VII. YHWH as part of the universe and connected to Ein Sof
It is possible for us to envision YHWH as being present in all and every portion of our universe. It is also possible to connect YHWH to Ein Sof without diminishing the infinitude of Ein Sof. This can be done as follows.
Space is discontinuous (see, “Is Space Digital?”, by Michael Moyer, Scientific American, Feb. 2012, Volume 306, number 2 pages 30-37[1]), with the smallest distance being the smallest spacing between the smallest subatomic particles, which could be the Plank Distance of 1.6 x 10-35 meters[2]. The Planck length is about 10!20 times the diameter of a proton, and is considered the smallest length possible. Time[3] and space are interrelated. The interrelating constant might be viewed as the speed of light. Therefore, it might be argued that since space is discontinuous, time also will be discontinuous, with the smallest quantum of time being the Plank Distance divided by the speed of light, which will be 3×10-45 seconds (10-39 meters/(3×105 meters/second) = 3×10-45 seconds)[4], this could be analogous to the subatomic particles, such as the quark or charm, which are the building blocks of atomic particles, the blocks which can not be further divided; this could be the “quark” of time. YHWH could exist in these interstices. As such, YHWH would exist wherever time exists[5]. Since time in our universe has no limits[6], YHWH would in no way be diminished by existing in time. Still further, since time has always existed in our universe, it could be connected to Ein Sof without diminishing the infinitude of Ein Sof. Time may even be able to span the singularity of the Big Bang. Thus, YHWH would exist everywhere and anywhere and at and for all time[7].
As discussed in the essay “Shabbat,”
in Genesis 1, God first creates light which separates the darkness. This
creates time using light. As discussed in that essay, once God has finished His
work of creation, He creates the Sabbath to mark that completion. By creating
light, God connects light and time, which seems to support the above discussion
regarding the discreteness of time using the speed of light. Once the work of
creation is complete, God could fold Himself into time and light so He will be
infinite and present at all time and all places in our universe.
[1] See also, papers by Craig Hogan of the Fermilab Particle Astrophysics Center at the University of Chicago who suggests that space is made of chunks, blocks and bits, i.e., space is digital.
[2] The Planck length is associated with the Planck interval of time from t=0 up to t=10-43 seconds (one ten-million-trillion-trillion-trillionths of a second) after the beginning (the “Big Bang”), and before the universe grew to 10-35 meters (one hundred billion-trillion-trillionths of a meter). Max Planck is generally credited with being the father of quantum mechanics and introduced the idea of quantized energy in 1900.
[3] However, nobody really knows what time is. In fact, one of the hottest topics in theoretical physics is whether time itself is illusory, with some scientists actually adopting the view that time simply does not even exist. However, the unification of relativity and quantum mechanics will not occur without a full understanding of time. The concepts of past, present and future are tied to our perceptions. It might be how our brains function, such as our memories which add information and replace old information with new information which we perceive as an apparent movement of time. Or it may be the way our brains work. As stated by Albert Einstein: “The past, present and future are only illusions, even if stubborn ones,” and by St. Augustine: “What then is time? If no one asks me, I know, if I want to explain it to someone who does ask me, I do not know.” See From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time by Sean M. Carroll, OneWorld Publications (Great Britain, 2010).
[4] Under the theory of Quantum Mechanics, light has dual properties: wave and particle. As such, the concept stated here that light is discontinuous has support under this theory. While there is some disagreement in the field of physics regarding the duality of light, see in particular those who follow the Quantum Field Theory (which visualizes particles as secondary consequences (or localized disturbances) of quantum fields, there is enough support in the field to support a thought, which is what is being discussed in this essay. Time is different from the other physical properties; however, it does not seem to be such a great leap from light being discontinuous to time being discontinuous as to discount the thought. Time has been divided ever more finely, as of the date of this essay, time can be measured in attoseconds,, 250 billionths of a billionth of a second, and still finer divisions seem possible; therefore, the division proposed here does not seem too far afield.
Furthermore, by combining fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and general relativity, physicist have developed t theory they call “loop quantum gravity”. In this theory, the allowed quantum states of space are represented by diagrams of lines and nodes called spin networks. Quantum spacetime corresponds to similar diagrams called spin foams, in which spin networks evolve over time. Loop quantum gravity predicts that space comes in discrete lumps, the smallest of which is about a cubic Planck length, or 10-99 cubic centimeter. In this theory, time proceeds in discrete ticks of about a Planck time, or about 10-43 seconds.
[5] The existence of time in our universe depends on the existence of light. Time is a measure of cause and effect, a cause occurs before (time) an effect. If there were no time, it would be possible for cause/effect events to occur exactly simultaneously. However, an effect will occur only after its cause is transmitted or connected to it via some signal. Absolute time, that is, unambiguous simultaneity exists in a world in which there is no upper limit for the speed of signals. Since, according to Einstein, no signal in our universe can travel faster than the speed of light, light is the ultimate signal carrier between a cause and the effect associated with that cause. Hence, without light there would be no time. As stated in Genesis 1:3, God created light. Hence God created time for our universe. Thus, since God created light/time, it might be possible to believe that God could be incorporated in light/time. This concept is further discussed in the essay titled “Free Will Versus Predestination”.
[6] There are some that view time as infinite. Since by the definition used in this essay, humans cannot grasp the infinite, that would mean that humans cannot grasp time. Following the discussion in the instant essay, time is either past of future, it is discontinuous in the present instant, it appears that humans cannot grasp time, which is consistent with the concept of infinity.
[7] However, it might also be argued that the concept of time has meaning only to finite beings, such as living organisms. Thus, if there is no finite entity, the idea of time is meaningless. As such, could time exist prior to the existence of our universe? That is, is there time before the Big Bang? If time does not exist prior to the existence of our universe, what did? What does the lack of time do to the existence of Ein Sof?