Benedict XVI, of fostering a “culture of rape” because of unhealthy repression of sexual urges. 

Catholics who pick and choose which of the church’s teachings they will follow and which they’ll ignore, are referred to as  “cafeteria Catholics.”  Let’s face it, we would all like to make up our own rules as a matter of convenience, disregarding whatever might require temperance, virtue, or discipline, on our part.  However, authentic Catholicism means adhering to the universal moral code as handed down to us in scripture and in person by Jesus Himself.  Is the Catholic Church out of step with modern morality?  Absolutely!  Is the new pope likely to relax the church’s moral code with respect to sexual ethics, gay marriage, abortion, or contraception?  No way.  The whole point of the “New Evangelization” initiated by Blessed John Paul II, and promoted by Benedict XVI, is to “re-form” the knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faithful, so that we all better understand the scriptural basis of our moral code, as expressed by the teachings of the Catholic church.   Reforming the church has little to do with accommodating secular morality (or lack thereof), and everything to do with re-forming the knowledge and understanding of people’s faith. 

The reason so few people understand the church’s moral code is because there is a common belief that there is no universal moral truth.  President Obama made his view on this very clear in his book, The Audacity of Hope, where he wrote: “Implicit in the very idea of ordered liberty is a rejection of absolute truth, the infallibility of any idea or ideology or theology or –ism that might lock future generations into a single unalterable course….”  In other words, he believes that everyone gets to decide for themselves what is true, what is moral, what is “right” for them.   This belief is the reason why the president and other liberals believe in the importance of the bureaucratic state.  With no universal moral compass, he and his supporters believe it is imperative that the government coordinate society comprehensively and rationally, in such a way that people are free to believe whatever they wish, so long as those beliefs do not interfere with adherence to government rules.   Notice I said “rules” not laws.  Laws are supposed to be simple, understandable, and the result of congressional action.  Rules, on the other hand, are promulgated by the incumbent administration.   Executive orders and rules prepared by the various agencies of government, are the means by which the bureaucracy of government intends to direct society.   The problem, as stated by James Madison, is that “men are not angels.”  He was referring to the fact that if given too much authority, those with power over the government would be tempted to extend their reach beyond the basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution. Many of the same people who think our Church should “modernize” by relaxing its teaching on sexual ethics, condone the expansion of government rule-making, even to the point of violating our religious freedom.  They believe the Church is wrong for defining marriage as between a man and woman, and for wanting children to be raised by both father and mother, going so far as to label such thinking as “intolerant” and a violation of civil rights.  But at the same time, the government will fine employers who refuse to pay for contraception, abortafacient drugs, and sterilization even though it violates their religious beliefs, beliefs that are supposed to be protected by the first amendment.

High profile Catholics who condone abortion, the use of government tax dollars to fund it, and who want to redefine marriage, are at odds with the actual teaching of the Church.  These “cafeteria Catholics” are not practicing the true Catholic faith which is rooted in scripture, and the Truth as revealed by Jesus Christ.   This is why we need to re-evangelize the Body of Christ.  This is the greatest challenge faced by Pope Francis.  In his first few days in office, our new pope has already characterized himself as a man of personal humility and deep faith.   Let’s hope and pray that he is successful in “re-forming” our Church, the people of God, who would benefit greatly from a better understanding of scripture and adherence to the moral teaching of the Church. 

Darkness and Light

Our eyes are miraculous in their ability to see shapes, color, movement, and perceive distance, but none of that is possible without light.  In total darkness our eyes are useless, and in dim light our vision is impaired.  As with so many other aspects of our existence, this is a metaphor of a larger truth.   Our senses are limited in many respects.  Our eyes see only a portion of the full spectrum of light, our ears hear only within a limited range, and even when we see and hear, we do not fully comprehend.   As we will hear in a couple weeks, when we read about Jesus standing before Pilot, the reason Jesus came into the world is to testify to the Truth.  This “Truth” Jesus refers to is the good news of God’s unconditional love for each of us, and the moral truths God has imbedded and revealed in the natural world.  Our bodies and minds, no matter how learned and clever, cannot perceive the fullness of these truths on our own, for a number of reasons.  Not only are our senses limited, but they are dulled by our sinfulness. 

Paradoxically, when we make the mistake of focusing on our own happiness and convenience, it becomes impossible to achieve real and lasting happiness.  If we think that we can derive happiness from success, power, money, or sex, we will only become more anxious, because no matter how much of these things we have, it is never enough.  Each of these supposed fulfillments has an addictive quality, so that the more we have, the more we want, and the more we worry about losing what we have.  They also lead to selfishness, pride, and lust, sins that dull or erase our perception of God’s truth.   It is only the love of God that can overcome the sinfulness that so easily takes root in our souls.  Listen carefully to the second reading from today’s mass of the RCIA scrutinies:

“Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.”  (Eph 5:8-9)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives sight to the man born blind, while the Pharisees remain blind to the presence of God in their midst.   When confronted, Jesus reveals that, “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” (John 9:4) And to the man He cured, Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” (John 9:39)

Without the light of Christ, we are blind to moral truth.  Think this is an exaggeration?  Consider the fact that our own country has laws that uphold a woman’s right to murder her unborn child.   Many states not only allow gay marriage, they want to teach children that it is “normal and healthy.”  Our government spends 40% more money than it takes in, heaping mountains of debt on our children and grandchildren.* Can any of this be morally right? 

Listen carefully to the next verse from today’s second reading:

“Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them…”  (Eph 5:10)

In Christ we are the light of the world, and it is up to us to expose “the fruitless works of darkness.”  This is what it means to be a Christian: to stand up for the Truth God has revealed though His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

* U.S. debt is now equivalent to $52,000 per man, woman and child in our country, and we are adding to it at the rate of $8000 a year.