It Could Happen

“If two such physical theories or models accurately predict the same events, one cannot be said to be more real than the other; rather, we are free to use whichever model is most convenient...”  Stephen Hawking.

It may be presumptuous of me to argue with a genius, but I’ve never been one to believe genius synonymous with correctness. Almost daily I meet normal people of average intelligence who do stupid things. Solomon, the wisest man ever, did some pretty foolish things. Dr. Hawking believes M-theory adequately explains everything he needs to construct a theory of the universe. He can’t prove it conclusively, but it works for him. Therefore, he says he is free to accept M-theory as the most convenient set of facts. I agree, he has the right most anything he likes. However, having the right to so decide an issue does not make one correct. Solomon might step in here to remind us both that there is nothing new under the sun. Theories what to believe abound. I’d like to offer a story about equal and convenient theories.

It happened that some of Solomon’s foolishness caused him to sink in the approval polls. It seems even God was unhappy with him. When Solomon’s son took office and refused to change policies, God took most of the country away from him, set up a new kingdom, and gave that kingdom to a man named Jeroboam. After a time Jeroboam became nervous because his subjects still went to Jerusalem to worship in Solomon’s temple. He just knew they would this would lead the people back to their old government. To prevent this from happening Jeroboam set up convenient worship centers. These centers had priests, sacrifices and holy days just like in Judah, except close to home—and Jeroboam. He even came up with a more convenient god; equal theories; equal plausibility; different explanations for the same events. It was perfect. Israel bought Jeroboam’s equal, convenient theory and stayed home with their new king. The trouble was, it turned out there really was a God in Judah and He was not at all happy with their choice. He was particularly upset with Jeroboam for cooking up the whole scheme.

“And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.”

Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians and carried into captivity. The name of Jeroboam the son of Nebat became a by-word; forever a symbol of an evil example to be avoided. As I said, theories abound—they always have and what we think are new ones come around daily. We are all free to use whichever model of the universe is practical and convenient. Denying God is the sterile thinking of genius that requires nothing of its adherents. Worshiping God requires a level of compassion that makes fools of men